By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
KEAAU —Kamehameha junior Ikaika Villanueva captured the 145-pound title at the Big Island Interscholastic Federation judo championships on Saturday, extending an unbeaten season and living up to his dad’s motto of finishing first.
Villanueva defeated Waiakea’s Alan Ikehara for his second straight BIIF title. Last year, Villanueva took the 132 championship. As a freshman, he was third in the 132 division.
At the closing ceremony, Villanueva was named the boys BIIF Player of the Year, in a vote by the league’s coaches.
“That was the unexpected,” he said. “When they said the coaches were voting, I looked at the other players and I didn’t expect to be chosen. Then they chose me. I’m excited and it feels good.”
Hilo sophomore Shaylyn Arakaki was voted the girls BIIF Player of the Year after beating Kamehameha’s Nellie Towata for the 98 championship.
It’s Arakaki’s first year in judo. She exceeded her own expectations. Then she got a bonus award, too.
“I thought it would be interesting if I tried out,” Arakaki said. “I didn’t think I would win a BIIF title. It feels really good. I’m happy and surprised. I left out all my fears and went for it. I’m proud of myself.”
Arakaki gets to test herself again against tougher competition at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships on May 5 on Oahu.
“I’m going to try my best,” she said.
Villanueva didn’t place at states last season. But unlike Arakaki, judo is a sport he’s familiar with. He started in the second grade, stopped in the fifth grade, and picked it up again as a freshman.
He also experimented with a new sport, too, trying soccer for the first time this past season and finding enjoyment. It also helped him for his football, his favorite sport. Villanueva, a cornerback, first got on the gridiron as a freshman. He moved up in weight for judo to help him for football.
“I’m trying to get bigger for football,” he said. “I joined soccer and we did really good (losing to Christian Liberty in the BIIF semifinals) and I liked it. It was good for my cardio and footwork.”
He lives his life under the shadow of his dad, Paul Villanueva, who passed away nearly two years ago due to a heart attack. More than anything, his 145 judo championship was a tribute to his dad, bringing back a flood of memories.
“Everything I do is for him,” said Villanueva, whose brother Joshua, a 1999 Hilo graduate, won a state cross country title and pair of state track golds. “I’d have a routine I’d go through with him. I’d work out in the morning, doing push-ups and sit-ups. After practice, he’d make me run home, about five miles.
“He’d wait on the side of the road. It was hard work, but it’s all memories. I hope I made him proud.”
Villanueva had one draw and won the rest of his matches during the season. He would like to land a scholarship for football and if there’s a judo program he’d like to do that, too. No matter the sport, he lives on the motto of finishing first.
“My brother and dad, they both told me if you want to go to places you’ve never been you have to do something you’ve never done,” he said. “You have to push harder than everyone. You have to practice when no one else is practicing. You have to work on things no one else is working on. You have to push yourself and be first every single time you can.”