Hilo High and Kamehameha didn’t have enough quantity to compete for Big Island Interscholastic Federation titles, but the quality of their wrestlers shined through at the HHSAA championships.
Hilo High and Kamehameha didn’t have enough quantity to compete for Big Island Interscholastic Federation titles, but the quality of their wrestlers shined through at the HHSAA championships.
The Vikings’ Marissa Guerra, Kaitlyn Funai and Kolton Pang reached the semifinals Friday at Blaisdell Center on Honolulu, as did the Warriors’ Kayla Araki and Pono Davis.
Of the seven BIIF wrestlers to go 2-0 during the first day, six were league champions. The exception was Ka’u’s Shavon Mello-Waiawaiole, who needed just 17 seconds to pin her first opponent in the 220-pound division.
While BIIF boys team champion Kealakehe didn’t have any wrestlers reach the semifinals, Loke Ching will represent girls champion Hawaii Prep in the semis after securing a pair of third-round pins at 138. The junior placed sixth at states in 2013.
The competition will be completed Saturday, and the Waveriders’ Seannacy McNeil was among those who were looking to wrestle their way back to bronze in the consolation round. One of the most dominant boys wrestlers during the BIIF season, McNeill won his first match in the 132 division before losing 9-4 to Kaiser’s Chance Ikei, the defending state champion at 113.
Competing at 112 in the girls division, Funai is considered one of the Big Island’s best hopefuls to bring home gold.
The senior pinned her first opponent, then in the quarterfinals she earned a 9-4 victory against Campbell’s Sarah Patanapaiboon, who placed in the 109 division last season.
Guerra pinned both of her opponents at 107, including in the quarterfinals against Campbell’s Alana Alviar, who won bronze in 2014.
Araki (132) also wracked up a pair of pins, setting up a match against defending state champion Teshya Alo of Kamehameha-Oahu’s
After a first-round pin and a one-point victory, Davis also will face a defending state champion in Campbell’s Tristan Ludiazo, who moved up to heavyweight after winning at 225 last year.
Pang (120) opened with a pin then fought to a 8-5 victory against Roosevelt’s Cayde Tagami, who was sixth at 113 at states last year. Pang’s first opponent Saturday is the wrestler who took bronze last season at 113, Kamehameha-Oahu’s Blaysen Terukina.