KEAAU – There were no signs of a celebration at Kamehameha’s wrestling room Wednesday, just reminders of the goal ahead.
After securing the school’s first BIIF boys wrestling title, the Warriors were business as usual at practice.
“The boys have been on a mission all year,” assistant coach Marlon Miller said. “They cleared one hurdle, and they have one more to go.”
Miller points out that the Warriors’ wrestling room has produced four of the past five HHSAA champions from the BIIF dating back to 2010. Welina Tong (2013), Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy (2011, 2012) Megan Aina (2010) each are honored with small plaques – the other BIIF state champion during the period is Konawaena’s Sage Aoki (2012) – and Miller says the ultimate goal is replicate the ring of honor at Kamehameha-Kapalama.
“Theirs goes around the whole room,” Miller said.
Burt first things first – who’s next the state champion for the Warriors?
If state seeding is to be believed, No. 2 Trey Galigo has the best chance, though Miller said the 126-pound division is a bear.
Galigo, Ka’au Estrella (132), Ethan Ramos (195) and Joyden Madriaga (220) each capped undefeated seasons Saturday at Hawaii Prep as Kamehameha wrestlers claimed seven titles to dethrone runner-up Kealakehe.
The Warriors entered 11 of 14 classes and got at least a point from each, with 10 wrestlers advancing to states.
“Everyone had a hand in making the goal come to fruition,” Kamehameha coach Brendan Courtot said. “We had to bump some kids around and even the ones we bumped around did well.”
Galigo was the only Warrior to score a pin in the final, beating Pahoa’s Jericho Manning in 40 seconds, and Estrella sweated out the closest match, edging Waiakea’s David Diaz 11-10. Talan Nakamura (138), Manu Wengler (152), Brendan Figueroa (160) also won their divisions.
“Tre and Joyden, being the only seniors, when the other kids would get down, they would pick them up,” Miller said. “Manu was the spiritual leader. He’s very vocal and props up the other wrestlers.”
The Warriors are set to leave for Honolulu on Thursday and will get a chance to practice at Blaisdell Arena ahead of the championship Friday and Saturday.
In the past, Courtot said, the Warriors would practice at Kamehameha-Kapalama’s wrestling room, but he joked his wrestlers began to wonder why the Oahu Warriors were able to take so many water breaks.
“We know they are in shape and they can wrestle, but do they believe they deserve to be there?
” Courtot said. “If our kids understand they earned the right to be there, good things will happen.”
On the girls side, three-time BIIF champion Kayla Araki is seeded third in the 145 division as she seeks to better her bronze medal performance from a year ago.
The Kamehameha girls were denied their seventh BIIF title at Hawaii Prep, finishing second to Kealakehe.
Wrestlers may compete in relative obscurity compared to other BIIF athletes, but Miller said it’s everyone else who should be envious.
“We know we’re the toughest sport known to man,” Miller said. “I don’t care about the other sports. They were invented because they couldn’t wrestle.”
