KAILUA-KONA — Kealakehe flipped the script, and landed a transition of its own at the BIIF wrestling championships held at Hawaii Preparatory Academy last weekend.
Despite coming up short on a repeat of its BIIF boys title, the Waveriders used a revitalized roster to capture the girls team championship, ending up with more BIIF champs in 2016 than wrestlers on the roster a season ago.
Olivia Hettel-Hori (102 pounds), Charlotte Taylor (112), Isabelle Tayo (117), Berri Lagmay (122), Gionne Aniban-Morse (132), Erika Larson (155) and Roxie Umu (225) all took home BIIF gold to lead the surge for the Waveriders.
“Now we just have to put those championships together in the same year,” Kealakehe head coach Ivan Louis said with a laugh. “I knew our girls were going in there with a good chance of winning it. The talent pool and numbers I had were just incredible.”
Louis saw his girls program grow from five to 15. Of the 11 weight classes the Waveriders had athletes in at the BIIF championships, 10 had a shot for BIIF gold. Nika Paogofie-Buyten, Hiilawe Manoi and Dana Kai Reilly-Gober took home silver, while Myra Liufau (184) locked up a state spot with a third place finish.
The Kealakehe boys didn’t disappoint either, even with some key injuries. Kobby Faldones (106), Elison Galanto (113) and Pulama Louis (182) all earned BIIF crowns over the weekend.
“At the beginning of the year, we were just trying to get all our kids back. That was the goal,” Louis said. “I knew I was going to lose some kids — that’s wrestling — but I wanted to keep most. That’s what we did and we were able to benefit from that.”
In all, Kealakehe will send 21 wrestlers to the HHSAA wrestling championships at Blaisdell Arena on Oahu, six more than last year for the expanding ‘Riders program. The tournament starts Friday and runs through Saturday.
“It’s a whole new ball game up there,” Louis said. “We might take our cracks, but I think there is so much more to gain through the experience.”
Regardless of what happens on the big stage of the state tournament. Kealakehe’s stock is definitely on the rise. Louis attributed the success to wrestling in some preseason tournaments, something he hopes to do more often going forward.
“Wrestling other people and seeing that competition was a huge boost for us,” he said. “When we came back from those tournaments and wrestled at our first meet, it was like night and day.”
Louis also credited his wrestlers for their hard work and rolling through the highs and lows.
“Wrestling is one of the hardest sports mentally and it takes a high level of work ethic and mental toughness,” Louis said. “I could not be anymore satisfied as a head coach.”
Wildcats rising
Using the blueprint Kealakehe has installed, Konawaena is working its way back into the BIIF spotlight. Head coach Patrick Kim saw his numbers grow exponentially this season, and will be sending nine wrestlers to the state tournament.
Those athletes are boys Michael Kolman (106), Joey Delos Santos (113), Everett Bettencourt (145), Chastin Gorelangton (195), Jordon Gouveia (285) and on the girls side Jamille Maltezo (97), Jorjah Losadio-Watson (138), Wailana Mederios (145) and Kapoina Bailey (168).
“It was a rebuilding season but one that will go a long way,” Kim said. “For about 99 percent of our wrestlers, it was their first year. We are a brand new team, so any success at the state level now is gravy.”
Dealing with newbies in the sport meant Kim and his staff had to be flexible. It was all about the process and building a solid foundation with the basics.
“It’s too hard of a sport to force someone to do. Our goal was for the kids to develop a love for the sport and next year we can get more in depth in training and conditioning,” Kim said. “But wrestling is one of the only sports where you can start out as a freshman that has not wrestled and end up a state champion as a senior. We have a lot of wrestlers returning next year, so the future is bright.”
Kim is looking forward to his wrestlers — including eight reserves who may not see the mat — enjoying the state tournament atmosphere.
“It gives them an idea of what to expect in years to come,” Kim said. “That’s really important.”
Both Kim and Louis said they hope to have some offseason work for their wrestlers, something that is in short supply currently. Louis mentioned a summer tournament on Maui that features freestyle wrestling, while Kim has plans to host a clinic for incoming eighth-graders.
That renewed interest and growing numbers bodes well for the future of wrestling on the island as a whole. Better competition should lead to more success at the state level.
“For us to do well on the state level, we need the wrestling on the island to grow and for more kids to get involved,” Louis said. “My take is, it’s like food — how do you know if you like it or not if you never try. Just come out and try it.”
