Now Brayden Spain and Waihula Kahookaulana know, and knowing is half the battle.
Spain of Waiakea and Hilo’s Kahookaulana each wrestled their way to championship matches at the, coming home with runner-up finishes over the weekend from Oahu.
Officials is considered a sneak preview or sorts to the state wrestling meet – the quality at the top can be comparable, even if the quantity of noncontenders is bigger – giving BIIF wrestlers an invaluable opportunity to test themselves against the best Hawaii has to offer.
Competing in the 113-pound boys division, Spain pinned the top seed, Benji Carino of Aiea, one of his four victories, two by fall, during the two-day tournament at Leilehua.
“He put in a lot of work over the summer, and it definitely showed,” Waiakea coach Chad Urabe. “I expected him to do well, and I’m glad he made it to the final.”
Facing Kamehameha-Kapalama’s Sheydon Tomisato for the first time, Spain fell behind early and lost to 7-4. Tomisato also picked up a title at the Maui Invitational the week before.
While some of the BIIF’s best have to go off-island to face a prime challenge, that’s not the case with Spain, who is engaged in a spirited back-and-forth with Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Colby Bowman.
“I’m glad Brayden has that competition (here),” Urabe said, “because we know (Tomisato) is going to get great matches (on Oahu).”
Kahookaulana breezed through three matches at 127 by first-period pin, including a semifinal triumph against Kamehameha-Kapalama’s Alexis Nov Posiulai – the 2018 state runner-up – before running into a two-time state champ in the final.
Lahainaluna’s Nanea Estrella used 94 seconds to relegate Kahookaulana to second, but that was 94 seconds well spent, according to Vikings coach Ryan Taniguchi.
“She learned she can compete at the state level,” Taniguchi said. “It’s still early, and she works relentlessly on the mat. We will make some adjustments to her offense and move forward.”
Kahookaulana won the 138 title at BIIFs last season while at Keaau, but her coach said a drop to 122 is under consideration.
“Hula is a very unique girl, a 4.0 student, soft spoken, but a beast on the mat,” Taniguchi said. “She is already looking forward to Paani (at Punahou) next week.”
Also reaching semifinals were Waiakea’s Caleb Shimaoka, who wound up sixth at 126, as well at Hilo’s Lilly Campbell (fifth at 102) and Kitana Lowery, who was wrestling up two weight class but still finished fourth at 155.
Hilo’s girls were eighth of 33 schools.
Leona Toledo was third at 225 and Zoe Medina was sixth at 107. On the boys side, Carmello Castillo was fifth at 120.
Also for Waiakea, Joseph Vento was sixth at 120 and Waylon Spain took fifth at 132.
Waiakea and Hilo were the only BIIF schools to compete at the event.