KAILUA-KONA – Twenty-seven BIIF wrestling champions, 27 different stories.
James Kamaka had himself a day in the rugged boys 147-pound weight class to strike gold for Keaau High, and Pahoa’s Jezney Chang also carried the banner as the lone winner for her school.
Kamehameha’s Malie Vickery-Mafi and Kealekehe’s Gasetoto Junior Apisala had to work overtime Saturday, while the harder work lies ahead for the Waveriders’ Elizabeth Warren.
Hawaii Prep’s Luciana Conde-Cadena forged ahead late to win at Kealakehe High, while Konawaena’s Kala Pai held on to prevail.
There was excellence: Hawaii Prep’s Jeremiah Borce and Kamehameha’s Lainey Eckart capped undefeated seasons and earned BIIF wrestler of the year honors.
Determination: Konawaena’s Hector Magana scored a late comeback and then lifted his opponent into the air.
Appreciation: The struggle was real for Konawaena’s Aliza Leander, but worth it.
“Being able to do this, not just for myself but for the team this year, it means a lot,” Leander said, “because I can move forward and do great things and inspire other people.”
More than half the finals, 15 in all, ended in pins, one of them recorded by Waiakea’s Isaac Vickery against Hilo’s Seth Kim.
“I knew he was going to give it his all, and so did I,” Vickery said. “Put on a pretty good show out there.”
They all did, and this is but a small peek at each of their stories:
BOYS
108 pounds
Rudy Pajimola, Hilo def. Andre Gandala, Konawaena, pin
Pajimola: “It was a tough match against a tough opponent. There were trouble spots, but I knew my team was behind me.”
115
Noah Vento, Waiakea, def. Lance Thorton, Konawaena, 10-6
Vento: “I worked hard for this all season long, and even beyond this season. I’ve put in too much work. It just feels good to finally accomplish something you’ve planned out for so long.”
122
Tyler Yoshiyama, Hilo def. Jordan Nakamoto, Waiakea, pin
Yoshiyama: “Feels amazing. I was really expecting to come out here and win.”
“There were mistakes that I made, but I came back from them. Just the drive to win and the coaches in my corner supporting me all the way through.”
128
Zackary Lapenia, Kamehameha, def. Abram Utrera, Konawaena, pin
Lapenia: “Takes a lot of grit and sweat, honestly, a lot of determination. I had to really change my mindset and fix it all.”
“Once I got into my mojo, I was able to get into my comfort station and wrestle my 100%, my 110%”
134
Luke Klask, Kamehameha, def. Dayson Castillo, Hilo, pin
Klask: “I had a feeling I was going to (win), but, thankfully, it felt good.”
“I trained really hard for this, but the job isn’t over yet. I still have state and I know there are some bad boys out there.”
140
Jeremiah Borce, Hawaii Prep, def. Raizen Aina, Kamehameha, 4-2
Borce earned a second title, holding off a determined Aina to cap an undefeated season and earn wrestler of the year honors.
Borce: “Honestly, knowing how hard my weight class is and all the experienced people that were in it, I knew I had to work harder than usual to get a BIIF championship.”
“BIIFs is good and all, but the biggest thing in me is I want to go to states … My junior season got taken away from me, and the whole thing I was thinking about was how I wanted to wrestle at states.”
147
James Kamaka, Keaau def. Legend Rasay, Hilo, pin
Kamaka conquered the most contested division. There were nine entrants in the weight class, six of whom were seeded above him.
Kamaka: “No one expected and unranked kid to win. I just wanted to wrestle my heart out. Just wanted to pin him and finish fast.”
154
Hector Magana, Konawaena, def. Justin Doi, Hawaii Prep, 10-7
Magana scored the last five points of the match in the final 60-seconds-plus, nearly ending it with a pin.
Magana: “I let him go, I let him get that one point, and I took him down, He tried to get out, but I took him down again, and then I took his head and got him into a cradle.
“It feels amazing, realizing all the hard work that I put in.”
162
Jakob Honda, Hawaii Prep, def. Keenan Coupens, Konawaena, pin
Honda: “The sport has been in my family, so my dad and my uncle were big-time wrestlers.”
“I don’t really know” how I picked it up so quick. “I practiced and great coaching.”
172
Isaac Vickery, Waiakea, def. Seth Kim, Hilo, pin
Vickery won his second BIIF title.
Vickery: “It was a lot of sweat, hard work and tears put into it, but it all came out.”
184
Kala Pai, Konawaena def. Brennan Alcos, Hilo, 4-3
Pai: “I used defense for most of the guys that have more strength then me. … I use cardio to my advantage.”
“When BIIFs was right around the corner for us seniors, I saw I was second seed and Brennan was first seed. I didn’t recognize the name at first, but then I realized it’s someone that beat me (before).”
197
Chance Tulang, Hilo, def. Jha Person, Kealakehe 11-6
Tulang: I feel like I accomplished something, and I worked hard to get there.”
“I knew some people were going to be really good, but I just wanted to wrestle my hardest, and put it all out on the mat.”
Goal at HHSAA tournament: “Try to win. If I can’t win, place.”
222
Nehasi Faleofa, Kealakehe, def. Robert Gamble, Keaau, pin
Faleofa: “I was out for a month (finger injury), so I’m kind of excited. I thought it was going to be easier, but he gave me a hard time.”
287
Gasetoto Junior Apisala, Kealakehe, def. Gabby Aiona, HPA, 3-1 overtime
Aiona was called for a late stall, sending the match to sudden-death overtime. Apisala won with a takedown.
Apisala: “I’ve come a long way because I never knew how to wrestle. Thanks to coach Ian (Louis), he taught me some techniques. I owe him a lot.”
GIRLS
99
Seraya Garrido, Hilo, def. Raesha Aurelio, Konawaena, pin
Garrido: “Honestly, it feels weird because this is my first year.”
“I thought (wrestling) would improve my jujitsu, but it turns out I kind of like wrestling more than jujitsu now.”
104
Jeream Estabillio, Hilo, def. Rayne Domingo, Konawaena, pin
Estabillio: “I’ve been wrestling since I was 9. My dad was an MMA fighter. I was always raised on the mats, so I just love to be on the mat.”
Goal at HHSAA tournament: “To be a state champ.”
109
Taylen Babas-Masuno, Hilo, def. Wynter Radey-Morgan, Hawaii Prep, 10-7
Babas-Masuno was protecting a lead late in her match when she was injured. She returned to finish off the win.
Babas-Masuno: “I did what my coach told me do: breathe, sit up and just work.”
“I was doubting myself at first, but in the middle of the match I decided to push through and got what I wanted.”
119
Kawela Takushi, Hawaii Prep def. Xochi Gervais, Hilo, pin
Takushi: “It feels awesome, it feel all the hard work I put in this season really paid off.”
“I never wrestled (Gervais) before, so I was kind of worried.”
124
Aliza Leander, Konawaena, def. Zysha Pavao, Keaau, 9-2
Leander, a senior, beat a wrestler who finished fourth at the 2020 state tournament.
Leander: “It means a lot to me because I was so bad my freshman year. It was terrible. A lot of help from my coaches and team.”
129
Lainey Eckart, Kamehameha, def. Arionna Beatty, Keaau, pin
Eckart improved to 12-0 with her 11th pin, winning wrestler of the year honors.
Eckart: “I was shocked that I got the award. I’ve never got anything like this.”
“I wrestled my match. I tried not to be so scared and wrestled to win.”
134
Luciana Conde-Cadena, Hawaii Prep def. Paige Taasan, Hilo, 5-4
The match was tied in the waning second when Conde-Cadena tried for a one-point escape. Taasan was called for an illegal hand move, giving Conde-Cadena the decisive point with 1 second on the clock.
Conde-Cadena: “Wrestling is the hardest sport I’ve ever done. I’ve had to push myself so much to get to this place. It’s rewarding. It’s one of my greatest accomplishments.”
140
Taylor Furstenwerth, Kamehameha def. Patri Aliaga Maza, HPA, pin
Furstenwerth: I looked for a shot, any opening.”
“I do jujitsu … and wrestling seemed like it would be fun.”
Goal at HHSAA tournament: “Try not to get pinned”
147
Malia Kukahiwa, Hilo def. Lanna Abraham, Kealakehe, pin
Kukahiwa claimed her second BIIF title.
Kukahiwa: “I was kind of nervous, because I had beat (Abraham) before, and they come back stronger every time. But I got it done.”
Goal at HHSAA tournament:: “It would be to take gold, because I have a couple of bets going. In my junior year, I would really like to get a state title. I don’t want to wait until my senior year and stress about it.”
157
Malie Vickery-Mafi, Kamehameha, def. Celeste Bowman Hilo, 11-9, overtime
Vickery-Mafi trailed 8-0 midway through the second period, scoring two points late in the third to force OT. Bowman looked for a takedown, but Vickery-Mafi slipped it and gained top position and the title-clinching two points.
Vickery-Mafi: “I just wanted to stay in the moment. and do what I needed to do and get this.”
Goal at HHSAA tournament: “Kiss some ass.”
170
Jezney Chang, Pahoa def. Kealohi Grace, Kamehameha, 6-1
Chang: “I’m just enjoying the moment. I didn’t think I’d make it this far, this is my first season wrestling.”
When did she realize she could do it?
“Today.”
186
Liliane Toledo, Hilo. def. Siddalee Amaral, Kamehameha pin
Toledo, one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the BIIF if not the state, has made it her season-long goal to win an HHSSA title, just like her sister, Leona, did in 2020. She wasn’t able to gain valuable experience by wrestling the best from Oahu and Maui during the preseason.
Toledo: “Try to make up for it by working harder, pushing, grabbing coaches and just wrestling with them … whoever there is to roll around with.”
227
Elizabeth Warren, Kealakehe uncontested
Warren was the only competitor in her weight class. She spent much of the regular season going up against Toledo.
Warren:“I think it motivated me more, because I went up against a really though wrestler. It helped me improve.”