KEALAKEKUA — The perfect storm brewed for Konawaena in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Wrestling Championships on Saturday in the south Kona district.
Both the boys and girls teams captured island titles in front of thousands packed inside the green and white’s Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium — with the boys scoring 244.0 cumulative points and the girls 219.5.
The Wildcats boys, who captured their first BIIF Championship since 2007 just one year ago, made sure to replicate that same success in 2024. The squad beat out second-place Hilo by a whopping 29 points.
Individually, Kona’s Akea Cariaga defeated Waiakea’s Richie Wolf in the 144-pound championship match, while teammate Sunny Espinoza won the 150-pound division over Waiakea’s Kanale Saunoa. Wildcats’ star Race Moxley beat KS-Hawai‘i’s Kanai Lyons-Kaleo in the 175-class title match. Nick Maira won Kona’s final individual division in the 190 class over Kealakehe’s Jhalil Pearson.
Other notable west-side podium finishers included Nehasi Faleofa winning the 285-pound class (Kealakehe) and Teyon Bailey claiming gold in the 215 division (Kealakehe). For schools on the windward side, KS-Hawai‘i and Hilo dominated the earlier weight classes, as Kainalu Kaku (KS-Hawai‘i) won the 113 division, Charles Hao (KS-Hawai‘i) the 120 division, Kehaupio Pratt (KS-Hawai‘i) the 126 class, Jet Miyahara (Hilo) the 132 class and Kaizehya Mateo (Hilo) in the 138 division.
In the girls competition, Konawaena beat Hilo by 23 total points. Ava Regan won the first individual title for the Wildcats in the 120-pound class, beating Waiakea’s Lauryn Shikuma in the title match. In the 125 class, Shakira Ortiz beat KS-Hawai‘i’s Taliya Nishida for the crown. Kona then had Kaiale‘a Manzo win the 140-pound title over Kea‘au’s Samantha Uta.
Another notable west-side finisher included Emaliamaluhialani Emmsley of Kealakehe, who won the 235 class over Kona’s Franchesca Williams. Hilo as runner-up had five first-place individual finishers — Taylen Babas-Masuno (105), Jeream Estabilio (110), Maile Hunter (135), Paige Taasan (145) and Veronica Welle (Hilo).
The official team results can be found below. The full individual results will be shared in Wednesday’s paper.
The 2023-24 Texaco/Hawaii High School Athetic Association (HHSAA) Wrestling Championships will be held Friday and Saturday in Oahu’s Cannon Activities Center.
Team results
Boys
1. Konawaena – 244.0 points
2. Hilo – 205.0 points
3. KS-Hawai‘i – 202.5 points
4. Kealakehe – 182.0 points
5. Waiakea – 158.0 points
6. Kea‘au – 69.0 points
7. Pahoa – 37.0 points
8. Ka‘u – 32.0 points
9. Kohala – 28.0 points
10. Laupahoehoe – 22.0 points
11. HPA – 14.0 points
Girls
1. Konawaena – 219.5 points
2. Hilo – 196.5 points
3. Kealakehe – 161.5 points
4. KS-Hawai‘i – 123.0 points
5. Waiakea – 68.0 points
6. HPA – 57.0 points
7. Pahoa – 48.0 points
8. Laupahoehoe – 41.0 points
9. Honoka‘a – 30.0 points
10. Connections – 19.0 points
10. Ka‘u – 5.0 points