PHOTOS: BIIF wrestling returns to Kona

Kealakehe girls wrestler Mahie Bailey (left) and Konawaena's Nicole Qina (right) open their match Saturday at Kealakehe High School. (Conor Langs/West Hawaii Today)

Hilo boys wrestler Damian Chitwood (yellow) and Waiakea's Kanale Saunoa (blue) compete on the mat Saturday at Kealakehe High School. (Conor Langs/West Hawaii Today)

Hilo girls wrestler Veronica Welle (yellow) wrestles Kea‘au's Jaylea Freitas-Pavao (blue) during Kealakehe's home meet Saturday in Kailua-Kona. (Conor Langs/West Hawaii Today)

Kealakehe boys wrestling prepares to take the mat on Saturday at Kealakehe High School's gymnasium. (Conor Langs/West Hawaii Today)

KAILUA-KONA — The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) wrestling season reached its midway point Saturday in Kealakehe High School’s gymnasium — hosting all island schools in the weekly boys-and-girls meet. This weekend was additionally the first meet on the west side of the island, drawing a large crowd to watch the young stars compete.