BIIF judo: Keaau girls continue gold rush

There’s more icing on the cake for Keaau’s historic girls judo season with BIIF championship repeats on Saturday by Cherish Harris and sisters Ebony and Ivory Ayers.

Ebony, a junior, claimed her second league gold at 220 pounds while Ivory, a sophomore, won at 172 after jumping a weight from 154 a year ago.

Harris took over at 154 and grabbed first place. The Cougar senior was the BIIF champ at 139 pounds last year.

Mikele Pokakaa, a sophomore, was the fourth Cougar to bring home a BIIF gold at 122 pounds. She was fourth at 109 last season.

The celebration at Waiakea High’s gym didn’t stop there. The Cougars batted 4 for 10 in winning their weight classes.

The top two finishers qualify for the HHSAA state championships May 9 on Oahu, where Keaau will send an additional four judoka.

Aileen Umayas (98 pounds), Candace Castillo (103), Ilima Kepano-Ferreira (109), and Briana Agliam (220) picked up BIIF silver and a spot to states as well.

A week ago at Konawaena’s Ellison Onizuka Gym, the Cougars took down defending champion Hilo to claim the school’s first BIIF team crown.

Keaau’s day got off to a good start with Pokakaa winning gold with an ippon. The reward is her first trip to states; she also wrestled at 117 pounds and took fourth at BIIFs.

“It feels really good,” she said, then shifted to last week. “Our team was so close last year against Hilo. This year to win the team title felt really, really good.”

BIIF judo titles are old hat for Ivory and Ebony Ayers. So they went out for wrestling and won titles, Ivory at 168 pounds and Ebony at 220. They were fourth and fifth at states, respectively.

“If someone doesn’t do great, then we push them to do better next time,” Ebony said. “We do that with all my teammates, but mostly with my sister.”

Funai’s threepeat

Hilo senior Katie Funai has been pretty successful as a late bloomer. She picked up judo as a sophomore, and has three BIIF golds to her credit.

She won the 109 weight class for the second time. Last year, she went to the 115 division. The third one came with butterflies.

“I was really nervous,” Funai said. “I really wanted gold. I listen to my coaches all the time and keep my ears open. I want to work extra hard and place at states.”

Her best finish is fourth at the BIIF wrestling championships in March. Funai has two BIIF golds and a silver in wrestling.

Araki’s extra work

Kamehameha sophomore Kayla Araki is building a medal collection like Funai.

Araki won her first BIIF judo crown at 129 pounds. Last year, she sat out with a concussion.

Behind her smile, the Warrior operates under a blanket of toughness. She’s a two-time BIIF wrestling champ at 132 and 140 pounds.

In March, Araki took bronze at the state wrestling championships in the competitive 132-pound weight class.

Her first judo gold may have been tougher. That’s because she was 144 pounds a week ago. Araki had to cut weight in a hurry.

“I just made it,” she said. “It was a lot of vegetables and running, in the morning, after practice and before practice.

“I worked really hard, and I worked on my technique.”

She’ll be a lonely Warrior at states. No else from Kamehameha qualified.

It wasn’t that much of a surprise. After all, it was a highlight day for the Cougars, who only lose Harris as a BIIF champ and will be hungry for more next year.

98 pounds

First place: Teiala Bartholome, Hilo

Second: Aileen Umayas, Keaau

Third: Mina Acosta, Waiakea

Fourth: Jamille Maltezo, Konawaena

Fifth: Mingxia Hawkins, Kealakehe

103

First: Liann Yamamoto, Waiakea

Second: Candace Castillo, Keaau

Third: Gabrielle Tabbada, Kealakehe

109

First: Katie Funai, Hilo

Second: Ilima Kepano-Ferreira, Keaau

Third: Teura Slade, Kealakehe

115

First:Kyana Shimabuku, Waiakea

Second: Isabelle Tayo, Kealakehe

Third: Maelin Tamashiro, Keaau

Fourth: Brianne Au, Keaau

Fifth: Lynn Yellen, Waiakea

122

First: Mikele Pokakaa, Keaau

Second: Katie Lee, Waiakea

Third: Charlotte Taylor, Kealakehe

Fourth: Tessa Kishigawa, Hilo

Fifth: Cheyenne Kelekoma, Kealakehe

Sixth: Destiny Morrell, Konawaena

129

First: Kayla Araki, Kamehameha

Second: Shamma Nakama, Waiakea

Third: Hannah Perriera, Hilo

Fourth: Ellienne Alonzo, Keaau

139

First: Cassandra Tongpalan, Hilo

Second: Anne Roth, Waiakea

154

First: Cherish Harris, Keaau

Second: Shylee Leach, Kealakehe

Third: Shanaya Astrande, Keaau

172

First: Ivory Ayers, Keaau

Second: Kaila-Joy Mahoe, Waiakea

220

First: Ebony Ayers, Keaau

Second: Briana Agliam, Keaau

Third: Shaynne Flores-Carvalho, Ka’u

* Top two qualify for HHSAA state championships May 9 on Oahu