Kealakehe wrestling coach Ivan Louis was NOT drawing any sweeping conclusions from the Waveriders’ performance Saturday at Hilo High. ADVERTISING Kealakehe wrestling coach Ivan Louis was NOT drawing any sweeping conclusions from the Waveriders’ performance Saturday at Hilo High. Regular-season
Kealakehe wrestling coach Ivan Louis was NOT drawing any sweeping conclusions from the Waveriders’ performance Saturday at Hilo High.
Regular-season meets differ in format, and the results of the bracket-style setup did little to dispel the popular thought that defending champion Kealakehe is the team to beat on the girls side, with Kamehameha being a strong contender.
And if results are to be taken at face value, parity reigns on the boys side, and Waiakea could be an up-and-comer.
Louis and Kamehameha coach Keith Laeha, however, didn’t see the tournament as a sneak preview of the BIIF championships.
“Still a long way to go, and we’re just trying to build our wrestlers right now,” Louis said. “I feel a little better about the approach we are taking and that the kids are getting it.
“I have to stay humble, because that’s what I tell my kids.”
The Kealakehe girls posted five of the 12 division winners: Charlotte Taylor (112 pounds), Gionne Aniban-Morse (138), Tianna Avanilla (155), Lele Meeker (184) and Roxie Umu (225).
Taylor is a two-time BIIF champion, the first coming at Honokaa, while Aniban-Morse and Umu are defending champs.
Avanilla and Meeker, meanwhile, have their work cut out for them because of opponents is in their weight class. Avanilla will eventually have to get through Kamehameha’s Kayla Araki, a three-time champion, while Meeker likely will drop down to 168, where Keaau’s Ivory Ayers is the two-time champion.
“That’s OK, because I teach my kids not to worry about who they are going up,” Louis said. “Just compete with heart.
“We want to be as competitive in as many divisions as we can.”
Meeker can move down because Louis likes the potential of Myra Liufau at 184.
The most anticipated match of the day was the third – and perhaps last – meeting this season between Araki and Ayers. With the match tied 4-4, Ayers was trying to turn over her opponent over and go for a pin when Araki hurt her shoulder and couldn’t continue.
Laeha said Araki looked better at practice Monday, and she’s only about 2 pounds from getting down to the 155 threshold.
Ayers ended up winning her bracket Saturday, Hilo had winners in Lilia Campbell (102) and Asi Holika (145), Konawaena’s Jordan Losalio Watson took the 132 class and the Warriors put three in first place: Ashley Falces (107), Halle Souza (117), Chevelle Bertalmann (122).
“I liked our potential,” Laeha said. “The girls came out with a with fire and carried themselves well.”
He echoed Lewis’ sentiments.
“We’re just trying to improve day by day,” Laeha said. “Trying to stay focused and with high intensity.”
Kamehameha has five returning boys BIIF champions, and two of them won divisions Saturday in Ka‘au Estrella (138) and Brendan Figueroa (170).
Kealakehe claimed four divisions, two were no surprise in defending league champions Kobby Faldones (106) and Elison Galanto (126), but the bigger surprise might have been Waiakea, which also had four wrestlers capture a class.
Peter Matsuura, a BIIF runner-up last season at 138, took first at 160, and the Warriors thrived in the lower divisions, getting wins from freshman Caleb Shimaloea (113), Johnny Tunfai (120) and Anson Spain (132).
Kealakehe’s other winners were Malosi Abraham (182) and Radon Miles (195), Konawaena’s Everett Bettencourt claimed 152, and Izik Nakamasu (145) and Chris Kubota (220) each won for Hilo.
Kubota was a runner-up last season at BIIFs, and he’s also a threat on the judo mat, taking silver at the HHSAA championships in 2016.
