By KEVIN JAKAHI By KEVIN JAKAHI ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports writer HONOLULU — Kamehameha senior Megan Aina’s collection of medals is now complete and she is in rare company among Big Island Interscholastic Federation standouts. She pinned Kapolei’s Shanelle Ramelb in
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
HONOLULU — Kamehameha senior Megan Aina’s collection of medals is now complete and she is in rare company among Big Island Interscholastic Federation standouts.
She pinned Kapolei’s Shanelle Ramelb in the 103-pound division at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state judo championships on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center, winning gold and filling the only void in her trophy case.
Aina has eight BIIF titles for judo and wrestling, all gold medals through her four years. It’s perfection across the board against Big Island competition. As good as it gets.
As for wrestling at states, she won gold as a sophomore, grabbed bronze in March and placed sixth and fifth as a freshman and junior, respectively.
It was Aina’s last at-bat for a gold medal in judo at states, after picking up bronze the last three years. If there was pressure, she knocked it out of the park. She won in dominant fashion.
A judo match is five minutes. Aina needed only 1 minute and 3 seconds to get the job done.
“It was a low throw. I rolled her over, grabbed her arms and held her as tight as I could to get the pin,” she said. “I can’t believe it. It doesn’t feel like I won it. I just wanted it.”
Then a flood of emotions overwhelmed Aina, who started back-tracking her memory to all those bronze medals, falling short for her missing gold, and aspiring to fulfill a goal under the watch of her parents, Charlie and Jamie, and her coach and sister Jenna.
“All those years I got third and I really wanted it because my sister, team and parents are here,” she said. “They’re all supportive and knew I could do it.
“At first I hoped I would win. Then I made it my goal after all those tries of failing and wondering what I was doing wrong. I’ll always remember the experience of winning.”
It didn’t come easy either.
A week before the state wrestling championships she dislocated her left shoulder. That’s the side of her favorite throw for judo. She switched her throws to her right and used that side to floor Ramelb.
She credited her former Shudokan Judo Club coach Gregg Yonemori for teaching her basics and tactics and Hilo Hongwanji Judo Club coach Craig Kurakuzu for refining her technique and mental toughness. Her sister, the first-year Kamehameha coach, also helped in a huge way.
“She tells me straight up what I need to work on and she’s there for me 24/7. She did goal setting with the whole team,” Aina said. “She got us working hard. The whole team improved. Last year, I was the only one in the championships (playing for first place). This year we had four (Aina, Nissi Flores-Jumalon, Kailey Lapenia and Ikaika Villanueva).”
Flores-Jumalon (154) took fifth, Lapenia (172) fourth and Villanueva (145) third. It was a good haul for the Warriors, especially for Aina. There’s finally a sense of completion for her.
“It was my last chance. I just took each match one a time,” said Aina, who won four matches on the day. “I never underestimated anyone, especially because it was my last chance. It was self-motivation. Nobody pushed me harder than myself.”
