By Dennis Anderson and Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writers
TANYA MIYASAKI
98 pounds • Castle • Junior
The team’s tri-captain finished the season with a 36-1 record. She placed fourth at the 2000 state tournament at 103 pounds. Miyasaki also competes in judo, in which she won the O‘ahu Interscholastic Association title in 2000.
MELISSA ORDEN
103 pounds • McKinley • Junior
Whether it comes from her background in ballet or from practicing with members of the boys wrestling team, Orden has an "uncanny sense of balance," says her coach Chris Johnson. Orden is a two-time state champion and was named O‘ahu Interscholastic Association East’s outstanding girls wrestler in 2000.
CAYLENE VALDEZ
108 pounds • Moanalua • Sophomore
Valdez, who took up judo while in the 1st grade, is a two-time state champion with an extensive background. In 1999, she placed fourth at the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Tournament. She is 59-0 in Hawai‘i and 73-4 overall. Her older brother wrestled for Roosevelt.
DEANNA LAU
114 pounds • Punahou • Senior
Lau, the team’s co-captain, is a multisport athlete. She competed with Kokokahi Gymnastics until 4th grade and has been a member of Smith Taekwondo in Kane‘ohe since the 7th grade. She became a first-degree black belt in 2000. She took third in states last season. Her cumulative GPA is 3.89.
CATHY MIGITA
121 pounds • Castle • Senior
The senior who was one of the team’s three captains, capped a perfect season by going 38-0 for her second state title. Migita also is ranked No. 8 nationally for wrestling and is a member of the cross country team.
DARA CHING
130 pounds • Pearl City • Junior
Ching comes from a wrestling background. Her father wrestled for Waipahu and coached at Campbell and Pearl City (boys). She finished the season 20-0 after placing second at last season’s states. She also finished second at both the 2000 state wrestling tournament and OIA judo tournament. Her GPA this past semester was 4.0.
STEPHANY LEE
140 pounds • Moanalua • Junior
A two-time state champion, Lee is ranked No. 2, according to U.S. Wrestling Girls Association at 136 pounds. The only loss in her career was earlier this year after a controversial illegal slam against a King Kekaulike wrestler during a preseason tournament. She has also competed in judo for the past nine years.
ASHLEY GASPAR
155 pounds • Nanakuli • Junior
As if this two-time state champion needs any help, her older brother, who graduated in 1999, goes to the school’s gym after work and practices with her. She finished the season 23-0 and has a three-year career record of 65-2. Gaspar has also lettered in football, soccer, volleyball and basketball. Her GPA is 3.5.
GABRIELLE NICHOLAS
175 pounds • Moanalua • Junior
Nicholas was the only unseeded wrestler to win a state title, winning with a two-point, double-leg takedown with nine seconds left for an 8-6 victory. She finished third at the 2000 state championship. Nicholas also competes in judo.
IWALANI FONOIMOANA
220 pounds • Kamehameha • Junior
Despite winning the state title in the 175-pound class, Fonoimoana was seeded third in the tournament. She scored the fastest pin at the state championships (41 seconds).
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