Saint Louis, Kahuku lead team standings

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

An extremely tight race in the team standings and upsets in the 112-pound division highlighted the opening rounds of the Data House Boys State Wrestling Championships yesterday at Blaisdell Arena.

Saint Louis leads the boys competition with 76.5 team points, followed by Iolani (76) and Kamehameha (70). All three schools have several wrestlers still alive to score points in today's final rounds.

In the girls competition, Kahuku has built a comfortable 28.5-point lead in the team standings over Moanalua, and three-time champion Caylene Valdez (114 pounds) of Moanalua easily advanced to the semifinals with a quarterfinal pin in 56 seconds.

Likewise, three-time champion Jonathan Spiker (152) of Saint Louis easily won his quarterfinal by technical fall. Valdez is attempting to become the first girl and Spiker just the second boy to win four state titles.

Some of the best action was in the boys 112s, where only one seeded wrestler remains in the championship bracket. No. 2 Blain Ling of Kaiser was upset by Moloka'i's James Blair 4-1 in the qualifying round, and Roosevelt's Scott Sasaki edged No. 1 Mikail Higa of Waiakea 6-5 in the quarterfinals. Also in the quarters, Kahuku freshman Daniel Morita pinned No. 4 Bailey Ball of Lahainaluna with eight seconds remaining in the match.

No. 3 Brandon Low of Saint Louis advanced to the semis to face Waipahu's Channon Chevalier, who defeated Blair 14-6.

Today's best semifinals might be at 130 pounds. No. 1 seed Ben Wilmore of Saint Louis will meet Hilo's Jon Fisher, who pinned No. 4 Dustin Smith of Lahainaluna at 5:41. In the other semifinal, No. 2 seed Emile Suehiro of McKinley faces Iolani's Brent Kakesako, who defeated No. 3 Joe Duley of Pahoa.

Suehiro and Kakesako wrestled each other in last year's 125 final, with Kakesako winning. Wilmore was last year's champion at 112.

Girls

Team Standings

Kahuku 79, Moanalua 50.5, Farrington 48, Kamehameha 48, Baldwin 36.5, Punahou 31, Hilo 30, Kealakehe 1, Waiakea 18, Wai'anae 18, Leilehua 17, Iolani 16.5, 'Aiea 16, Pearl City 14, Kaiser 13, Hawai'i Baptist 12.5, Roosevelt 12, King Kekaulike 11, Radford 11, Kapolei 1, Mililani 10, Kailua 9, McKinley 9, Waipahu 7, Hawai'i Prep 5, Lana'i 5, Castle 4, Campbell 3, Kalaheo 3, Kohala 3, Lahainaluna 3, Maryknoll 1, Honaka'a 0, Kaimuki 0, Kalani 0, Ka'u 0, Konawaena 0, La Pietra 0, Laupahoehoe 0, Lutheran 0, Maui 0, Mid-Pacific 0, Molokai 0, Nanakuli 0, Pahoa 0, Sacred Hearts 0, St. Francis 0, University 0, Waialua 0.

Semifinal pairings

• 98 pounds — No.1 Venus Bravo (Moa) vs. No.4 Shaeylene Kamakaala (KS); Amanda Aquio (Kah) vs. Angelee Homme ('Aiea).
• 103 pounds — No.1 Sadie Kaneda (Roos) vs. Jolene Oshiro (Iol); Nicole Fonda (Kah) vs. No.2 Naomi Karlen (Pun).Ê
• 108 pounds — No.1 Elizabeth "Kapua" Torres (Kah) vs. Vanessa Chavez (Bald); Cassandra Bohe (Moa) vs. No.2 Mauri Terao (Pun).
• 114 pounds — No.1 Caylene Valdez (Moa) vs. Rosylynn Maiava (Kah); Tamitha Hufana (Farr) vs. Debbi Sakai (Mili).Ê
• 121 pounds — No.1 Leilani Relator (Kah) vs. Krislyn Mostoles (Waik); Danyelle Hedin (Kail) vs. Shyla Iokia (Wai'anae).Ê
• 130 pounds — No.1 Jazmine Cockett (KS) vs. Schell Patterson (KK); No.3 Ashlee Estioko (Kah) vs. No.2 Jasmine Norman (Keala).Ê
• 140 pounds — No.1 Kehau Kamauoha (Kah) vs. No.4 Shana Simons (Waik); Chanel Meletia (HBA) vs. No.2 Robyn Mizuno (Pun).Ê
• 155 pounds — No.1 Selina Perez (Bald) vs. No.4 Keisha Siliga (Hilo); Mailei Nitta (KS) vs. No.2 Ku'uini Johnson (Rad).
• 175 pounds — No.1 Leolani Corpuz (Bald) vs. No.4 Ashley Truchan (Hilo); No.3 Laosamoa Misa-Uli (Farr) vs. No.2 Tilana Kawaa (KS).Ê
• 220 pounds — No.1 Tania Liufau (McK) vs. No. 4 Edna Talo (Kap) ; No. 3 Merita Lavae (Lei) vs. Chastity Molina (Wai'anae)

Boys

Team Standings

Saint Louis 76.5, Iolani 76, Kamehameha 70, Kahuku 55.5, Punahou 41.5, McKinley 40.5, Waipahu 38, Castle 37, Lahainaluna 30, Kaiser 29, Baldwin 28.5, Farrington 28, Hana 28, Hilo 28, Moanalua 26, King Kekaulike 25, Waiakea 25, Pearl City 23, Konawaena 21.5, Kealakehe 20, 'Aiea 17.5, Roosevelt 16.5, Moloka'i 12, Leilehua 11, Mid-Pacific 11, Campbell 8, Hawai'i Prep 8, Pahoa 6.5, Damien 6, Maui 4, University 4, Hawai'i Baptist 4, Kalaheo 3, Mililani 3, Waialua 3, Wai'anae 3, Kalani 2, Kohala 2, Radford 1, Academy of the Pacific 0, Christian Academy 0, Honoka'a 0, Ka'ahumanu Hou 0, Kailua 0, Kaiumki 0, Kapolei 0, Kea'au 0, Nanakuli 0, St. Anthony 0, Word of Life 0, Ka'u -1.

Semifinal pairings

• 103 pounds — No.1 Bricen Yakabe (Kais) vs. Diamond Allen-Okimoto (StL); Nicholas Reyno (Waip) vs. No.2 Aaron Ishikawa (Iol).
• 112 pounds — Scott Sasaki (Roos) vs. Daniel Morita (Kah); No.3 Brandon Low (StL) vs. Channon Chevalier (Waip).Ê
• 119 pounds — No.1 Lawrence Thain (McK) vs. Bryson Vivas (Kah); No.3 Aaron Fernandez (KS) vs. No.2 Kodi Shepley (Bald).
• 125 pounds — No.1 Nicholas Galloway (Waik) vs. Jared Wakayama (Iol); No.3 Shawn Tsutsumi (Cast) vs. No.2 Riley Kitamura (Pun).Ê
• 130 pounds — No.1 Ben Wilmore (StL) vs. Jon Fisher (Hilo); Brent Kakesako (Iol) vs. No.2 Emile Suehiro (McK).
• 135 pounds — No.1 Owen Yonehara (Iol) vs. Brook Bohlen (Moa); Sammy Kaneshiro (StL) vs. No.2 Desmond Thain (McK).Ê
• 140 pounds — No.1 Rene Suehiro (McK) vs. No.4 Raymond Akoi (Lah); Brian Denny (PC) vs. Richard Harris (Molo).
• 145 pounds — No.1 Kevin Takasaki (Pun) vs. Trenton Mericle (Aiea); Kyle Muraoka (Iol) vs. No.2 Waylen Mata-Eseri (Farr).Ê
• 152 pounds — No.1 Jonathan Spiker (StL) vs. No.4 Ryan Tuzon (Bald); No.3 Joel Bareng (Moa) vs. No.2 Ray-Ian Transfiguracion (Kona).Ê
• 160 pounds — No.1 Mike Wheeler (KK) vs. Bradley Nagasako (Iol); No.3 Martin Kaslausky (KS) vs. No.2 Collin Mansanas (Cast).
• 171 pounds — No.1 Judd Vincent (KS) vs. Scott Shinsato (Cast); No.3 Lokahi Aipia (Kah) vs. No.2 C.J. Elizares (KK).
• 189 pounds — No.1 Patrick Stachel (KS) vs. Michael Rabaino (Kah); Riley Schmidtke (MPI) vs. No.2 Jody Kristofferson (Hana).Ê
• 215 pounds — No.1 Noah Amba (KS) vs. Tobey Kaaiai (PC); Vincent Scott (StL) vs. No.2 Noah Palmerton (Moa).Ê
• 275 pounds — No.1 Rory Jones (Lei) vs. No.4 Blake Mokiao (Hilo); Michael Lafaele (Farr) vs. No.2 Frank Fernandez (StL).