Saint Louis' Spiker becomes four-time state champion
By Wes Nakama and Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writers
Photos by Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Patrick Higa now has company atop the list of Hawai'i's greatest high school wrestlers.
Iolani's Aaron Ishikawa maneuvers while taking on Kaiser's Bricen Yakabe in the boys' 103-pound title match. Ishikawa won by a pin.
Saint Louis School's Jonathan Spiker last night joined Higa, a 1986 Iolani graduate, as the only four-time state boys champions in 38 years of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association tournament by defeating Konawaena's Ray-Ian Transfiguracion 17-6 at Blaisdell Arena.
Iolani won the team title with 180.5 points, pulling away from defending champion Saint Louis (167) and last year's runner-up Kamehameha (132). The Raiders entered the final rounds with a 156.5-146 lead over Saint Louis.
Although Spiker, a one-time champion at 135 and a two-time champion at 145, did not get a pin last night at 152, he showed the consistent and relentless form that helped him finish with a 142-0 career record.
He led only 2-0 in the first period after a takedown 15 seconds into the match. But Spiker stretched the lead to 10-3 in the second period with a series of takedowns and controlled the third period to win comfortably.
"It feels great just the same," Spiker said. "He was a new opponent; he had placed before and I had heard about him but I never wrestled him. I wasn't sure what to expect. I wish the match ended in 30 seconds, but I was just taking it slow and I didn't want to get over-excited. I was cautious."
Thirteen boys have won three state championships. But until last night, only Higa, who finished his career at 119-0 with state titles at 105, 112 and 119 pounds, won four.
Saint Louis' Jonathan Spiker takes control against Konawaena's Ray-Ian Transfiguracion.
Higa's name has been listed alone at the bottom of a page in the HHSAA program honoring past three- and four-time champions.
Next year, Spiker's name will be next to Higa's.
"That'll be so cool; we always buy the book every year and keep it as a souvenir," Spiker said. "I'm relieved, I'm so happy it's over. It's always been a goal."
The next person eligible for that goal is Saint Louis freshman Brandon Low, who won the 112-pound title last night with an 8-4 victory over Kahuku freshman Daniel Morita.
Spiker, who received words of advice from Higa a year ago, now has some for Low.
Baldwin’s Kodi Shepley has McKinley's Lawrence Thain in pain during the boys 119-pound final. Shepley won, 12-0.
"I'd tell him just take it one match at a time, one year at a time," Spiker said. "If he does that, he should be fine."
Iolani won the team title with the help of four individual champions.
"We went 7-3 in the last round," Raiders coach Yoshi Honda said. "That's a tribute to our guys staying focused and working so hard."
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Baldwin's Kodi Shepley celebrates winning the 119-pound class. Shepley defeated McKinley's Lawrence Thain by a score of 12-0.
Iolani's Aaron Ishikawa, center, embraces both of his coaches, Yoshi Honda, left, and Brandon Ito, right, after winning the boys 103-pound class.
Saint Louis wrestling coach Todd Los Banos talks with Jonathan Spiker, after Spiker won the 152-pound class. Spiker defeated Konawaena's Ray-Ian Transfiguracion, 17-6.
