For example, three of the Raiders' Interscholastic League of Honolulu champions — Joleen Oshiro, Kira Tamashiro and Carla Watase — cross-train in that famous combat sport of ... cross country?

"It helped because of all the running and conditioning," said Watase, a sophomore who won the state title at 98 pounds last year and is the No. 1 seed at 103 pounds for this weekend's state tournament. "In both sports, you have to give that last push, and push yourself even when you're tired."

Oshiro pushed herself to a fifth-place finish at last fall's state cross country meet. But she said she enjoys wrestling even more after being talked into trying out two years ago by cross country teammate Tamashiro.

"I didn't know it would be such a challenge, but I just fell in love with the sport and pursued it," said Oshiro, a 4-foot-11 senior who is the No. 1 seed at 108 pounds. "I actually like wrestling better, because in cross country I have to go up against girls of all sizes — tall girls with long legs. In wrestling I can train hard and get better results, because (competition is determined) all according to weight, so you're always competing against people the same size."

It's supposed to be that way, but Tamashiro — the No. 1 seed at 98 pounds — has never been able to reach the maximum weight for her division and usually wrestles at 97 pounds.

"Both sports require a lot of discipline, and you must be focused," said Tamashiro, a senior. "During races, you don't have teammates to jump in and run for you when you're tired, and it's the same thing with wrestling."

Oshiro acknowledged the final half-mile of a cross country race is similar to the late stages of a wrestling match, especially when it comes to mental toughness.

"You've got to finish a move when you get stuck, and find your way out," Oshiro said. "It's just like cross country — you've got to finish it the correct way."

Matthew Ha, who coaches Iolani's girl wrestlers, said he's a believer in the benefits of cross country.

"It really helps out their conditioning, leg power and stamina," Ha said. "Their recovery time is phenomenal."

The Raiders' fourth ILH individual champ, senior Catherine Chan, is more traditional as far as her other sport. She is a two-time state judo champion at 103 pounds and was the runner-up at 108 pounds in last year's state wrestling meet.

Chan is the No. 2 seed at 114 pounds this weekend.

"Cat probably is the most tenacious of the four; she also has the best hips and balance, and that comes from judo," Ha said. "She has a lot of natural ability when it comes to wrestling."

Ha said the other three are unique wrestlers in their own way.

"Kira is the fastest and has good technique, and Joleen has the best strength and conditioning — she'll stay after practice and ask the coaches to keep wrestling," Ha said. "And Carla probably is the best overall wrestler, because she's the one who does it in the offseason, all year 'round."

She's also the only one who already has a state gold medal in wrestling, but even if the other three fall short this weekend, they won't leave Iolani empty-handed.

Oshiro has a 4.0 GPA, scored 1,340 on the SAT and her college hopes are set on Stanford, Harvard, Yale or Princeton. Tamashiro has been class president for the past four years, achieved a 4.0 GPA last quarter and has Claremont-McKenna and Occidental among her college choices.

And Chan carries a 3.5 GPA, with Washington, Southern California, Pacific (Calif.) and UC San Diego among her options.

But first, there is the matter of this weekend's tournament, where the Raider girls will try to set the bar as high as the Iolani boys, who have won 12 team state wrestling championships. The Raiders' girls program is searching for its first team state title, and came up two points short (128-126) to Kamehameha in last weekend's ILH championships.

"Looking at all those (boys team state title) banners every day helps me push and work harder," Watase said.

Chan added, "It's cool to think that it's possible."

GIRLS SEEDS

98 pounds — 1, Kira Tamashiro (Iolani); 2, Candace Sakamoto (Castle); 3, Joyce Transfiguracion (Kealakehe); 4, Krystanlyn Daquep (Baldwin)

103 pounds — 1, Carla Watase (Iolani); 2, Danica Auna (Kahuku). 3, Alyssa Morimoto (Baldwin);. 4, Chastity Kayona (Waiakea)

108 pounds — 1, Joleen Oshiro (Iolani); 2, Vanessa Chavez (Baldwin); 3, Tani Ader (Farrington); 4, Joyce Fong (Kamehameha-Hawai'i)

114 pounds — 1, Sheryl Manglaylay (Lahainaluna); 2, Catherine Chan (Iolani); 3, Lianne Tomishima (McKinley); 4, Amber Williams (Hawai'i Prep)

120 pounds — 1, Shyla Iokia (Baldwin); 2, Lauren Primiano (Punahou); 3, Ashley Poling (Kaiser); 4, Keoniana Flavin-Sylva (Kohala)

125 pounds — 1. Nicole Chorney (Punahou); 2, Danica Kamakana (Moanalua); 3, Natasha Chang (Baldwin); 4, Erenia Michell (Kealakehe)

130 pounds — 1, Kara Takasaki (Punahou); 2, Jackie Baniaga (Waipahu); 3, Merisa Wong (Kealakehe); 4, Punahele Luafalemana (Molo)

140 pounds — 1, Nicole Young (Pearl City); 2, Candice Coratibo (Baldwin); 3, Kiana Parilla (Kamehameha); 4, Ku'ulei Barton (Kealakehe)

155 pounds — 1, Delilah Joung (Waipahu); 2, Lani Visesio (Maui); 3, Maile Nitta (Kamehameha); 4, Penny Rodrigues (Kealakehe)

175 pounds — 1, Leilani Corpuz (Baldwin); 2, Desiree Memea (University High). 3, Stacey Ikawa (Pearl City); 4, Taisha Emmius (Kealakehe)

220 pounds — 1, Hoku Nohara (Kamehameha); 2, Chasity Molina (Wai'ane); 3, Mallorie Chesebro (Kamehameha-Maui); 4, Ashlee Lilo (Farrington)