Ten years after Hawai'i became one of the nation's pioneers by holding a wrestling state tournament for girls, the sport is thriving.

But like many girls, O'ahu Interscholastic Association champions and sisters Ren and Joy Yamashita were not immediately swept away by the sport.

"My friend Kristal (Kiyuna) dragged me into it," said Ren, an 'Aiea High senior.

When dad, Gary, jumped in to suggest she might have had an interest in trying the sport anyway, Ren quickly corrected him.

"No — she dragged me," Ren said.

Joy Yamashita, a freshman, said she had to get over the "gross factor" before giving the sport a chance.

"At first I didn't want to," she said, "but then I just wanted to try it."

Last Saturday, the Yamashitas became the first sisters to win OIA individual titles in the same year, according to 'Aiea coach Rick Williams. Ren won the 103-pound crown, and Joy took the gold medal at 114 pounds.

Each will try to win a state championship starting with Friday's preliminary rounds at Blaisdell Arena.

For Ren, just winning the OIA title was a big accomplishment. She participated in judo as a freshman, and then Kiyuna — a state wrestling champ at 130 pounds in 2004 — recruited Yamashita into coming out for wrestling.

Ren took fifth place in last year's league championships and lost to Mililani's Brandie Dela Rama, 4-3, in the OIA Western Division finals two weeks ago. She then edged Dela Rama, 8-6, with a takedown in overtime last Saturday to capture the title.

"I wanted (the OIA crown) more," Yamashita said.

Williams said Ren made great strides from when she started as a sophomore, and especially this season, in which she is 15-1.

"Ren had always been a good wrestler, but until this year she probably was at the 'B' level," said Williams, in his 10th season as 'Aiea's head coach. "This year, she became an 'A.' "

Williams said Joy is a quick study in wrestling and also has natural ability. She lost to Kapolei's Chaelyn Tan, 6-0, in the OIA West finals two weeks ago but came back to defeat Tan, 11-6, in last Saturday's league championships.

"It was evident quite early that Joy was going to be an 'A' wrestler," Williams said. "We started her out on the JV, but she was doing so well, I thought we were just wasting her time having her at that level. Even on the varsity, she didn't lose until the West finals."

Of course, that does not include a 12-5 defeat to sister Ren in the preseason.

When asked why they wrestled each other at 114 pounds, Joy said, "Because she got fat!!"

Despite jabs like that, the sisters limit their sparring matches to the wrestling mat instead of the living room floor.

Gary helps keep things civil in Na Ali'i's program by organizing the parents and running the concession stand during home meets.

"Its a great family," Williams said.

EXTRA POINTS

Hawai'i High School Athletic Association executive director Keith Amemiya said for a long time, Hawai'i and Texas were the only states to hold state tournaments for girls wrestling. Washington recently became the third. "Every year, I'm asked about our program by other states," said Amemiya, who attends at least three or four Mainland conferences a year. "Supposedly California is close to putting one together." ... Kamehameha brothers Kazden and Mykenna Ikehara won Interscholastic League of Honolulu individual championships last Saturday at 215 and 275 pounds, respectively.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.