Punahou senior Daniel Chow will have the opportunity to join an elite group of wrestlers that has won three state titles beginning today at the Chevron Wrestling State Championships at Blaisdell Arena.

Matches begin at 11 a.m. and continue through tomorrow. Today's session includes qualifying, preliminary and quarterfinal rounds as well as two consolation rounds.

Chow, who estimated he is 19-0 in Hawai'i this season, won his third consecutive Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship with a 5-0 win over Saint Louis' Keani Nishigaya on Saturday at 145 pounds.

Nishigaya, a senior running back on the Crusaders' state runner-up football team, is a seasoned veteran in his own right. After winning the 130-pound state title as a junior, Nishigaya moved up two weight classes this season.

Chow won as a sophomore at 135 pounds and at 140 last season.

Nishigaya's only two losses this season have come to Chow and many expect a third showdown in the state title match.

"I would think so," said Mililani coach John Robinson, who has coached both wrestlers for Team Hawai'i, a select team.

"Daniel is a smart, tough wrestler. When you watch Daniel wrestle, he seems to pick the right opportunities to score his points," said Robinson.

Chow is the No. 1 seed while Lahainaluna's Ryley Mayo is the second seed. Branen Yamamoto of Moanalua is the third seed and Kealakehe's Alfred Franco is the No. 4 seed. Nishigaya is unseeded.

"That division looks really tough, but I'd expect (Chow and Nishigaya) to make it through (to the final)," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said.

OTHERS AIM FOR TITLES

A number of other wrestlers are back seeking another state crown.

Lahainaluna's Travis Okano, who won a state title at 125 pounds last season, is the top seed at 130. Okano will be contested by No. 2 seed Byron Apo of Kaiser, third seed Ian Akamine of 'Iolani and No. 4 seed Tai Johnson of Konawaena.

Okano's teammate, Lake Casco, moved up to 160 pounds after winning at 152 last year. Casco is the top seed while Pearl City senior Christian Pavo, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, is the No. 2 seed.

Kailua's Lowen Tynanes-Perez, who won at 160 last season while attending Campbell, is the top seed at 171.

"He's pretty much dominated everyone he's wrestled," said Robinson. "I don't know if he's really been pushed too much by anyone this season."

PUNAHOU TEAM TO BEAT

Chow's Buffanblu are the defending team champions and, according to Torres, the team to beat once again.

"Punahou, it's their tournament to lose," he said. "They're stacked from light to heavy and they've got some great seeds."

Only Punahou and Lahainaluna are represented in all 14 weight classes.

"We returned all but two (wrestlers) this season," Chow said.

It's not just the numbers that point to the Buffanblu.

"One of their guys finished second in the state last year," said Torres. "They're so deep, they have so much talent that he's behind someone else (on the depth chart) and didn't even qualify for states. That's how good they are."

In addition to Chow, teammates Reid Oshiro (125 pounds) and Rudie Schaefer (152) are also No. 1 seeds.

Maui Interscholastic League champion Lahainaluna boasts a tournament-best 10 seeded wrestlers. Kamehameha, which has 13 entries, and OIA members Kaiser and Pearl City, which have 11 apiece, also figure to be in the title mix.

"Lahainaluna has a chance," said Robinson. "If they don't get all their guys to the front side (of the bracket), they have to keep their guys alive through the back side."

Torres feels the tightest race may be for second, but Chow remains focused nonetheless.

"Most of us just feel like that was last year and even though people say we're defending state champs, this is a new year," said Chow. "So we're going to focus on what's happening now."

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.