Kamehameha Schools senior Hoku Nohara became only the second Hawai'i girl to win four individual state wrestling championships last night, but 'Iolani's Carla Watase was denied the same place in history when Farrington's Samantha Batoon earned a stunning 3-2 victory at 108 pounds.

Nohara defeated 'Iolani sophomore Oliva Fatongia, 4-3, in the 220-pound final to join Moanalua's Caylene Valdez (2000-2003) as Hawai'i's only four-time state girls champs. 'Iolani's Patrick Higa (1983-86) and Saint Louis' Jonathan Spiker (2000-2003) and Brandon Low (2003-2006) are the only boys to accomplish the feat.

"This feels awesome," said Nohara, who won all four titles at 220. "Even before my freshman year, I wanted to become a four-time state champ."

For the second straight year, it took a tough victory over Fatongia to make history.

Nohara took a 2-0 lead on a takedown with 29 seconds remaining in the first period, but Fatongia tied it on a reversal 30 seconds into the second period. Nohara then went up 4-2 on a reversal midway through the period. Fatongia closed to 4-3 on an escape with 49 seconds remaining in the match, but Nohara held on for the victory.

"This was the toughest she's ever wrestled," Nohara said. "But I just had to finish it."

Nohara was coming off a knee injury last season and struggled to beat Fatongia. She said the knee was much better this year, but "still not like freshman and sophomore year."

Watase overcame a torn shoulder muscle in 2005 and illness in 2006 to win state titles at 103, but last night she could not overcome Batoon, who helped the Governors win the team championship handily over Kahuku (144 points to 117).

Neither wrestler could take control in a scoreless first period. Batoon took a 1-0 lead on an escape early in the second period, but she was penalized for grabbing Watase's face with 1:19 remaining in the period, tying the match 1-1. Watase opened the third period with an escape to take a 2-1 lead, but Batoon scored on a takedown with 32 seconds remaining for a 3-2 lead. Watase almost tied it with an escape with 15 seconds left, but she was ruled out of bounds. Taking the down position, Watase tried hard to escape but Batoon held strong and Watase went out of bounds again with two seconds remaining. Batoon then held on for the victory.

"I tried my best not to let go," said Batoon, a senior who took third in the state at 103 as a sophomore but quit wrestling early in her junior season. "I knew (at 15 seconds left) it was almost finished, and I didn't come all this way for nothing."

Batoon lost twice in overtime to Watase in the preseason.

"Both matches were really close, so I had a little hope that I could beat her," Batoon said. "My coaches tried to get me mad before the match, because when I'm mad, I play more aggressive."

Watase said she was not able to execute her game plan.

"My coaches were telling me to try to shoot, but I hardly shot at all," Watase said. "I just wrestled really bad."

Farrington coach Darren Reyes said Batoon's victory sparked the rest of the team, which entered the finals with a 20-point lead.

"She had the opportunity to go to 103 this year, but after the first time she wrestled Carla in the preseason, she said, 'I think I can beat her, I want to take her on,' " Reyes said. "I told her it's not going to be easy, beating a three-time state champ, but she was so mature and so determined this year, nothing was going to stop her. She trained harder than any other person."

Reyes said the Govs lost last year's team state championship to Kahuku by eight points, and Batoon could have made a difference. But this time, Farrington left no doubt.

Govs junior Tani Ader, the 2006 champ at 114 pounds, won the 120-pound title last night by pinning Kahuku's Cianah Hee at 2:51. Ashlee Lilo won the 175-pound title by pinning Baldwin's Kailee Andrade at 5:13 of a thrilling back-and-forth match in which she trailed by five points in the first period.

Farrington also got a runner-up finish from Taylor Ibera at 98 pounds, a fourth-place finish by Crystal Kalakau at 155, a fifth-place finish from Jasmine Ahmow-Moeava at 220 and a sixth-place finish by Keala Baricar.

"Crystal was not even expected to place, and she took fourth," Reyes said. "This is only her second year wrestling, and she injured her shoulder. (Baricar) lost in her first match but she came back to take sixth."

At 140 pounds, Punahou senior Kara Takasaki won her third state title by defeating Kalaheo's Stephanie Geltmacher, 14-4. Takasaki won at 130 pounds as a sophomore and at 140 last year.

Also, 'Iolani's Megan Morisada, the 2006 state champ at 108, won the 114-pound title with a victory over Kapolei's Chaelyn Tan.

'Iolani finished third in the team standings with 113.5 points, followed by Punahou (99), Kamehameha (97), Kapolei (75) and Wai'anae (63).

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.