Pearl City captured the girls division of yesterday's Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Judo Championships at Stan Sheriff Center and, in an unprecedented twist, tied Punahou for first place in the boys' division.

The Pearl City girls finished with 63 team points to beat out Punahou (55). Kahuku (36) finished third, followed by Farrington (35) and Kamehameha (33).

The Pearl City and Punahou boys teams both finished with 74 points, followed by Moanalua (54), Maryknoll (32) and Roosevelt (30).

It was an emotional day for Pearl City head coach Robin Puahala, who watched younger brother Aaron lead a late run by heavyweights to secure a share of the title.

Puahala wiped back tears as his younger brother defeated Matt Tsubota of Lutheran to capture the state title in the 198-pound class. Pearl City won three of the last five matches of the day.

"That's my baby bro," Puahala said later. "When he was a freshman, I forced him to come out for judo and I hoped he would like it. Every year, he's progressed and gotten better, and for him to do it this year, I just can't explain what it feels like."

Aaron Puahala won by ippon using a modified seoi-nage throw.

"I was planning on doing that because I felt that was a weakness of his," he said. "(The championship) is something that I've wanted for four years and I was praying to God for it today."

Christian Pavo battled through a lingering shoulder injury, suffered while playing football for the Chargers, to put an exclamation point on his undefeated prep judo career with a decisive win over Julian Garay of Moanalua in the 161-pound division.

Pavo's fourth state title came via a uchimata sukashi throw midway through the five-minute bout.

After competing in the 178 and 198 weight classes in previous championships, Pavo said he relished a return to the 161 division.

"After going up against heavier guys, (161-pound fighters) feel so light," he said.

Puahala praised Pavo for his willingness to do whatever has been necessary to help the team throughout his career.

"He's a team player," Puahala said. "He's our best player, yet he's done whatever we've asked of him to help the team."

Tyler Lauifi's match with Farrington's Keith Tuilepa proved critical for Pearl City.

Lauifi won the final match of the day with an ippon by side-step and sweep, guaranteeing Pearl City a share of the championship.

Puahala said the win was especially gratifying given that most of his team had no judo experience when they started as freshmen.

"In Pearl City we don't have the judo clubs like other places," he said. "We had to build them up from scratch."

Punahou again helped its cause with first-place finishes by Arnold Toriumi in the 132-pound division and Daniel Chow in the 178-pound class.

Toriumi's face-off with Moanalua's Derron Maki was one of the most anticipated of the afternoon. Toriumi won the tactical match on points, 2 koka to 1.

Chow also won on points, capturing his third state title with a victory over Matthew Ogata of Mililani.

"I wasn't expecting him to catch me, but I was able to keep my cool and pull it off," Chow said.

Chow won despite battling a lingering cold.

Pearl City's girls did not win any individual championships, but earned enough points through high finishes to earn the team championship.

Jessica Domingo (115-pounds), Mei Ling Keiki (172) and Kasey Fujihara (220) earned second-place finishes; Briana Delos Santos (103) placed third.

"Our girls are mostly freshmen and sophomores, but they learned from our seniors last year and they performed well enough to earn us the championship this year," Puahala said.

Farrington's Taylor Ibera turned in one of the most impressive performances of the day.

Ibera, nationally ranked at 98 pounds, returned from the Pan-American Games in Florida (where she was one of only two U.S. competitors to earn a gold medal) at 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning, in time to catch the team bus to the Stan Sheriff Center at 7:30 a.m.

"The day was really hectic but I tried to get as much rest as I could," she said. "I just tried to put it all aside, listen to music, block out everything and find my focus."

Ibera, who hopes to earn a place on the 2012 Olympic judo team, won on points over Punahou's Erin Uehara to capture her third state title.

Like the Puahalas, the Ibera family found much to celebrate yesterday. Ibera's sister, Whitney Elizaga, coaches the Farrington team.

Sophomore Megan Yamaguchi of Kalani won her second state title with a victory over Kahuku's Danica Auna, who had beaten Yamaguchi in the OIA tournament.

"She's a really tough player," Yamaguchi said. "So I knew I had to be mentally tough to win."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

STATE JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS

TEAM

1t, Pearl City 74 points. 1t, Punahou 74. 3, Moanalua 54. 4, Maryknoll 32. 5, Roosevelt 30. 6, Farrington 24. 7, Mililani 23. 8, Kahuku 22. 9, Castle 21. 10, 'Iolani 19. 11, Mid-Pacific 16. 12, Lutheran 15. 13, Leilehua 14. 14, Waiakea 12. 15t, Kailua 9. 15t, Kamehameha-Maui 9. 17, McKinley 7. 18t, Campbell 5. 18t, Christian Liberty 5. 18t, Saint Louis 5. 18t, Word of Life 5. 22t, Damien 3. 22t, Hilo 3. Other participating schools: Baldwin, Kalani, Kamehameha-Hawai'i, Kapolei, Kea'au, Kealakehe, Kamehameha, King Kekaulike, Konawaena, Maui, St. Anthony, University High, Waialua.

INDIVIDUAL

108 pounds: 1, David Terao (MPI). 2, Logan Bucsit (Farr). 3, Jordan Ng (Pun). 4, Cody Fernandez (Roos). 5, Ryan Shito (Moan). 6, Kayden Iwasaki (Mili).

114: 1, Brady Lafourtune (Moan). 2, Aaron Taniguchi (Moan). 3, Sean Tachibana (Mary). 4, Glen Gemain (Lei). 5, Bryson Fukushima (Pun). 6, Richmond Wong (Dam).

121: 1, Brandon Oshiro (Mary). 2, Reid Oshiro (Pun). 3, Justin Davis (KSM). 4, Brad Pena (Roos). 5, Justin Leong (PC). 6, Macky Tachibana (Mary).

132: 1, Arnold Toriumi (Pun). 2, Derron Maki (Moan). 3, Maika Nagata (Pun). 4, Anthony Kwon (Mary). 5, Michael Murakami (WOL). 6, Dillon Cadina (Kah).

145: 1, Nicholas Lum (Roos). 2, Ryan Higa (Waik). 3, Justin Osumi (Moan). 4, Damon Hom Jr. (McK). 5, Jordan Factora (Camp). 6, Jamieson Yoshii (Mili).

161: 1, Christian Pavo (PC). 2, Julian Garay (Moan). 3, Punahele Soriano (Kah). 4, Chad Taniguch (Pun). 5, Nolan Agena (Mili). 6, Brendon Perea (Hilo).

178: 1, Daniel Chow (Pun). 2, Matthew Ogata (Mili). 3, Chad Singchow (PC). 4, Joshua Lee ('Iol). 5, Matthew Chai (CL). 6, Garret Chan ('Iol).

198: 1, Aaron Puahala (PC). 2, Matt Tsubota (Luth). 3, Patrick Sheehan (Pun). 4, Hauoli Jamora (Kah). 5, Michael Kanohokula (Cast). 6, Jaysen Ferreira (Cast).

220: 1, Harvey Fung (Cast). 2, Andy Toyama (PC). 3, Joe Moe (PC). 4, Gerald O'Reilly (Lei). 5, Niklas Streng ('Iol). 6, Kyle Tsubota (Luth).

275: 1, Tyler Lauifi (PC). 2, Keith Tuilepa (Farr). 3, Manako Tuifua (Kail). 4, Michael Morgan ('Iol). 5, Joe Vanvechoven (SL). 6, Jonathan Lautaha (Kah).

GIRLS

TEAM

1, Pearl City 63 points. 2, Punahou 55. 3, Kahuku 36. 4, Farrington 35. 5, Kamehameha 33. 6, 'Iolani 32. 7, McKinley 31. 8, Kapolei 28. 9t, Hawai'i Baptist 23. 9t, Moanalua 23. 11, Baldwin 19. 12, Mililani 18. 13t, Castle 16. 13t, Kalani 16. 15, Kamehameha-Hawai'i 13. 16, Roosevelt 12. 17t, Maui 9. 17t, Mid-Pacific 9. 17t, Waipahu 9. 20, Kaimuki 8. 21t, 'Aiea 7. 21t, Kea'au 7. 21t, Leilehua 7. 24, University High 5. 25t, Campbell 3. 25t, Waiakea 3. Other participating schools: Hilo, Kaiser, Kealakehe, King Kekaulike, Sacred Hearts, St. Francis, Waialua.

INDIVIDUAL

98 pounds: 1, Taylor Ibera (Farr). 2, Erin Uehara (Pun). 3, Sunny Nohara (Kap). 4, Kim Miyamasu (Moan). 5, Hazel Asperin (PC). 6, Jayci Ventura (Camp).

103: 1, Keiko Akamine ('Iol). 2, Heather Omori (Mili). 3, Briana Delos Santos (PC). 4, Sheri Tabion (Kap). 5, Andrina Ramos (Kah). 6, Aryn Meguro (Waik).

109: 1, Brittany Balanay (McK). 2, Marisa Fukunaga (Roos). 3, Macy Yonamine (KS). 4, Kaety Enos (HBA). 5, Kira Hagi (Kap). 6, Kelly Ancheta (PC).