ISLE FILE
Lee loses wrestling match at World Championships
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i's Stephany Lee, a three-time state high school champion, lost in the first round of the women's freestyle wrestling World Championships yesterday in Tokyo.
Five-time world champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan beat Lee, 1-0, by fall in the 72-kilogram (158.5 pounds) match. Lee, a 2002 Moanalua High graduate, was eliminated from further competition when Hamaguchi was upset by China's Yan Hong in the semifinals.
Three months ago in Greece, Lee won a gold medal to lead the U.S. to the team title at the University World Championships.
SURFING
UEMURA WINS IN JAPAN
Kekoa Uemura of Honolulu won the longboard division of the Hyunga Pro men's surfing contest Sunday at Okuragahama Beach, Miyazaki, Japan.
Uemura dominated the final, receiving scores of 9.25 (out of 10) and 8.0 for his two best waves. He defeated Japan's Kenji Miyauchi, 17.25-12.85, to win $1,600.
Jason Shibata of Pearl City was also a standout at the contest, even though he did not win. He placed second in the shortboard division and third in the longboard division.
In the shortboard final, Japan's Shota Nakamura edged Shibata, 12.75-12.5.
Shibata earned a total of $3,000 — $2,500 for second place in shortboards, and $500 for reaching the semifinals for longboards.
TEEN CLAIMS ASP TITLE
Fourteen-year-old Tyler Wright of Australia made history Sunday, becoming the youngest surfer to win an ASP World Tour contest.
Wright won the Beachley Classic women's contest at Manly Beach, Australia.
She defeated Brazil's Silvana Lima in the final, 13.64-12.84.
Hawai'i surfers Megan Abubo and Melanie Bartels were eliminated earlier in the week.
PADDLING
LUSSIAA PLACES SECOND
Thibert Lussiaa of the Big Island placed second in the elite division of the Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle contest last weekend at Dana Point, Calif.
The 7.5-mile race for stand-up paddleboarders drew around 350 competitors.
Chuck Patterson of California paddled to victory, and received $10,000. Lussiaa won $5,000.
Aaron Napoleon of Pearl City placed third and received $2,500.
Hawai'i paddlers dominated the women's division, taking the top five places. Jenny Kalmbach from the Big Island took first place and $2,500.
Candice Appleby was second followed by Morgan Hoesterey, Tiare Lawrence and Jennifer Koki.
