BIIF Wrestling Preview – Kamehameha girls expected to repeat

BIIF season kicks of at WHS on Sat.

It will be a season of rebuilding and mystery, according to several Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestling coaches.

“I spoke with several of the coaches at our coaches meeting and it sounds like many teams, like us, graduated a lot of wrestlers last year and are in the rebuilding stages,” Honokaa coach Dan Whetstone said.

Whetstone believes that there are no clear favorites to win the boys BIIF team title and that Kamehameha has the inside track at winning the girls title.

“The only wrestlers I have returning that have a track record are Jessica Muskat and Geo Chavez-Pardini,” Whetstone said.  “The only girl that Jessica lost to on the island last year has graduated, so she should be the girl to beat in her weight class and she should improve on her sixth place finish from last year’s state tournament.”

Chavez-Pardini suffered a knee injury while working out with a state all star team on Oahu over the summer and Whetstone says that it will be hard to predict what his recovery time table will be.

“We’re hopeful that Geo can regain his previous form by the time league championships roll around, if not sooner,” Whetstone said.

Kamehameha girls return as the BIIF team champions and are lead by senior Rustee Johansen.

Johansen is the BIIF champ at 130 pounds and is a Warrior team captain.

“I stayed in shape by working out during the summer and lifting weights,” Johansen said.  “My goals are to have another successful year and to do better than my fifth place finish at states last year.”

Coach Marlon Miller returns as the Kamehameha girls coach and is looking at several returnees along with a host of new, young talent.

“I’ve been blessed with a great returning squad of young ladies,” Miller said. 

Starting at the 98 pound class Kamehameha returns state champion and two time BIIF champ, Megan Aina.  Aina, along with 11 other Warrior girls began the preseason by competing in the Punahou Girls Invitation on Nov 27 and was very impressive on the mat.

State Champion Megan Aina with Coach Miller

Aina, with teammate Jasmine Iuta, 175, won their weight classes with six other Warriors placing in the Punahou tournament which had over 230 girls competing.

“I still need to practice harder and work harder if I hope to defend for the state title,” a humble Aina said.

Iuta, just a sophomore, won both her matches at Punahou by pin and considered the tournament to be a good momentum builder going into the BIIF season.

“It was great experience for me to come and wrestle on Oahu,” Iuta said.  “We did great as a team and we all benefited from the experience.”

“We did very well at Punahou as we had medalist in eight of the 11 weight classes,” Coach Miller said.  “Punahou looks like the team to beat in the state and Molokai will be the sleeper this year.”

The Warriors have Kanoe Padaken, second in BIIF last season, and the Pohina sisters, Noelle and Pomai returning to the mat.

“Jasmine Iuta, Liana Soares and Sable Marie Young are three more of my returning sophomores that should secure the future of this girls program when I’m long gone,” Miller said.

Miller is also high on Alexia Osburn, saying that she will add to the Warriors strength on the mat.

“I have a total of seventeen girls this year and although that is a great number to have I do have a few weight classes that I am unable to fill,” he said.

Miller believes that this is the best girls recruiting class he has ever had and that they will make a strong bid to repeat as team champions.

On the boys side the Warriors are led by second year coach Brendon Coutot and feature three time BIIF champion, Justin Hirae.

Nalu Kekona-Souza and Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy will anchor a talent squad along with Charlie Aina, Gavriel DeRego and Kema Chin.

“I expect a solid performance from our two other juniors, Jason Roland-Fernandez and CJ Matsuyama,” Miller said.  “We have numerous first year wrestlers that have excelled beyond our expectations as coaches.  The recruitment numbers aren’t quite what we would like them to be, but what we lack in quantity, we more than make up in enthusiasm and determination.”

Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Gary Jarvill returns three boys and three girls from last year’s squad.

“Shannon Samura, Troy Choi and Leila Wong all went to state last year and should do well again this season,” Jarvill said.  “We will be rebuilding and starting from scratch this season with all of the other new wrestlers.”

Keaau Coach Charles Manning chose not to speculate on the Cougar chances this season, saying that it was too early to tell.

“I do not like to speculate this early in the season as to who will be the tops in weight classes as I feel that it is counterproductive,” Manning said.  “As for team expectations we expect to work hard and improve all season long.  I’m sure we will be represented well in the BIIF when championships are on the line.”

The Konawaena Wildcats graduated several key grapplers, but still managed to return some BIIF champions.

“Melissa Dumaguin, a senior, and Tanalei Louis, a sophomore, both return for us, including my son Sage Aoki,” Wildcat coach Mark Aoki said.

Dumaguin won the BIIF crown at 130, while Louis took the 125 division and Aoki battled to victory at 108.

“Some of our BIIF champions may be moving up in weight this season, but we’ll just have to wait to see where they’ll be at,” Aoki said.  “Kona is in a rebuilding year as most of our team is made up of new kids.  I think Kealakehe is in the same situation as us, but Kamehameha seems to have the edge for the girls.”

Kau has a returning sophomore, Keani Mello-Waiaiaole who won the heavyweight, 220 bracket, as a freshman last year.

“Keani will return for us along with two of her sisters and all three should do well,” Trojan coach Kevin Rence said.

Kealakehe, the defending boy’s team champion, is going through their own rebuilding year as the mighty ‘Riders have won seven league championships over a nine year period.

The secret to Kealakehe’s success has come in their ability to be competitive in most or all of the 14 weight classes.

“We have 25 boys out for wrestling this year and I’m hoping we can once again fill all the different weight divisions,” ‘Rider coach Mike Ciotti said.

Leading the way for Kealakehe is defending BIIF champion Tim Eckert in the 215 weight class.

“Tim’s returning for us along with sever boys that placed at the BIIF championships last year,” Ciotti said.  “We’ve won four consecutive boys team titles and we should be competitive in going for our fifth in a row.”

Some coaches failed to return phone calls regarding the upcoming wrestling season which begins on Saturday, Dec. 11, at Waiakea.

BIIF Girls Volleyball, All-Star Selections

BIIF volleyball, St. Joseph vs. Hilo

All-BIIF girls volleyball

EAST HAWAII       First team
Pos. Name Grade School
S Jadelynn Domondon Sr. Ka’u
S Ashia Joseph Sr. Waiakea
RH Katelynne Paleka-Kennedy Sr. Kamehameha
OH Morgan Rapozo Sr. Waiakea
OH Kanoe Salazar Sr. Kamehameha
MB Marley Strand-Nicolaisen So. Ka’u
DS Alyssalyn Buyuan Sr. Waiakea

Second team

S Kanoe Kaaa Sr. Kamehameha
OH Waihilo Chartrand Jr. Hilo
OH Kara Dunn Sr. Pahoa
OH Chynna Loeffler Jr. St. Joseph
OH Ashley Oliveira Sr. Ka’u
OH Abby Rimel Sr. Christian Liberty
MB Anamalia Suesue Jr. Keaau

Honorable mention: Serena Ah Choy (Kamehameha); Brooke Bloomfield (Hilo); Jackie Carter (Hilo); Jacie Chang (Hilo); Jaeneise Cuison (Ka’u); Randi Estrada (Keaau); Hiilei Evans-Bautista (Kamehameha); Destynee Figueroa (Hilo); Kawehi Granito-Wallace (Hilo); Riley Handa (Waiakea); Ariana Kaleo (Waiakea); Schae-Ann Like (Kamehameha); Kuulei Lord (St. Joseph); Kristen Mattos (Christian Liberty); Tasha-Rose Miyataki (Waiakea); Kayla Nishimura (Ka’u); Kaila Olson (Ka’u); Georgia Pirie (St. Joseph); Hazel Tagalicud (Pahoa); Lindsey Thomas (Kamehameha); Haley Thorsen (St. Joseph); Kiersa Pakani-Tsukiyama (Waiakea)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ashia Joseph (Waiakea)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Elijah Navarro (Ka’u)

---

WEST HAWAII       First team
Pos. Name Grade School
OH Jessica Muskat Sr. Honokaa
DS Keilyn Ryusaki Sr. Hawaii Prep
OH Anuhea Wall Sr. Konawaena
OH Jasmine Ward Jr. Konawaena
MB Leeta Grap Jr. Hawaii Prep
MB Erika Kaawa-Akiona Sr. Honokaa
MB Lana Queen Sr. Hawaii Prep

Honorable mention: Huali Alpiche (Honokaa); Lauren Amsbary (Kealakehe); Mackenzie Buckner (Hawaii Prep); Katie Case (Hawaii Prep); Tara Gaumer (Hawaii Prep); Katie Ho (Hawaii Prep); Chyler Imai (Kohala); Kaui Kanekoa (Honokaa); Brooke Kise (Kohala); Chanice Levita (Honokaa); Tanalei Louis (Konawaena); Kalei Lum (Honokaa); Jessica Palu (Konawaena); Chelsea Requelman (Honokaa); Mailani Sills (Parker); Lita Tamoefolau (Konawaena); Chelzie Ulu (Kealakehe); Misilosa Uulopa (Konawaena); Makani Wall (Konawaena

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Leeta Grap (Hawaii Prep)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Sharon Peterson (Hawaii Prep)

Waiakea advances, Honokaa & Kau Falter, HHSAA Volleyball

Division I  at Kamehameha Schools-Maui

Waiakea defeated Castle, 25-19, 21-25, 18-25, 25-19.15-7

 Waiakea advances to play No. 2 seed Kamehameha-Maui in Thursday’s 7 p.m. quarterfinal at KS-Maui.

 Leaders — Waiakea: Morgan Rapozo 13 kills; Ashia Joseph 10 kills, 3 aces; Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiyama 7 kills. Castle: Joshell Lilio 16 kills, Verna Lynch 4 blocks.

New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships

Division II on Oahu             St. Francis def. Kau, 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-13).

ST. FRANCIS STATS- MATCH- hit .305 by way of 35 kills on 82 attempts with 10 errors, 8 aces, 6 errors, 4 blocks, 26 digs

 LEADERS- #1 HARLEE MEYERS- hit .412 by way of 9 kills on 17 attempts with 2 errors, 7 digs, 2 aces

#23 TYLER KALEI MAU- hit .091 by way of 9 kills on 22 attempts with 7 errors, 2 block assists

#7 ANGEL SAVEA- hit .263 by way of 6 kills on 19 attempts with 1 error, 1 ace

#14 ASHLEY SILVA- hit .363 by way of 4 kills on 11 attempts with no errors

 KA’U STATS-MATCH- 20 digs, hit .025 by way of 21 kills on 79 attempts with 19 errors, 4 service aces, 6 service errors, 0 blocks

 LEADERS # 7 JAENEISE CUISON- hit .211 by way of 7 kills on 19 attempts with 3 errors, 5 digs, 1 ace, 2 service errors

#1 JADELYNN DOMONDON- hit .571 by way of 4 kils on 7 attempts with no errors, 1 ace #3 libero KAYLA NISHIMURA- 10 digs

  Hawaii Baptist def. Honokaa, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19)

Hawaii Baptist-  Jami Grumling – 9 kills, 2 blocks  Tiffany Thompson- 7 kills, 3 aces  Kayla Kawamura- 4 aces

Honokaa-  Erika Ka’awa-Akiona- 12 kills, 2 blocks

Jessica Muskat- 6 kills Chanice Levita- 5 kills  Chelsea Requelman- 1 block, 1 ace  Hauli Alpiche- 1 block  Kaui Kanekoa- 1 ace

Honokaa Athletic Awards Presented for 2009-2010

Tialana Greenwell is Female Athlete of the Year

HONOKAA ATHLETIC AWARDS

CHEERLEADING – Most outstanding: Roxanne Daguio- Coach’s award: Briahna Baquiran

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL– Most outstanding: Kaylene Kanekoa, Cheramy Kaneo- Coach’s award: Malia England, Jessica Muskat

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY – Most outstanding: Tialana Greenwell- Coach’s award: Athena Oldfather

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY– Most outstanding: Chris Mosch- Coach’s award: Joshua Robinson

GIRLS SWIMMING– Most outstanding: Karen Honda

BOYS SWIMMING– Most outstanding: Akahei Lazarus –Coach’s award: Brandon Mah

GIRLS CANOE PADDLING– Most outstanding: Patti Conners- Coach’s award: Marguerite Stith

BOYS CANOE PADDLING– Most outstanding: Jacob Keolanui- Coach’s award: Bob Uesi

GIRLS WRESTLING– Most outstanding: Jessica Muskat- Coach’s award: Jade Perreira

BOYS WRESTLING – Most outstanding: Geo Chavez-Pardini   – Coach’s award: Kalai Niau

GIRLS BASKETBALL – Most outstanding: Kaylene Kanekoa, April Cano   – Coach’s award: Maku Torres

BOYS BASKETBALL– Most outstanding: Eddie Morales, Tyler Meyer   – Coach’s award: Kaimana Esquerra

GIRLS SOCCER – Most outstanding: Tialana Greenwell    – Coach’s award: Athena Oldfather, Kealy Witt

BOYS SOCCER – Most outstanding: Sage Johnson   – Coach’s award: Keoni Lindsey

SOFTBALL – Most outstanding: Angel Borges   – Coach’s award: Taylor Salgado-Ganzagan

GIRLS TENNIS – Most outstanding: Monica Carlos   – Coach’s award: Kuulei Kent

BOYS TENNIS – Most outstanding: Alden Aguirre   – Coach’s award: Stephen Clarke

BOYS GOLF – Most outstanding: Rocky Pactol    – Coach’s award: Dillon Slevin

BASEBALL – Most outstanding: Dylan Shiraki    – Coach’s award: Tyler Ortiz

BOYS VOLLEYBALL – Most outstanding: Sage Johnson  – Coach’s award: Zach Tadio, Eddie Morales

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD – Most outstanding: Athena Oldfather  – Coach’s award: Tialana Greenwell

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD – Most outstanding: Joshua Robinson  – Coach’s award: Chayce Moniz

2009-10 TOP HONORS  – Coaches of the Year: Mike Fernandez (volleyball); Maurice Miranda (boys soccer); Fred Lau (football); Josh Abner (cross country)

– Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Eddie Morales – Senior Female Athlete of the Year: Kaylene Kanekoa

– Senior Male Scholar-athlete of the Year: Kalai Niau – Senior Female Scholar-athlete of the Year: Athena Oldfather – Male Athlete of the Year: Sage Johnson     – Female Athlete of the Year: Tialana Greenwell

BIIF Wrestlers do well at HHSAA – photos plus

BIIF Championships top 4 girls in the 155 weight class. K. Lee, KAM, 4th; T. Poch, WAI, 1st; H. Luepkes, HON, 2nd; S. Acia, PAH, 3rd

   Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion at 155 is Waiakea’s Tracey Poch, second from left above.  Poch went on to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association’s state championships and placed second.

BIIF wrestling top 4 in the 175 weight class. S. Doi, HPA, 4th; K. Sutton, KAM, 1st; J. Muskat, HON, 2nd; J. Kahala-Minczer, KEA, 3rd

   BIIF champion at 175, Kamehameha’s Kaopua Sutton, second from left, and BIIF runner up, Honokaa’s Jessica Muskat, went on to place at the HHSAA state championships.  Sutton was 4th and Muskat was 6th.

BIIF top 4 girls in the 114 weight class. A. Hasegawa, WAI, 4th; J. Aina, KAM, 2nd; J. Kahala-Minczer, KEA, 1st, S. Lo, HON, 3rd

   BIIF champion at 114, Kealakehe’s Joylynn Kahala-Minczer, third from left, and runner-up Kamehameha’s Jenna Aina, second left, went onto medal at the HHSAA state championships.  Kahala-Minczer finished fourth and Aina took the sixth place medal.