Kamehameha & Kona Girls Teams break into Top 10 HHSAA Wrestling

State Champion Megan Aina with Coach Marlon Miller, photo by CSUAINAJR

1	PUN	Punahou	146.5
2	KAH	Kahuku	144.0
3	KSK	Kamehameha – Kapalama	116.5
4	PEC	Pearl City	112.5
5	AIE	Aiea	99.0
6	KSH	Kamehameha – Hawaii	71.0
7	CAM	Campbell	63.0
8	KON	Konawaena	58.5
9	LAH	Lahainaluna	57.0
10	KLN	Kalani	47.0

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Kamehameha’s Megan Aina Wins State Wrestling Title

Megan Aina, top, won three of four matches at state by pin

   It’s been three long years since a Big Island Interscholastic Federation girl has won a state wrestling title, but that all came to an end this past Sunday as the smallest of eleven weight divisions came up big.

   Kamehameha’s Megan Aina, wrestling in the 98 pound lightweight division, worked her way through two days of competition to win the Hawaii High School Athletic Association individual crown at the Baisdell Arena in Honolulu.

   Aina, a two time BIIF Champion at 98 pounds, needed to get past Punahou’s Erin Uehara in the championship match to claim the first girls state wrestling championship for the BIIF since Kealakehe’s Renee Michell won it in 2007.

   Aina’s final match was a nail-biter as the Warrior sophomore managed to win by a 3-2 decision over Uehara.

   “I was shaken prior to the championship match as I was so nervous,” Aina said after winning the state title.

   Aina scored the first point of the championship match with an escape in the second period and scored two more later in that period with a takedown.

  “I used an arm drag and moved to a single leg snatch to get the takedown,” Aina said.  “I was up 3-0 going into the final round when Erin (Uehara) took me down to make the score tight.”

   Aina’s weight division included 16 girls from around the state and the versatile wrestler pinned all three of her opponents prior to going against Uehara.

   “My sister, Jenna, was very supportive during the tournament,” Aina said.  “I wanted to do well and not disappoint anyone.”

   For Aina to make it to the championship match she needed to get past St. Andrew’s Priory, Meghan Chun, a formidable opponent that beat Aina during last year’s state tournament.

   “Part of Megan’s desire to want to make weight and wrestle in the 98 class was to avenge the lost she had to the St. Andrew’s girl (Chun) that beat her last year,” Kamehameha coach Marlon Miller said.

Honokaa’s Jessica Muskat, 6th at state

Waiakea’s Tracy Poch had the second best finish for the BIIF girls, making it into the championship match at 155 and losing to Punahou’s Kaimana Lundquist by fall at 4:44.

   Konawaena’s freshman, Tanalei Louis made it into the semi finals in the 125 weigh class to win the bronze by defeating Kahuku’s Kristy Rabaino on a 7-1 decision.

   Other BIIF girls medaling at state were:

Konawaena’s Alexandra Aoki, 103, 4^th, Danielle Hubbard, 108, 4^th,

Kealakehe’s Joylnn Kahala-Minczer, 114, 4^th, Jodi Ozaki, 120, 4^th

Kamehameha’s Rustee-Ann Johansen, 130, 5^th, Kaopua Sutton, 175, 4^th and Jenna Aina, 114, 6^th.

Honokaa’s Jessica Muskat, 175, 6^th.   

   Punahou won the girls team title for the second year in a row narrowly edging out Kahuku by 2.5 points.  Kamehameha-Hawaii finished sixth and Kona eighth to claim high honors for BIIF teams.

Kona’s Sage and Alexandra Aoki both finished fourth at state

“This was the best finish by any Kamehameha-Hawaii team as we previously finished 11^th once and 12^th last year,” Coach Marlon Miller said.  “I’m very proud of all our girls as they worked hard and served as good training partners for each other.”

   “I’m happy with our finish, but there were still five schools ahead of us and with the talent we have coming back next year we will focused on trying to win it all,” Miller said.  “Our girls are a really tight unit and with mainly freshmen and sophomores the Big Island should be worried about us next year.”

   In the boys division it was Kona’s Jimmy Romualdo in the 135 weight class that made it into the championship match.  Romualdo took the runner up spot when he defaulted his match to Kamehameha-Oahu’s Jacob Luning-Hoshino.

  Honokaa’s three time BIIF champion, Geo Chavez-Pardini, 160, lost his opening match during day one trials, but worked his way through the consolation bracket to win a 5^th place medal.

  Other BIIF boys winning medals were:

Hawaii Prep’s Keoni Colson, 152, 6^th.

Kamehameha’s Nalu Souza, 120, 4^th.

Kona’s Sage Aoki, 108, 4^th.

Honokaa’s Chris Reed, 285, 4^th.

   Punahou easily won the boys team crown for the fourth year in a row with 240 points with second place Kamehameha-Oahu scoring 186.5.  The top BIIF team was Kona who finished in 15^th place.

   Forty-two schools, representing five leagues, participated in the two day tournament which needed to be postponed on Saturday due to the Tsunami Alert.