BIIF Track & Field Results from Final Regular Season Meet at Keaau

Kaitlyn Chock led the 800 run, but lost to Keaau's Deann Nishimura- Thornton by 1/100th of a second

BIIF Last Chance Qualifier          Kea’au High School  – 5/1/2010                             Kea’au HI
Girls 100 Meter Dash Finals:
 1. Kuuipo Nakoa, Hawaii Prep, 12.88; 2. Randi Estrada, Keaau, 13.26; 3. Bronte Kaneakua, Kamehameha HI, 13.51; 4. Alyssa Hoshida, Hilo, 13.52; 5. Ua Ruedy,  Konawaena, 13.57; 6. Victoria Evans-Bautista, Kamehameha HI, 13.65; 7.  Kristina Padrigo, Ka’u, 13.73; 8. Erika Cushnie, Waiakea, 13.79.
Girls 200 Meter Dash:
 1. Teisha Nacis, Waiakea, 27.19; 2. Ua Ruedy, Konawaena, 27.31; 3. Katie  Aguilar, Honokaa, 27.73; 4. Bronte Kaneakua, Kamehameha HI, 27.95; 5. Aloha  Bohol, Hilo, 27.99; 6. Alyssa Hoshida, Hilo, 28.04; 7. Jasmine Fojas, Hawaii Prep, 28.95; 8. Abigail Houston, Keaau, 29.29.
Girls 400 Meter Dash:
 1. Randi Estrada, Keaau, 1:01.18; 2. Zoe Sims, Hawaii Prep, 1:02.09; 3. Bronte  Kaneakua, Kamehameha HI, 1:02.73; 4. Kaitlyn Chock, Waiakea, 1:03.65; 5. Kaila Voss, Kealakehe, 1:04.20; 6. Teisha Nacis, Waiakea, 1:06.34; 7. Karley Swain, Waiakea, 1:09.60; 8. Sarah Gschweng, Konawaena, 1:10.37.
Girls 800 Meter Run:
 1. Deann Nishimura-Thornton, Keaau, 2:30.04; 2. Kaitlyn Chock, Waiakea,  2:30.05; 3. Kela Vargas, Hawaii Prep, 2:32.10; 4. Traci Palermo, Hilo, 2:34.37; 5. Mary Josephine Osorio, Kohala, 2:38.15; 6. Claire Uyetake, Hilo, 2:41.23; 7. Jessica Busek, Waiakea, 2:43.64;8. Btittany Denzer, Kealakehe,
 2:45.21.
Girls 1500 Meter Run:
 1. Kelsie Kobayashi, Waiakea, 5:17.56; 2. Athena Oldfather, Honokaa, 5:18.12;  3. Tialana Greenwell, Honokaa, 5:33.30; 4. Melanie Ulrich, Hawaii Prep,  6:03.47; 5. BO Sebesta, Hawaii Prep, 6:04.39; 6. Lauren Pries, Hawaii Prep,  6:06.65; 7. Kristin Cowles-Nelson, Hawaii Prep, 6:17.17.
Girls 3000 Meter Run:
 1. Tialana Greenwell, Honokaa, 11:23.47; 2. Athena Oldfather, Honokaa,  11:43.34; 3. Shalila De Bourmont, Hilo, 11:54.25; 4. Deann Nishimura-Thornton, Keaau, 11:59.44; 5. Karina Lawrence, Hilo, 12:35.44; 6. Natalie Hagemann, Keaau, 12:38.95; 7. Erin Carvalho, Kamehameha HI, 12:51.00; 8. Bethany Bisel, Waiakea, 13:50.00.
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles:
 1. Kuuipo Nakoa, Hawaii Prep, 15.35; 2. Natasha Ah Chong, Kamehameha HI, 18.04; 3. Alyssa Lehua McGuire, Kamehameha HI, 18.11; 4. Bailey Nelson, Honokaa, 18.94; 5. Marley Strand-Nicolaisen, Ka’u, 19.05; 6. Raycee Cooke, Hilo, 19.38; 7. Jessica Muskat, Honokaa, 19.75; 8. Brooke Malama, Kamehameha HI, 19.99.
Girls 300 Meter Hurdles:
 1. Kuuipo Nakoa, Hawaii Prep, 47.01; 2. Ua Ruedy, Konawaena, 47.51; 3. Azmera  Hammouri-Davis, Keaau, 49.83; 4. Marley Strand-Nicolaisen, Ka’u, 51.41; 5.  Raycee Cooke, Hilo, 52.42; 6. Jasmine Ward, Konawaena, 52.70; 7. Bree Delacruz, Hilo, 52.78; 8. Alyssa Lehua McGuire, Kamehameha HI, 52.82.
Girls 4×100 Meter Relay:
 1. Waiakea 52.94; 2. Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 53.17; 3. Keaau High School  53.62; 4. Kealakehe 54.27; 5. Keaau High School ‘B’ 1:05.25.
Girls 4×400 Meter Relay:
 1. Keaau High School 4:21.44; 2. Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 4:22.69; 3. Waiakea  4:28.06; 4. Waiakea ‘B’ 5:06.81.
Girls High Jump:
 1. Erika Cushnie, Waiakea, 5-02; 2. Mindy Campbell, Hawaii Prep, 5-00; 3. Holly Lambert, Waiakea, 4-08; 3. Kelsi Nishina, Hawaii Prep, 4-08; 3. Randi Estrada, Keaau, 4-08; 3. Kaila Voss, Kealakehe, 4-08; 3. Rachel Bianchi, Kealakehe, 4-08; 8. Jessica Busek, Waiakea, 4-02.
Girls Pole Vault:
 1. Shina Chung, Hilo, 10-04; 2. Carissa Bell-Chase, Honokaa, 7-06; 2. Alyssa Lehua McGuire, Kamehameha HI, 7-06; 2. Autumn Miyares Thompson, Keaau, 7-06; 5. Kimberly Renee Hodson, Kamehameha HI, 7-00; 6. Jo-Lynn Kahala-Minzer, Kealakehe, 6-06; 7. Lillie Davis, Keaau, 5-06.
Girls Long Jump:
 1. Kuuipo Nakoa, Hawaii Prep, 16-09; 2. Victoria Evans-Bautista, Kamehameha  HI, 15-06.75; 3. Kaila Olson, Ka’u, 14-06; 3. McKenna Davidson, Kealakehe, 14-06; 5. Natasha Ah Chong, Kamehameha HI, 14-01.25; 6. Azmera Hammouri-Davis, Keaau, 14-00.50; 7. Carissa Bell-Chase, Honokaa, 13-06.75; 8. Jessica Busek, Waiakea, 12-09.50.
Girls Triple Jump:
 1. Kuuipo Nakoa, Hawaii Prep, 35-04.50; 2. Azmera Hammouri-Davis, Keaau,  32-02.50; 3. Victoria Evans-Bautista, Kamehameha HI, 31-02.50; 4. Marley  Strand-Nicolaisen, Ka’u, 30-05.50; 5. Natasha Ah Chong, Kamehameha HI,  30-01.75; 6. Rachel Bianchi, Kealakehe, 29-10.25; 7. Kelsee Aganus, Kamehameha  HI, 27-03.25.
Girls Shot Put:
 1. Jacquelyn Kaio-Goo, Keaau, 33-03.75; 2. Linda Sunia, Hilo, 33-01.75; 3. Misilosa Uulopa, Konawaena, 32-11; 4. Angeline Hoke, Waiakea, 30-08.50; 5.  Kaopua Sutton, Kamehameha HI, 29-11; 6. Jessica Muskat, Honokaa, 29-00; 7. Tiffany Kerr, Hilo, 27-06.25; 8. Shampagne Salas, Hilo, 27-01.
Girls Discus Throw:
 1. Kaopua Sutton, Kamehameha HI, 119-04.25; 2. Linda Sunia, Hilo, 107-10.50; 3. Janna Urakami, Waiakea, 99-01.50; 4. Angeline Hoke, Waiakea, 90-07.50; 5. Jacquelyn Kaio-Goo, Keaau, 79-02.50; 6. Jessica Muskat, Honokaa, 78-11; 7.  Shyla Ronia, Keaau, 73-11.50; 8. Shampagne Salas, Hilo, 69-08.
Boys 100 Meter Dash:
 1. Kanakalele Silva, Kamehameha HI, 11.07; 2. Jesse Huihui, Keaau, 11.21; 3.  Kaimi Scott, Waiakea, 11.44; 4. KeoniBailado,Kamehameha HI, 11.65; 5. Gregory Fong, Kamehameha HI, 11.78; 6. Shannon White, Keaau, 11.81; 7. Christian Lee, Hawaii Prep, 11.82; 8. Everett McKee, Kamehameha HI, 11.83.
Boys 200 Meter Dash:
 1. Kanakalele Silva, Kamehameha HI, 22.09; 2. Jacob Edwards, Ka’u, 22.58; 3.  Kaimi Scott, Waiakea, 22.59; 4. Rocky Lominario, Kealakehe, 22.94; 5. Everett  McKee, Kamehameha HI, 23.30; 6. Kaenen Akau, Kamehameha HI, 23.58; 7.  Christian Lee, Hawaii Prep, 23.75; 8. Shannon White, Keaau, 23.93.
Boys 400 Meter Dash:
 1. Kaimi Scott, Waiakea, 51.65; 2. Luca Walter, Kealakehe, 51.66; 3. Jordan  Decoito, Hilo, 52.84; 4. Casey Chai, Kamehameha HI, 53.00; 5. Keoni Colson,  Hawaii Prep, 54.50; 5. Jacob St George, Waiakea, 54.50; 7. Kahavi Collado,  Konawaena, 55.05; 8. Jesse Gonsalez, Hilo, 55.20.
Boys 800 Meter Run:
 1. Daniel Brooks, Keaau, 2:01.20; 2. Dylan Steele, Kealakehe, 2:05.60; 3.  Ethan Meikle, Kohala, 2:06.70; 4. Makoa Johnson, Hawaii Prep, 2:08.30; 5. Juan  Sepulveda, Kealakehe, 2:08.60; 6. Tyler Tsubota, Hawaii Prep, 2:09.70; 7. Shawn Andrada, Keaau, 2:11.50; 8. Stephen McAuliffe, Waiakea, 2:14.60; 8.  Carson Magoon, Hawaii Prep, 2:14.60.
Boys 1500 Meter Run:
 1. Chayce Moniz, Honokaa, 4:22.14; 2. Jackson Halford, Waiakea, 4:22.87; 3. Joshua Robinson, Honokaa, 4:24.10; 4. Tyler Tsubota, Hawaii Prep, 4:32.98; 5. Geoff Whitener, Kealakehe, 4:35.40; 6. Kevin Olsen, Keaau, 4:39.03; 7. Wayne Pavao, Keaau, 4:40.98; 8. Shawn Andrada, Keaau, 4:42.82.
Boys 3000 Meter Run:
 1. Chris Mosch, Honokaa, 9:32.38; 2. Tyde Kunishiro, Hilo, 9:49.68; 3. Geoff Whitener, Kealakehe, 9:50.38; 4. Jackson Halford, Waiakea, 9:54.56; 5. Andrew Langtree, St Joseph, 9:59.50; 6. Kevin Olsen, Keaau, 10:00.29; 7. Jordan Grotenhuis, Christian Libert, 10:06.75; 8. Robby Meguro, Waiakea, 10:28.87.
Boys 110 Meter Hurdles:
 1. Jacob Edwards, Ka’u, 14.74; 2. Francis Blas III, Kamehameha HI, 15.57; 3.  Dylan Oakes, Hawaii Prep, 16.66; 4. Damien Packer, Keaau, 16.73; 5. Cameron Calistro, Hilo, 17.20; 6. Sai Weiss, Hilo, 17.57; 7. Dan Taylor, Hilo, 17.88; 8. Stefan Markovic, Hawaii Prep, 18.92.
Boys 300 Meter Hurdles:
 1. Jacob Edwards, Ka’u, 38.74; 2. Francis Blas III, Kamehameha HI, 40.24; 3.  Everett McKee, Kamehameha HI, 41.72; 4. Cameron Calistro, Hilo, 41.88; 5.  Dylan Oakes, Hawaii Prep, 43.34; 6. Cliff Eriksson, Keaau, 43.98; 7. Dan  Taylor, Hilo, 44.49; 8. Rick Micheals, Hilo, 45.03.
Boys 4×100 Meter Relay:
 1. Keaau High School 44.87; 2. Kealakehe 46.29; 3. Hilo 46.40; 4. Waiakea  46.95; 5. Hilo ‘B’ 50.50; 6. Ka’u High School 50.71.
Boys 4×400 Meter Relay:
 1. Kealakehe 3:35.15; 2. Waiakea 3:35.97; 3. Keaau High School 3:37.43; 4. Christian Liberty 3:39.19; 5. Honoka’a 3:46.47; 6. Waiakea ‘B’ 4:02.06; 7.  Waiakea ‘C’ 4:15.38.
Boys High Jump:
 1. Jacob Edwards, Ka’u, 5-08; 2. Kelson Kawai, Kohala, 5-06; 2. Keoni Wong,  Kamehameha HI, 5-06; 4. Robert Mockchew, Kealakehe, 5-04; 4. Ikaika  Kua-Nachor, Kealakehe, 5-04; 4. Kainoa Crum, Kamehameha HI, 5-04; 4. Cliff Eriksson, Keaau, 5-04; 4. Joseph Ola, Keaau, 5-04; 4. Ka’u Eggers, Keaau,  5-04; 4. Daniel Brooks, Keaau, 5-04.
Boys Pole Vault:
 1. Isaac DeRego, Kamehameha HI, 13-06; 2. Billy Ray, Hilo, 12-06; 2. Ikaika  Vivas, Kamehameha HI, 12-06; 4. Richard Moylan, Christian Libert, 11-00; 5. Max Shimamoto, Kamehameha HI, 10-06; 6. Justin Truong, Hawaii Prep, J10-06; 7. Jeremy Grotenhuis, Christian Libert, 10-00; 8. Greg Matias, Keaau, J10-00.
Boys Long Jump:
 1. Rocky Lominario, Kealakehe, 20-07.50; 2. Jacob Edwards, Ka’u, 20-06.75; 3.  Travis Winters, Waiakea, 19-03.25; 4. Johnny Chow, Keaau, 19-02.50; 5. Alika  Kaopua, Ka’u, 18-08.75; 6. Kainoa Crum, Kamehameha HI, 18-05.75; 7. Talon Ota,  Keaau, 17-10; 8. Shannon White, Keaau, 17-08.
Boys Triple Jump:
 1. Jacob Edwards, Ka’u, 44-11; 2. Travis Winters, Waiakea, 39-10.50; 3. Damien  Packer, Keaau, 38-03.75; 4. Ka’u Eggers, Keaau, 37-11.50; 5. Ryne Uemura,  Waiakea, 37-04.75; 6. Everett McKee, Kamehameha HI, 37-02; 7. Landru Parker,  Keaau, 36-03; 8. Ikaika Kaopua, Ka’u, 35-09.75.
Boys Shot Put:
 1. David Kekuewa, Kamehameha HI, 44-07.75; 2. Dathan Toribio, Keaau, 44-00.75;  3. Dane Demello, Konawaena, 43-02; 4. Hawk Hanoa, Kamehameha HI, 42-11.75; 5.  Jake Jordan, Kealakehe, 42-04; 6. Maunaku Palama-Danielson, Waiakea, 42-02.25;
 7. Zane Demello, Konawaena, 41-09.25; 8. Robert Mockchew, Kealakehe, 41-09.
Boys Discus Throw:
 1. Jake Jordan, Kealakehe, 144-01; 2. David Kekuewa, Kamehameha HI, 143-08; 3.  Robert Mockchew, Kealakehe, 130-00; 4. Dathan Toribio, Keaau, 129-05; 5. Kyle  Tirrell, Hilo, 121-09; 6. Gabby Padillo, Kealakehe, 120-09; 7. Dane Demello,  Konawaena, 120-03; 8. Patrick Ahulau, Waiakea, 113-03.

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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.

Eleven BIIF Wrestlers Advance to Semi’s at HHSAA

Kamehameha's Nalu Souza, 120, advances to semi finals

   Big Island wrestlers fared well in day one of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association wrestling championships held Friday at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu to advance into Saturday’s semi-finals.

   Kamehameha-Keaau advanced a total of five wrestlers, Konawaena four, Waiakea one and Hawaii Prep had one.

   For the boys it was Kona’s Sage Aoki, 108, and Jimmy Romualdo, 135, along with Kamehameha’s Nalu Souza, 120, and HPA’s Keoni Colson making it into Saturday’s semis.

   For the girls Kamehameha Meghan Aina, 98, Jenna Aina, 114, Rustee-Ann Johansen, 130 and Kaopua Sutton, 175, along with Waiakea’s Tracey Poch, 155, and Kona’s Tamalei Louis, 125, and Alexandra Aoki, 103, make the semis.

   All eleven wrestlers are the Big Island Interscholastic Federation individual champions for their respective weight class.

  Alexandra Aoki was the BIIF highest state finisher last year finishing with a second place medal. 

  The big surprise was Honokaa’s Geo Chavez-Pardini, 160, who dropped his opening match during the trials and now needs to work his way through the consolation bracket in order to medal in the top six.

BIIF Wrestlers looking for ‘Big Fish to Fry’ at HHSAA

Kona's top wrestlers, Sage and Alexandra Aoki. Photo by CSUAINAJR

   If Kamehameha coach Marlon Miller has his way the Warriors will be frying some big fish this weekend.

   Miller will be taking eight girls from his Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestling championship team to Honolulu this weekend for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships.

     “I’ve been telling my girls all season long that we have bigger fish to fry and that our focus should be on doing well at the state championships,” Miller said.

Kaopua Sutton

   Included in his eight girl squad will be three BIIF individual champions in Megan Aina, 98, Rustee-Ann Johansen, 130, and Kaopua Sutton in the 175 weight division. 

   “We need to try to break the strangle hold that Oahu teams have over the rest of the state,” Miller said.  “We might not be able to do it this year (win a team title) but with the girls we have coming back, next year is a definite possibility.”

   A total of seventy-five BIIF wrestlers are heading to Honolulu for HHSAA wrestling championships to be held on Feb. 26 and 27 at the Blaisdell Arena.

   The HHSAA has hosted the championships starting with the boys in 1966, and added girls wrestling in 1998. 

   Despite the long history of competitive state wrestling, no neighbor island school has ever won the team championships for either gender.

   The Punahou boys return to the mat as the three time defending team champions and the Buff’n Blue are the defending champions for the girls.

   “We’re hoping we can break into the top 10 teams at states,” Miller said.  “Last year was our girl’s best finish at 12^th and this year we’d also like to be able to finish higher than Kamehameha-Oahu.”

    Regardless of the distinct team disadvantages the BIIF will showcase four returning medalist to the Blaisdell in hopes of bring home a gold medal.

   Leading the way is Konawaena’s Alexandra Aoki, a four time BIIF champion at 103 pounds.  Aoki has gone more than three years without a league loss and last year the Wildcat made it into the championship finals and came away with a silver medal.

   “My goal going into states is the same that I have whenever I wrestle,” Aoki said.  “That is to try my hardest in every match.  Of course I’d like to win it all (individual state title), but I need to take it all one step at a time.”

    Since winning the 103 class at the BIIF championships on Feb. 13 Aoki has continued to practice every day with her team and has increased her training intensity during the past weekend.

   “We drove over to Hilo this past Friday so that I could wrestle with Megan and Jenna Aina from Kamehameha,” Aoki said.  “Then on Saturday our team went to Kealakehe to wrestle with their girls headed to states.”

    Last year, during the state championships, Aoki upset the No. 1 seed, Iolani’s Keiko Akamine, during the semi finals by a score of 6-3.  In the finals Aoki dropped the title match, 8-2, to Kamehameha-Maui’s Malia Mederios.  Both Akamine and Mederios have since graduated leaving Aoki as the girl to beat this year.

  During the 2008 and ’09 state championships BIIF girls were blanked out of winning gold as the last league state champion was Kealakehe’s Renee Michell who won at the HHSAA individual title in 2007.

   Another serious contender for making this year’s finals is Kamehameha’s Megan Aina in the 98 weight class.

   Aina is a two time defending BIIF champion and last year, as a freshmen, managed to grab a sixth place medal at state.

Geo Chavez-Pardini

The boys gold medal hopes rest with Honokaa’s Geo Chavez-Pardini a junior who has never lost a BIIF match.

   Chavez-Pardini won the BIIF 145 weight class as a freshman, the 152 class as a sophomore and this year took the 160 division while going undefeated in the league all three years.

   The Honokaa standout finished third in the state last year at 152 and has high hopes of making into the championship finals this year.

   Chavez-Pardini believes that his stiffest opponent in the BIIF has been Hawaii Prep’s Keoni Colson and he may be right.  Colson took fifth in the state last season in the 145 division and this year has gone undefeated in league matches at 152.

   Waiakea’s Ryan Higa and Kealakehe’s Brandown Santiago were that last BIIF boys to win individual gold medals during the 2008 HHSAA championships.

Two BIIF Wrestlers Going for Perfection

Honokaa's Geo Chavez-Pardini - undefeated in 3 yrs. of BIIF competition

   It is said that “The most difficult part of attaining perfection is finding something to do for an encore.”  And for Konawaena’s Alexandra Aoki and Honokaa’s Geo Chavez-Pardini that encore may come this Saturday at the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Wrestling Championships

   Aoki, a senior, will see her BIIF wrestling career come to a close and with it a perfect league record during the past three years of wrestling competition.

   Aoki goes into this Saturday’s BIIF championship at Keaau as the three time defending champion in the 103 pound weight class, a division she has dominated by never losing a match since dropping a pair during her freshman year.

   “She (Aoki) is very coachable, respectful, a hard worker and a pleasure to be around,” Kona coach Wally Nakashima said.

    Aoki made it into the final round of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state wrestling championships last year before dropping a close match to take the runner-up position.  This year Aoki is determined to turn things around and bring home a state title.

   “It’s not really about me winning all my matches in the BIIF,” Aoki said.  “It’s more important that I have quality opponents to wrestle against during the season.”

Mindy Lorance (left) and Megan Aina

Aina singled out Kealakehe’s Mindy Lorance and Kamehameha’s Megan Aina as the toughest competition that she had this season.

   Eight years of judo and a brown belt has helped Aoki throughout her wrestling career.

   “Judo and wrestling are very different in moves, but judo has helped teach me the discipline necessary in any sport,” she said.

   Honokaa’s Geo Chavez-Pardini will be concluding his junior season in BIIF competition at the 160 class.

   Chavez-Pardini won the 140 weight class as a freshman, the 152 class as a sophomore, and if everything goes as planned will emerge as the BIIF champion at 160.

   During his three years of league matches Chavez-Pardini has the distinction of winning every single match, most of which came by pin.

   “I’ve gone this far without a loss that it would be disappointing to lose at the BIIF championships,” Chavez-Pardini said.  “I’ve worked hard to get where I am and I’m not going to let anything spoil that.”

  During the season Chavez-Pardini has faced a variety of Big Island opponents and credits Hawaii Prep’s Keoni Colson as giving him the best competition.

   “I wish I could wrestle Keoni (Colson) more often as it benefits me to compete against the best,” Chavez-Pardini said.  “Keoni wrestles at 152, so I have a weight advantage, but he is a very good wrestler.”

   Aoki and Chavez-Pardini are also talented in the classroom as both have accumulated GPA’s of 3.8 and have made the honor roll for their respective schools numerous times.

   On Saturday wrestlers representing 11 BIIF schools will be competing in 25 weight divisions that will produce individual championship crowns for 14 boys and 11 girls.

   Kealakehe comes into Keaau as the defending boys and girls team champions and this season will face an uphill battle in their attempt to repeat.

   A complex system of points will be awarded during every match depending on how the match is won; pin, tech or major decision and another set of points will be given for first through fourth place finishes in each weight class.  The school with the most total number of points accumulated will determine the boys and girls team titles.

   “This weeks BIIF championships should be one of the better tournaments in recent years,” Kamehameha coach Marlon Miller said.  “No one school is the clear favorite (for the team title) and although both Kealakehe and Honokaa are probably the odds on favorites every school this year has a talent pool of wrestlers that should produce some upsets in the rank and file.”

  With Honokaa and Kealakehe being the front runners for the boys team crown Miller believes that Konawaena, Hawaii Prep and Kamehameha could play the role of spoiler.

  Honokaa coach Dan Whetstone believes that the boys from HPA, Honokaa and Kealakehe have the talent to produce two to three BIIF champions and all three should be considered the top contenders for the team title.

  Most coaches see Kamehameha as having the inside track to win the girls team title as the private school Warriors have wrestlers in all 11 weight classes.

   “After Kamehameha I think we (Honokaa) have the next largest squad with eight girls with Kealakehe and Kona both having several outstanding wrestlers and may have enough girls to pull off an upset,” Whetstone said.

   Hawaii Prep’s coach, Gary Jarvill, believes the Kamehameha girls have the best chance at winning the team title while the boy’s title is up for grabs.

   “The boy’s championship will be much closer with Kealakehe having the biggest team and returning BIIF champions from last year,” Jarvill said.  “Every team has at least one or two BIIF number one seeded wrestlers so it will be really close. Kealakehe has 12 of the 14 weight classes covered so it will be hard to displace them this weekend at BIIFs.” 

   The favorites to win individual BIIF titles for the boys are:                                      

Honokaa:  Geo Chavez-Pardini, 160, and Kalai Nihau, 171.

Kona:  Sage Aoki, 108, Jimmy Romualdo and Kawika Scott, 189.

Kamehameha:  Justin Hirae, 114, and Nalu Souza, 120.

Kealakehe:  Dillon Cortes, 130, and Jordan Hao, 285.

HPA:  Bronson Kobayashi, 145, Keoni Colson, 152, and Onipaa Stevens, 215.

Keaau:  Cheyden Quiocho, 125.

Waiakea:  Tyler Yonemori, 140.

   Favorites for the girls are:

Kamehameha:  Megan Aina, 98, Jenna Aina, 114, Rustee-Ann Johansen, 130, Pomai Pohina, 140, and Kaopua Sutton, 175.

Kona:  Alexandra Aoki, 103, Danielle Hubbard, 108, and Tanalei Louis, 125.

Kealakehe:  Jodi Ozaki, 120.

Waiakea:  Tracy Poch, 155.

Kau:  Kiana Mello, 220.