Waiakea Wrestling Coaches trying to fly under the Radar

WHS coach

Stealth was the key word at Waiakea as the Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestling season continued on Saturday, with the public school Warriors trying to avoid detection of their talented team.

“We’re trying to fly under the radar and not let the other schools know what we have,” Warrior coach Preston Sato said.Waiakea is the defending boy’s team champion in BIIF wrestling, but are attempting to disguise what they might have as the season heads into its final weeks.

“We continue the coaching philosophy of our former coach, Patrick Marquart, who believed in discipline and the entire program is modeled after him.” Sato said,Marquart coached the Warriors from 1996 to 2001 according to Sato and Coach Sato along with assistant coach, Nick Galloway, wrestled for the legendary Warrior coach.Galloway, a 2003 and Sato, a 2001 graduate of Waiakea have both returned to continue as mentors.

“Coach Marquart always helped us become better wrestlers and as a result become better people in life,” Galloway said.  “He had a great program which we try to emulate today.”Haraguichi

“We carry 16 boys and 7 girls and defending the league title will be a lot tougher this season, Coach Stan Haraguchi said.  “It will come down to who wants it more, who works the hardest and who has the fewest injuries.”MaglintiLeading the Warrior boys is senior Jordan Maglinti at 152 pounds who won his opening match against a Pahoa opponent by a score of 11-1.“I haven’t lost a match this season as I go for just the basic moves of double leg and half nelson,” Maglinti said. “I’m not a great wrestler, I’m just okay and all these other kids work hard too.”Despite his undefeated BIIF season Maglinti, a senior, believes that he needs to work harder at practice to be able to contend for the league championship.“I just want to wrestle as hard as I can and if I win or lose it doesn’t matter, as long as I tried my best,” he said. Ikehara

Also flying under the radar for Waiakea is Alan Ikehara a tenth grader in his first year of wrestling.

Ikehara, 140, won his opening match against a Hawaii Preparatory Academy opponent by putting him in a half then pressing his weight down to get the second round pin.

“I took him down in the first period then put him in a reverse leading into the half,” Ikehara said.  “My double leg take down works well, but I still need to work on the single leg.”

Ikehara, a surfer, goes into every match with a positive attitude as his dad; a former high school wrestler encouraged him to enter the sport.

“I go onto the mat to try to win every match and I always try to do the best that I can,” he said,

Keoni Rice, at 135, adds to the Waiakea firepower and remains undefeated in league competition.

“I’m 7-0 and today I bumped up to 140 for better competition,” Rice said.  “I try to take advantage of my opponent’s weaknesses and faults.”

Rice, a junior, ran cross country during the off season and believes the transition to wrestling has helped.

“Cross country has helped me stay in shape and develop more stamina,” he said.  “Wrestling also helped my running because of the high intensity of the sport.”

Louis

For the Warrior girls there is no hiding Tanalei Louis who comes in as the state runner up at 125 pounds and is undefeated in BIIF competition.

Louis faced stiff opposition in Kamehameha’s Noelle Pohina and used a barbed wire move to secure the pin in the second period to move her league record to 15-0.   The two combatants had faced each other last season for the BIIF championships with Louis again coming out on top.

“Everything is going as planned at this point in the season,” Louis said.  “Noelle probably gave me my toughest match so far this season.”

Louis has never been in serious trouble this season as she has fluctuated between 125 and 130 pound weight divisions.

“My dad helps me a lot in my wrestling as he wrestled for Hilo High when he was in high school,” Louis said.  “My dad is my biggest supporter and I appreciate his always being there for me.”

Waiakea Teammate Skye Matsuura, 120, dropped a close match to Kamehameha’s Phoebe Oda by a score of 10 to 4.  The loss dropped the sophomore to a 3-4 season record

“My mom made me come out for wrestling as she is a black belt in judo,” Matsuura said.  “I’m glad I joined as I like it now as it is a good sport.”

Matsuura believes she still needs to work on building muscle and getting in better shape.

“I need to work on my cardio and my staying in position before matches,” Matsuura said.  “My stand up works good as I fight for hand control.”

Waiakea hosted the day long all schools meet which showcased some of the best wrestlers on the island

“It’s very difficult to coach and host a wrestling tournament,” Coach Stan Haraguichi said.  “Fortunately I have a good staff and great kids.”

BIIF action continues on Saturday with a East meet at Hilo and the West meet at HPA.  Both venues begin at 10 am.

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BIIF wrestlers do well at Officials Preseason Tournament at Leilehua, Oahu

Kamehameha ladies do well at Officials Meet

Officials Preseason Tournament – Leilehua, Oahu

Name	School	wt.	Place
Megan Aina	Kamehameha	103	1
Jasmine Iuta	Kamehameha	175	1
Nalu Kekona-Souza	Kamehameha	120	4
Charles Aina	Kamehameha	130	8
Troy Gibson	Kamehameha	135	8
Chantel Pohina	Kamehameha	140	4
Alexia-Marie Osburn	Kamehameha	155	3
Noelle Pohina	Kamehameha	125	8
Kanoe Padakin	Kamehameha	114	8
Jacob Blanco	Waiakea	125	3
Sage Aoiki	Kona	120	2
Cheydon Quiocho	Keaau	140	2
Allin Franco	Kealakehe	140	4
Winton Palik	Kealakehe	285	6
Allison Felix	Kealakehe	155	1

Pohina Sisters Dominate on the Mat for Kamehameha

Noelle Pohina

Kamehameha girls continued their dominance on the mat with the Pohina sisters, Noelle and Pomai, leading the way.

Noelle, a sophomore, took the 125 weight division by defeating Kealakehe’s Dayjha Rodriguez in the finals, while sibling Pomai, a junior, beat out teammate Alexia Osburn for top honors in the 140 weight class.

“The Pomai’s are a wrestling ohana as their older brother, Mike, was a two time BIIF champion in 2008 and ’09 for Kamehameha and is now serving our county in the military,” Warrior coach Marlon Miller said.

The Pohina sister’s come to the mat with lots of experience as Pomai won the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Championship during her freshman year in the 130 division then finished second last season at 140.

“I’m hoping to win the BIIF title this year at 140,” Pomai said.  “I know I still have lots of areas to work on to improve, especially with my conditioning.”

Pomai’s younger sister didn’t place during last season’s BIIF championship, but came into this season more focused and with high hopes.

Pomai Pohina

“I wasn’t very confident wrestling last year and this year I feel way more confident of myself,” Noelle said.  “A big part of wrestling is mental and that is something that I needed to work on coming into this season.”

During the finals Noelle used that confidence to pin her opponent during the third round to win the Waverider Tournament.

“She (Rodriguez) took a shot and I drove and pushed her over and tried my very best to put pressure on her,” Noelle said of her pin.

“My strength in wrestling is my defense and my coaches say that I need to use more offense and to take more shots.  All I can do is try my very best and I look forward each week to wrestling the best as this helps me to get better.”

Noelle noted that she comes into every match nervous, but once she hits the mat that nervousness disappears as she becomes focused on what she needs to do.

“Our girls performed well at the tournament and I am very pleased with the effort the entire team gave,” the defending BIIF team champion coach said.  “As coaches we ask for and hope to see that every wrestler gives it their all and fights to the very end whether they are on the winning or learning end of the outcome.”

On the boys side of the mat there were some new faces coming up big at Kealakehe as Konawaena swept three weight classes with Justin Raymond, 114, Sage Aoki, 125, and John Postrano, 215.

Postrano, a senior in his third year of wrestling, missed weight and was bumped into the higher division.

“I weighed in at 189.2 pounds and was bumped up,” Postrano said.  “I normally wrestle at 189 so this was a new weight division for me.”

As fortune turned out Postrano won three of his four matches by pin in the higher weight division and claimed his first title during his prep wrestling career. 

During the finals Postrano beat HPA’s Troy Choi by second period pin using a reverse half nelson.

“I came into this season with better technique and an improved mental attitude,” Postrano said.  “I use mental imagery and picture in my mind how I’m going to win, but I know I still have things to work on to get better such as increasing my speed and take downs.”

Host Kealakehe, the BIIF defending boys team champions, didn’t win any weight class individual honors, but had several of their young wrestlers finish in the top three.

Waverider sophomore, Dan Gampon, took on Kamehameha’s defending BIIF champ, Nalu Souza, at 120 pounds and proved himself worthy.

“I knew he was the best in that weight division, but I didn’t underestimate myself and was fearless during the match,” Gampon said.

Gampon was able to keep the match close during the first two periods and was proud of his efforts.

“Nalu led 2-1 at the end of the second round,” Gampon said.  “But during the third round he caught me in a banana split and was able to pin me.”

Despite the loss Gampon felt good about his performance.

“I feel really good about the match because I showed a lot about myself and by wrestling the best it will only make me stronger,” he said.  “I need to train harder to be better and I need to have more intensity while knowing what to do.  I look forward to wrestling Nalu again as I plan on making it closer next time.”

BIIF action returns to the mat on Saturday with West Side schools headed to Honokaa and the East Side meeting at Kamehameha. 

Related links: 

https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/biif-girls-wrestling-results-from-kealakehe/

https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/biif-boys-wrestling-results-from-kealakehe/

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.