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.

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Big Dog’s Revised BIIF Wrestling Top Seeds

Kamehameha's Megan Aina is the top seed at the 98 weight class

BIG DOG’S REVISED BIIF WRESTLING RANKINGS:

BOYS:

108 – Sage Aoki, Konawaena                  114 – Justin Hirae, Kamehameha

120 – Nalu Souza, Kamehameha           125 – Cheyden Quiocho, Keaau

130 – Dillon Cortes, Kealakehe              135 – Jimmy Romualdo, Kona

140 – Tyler Yonemori, Waiakea              145 – Bronson Kobayashi, HPA

152 – Keoni Colson, HPA                          160 – Geo Chavez-Pardini, Honokaa

171 – Kalai Nihau, Honokaa                     189 – Kawika Scott, Kona        

215 – Onipaa Stevens, HPA                      285 – Jordan Hao, Kealakehe

GIRLS:

98 – Megan Aina, Kamehameha               103 – Alexandra Aoki, Konawaena

108 – Danielle Hubbard, Kona                  114 – Jenna Aina, Kamehameha

120 – Jodi Ozaki, Kealakehe                       125 – Tanalei Louis, Kona

130 – Rustee-Ann Johansen, Kamehameha

140 – Pomai Pohina, Kamehameha          155 – Tracy Poch, Waiakea

175 – Kaopua Sutton, Kamehameha        220 – Kiana Mello, Kau

Note:  Coaches and wrestling fans are invited to give their own comments on who might be listed.

BIIF Wrestling – Eastside photo’s & Westside results

Wrestling photo's by Charles Aina, Jr.Eastside match 1/9/10

                       

Eastside match 1/9/10

Girls108-   1st- Alexandra Aoki-Konawaena 2 pins    2nd-Mindy Lorance-Kealakehe 1 pin   3rd-Kela Vargas-HPA

114-1st-Jolynn Kahala-Minczer-Kealakehe 1 pin  2nd-Danielle Hubbard-Konawaena   3rd-Carly Ann Guia-Honokaa

120-        1st-Sheri Lo-Honokaa 1 pin                2nd-Marie Donahue-HPA 1 pin             3rd-Jodi Ozaki-Kealakehe

130-  1st- Melissa Dumaguin-Konawaena 1 pin  2nd-Heather Sugimoto-Honokaa 1 pin  

                                                   3rd- Ashley Potter-Honokaa 1 pin

140-  1st-Sheyenne Lorenzo-Hoover-Honokaa 2 pins  2nd-Hokulani Reyes-Konawaena 2 pins

                                                3rd-Jade Perreira-Honokaa 1 pin

155-   1st-Hanna Luepkes-Honokaa 2 pins        2nd-Jasmine Crank-Kealakehe

175-  1st-Jessica Muskat-Honokaa 3 pins  2nd-Joslynn Kahala-Minczer-Kealakehe 1 pin  3rd-Stacie Doi-HPA 1 pin

photo by Charles Aina, Jr.

Boys
108-1st-Warren Buenavista-Konawaena 1 pin
2nd-Max Hirata-HPA   3rd-Dylan Raiano-Konawaena

114-  1st-Sage Aoki-Konawaena 1pin
2nd-Justin Raymond-Konawaena 1 pin     3rd-Dan Gampon-Kealakehe 1 pin

125-  1st-Jarrad Kuwana-Kealakehe 1 pin
2nd- Russ Hapgood-HPA 1 pin
3rd-Cowyn Fong-Feliciano-Honokaa

135-   1st-Dillon Cortes-Kealakehe 2 pins
2nd-Justin Tanaka-Kealakehe 1 pin
3rd-Kevin Antolin-1 pin

140-  1st- Jimmy Romualdo-Konawaena 2 pins  2nd- Beau Lopez-Honokaa 1 pin 3rd-Kahea Cacoulidis-Kealakehe 1 pin

145-  1st- Bronson Kobayashi-HPA 3 pins      2nd-Allen Chase-Honokaa 1 pin   3rd-Zoey Sandlin-Kohala 1 pin

152-  1st-Keoni Colson-HPA 3 pins  2nd-Dwane Tegman-Honokaa 1 pin   3rd- RJ Espejo-Laupahoehoe 1 pin

160-  1st-Grayson Graham-HPA 2 pins  2nd-Duke Akiona-Konawaena 1 pin  3rd- Charles Mendoza-Konawaena 2 pins

171-  1st- Geo Chavez Pardini-Honokaa 3 pins  2nd-Max Verbrugge-HPA 1 pin    3rd-Kimo Louis-Kealakehe

189-  1st-Kaimana Lutey-Honokaa 2 pins   2nd-Troy Choi-HPA-2 pins    3rd- Chris Park-Kealakehe

215-  1st-Onipa’a Stevens-HPA      2nd-Tim Ekert-Kealakehe 1 pin      3rd- Kawika Scott and Keala Freehauf-Konawaena both with 2 pins

285-         1st- Jordan Ha’o-Kealakehe 1 pin                 2nd- Chris Reed-Honokaa

More information can be found on BIIF Eastside matches by going to: https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/aina-family-rules-wrestling-mat/

37 BIIF Wrestlers Go Undefeated in Season Opener

Wally Nakashima and his Konawaena Wildcats played hosted to a long day of competitive prep wrestling in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation season opener this past Saturday.

“Wally (Nakashima) did a great job in hosting the tournament,” HPA coach, Gary Jarvill said.  “Everything ran smoothly and most of the kids got in three matches.”

Ka Makani wrestlers Jonny Chute, 140, Bronson Kobaysashi, 145, Keoni Colson, 152, and Onipa’a Stevens, 215, all went a perfect 3-0 on the mat.

HPA’s Max Verbrugge, fresh off the football team, went 2-1 on the day and Jarvill had high praise.  “Max didn’t get in much practice and I believe he’ll be one of the top three BIIF wrestlers at 171 by the end of the season,” Jarvill said.

Jarvill was also impressed with two of his girls, senior Marie Donohue, 120, who went 2-1 and freshman Leila Wong, 130, finished that day at 1-1.

“We have a lot of kids who are off island and still on winter break,” Jarvill said.  “Next week we should have everyone back at practice.”

Honokaa was missing their top wrestler during the season opener in Geo Chavez-Pardini, but it didn’t stop the Dragons from getting stellar performances from a number of their youngsters.

“We had five boys going undefeated,” Dragon coach, Dan Whetstone said.  Honokaa saw perfection at the 171 weight class with Noa Eads, Preston Cawagas and Chris Camero all going a perfect 3-0.   Teammates Chris Reed went 2-0 in the heavyweight division and Kalai Niau went 3-0 at 189.

Whetstone was most impressed with Niau’s win over Kealakehe’s Kimo Louis.  “Kalai outpointed Kimo Louis to avenge the loss he suffered in the semifinals at last year’s BIIF championships,” Whetstone said.

For the girls Honokaa saw all six of their seniors going 2-1 while having junior Jessica Muskat going a perfect 2-0.

“Jessica is very athletic and has a great work ethic.  I think she is the girl to beat in the 175 weight class,” Whetstone said.

Coach Whetstone believes that the girl’s match of the day was between Dragon Heather Sugimoto and HPA’s Marie Donahue in the 120 class.  Sugimoto was behind on points when she reversed the situation and pinned Donahue.

“It was a great way for us to start the season,” Whetstone said of the season opener.

Kealakehe had perfect records from Jodi Ozaki (2-0) at 120 pounds, with boys Robin Arellano (3-0) and Ralph Ortega (3-0) both in the 108 weight class and Dillon Cortes (2-0) at 130. “Our kids wrestled hard this weekend and I’m really proud of their performance,” ‘Rider coach, Michael Ciotti said.

“It still early in the season and we still have a lot of things we need to work on.  We don’t have a lot of depth, but we’ll be able to move kids around to fill all or most of the weight classes by the end of the season,” Ciotti said.

The Kamehameha girls, who are considered by many to be the team to beat this season, had great performances from Tehani Jones (2-0 and only a freshman) at 98, Megan Aina (2-1) at 103, Rustee-Ann Johansson (3-0) at 140 and Chantel Pohina (3-0) at 155.

Warrior boys also notched season opening perfect records with Nalu Souza (2-0) at 120, Jason Fowler-Fernandez (3-0) at 152 and C.J. Matsuyama (2-0) at 160.

“This past weekend was one of mixed emotions, as a coach we like to see the hard work pay off in our younger wrestlers and the sense of achievement in their faces,” Kamehameha coach, Marlon Miller said.

Megan Aina suffered her first loss of the season after winning both her matches at 103 Aina was moved into the higher weight class to meet Kona’s Alexandra Aoki.

“I had mentioned to Megan (Aina) that if she wants to be the best she needs to wrestle the best.  Aoki is definitely one of the best in the state and she was able to pin Megan in the second round,” Miller said.

Kamehameha’s Justin Hirae, the two time BIIF champion, also suffered his first loss of the young season, dropping a match to Alex Aoki’s brother, Sage, by a close 9-7 score.

Miller also had high praise for sophomores Fowler-Fernandez and Matsuyama.  “Both Jason and C.J. has a rough freshmen year, paying their dues as we like to say.  C.J. went his entire freshman year without a victory.  Both young men persevered and trained diligently and this weekend it all paid off,” Miller said.

Other BIIF wrestlers having perfect opening day records were:

Konawaena’s Alexandra Aoki and Danielle Hubbard (114) each going 3-0 with 2 pins along with teammates Melissa Dumaguin, 125, Tanalei Louis, 130, both perfect at 2-0.

For the Wildcat boys Sage Aoki (3-0) and Justin Raymond (2-0) were flawless in the 114 classes and Kawika Scott (3-0) at 215.

Waiakea’s Tracy Poch, (2-0) at 175, with boys Ryan Tampon, (1-0) at 135, and Micah Kekela (3-0) at 215.

Keaau boys Cheyden Quiocho (3-0) at 130 and Cougar teammate Jeremiah Santana (2-0) at 160 were perfect.

Hilo boys Kelton Castagnetti (3-0) at 130, Draven Torres (3-0) at 140, Jens Beets (3-0) at 145, and Justin Branco (3-0) at 152 stayed unblemished.    

Kau had Keani Mello go 2-0 as she won both by pin at the 220 class.

Kona Coach, Wally Nakashima, provided the names and weight classes of those wrestlers with perfect records.