Several BIIF Wrestlers advance to HHSAA semi finals

Two of the BIIF’s best in the 120 division, Nalu Souza and Sage Aoki

Kamehameha’s Nalu Souza and Konawaena’s Sage Aoki just met on the mat to decide Big Island supremacy. There’s a chance they could clash again today with an even bigger prize on the line: a state wrestling title.

Souza and Aoki both won a pair of matches Friday at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association championships. They were among nine Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestlers who advanced to today’s semifinals at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Arena.

On the girls side, Kamehameha’s Megan Aina, the only state champion that the BIIF produced last season, reached the final four in the 100-pound division.

Six days after he bested Aoki to win the BIIF’s 120 final, Souza opened by beating Maryknoll’s Brendan Chang in the round of 16 and then he took a 7-5 decision against Pearl City’s Gabriel Iereneo-Baring to set up a match today with Punahou’s Evan Yamamoto.

On the other side of the bracket, Aoki scored 10-7 decisions against Hawaii Baptist’s Rick Viveiros and Maui’s Jarrin-Lee Cabo. He’ll face Kaiser’s Ryan Nakagawa in the semifinals.

Souza’s teammate and four-time league champion Justin Hirae lost in the quarterfinal at 127.

Tyler Yonemori

Looking to add a wrestling title to the state judo crown he won last year, Waiakea’s Tyler Yonemori advanced to the 142 semifinals by winning two decisions.

At 137, Keaau’s Cheyden Quiocho pinned Iolani’s Ryan Chang and survived to beat Lahainaluna’s Puali Sol Omon-Camanse 5-4. Today in the semifinals, he’ll face the defending state champion, Shayden Terukina of Kamehameha-Kapalama.

Out to improve on her third-place finish as a freshman last year, Konawaena’s Tanalei Louis reached the semifinals by edging Mid-Pacific’s Shannon Paaaina 2-1. Earlier, Louis pinned Kalaheo’s Nia Auelua 1:59 into their match.

Aina, a three-time league champion, pinned Kapolei’s Kaelynn Canyete in the quarterfinals after she opened by beating Aiea’s Candice Segi in the round of 16.

Rustee Johansen (132) will also wrestle for the BIIF champion Lady Warriors in the semifinals.  Joining Johansen in the semi’s will be teammate Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy in the heavy weight division at 287.

Two Big Island wrestlers received byes before winning quarterfinal matches. Waiakea’s Tracy Poch (177) needed only 51 seconds to beat Roosevelt’s Brianna Jeffries, and Ka’u’s Kieni Mello-Waiwaiole pinned Radford’s Brayanne Moe at 1:37.

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