Waiakea senior LiAnn Yamamoto made history the easy way. She didn’t even have to set foot on the judo mat because her opponent forfeited. At least, she had the opportunity to cheer on her sister, Samantha Yamamoto.
The elder Yamamoto didn’t play but still took home her fourth BIIF individual championship at 109 pounds on Saturday at the Warriors Gym, where three other judoka are steaming ahead on legacy runs.
In the first round, Hilo junior Averie Medeiros defeated Konawaena sophomore Kitana Heinicke while Yamamoto drew a bye.
When Medeiros forfeited, Yamamoto was crowned the champion, and Heinicke was rewarded with second place.
Yamamoto joins the coveted four-time BIIF champion list, which includes Keaau’s Ivory Ayers (2017), Megan Aina (2012) and Jenna Aina (2010).
“I kind of wanted to play to win,” Yamamoto said. “But I’m pretty happy to get my fourth title. Sam did good. I’m happy for her and proud of her. I think she’s my biggest competitor.”
Samantha Yamamoto, a sophomore, repeated at 98 pounds. Her division included only one opponent, Hilo freshman Lilliana Campbell, who was thrown to the ground and pinned in the finale.
No matter the situation, the sisters always find a way to shine a light on one another.
“I’m happy to follow my sister,” said Samantha Yamamoto, who was second at the HHSAA tournament last year and looks like a strong candidate to also go 4 for 4.
While she’s halfway there, there are two other judoka right on the doorstep.
Waiakea junior Raelyn Ai-Yoneda beat Hilo freshman Ashley Lavarias for her third BIIF crown at 115 pounds. They were the only two in the field, but Lavarias is no ordinary freshman.
“It’s amazing. I couldn’t have done it without the help from my teammates and competitors,” Ai-Yoneda said. “They gave me hard rubs and pushed me to do better. I went 8-2 and lost to Ashley. She’s been my toughest competition all season.”
Like the Yamamoto sisters, Ai-Yoneda’s club judo is at Hilo Hongwanji, where she started in the seventh grade.
“We’re like the Three Musketeers because we’re so close,” she said.
Keaau junior Hula Kaho’okaulana also earned a three-peat with an ippon win over Hilo’s Kitana Lowery at 139 pounds.
“I didn’t expect it to be like this because I’m always nervous,” Kaho’okaulana said. “I still feel like I can improve.”
She’s also a wrestler and finished fourth as a freshman, runner-up as a sophomore and first this season at the BIIF championships. Kaho’okaulana was fifth at states at 138 pounds.
Waiakea senior Katie Lee won her third title at 122 pounds, and Keaau senior Cappi Winters repeated in the 129 division.
Hilo’s Audie Madiam (103), Konawaena senior Dana Sugai (154), Konawaena junior Kapoina Bailey (172), and Waiakea freshman Chirisivon Salle (220) all captured their first championships.
All smiles
Winters is one of those born with a sunny disposition. Most of the judoka have a serious stone-face look on the mat, not so for the Cougar senior.
“It’s amazing,” she said after her title repeat. “I was really nervous before the match. When I started pinning her, I had a hard time to not smile.”
She was third as a sophomore and junior at the BIIF wrestling championships and second in her last season.
“She’s pretty easy-going,” Keaau coach Davida Caves said. “She’s always smiling. Cappi is well-liked by her teammates. She and Hula have the same personality. Their story isn’t about them. They see it as a reflection of the team. They know they didn’t do it on their own. Their teammates helped, and they’re very humble about it.
“We try to give them skills that they can use for life, so we don’t pay attention to the records. We focus on playing, technique, and compassion, everything that embodies the spirit of judo.”
Co-POYs
LiAnn Yamamoto was an easy call for the coaches to vote her as the BIIF Player of the Year, but Konawaena senior Dana Sugai tied her and shared in the honor.
“She had a really awesome year, and the only girl she lost to was the one she played in the finals,” Konawaena coach Rodney Branco said. “She was with us from the seventh grade as a manager. She’s been with the program for a while.
“She’s a really hard worker. She’s one of those who’s the first one in and the last one out. She’s always working on her game.”
At Konawaena, Branco is all about building a good vibe.
“When she was our manager, her nickname was ‘The Danager,’ basically manager with a D in the front,” he said.
That nickname has been erased. Sugai has earned a new title: BIIF champion.
