Myriad snapshots run through Hilo judo coach Jacob Shon’s head regarding the BIIF team championships.
Jacob Ramos pulled off the Vikings’ most surprising win, Izik Nakamasu’s victory was the most exciting, and Kaleo Miyasaki converted one of his team’s most beautiful throws.
But as an everlasting memory, it’s hard for Shon to top the thought of sending out his best judoka, Kody Minemoto, to clinch a championship.
“He’s our powerhouse,” Shon said. “Every throw that (Kody) does is absolutely beautiful. He’s got great technique.”
And with that, a rival’s dynasty was no more, giving Minemoto an enduring image of his own.
“Just winning the BIIF championship after Waiakea had gotten it for the past five years,” Minemoto said.
The senior was one of the busiest Vikings in that he took the mat three times, though he didn’t stay there long. He won all of his matches by ippon – throws – and his victory against undersized Tevis Holi of Waiakea in a final lasting roughly 1 minute, 45 seconds was his longest of the day.
The Vikings filled eight weight classes, beating Kealakehe (who filled just three), second-seeded Konawaena (nine) and the top-seeded Warriors (seven)
“We had the right amount of quantity vs. quality,” Shon said.
Hilo senior Seth Fukushima won by just showing up, taking three matches by forfeit.
“Everyone had that drive to win,” Fukushima said. “I could see it. The drive was way more than the other teams. They wanted it more.”
It showed in the semifinals when Ramos beat Konawaena’s Marshall Sugai, who entered undefeated, by decision at 161.
Ramos, a first-year senior judoka, is seeded second behind Sugai at 161 pounds at this Saturday’s BIIF individual finals.
“I wish I had gotten Jacob to come out before this season,” Shon said.
Miyasaki threw Konawaena’s Justin Jennings before running into Waiakea’s Kellen Goya (132), the only BIIF judoka who is set to go for a fourth title Saturday at Waiakea.
The Vikings had room for error, however, as Nakamasu scored a late pin against Waiakea’s Maka Marote, Kolton Pang beat Kilar Fujimoto, and Raymon Pajimola upended Koby Dela Cruz.
“It was a constant uphill, but they trained very hard,” Shon said. “Once they set their mind on something, they are a very tough bunch of kids.”
The focus is now on individual crowns, and Hilo carries the top seeds in seven of 10 weight classes: Michael Kolman (108), Pang (121), Jo-Joe Villa (145), Minemoto (178), Chris Kubota (198), Fukushima (220) and Keanu Pinner (285).
Pinner, a first-year judoka, is undefeated this season along with defending champions Pang, Minemoto, and Kubota.
If the seeds hold at 220, Fukushima will match with Kamehameha’s Joyden Madriaga for the third time this season. Each has won once, though Madriaga got the better of Fukushima in their last meeting April 9 at Kamehameha.
“That loss was a real kick in the butt for Seth,” Shon said. “Now he’s really focused and determined to defeat Joyden.”
Minemoto has won each of his matches by throws this season after avenging a loss as junior in the BIIF championships.
“I’ve been doing judo for a while,” he said. “I should have the upper hand.”
Minemoto has been training with Goya since they were both 5, and he admitted he’s already looking ahead to the HHSAA tournament and a chance to better his fourth-place finish from last season.
In fact, he has very specific objectives in mind. After high school, he plans to study HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) at a technical college in Colorado.
“I like to keep a one-goal mindset,” he said.
What’s it going to take to throw him of track and keep from getting at BIIFs?
“You’re going to have to be mentally tough,” he said.