A total of 135 BIIF wrestlers qualified for the Hawaii High School Interscholastic Association (HHSAA) state championship based on their performances at the Central Pacific Bank/BIIF championship last weekend in Kealakekua.
The state tournaments begins Friday and will conclude Saturday, taking place at the BYU Hawaii’s Cannon Activities Center in northern O‘ahu.
The top five finishers in each weight class at the BIIF championship earned berths at the state championship.
Konawaena
The Wildcats won both the boys and girls BIIF team championship titles, and will take 25 wrestlers (12 girls, 13 boys) to the state championship — more than any other BIIF team.
All but two of Konawaena’s girls BIIF championship entries qualified for state, and eleven of them medaled (three gold, four silver and four bronze) — including BIIF champions Ava Reagan (120), Shakira Ortiz-Strauss (125) and Kaiale‘a Manzo (140).
The Wildcats’ boys squad also had an excellent showing at BIIFs — with all but one entry qualifying for states and nine medaling (four gold and five silver). Akea Cariaga (144), Sunny Espinoza (150), Race Moxley (175), Nick Maira (190) took home gold for Kona.
It was the second consecutive year the Wildcats boys have won the island title, and the first time in school history in which the girls claimed the BIIF victory.
“We’re very happy, ecstatic and energized for where the program is headed,” coach Fredrico Ventenilla said.
Ventenilla also noted that the team’s commitment to the school’s motto has helped catapult the Wildcats to new heights, hoping it can continue through this weekend while competing for a state crown.
“We’ve always followed the motto of: One team, one family, one goal.”
Hilo
Hilo High was runner-up in both the girls and boys BIIF team rankings, and will nearly match Konawaena’s head count at states — bringing 24 wrestlers (11 girls, 13 boys).
“The BIIFs were kind of an interesting one,” Hilo coach Tyler ‘Kahanu’ Milare said. “For the girls, we didn’t have two of the weight classes. Out of the seven we got into state, five of them got gold. The quality was there, but two girls got injured.”
Of the Vikings’ 14 male BIIF championship entries, nine medaled — earning two golds, one silver and six bronzes. Hilo’s male champions were Jet Miyahara (132) and Kaizehya Mateo (138).
On the girls’ side, Taylen Babas-Masuno (105), Jeream Estabilio (110), Maile Hunter (135), Paige Taasan (145), Veronica Welle (155) placed first for Hilo, with other Viking girls winning two silvers and a bronze.
“(Babas-Masuno) is a three time BIIF champ, she came in fourth place at states last year,” Milare said. “(Establio) also looks really, really promising. She’s a two-time BIIF champ, but she got injured last year and it kept her out of competition. Last year, she placed fourth at states, so I’m expecting big things.”
“I’m expecting good things from (Hunter). She was wrestling with my niece from (KSH), who’s a state champ — and she was also wrestling with our state champion last year, Malia. She came from cheerleading last year with no combat experience, but put in the work and came in lazer focused this year.”
KS-Hawai‘i
Placing third among boys teams and fourth among girls, the Warriors will enter 20 wrestlers (eight girls and 12 boys) at states.
“This is probably the biggest group of kids we’ve brought in a while,” KSH coach Cary Masuko said. “Of course, I’m excited and super proud. The kids performed well, they came in with a different mindset — overall as a team, they performed extremely well.
“I always knew they had the potential in them. It’s just nice to see when they can put everything together at an important time.”
Kainalu Kaku (113), Charles John Hao (120) and Kuhaupio Pratt (126) won gold for KSH’s boys, and their teammates also collected two silver and two bronze medals.
“(Hao) is one of out more promising individuals,” Masuko said. “In the preseason, we took him down to the official’s tournament, where he placed fourth. Throughout the year he continued to build on what he did in the preseason, and had an undefeated record. Last year, he won a BIIF title at 113. As a sophomore, he’s doing really well.
“Another pleasant suprise is our freshman, (Kaku). He had an undefeated season.
“(Pratt) had not beaten the kid he beat at the finals (Konawaena’s James Sina). That’s a nice story. He beat him when it counted. He continued every week to put himself in contention against that young man from Kona, and was victorious due to his dedication and commitment.”
For KSH’s girls, Naomi ‘Kealoha’ Stovaw (115) and Taylor Furstenwerth (130) won gold while other Warriors took home two silver medals and a bronze.
“(Stovaw) had an exciting overtime match against a young lady from Hilo,” Masuko said. “She’s just been a pleasure to work with this year. Brand new to the school, brand new freshman, but came in with some previous experience from her middle school.
“A couple years ago, (Furstenwerth) won sixth place at state at a different weight class. She took a year off to do swimming, then came back to us at a different weight class to repeat as a champion.”
Laupahoehoe
Laupahoehoe had the highest success rate of the small schools at the BIIF championship. Of its five total entries, four will go to the state tourney — one of two boys, Tazein Sykes (175 bronze), and all three of the Seasiders’ girls entries, Juneau Stickley (140 bronze), Tila Faafetai (145 No. 5) and 190 champion Tahtiana Minthorn.
Kealakehe
The Waveriders placed No. 3 among the girls teams and No. 4 for the boys — with 18 wrestlers (10 girls, eight boys) headed to states.
Teyon Bailey (215) and Nehasi Faleofa (285) won gold medals for Kealakehe’s boys while Emaliamaluhialani Emmsley (235) won the Waveriders’ only girls gold medal. Kealakehe’s boys also won three silver medals and two bronze, and the girls took home two silvers and three bronze.
Waiakea
The Warriors will bring 13 wrestlers (nine boys and four girls) to the state championship.
Cade Smith (106), Kaimalino Comstock (157) and Noah Bento (165) won gold for the Waiakea boys, with two others winning silver medals and one earning bronze. Shaniah-Lee Ferreira (100) was Waiakea’s only female champion, with one teammate winning silver.
Kea‘au
The Cougars qualified 12 wrestlers (seven girls and five boys) for states — as the boys collected a silver and bronze medal at BIIFs and the girls won a silver and two bronze.
Among those wrestlers is Nick Ellis, a freshman who placed No. 3 in the 215 class.
“His was one of the best matches I saw in the whole tournament as far as guts,” Kea‘au coach Keith Fernandez said. “Sometimes, you gotta just get out there and wrestle, there’s no particular move you gotta do — just will the victory. That’s what he did, he went three rounds with a boy from Hilo and just out-willed him.
“By the end of the third period, the other boy was just exhausted. (Ellis) just dominated the whole three rounds.”
Another young up-and-comer on the Cougars’ team is 140 silver medalist Samantha Uta — who is a first-year wrestler.
“It’s all brand new to her,” Fernandez said. “It’ll be interesting to see where she is going.”
Fernandez’s main objective for Kea‘au wrestlers is for them to enjoy the tournament.
“Too many kids stress out in this type of competition,” he said. “If it’s not fun, you’re doing the wrong kind of thing. It can still be hard and fun. So we try to make it as hard as possible, but still keep it as fun as possible. I hate seeing those kids in the corner that are so overwhelmed it’s beyond the expectation of what the sport’s supposed to bring into their life.”
Pahoa
Three wrestlers (two girls and a boy) will go to state for the Daggers — champion Jezney Chang (170) and silver medalist Jaslyn Chang (110), along with Lionel Gomes (boys 175 No. 5).
HPA
Five Ka Makani wrestlers will travel to states — Murphy Makely (girls 130 No. 2),Wynter Radey-Morgan (girls 100 No. 3), Isabella Jeffers (girls 140 No. 4), Katherine Philpott (girls 170 No. 5) and Andrew Sebastian (boys 215 No. 5).
Kohala
Boys 132 bronze medalist Ryzen Cazimero-Bautista will be the lone Cowboy on O‘ahu this weekend.
Connections
235 bronze medalist Hailey Afong-Feao will be the sole representative of Connections Public Charter at the state tourney.
Ka‘u
Four Ka‘u wrestlers qualified for state, though none medaled at BIIFs — Eli Crook (boys 126 No. 5), Laakea Kajiwara-Ke (boys 138 No. 5), Ocean Nihipali-Sesson (boys 175 No. 4) and Rain Nihipali-Sesson (girls 235 No. 5).
Honoka‘a
Four Dragons, none of them medalists, will enter states — Kamalani Toriano (girls 115 No. 4), Sunny Zook (girls 125 No. 5), Nanea Lange (girls 155 No. 4) and Keau Sanchez (boys 106 No. 5).