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High School Wrestling: Farrington girls prevail
State wrestling championship photo gallery
By Wes Nakama 3/4/07
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Kamehameha Schools senior Hoku Nohara became only the second Hawai'i girl to win four individual state wrestling championships last night, but 'Iolani's Carla Watase was denied the same place in history when Farrington's Samantha Batoon earned a stunning 3-2 victory at 108 pounds.
Nohara defeated 'Iolani sophomore Oliva Fatongia, 4-3, in the 220-pound final to join Moanalua's Caylene Valdez (2000-2003) as Hawai'i's only four-time state girls champs. 'Iolani's Patrick Higa (1983-86) and Saint Louis' Jonathan Spiker (2000-2003) and Brandon Low (2003-2006) are the only boys to accomplish the feat.
"This feels awesome," said Nohara, who won all four titles at 220. "Even before my freshman year, I wanted to become a four-time state champ."
For the second straight year, it took a tough victory over Fatongia to make history.
Nohara took a 2-0 lead on a takedown with 29 seconds remaining in the first period, but Fatongia tied it on a reversal 30 seconds into the second period. Nohara then went up 4-2 on a reversal midway through the period. Fatongia closed to 4-3 on an escape with 49 seconds remaining in the match, but Nohara held on for the victory.
"This was the toughest she's ever wrestled," Nohara said. "But I just had to finish it."
Nohara was coming off a knee injury last season and struggled to beat Fatongia. She said the knee was much better this year, but "still not like freshman and sophomore year."
Watase overcame a torn shoulder muscle in 2005 and illness in 2006 to win state titles at 103, but last night she could not overcome Batoon, who helped the Governors win the team championship handily over Kahuku (144 points to 117).
Neither wrestler could take control in a scoreless first period. Batoon took a 1-0 lead on an escape early in the second period, but she was penalized for grabbing Watase's face with 1:19 remaining in the period, tying the match 1-1. Watase opened the third period with an escape to take a 2-1 lead, but Batoon scored on a takedown with 32 seconds remaining for a 3-2 lead. Watase almost tied it with an escape with 15 seconds left, but she was ruled out of bounds. Taking the down position, Watase tried hard to escape but Batoon held strong and Watase went out of bounds again with two seconds remaining. Batoon then held on for the victory.
"I tried my best not to let go," said Batoon, a senior who took third in the state at 103 as a sophomore but quit wrestling early in her junior season. "I knew (at 15 seconds left) it was almost finished, and I didn't come all this way for nothing."
Batoon lost twice in overtime to Watase in the preseason.
"Both matches were really close, so I had a little hope that I could beat her," Batoon said. "My coaches tried to get me mad before the match, because when I'm mad, I play more aggressive."
Watase said she was not able to execute her game plan.
"My coaches were telling me to try to shoot, but I hardly shot at all," Watase said. "I just wrestled really bad."
Farrington coach Darren Reyes said Batoon's victory sparked the rest of the team, which entered the finals with a 20-point lead.
"She had the opportunity to go to 103 this year, but after the first time she wrestled Carla in the preseason, she said, 'I think I can beat her, I want to take her on,' " Reyes said. "I told her it's not going to be easy, beating a three-time state champ, but she was so mature and so determined this year, nothing was going to stop her. She trained harder than any other person."
Reyes said the Govs lost last year's team state championship to Kahuku by eight points, and Batoon could have made a difference. But this time, Farrington left no doubt.
Govs junior Tani Ader, the 2006 champ at 114 pounds, won the 120-pound title last night by pinning Kahuku's Cianah Hee at 2:51. Ashlee Lilo won the 175-pound title by pinning Baldwin's Kailee Andrade at 5:13 of a thrilling back-and-forth match in which she trailed by five points in the first period.
Farrington also got a runner-up finish from Taylor Ibera at 98 pounds, a fourth-place finish by Crystal Kalakau at 155, a fifth-place finish from Jasmine Ahmow-Moeava at 220 and a sixth-place finish by Keala Baricar.
"Crystal was not even expected to place, and she took fourth," Reyes said. "This is only her second year wrestling, and she injured her shoulder. (Baricar) lost in her first match but she came back to take sixth."
At 140 pounds, Punahou senior Kara Takasaki won her third state title by defeating Kalaheo's Stephanie Geltmacher, 14-4. Takasaki won at 130 pounds as a sophomore and at 140 last year.
Also, 'Iolani's Megan Morisada, the 2006 state champ at 108, won the 114-pound title with a victory over Kapolei's Chaelyn Tan.
'Iolani finished third in the team standings with 113.5 points, followed by Punahou (99), Kamehameha (97), Kapolei (75) and Wai'anae (63).
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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Farrington trio grabs the gold
By Paul Honda 3/4/07
phonda@starbulletin.com
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM |
Farrington's formula for another state crown at the Chevron/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships was rather simple: new coach, higher bar, a return to the top.
Up close, however, the school's second state championship in girls wrestling had more to do with willpower than circumstance. Farrington amassed 144 points to easily outdistance Kahuku (117) and Iolani (113.5).
Three Governors -- Samantha Batoon, Tani Ader and Ashlee Lilo -- powered the Govs to their first title since 2004, when the late Sandy Obra was in charge.
Batoon, who quit the team last year, had the comeback of comebacks, and it was only fitting. She gave her team and a frenzied Blaisdell Arena crowd a shocking jolt early on with a 3-2 upset of three-time defending state champion Carla Watase.
Two overtime losses to Watase in preseason tournaments made Batoon hungrier.
"She's the only person I wanted to beat," Batoon said. "Today, I told myself to be aggressive, to be mad."
The duel was knotted at 1-all when Watase escaped the hold of Batoon for a 2-1 lead with 1:14 left. Batoon, relying on shoot moves to set up her throws, got Watase on a throw to take a 3-2 lead with 33 seconds left.
Watase had two opportunities to get a tying point, but was unable to escape the clutches of Batoon as time expired.
"Judo helped a lot. My takedown was a judo throw," Batoon said. "I (usually) do a head and arm, but I knew she would expect that."
Kamehameha senior Randolyn "Hoku" Nohara became a four-time state champion by outlasting rival Olivia Fatongia 4-3 in the 220 class final.
"She's tough, and she's only a sophomore," said Nohara, who likely wrestled her last match. She accepted a softball scholarship from UH-Hilo recently, ending one of the greatest careers of any Hawaii wrestler.
"I don't love the pressure. I only love winning," she said.
Nohara's brute strength helped midway through the match, when she picked up Fatongia and threw her for two key points. Fatongia was relentless in the final minute.
"I just kept wrestling my hardest," Nohara said. "I always have to earn everything. Eight years of hard work paid off."
Ader anchored the Govs with memories of the '04 team. As an eighth-grader, she trained with them and learned the meaning of persistence.
"I'm surprised we won, but we've worked hard," she said.
Last year, Reyes noted, Farrington ruled the regular season, only to come up short in the postseason as Kahuku won the title. This year, the tables turned.
"It's sweet revenge," said Ader, a junior.
Work is what Batoon learned to embrace in the past year. Her road to the title in the 108 class was paved with plenty of bumps. She didn't wrestle until her sophomore season, then was pinned by Watase in a preseason meet during the next campaign.
After quitting the team for personal reasons as a junior, Batoon made a pact with coach Darren Reyes, who is also her coach at Hawaii Tenri Judo Club.
"I told her to make me a promise to work with me, and I promised that she would become a state champion," said Reyes, who was an assistant coach for a decade.
Ader, who won her second state title with a pin of Cianah Hee, set the bar. Reyes asked Batoon to work even harder than Ader, and she responded.
Watase, 137-3 in her storied career, gave Batoon her due.
"She's a really good wrestler," she said.
Team Standings
1. Farrington 144, 2. Kahuku 117, 3. Iolani 113.5, 4. Punahou 99, 5. Kamehameha 97, 6. Kapolei 75, 7. Waianae 63, 8. Baldwin 59, 9. Aiea 54.5, 10. Pearl City 51, 11. Mililani 48, 12. Kealakehe 43.5, 13. Molokai 36, 14. Hilo 34, 15. Campbell 32, 16. Moanalua 31, 17. Kalaheo 28, 18. Konawaena 26, 19t. Kailua 25, 19t. Lahainaluna 25, 21t. Castle 23, 21t. Hawaii Baptist 23, 21t. Kamehameha-Hawaii 23, 24t. Mid Pacific 22, 24t. St. Anthony 22, 26. Roosevelt 16, 27. Kamehameha-Maui 15, 28. Waiakea 11, 29. Kohala 8, 30t. Honolulu Waldorf 7, 30t. Leilehua 7, 32. Waialua 4, 33t. Keaau 3, 33t. Maui 3, 33t. St. Francis 3, 33t. Waipahu 3, 37. Word of Life 2.5, 38t. Lanai 2, 38t. Sacred Hearts 2, 40. Nanakuli 1.
State Champions
98 LBS
Renee Michell
Kealakehe
Championship Match
Def. Taylor Ibera (Farrington) 4-3
Michell, seeded third, led from the start against top-seeded Ibera. Michelle was the aggressor and led 3-0 midway through the second period before Ibera cut the lead to one point entering the third.
Michell added an insurance point with 17 seconds left, but Ibera hustled for a point with 7 seconds remaining.
Michell edged Macy Yonamine (Kamehameha) in the semis 7-5.
Third-place Match
Kelsie-Ann Mita (Mid-Pacific) def. Erin Uehara (Punahou), pin
Fifth-place Match
Macy Yonamine (Kamehameha) def. Heather Omori (Mililani), 3-1
103 LBS
Keiko Akamine
Iolani
Championship Match
Def. Alexandra Aoki (Konawaena), tech 15-0
Top-seeded Akamine dominated the match, nearly pinning third-seeded Aoki midway through the first period. Akamine had an 8-0 lead and extended it to 15-0 with 1:06 left in the second when the match was stopped.
Akamine, a sophomore, placed second in the 103 final last year. She overpowered Brandie Dela Rama (Mililani) 15-0 in the semifinals.
Aoki, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, was seeded third.
Third-place Match
Brandie Dela Rama (Mililani) def. Ren Yamashita (Aiea), pin
Fifth-place Match
Briana Delos Santos (Pearl City) def. Alyssa Santos (Castle), pin
108 LBS
Samantha Batoon
Farrington
Championship Match
Def. Carla Watase (Iolani) 3-2
The upset of the night was well-earned by the third-seeded Governor over the top seed. After a forearm blow gave Batoon a point -- and awarded Watase a penalty point -- to start the match, Watase went ahead 2-1 after escaping Batoon's grip midway through the second period.
Batoon scored a 2-point move with 33 seconds left in the third to take a 3-2 lead. Twice, Watase had opportunities to escape from Batoon's mount position, but ran out of space as time expired.
Third-place Match
Kalae Johnson (Kahuku) def. Kira Hagi (Kapolei) 7-4
Fifth-place Match
Tehani Ibarra (St. Anthony) def. Jaydene-Kailin Curran (Campbell) 8-6
114 LBS
Megan Morisada
Iolani
Championship Match
Def. Chaelyn Tan (Kapolei) 5-0
Morisada controlled this matchup against the unseeded Hurricane. Tan, unseeded, was down only 2-0 entering the third period.
Morisada, the top seed and ILH champion, captured her second straight 114 state crown.
The top-seeded Raider edged fourth-seeded OIA champ Joy Yamashita 5-3 in the semifinal round.
Third-place Match
Victoria Milanio (Lahainaluna) def. Shina Tohara (Kealakehe), pin
Fifth-place Match
Reiko Campos (Kamehameha) def. Joy Yamashita (Aiea) 4-2
120 LBS
Tani Ader
Farrington
Championship Match
Def. Cianah Hee (Kahuku), pin
Ader captured her second state title by pinning Hee with 1:09 left in the second period. She had a 6-0 lead at the time against the unseeded Red Raider.
Ader, the OIA champion and top seed, won the 114 class crown last season. She pinned her first two challengers and blanked Jada Antolin (Pearl City) 7-0 in the semifinals.
Third-place Match
Risha Mishima (Hawaii Baptist) def. Courtney Kinimaka (Kapolei) 4-0
Fifth-place Match
Jada Antolin (Pearl City) def. Tamra Takeshita, pin
125 LBS
Danica Auna
Kahuku
Championship Match
Def. Ariella Ing (Moanalua), pin
Auna, the top seed, was ahead 4-1 with 52 seconds left in the second period when she pinned Ing.
Auna was the runner-up at 108 last year. She was Kahuku's only individual champion last night. She defeated Mary Brzezowski (Kamehameha-Hawaii) by pin in the semifinals.
Third-place Match
Kaleolani Souza (Aiea) def. Mary Brzezowski (Kamehameha-Hawaii), pin
Fifth-place Match
Cheryse Sana (Waianae) def. Kiana Parilla (Kamehameha), pin
130 LBS
Piikea Kalalau
Baldwin
Championship Match
Def. Punahele Luafalemana (Molokai) 7-3
The showdown between MIL rivals turned out to be somewhat one-sided. Kalalau was in control with a 4-0 lead after two periods.
Kalalau, the top seed, and Luafalemana were sidelined at times with injuries during the season.
Kalalau pinned her first three opponents, including Kelia Parilla (Kamehameha) in the semifinals.
Third-place Match
JT Ojerio (Punahou) def. Robyn Teruya (Roosevelt) 9-8
Fifth-place Match
Amanda Keliihoomalu (Kahuku) def. Kelia Parilla (Kamehameha) 4-3
140 LBS
Kara Takasaki
Punahou
Championship Match
Def. Stephanie Geltmacher (Kalaheo) 14-4
Takasaki had another dominant performance at states. She pinned two of her four opponents, including semifinalist Jillian Fontanilla (Pearl City), and defeated her quarterfinal foe 13-0.
Last year, Takasaki pinned every opponent en route to the crown.
Third-place Match
Kuuipo Badayos (Waianae) def. Jillian Fontanilla (Pearl City) 2-1
Fifth-place Match
Jaime "Hoku" Kubota (Kamehameha-Maui) def. Keala Baricar (Farrington) 7-5
155 LBS
Monique Dilliner
Kailua
Championship Match
Def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (Punahou) 7-2
The battle of runners-up from the OIA and ILH went the Surfrider's way.
Dilliner defeated Campbell's Chelsea Cabebe by pin, then upset top-seeded Lindsey Tufono 7-5 in the quarterfinals.
None of the division's seeded wresters made it to yesterday, leaving the field wide open. Dilliner trounced Crystal Kalakau (Farrington) 10-1 in the semifinals.
Third-place Match
Amanda Soliai (Kahuku) def. Crystal Kalakau (Farrington), default
Fifth-place Match
Taisha Santiago (Kamehameha) def. Barbara Kekaualua (Waiakea), pin
175 LBS
Ashlee Lilo
Farrington
Championship Match
Def. Kailee Andrade (Baldwin), pin
Lilo, the top seed, rallied from a five-point deficit to topple the MIL champion. Giving away several inches in height, Lilo brought Andrade down consistently from the start, but was unable to score until the late going.
Leading 7-4, Andrade was almost out of bounds when she spun on Lilo.
Down 13-11 with less than a minute to go, Lilo pinned Andrade.
Third-place Match
Leya-Justina Luafalemana (Molokai) def. Shenna Cabasag (Mililani) 7-1
Fifth-place Match
Ariel Moniz (Hilo) def. Ashley Abalos (Waianae), forfeit
220 LBS
Randolyn Nohara
Kamehameha
Championship Match
Def. Olivia Fatongia (Iolani) 4-3
Nohara frustrated Fatongia for a second year in a row with the narrow victory.
Fatongia, who lost in last year's final to Nohara 11-8, is only a sophomore.
Nohara pinned Hilo's Naoli Weller in her only match leading into the final.
Third-place Match
Naoli Weller (Hilo) def. Vicky Green (Waianae), pin
fifth-place match
Jasmine Ahmow-Moeava (Farrington) def. Pamela Higa (Pearl City), pin
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So close to history, her grip slips
But statement on gender isn't on Woody's mind as she rues loss
By Kevin Van Valkenburg
Sun Reporter
Originally published March 4, 2007
COLLEGE PARK // If you don't follow high school wrestling in Maryland, you might be surprised to learn that the most interesting story line at yesterday's state tournament didn't involve a defending champion or a three-team race for the overall title.
Instead, it involved a wrestler dressed in pink socks, lime-green headgear and sporting a ponytail who finished second in the final of the Class 4A-3A 103-pound weight class.
And when she - yes, you read that right, SHE - received a standing ovation from the packed stands despite finishing second, it helped temper her disappointment somewhat, but not nearly enough.
Arundel High School's Nicole Woody wasn't interested in making a statement about her gender or about equality, and she mostly rolled her eyes each time someone threw words at her like pioneer or trailblazer.
Like any fierce competitor, she was simply in it to win. And yesterday, she came up just a bit short.
Woody, who became the first female wrestler in state history to qualify for a final while competing against boys, saw her quest for a historic state title end against River Hill's Scott Mantua, who controlled their match throughout for a 6-2 victory.
Woody was hoping to become just the second female wrestler in the United States to win an individual title competing against boys, joining Alaska's Michaela Hutchison, who won her state's 103-pound class a year ago as a sophomore. But Mantua grabbed a 2-0 lead with a first-period takedown a minute into the match and never really relinquished control.
"It didn't even feel like me out there," said Woody, a junior who will graduate early this spring. "Win or lose, I really wanted to wrestle well, and I'm disappointed because that didn't happen. I don't know why, but I was just in la-la land out there. I just laid there on the mat."
The match marked the second time Mantua has defeated Woody this year (he also beat her in a tournament earlier this season), and it gave Mantua the first state title of his career.
He admitted after the match that, even though he has considerable respect for Woody (she graciously clapped for him during the trophy presentation) and admires her technique, there was an added dose of pressure in facing a girl.
"Of course you don't want to lose to a girl, but most of the pressure comes from thinking that you might lose a state championship," Mantua said. "She's incredibly smart and tough, and I knew I had to be smart to beat her."
The match, disappointing as it was for Woody, concluded an emotional and impressive weekend for her. Woody, who has a big smile and chiseled arms that would likely be the envy of nearly every female celebrity in Hollywood, cruised past her first two opponents Friday.
Yesterday morning, she won a close, intense, overtime match (by the score of 5-4) against Tuscarora's C.J. Savage in the semifinals, and seemed calm and confident.
"She just doesn't make mistakes," said Savage, who grabbed an early lead but was worn out by Woody's superior conditioning. "She doesn't get tired and she's really flexible. I thought I had her a couple of times, and she just wouldn't let me take control."
Woody - who in 2005 became the first girl in Maryland history to qualify for the 4A-3A state tournament and this year became the first girl to win her region - said she expected to battle nerves throughout the weekend. She knew she was considered one of the favorites in her weight class, and that the crowd would be behind her in every match.
But for the most part, she spent two days waltzing around Cole Field House with almost a breezy playfulness, hugging friends, eating french fries, napping in a sleeping bag between matches, flirting with her boyfriend, bobbing her head around as she listened to hip-hop and techno music on her iPod.
On Friday, after she ditched her wrestling shoes in favor of calf-length leather boots with two-inch heels, a reporter introduced himself and asked for an interview. She quickly interrupted, reaching out to adjust his bangs before agreeing to continue.
"Sorry, man, you just had a hair hanging there that was really bugging me," she said, grinning.
That kind of friendly confidence has always been one of Woody's most obvious qualities, according to her mother, Mary, who steered her daughter into wrestling at age 9 when the girl's judo teacher ceased teaching.
Nicole Woody, who also played Pop Warner football, has been both bold and confident ever since she started bringing home snakes, lizards and countless bugs because her parents wouldn't let her have pets.
"She wasn't afraid of anything," Mary said. "She's always had a ton of friends. She helped decorate for her homecoming dance earlier this year, and would probably help with the prom if she wasn't so busy with wrestling."
Woody said repeatedly that she didn't envision this state tournament as her Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs moment, and she only wanted the opportunity to compete for a title like any other wrestler would. This wasn't about making a statement for girls everywhere.
"The only time I think about all that pioneer stuff is when reporters ask me about it," she said on Friday.
But after her loss in the final, Woody confessed that thoughts of what she was trying to accomplish did enter her mind, and did distract her.
"I probably thought too much about everything," Woody said. "I suppose years from now, I might look back and feel proud of what I did, but right now placing the highest for a girl really doesn't mean much. I wanted to win."
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Nohara wins fourth girls wrestling state title
By Wes Nakama 3/4/07
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kamehameha Schools senior Hoku Nohara became only the second Hawai'i girl to win four individual state wrestling championships last night, but 'Iolani's Carla Watase was denied the same place in history when Farrington's Samantha Batoon earned a stunning 3-2 victory at 108 pounds.
Nohara defeated 'Iolani sophomore Oliva Fatongia, 4-3, in the 220-pound finals to join Moanalua's Caylene Valdez (2000-2003) as Hawai'i's only four-time state champs. 'Iolani's Patrick Higa (1983-86) and Saint Louis' Jonathan Spiker (2000-2003) and Brandon Low (2003-2006) are the only boys to accomplish the feat.
"This feels awesome," said Nohara, who won all four titles at 220. "Even before my freshman year, I wanted to become a four-time state champ."
For the second straight year, it took a tough victory over Fatongia to make history.
Nohara took a 2-0 lead on a takedown with 29 seconds remaining in the first period, but Fatongia tied it on a reversal 30 seconds into the second period. Nohara then went up 4-2 on a reversal midway through the period. Fatongia closed it to 4-3 on an escape with 49 seconds remaining in the match, but Nohara held on for the victory.
"This was the toughest she's ever wrestled," Nohara said. "But I just had to finish it."
Nohara was coming off a knee injury last season and struggled to beat Fatongia. She said the knee was much better this year, but "still not like freshman and sophomore year."
Watase overcame a torn shoulder muscle in 2005 and illness in 2006 to win state titles at 103, but last night she could not overcome Batoon, who helped the Governors win the team championship handily over Kahuku (144 points to 117).
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Saumenig Rises to Occasion
6-5 Overtime Win Over Northwest's McCarty Helps Old Mill Win Title
By Ryan Mink
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, March 4, 2007; Page E10
Arundel 103-pound junior Nicole Woody continued to make history, even though she didn't accomplish as much as she wanted. Woody became the first Maryland female wrestler to reach the state finals with a 5-4 overtime win against Tuscarora junior C.J. Savage. Her run was ended, however by River Hill sophomore Scott Mantua, 6-2, in the final.
Woody became the first girl to win a regional crown this year, topping Centennial's Jack Western, 2-0, in the 4A/3A North Region. A week earlier she made history by becoming the first female Anne Arundel County winner when she pinned South River's Curtis Taylor with 18 seconds left in the third period.
"I'm disappointed with the way I wrestled, not the way I finished," Woody said, adding that her accomplishments finally started soaking in after her overtime win. "It was still pretty cool, how everybody was cheering for me, even people who didn't know me."
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