By Wes Nakama 3/2/02
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Kahuku High School girls wrestling team broke Moanalua's three-year stranglehold on the state championship last night, amassing 151 points to the Menehune's 116 after winning one individual title and placing four other wrestlers in the finals.

At 98 pounds, Justine Swafford was the Red Raiders' only individual champion. She pinned Punahou's Naomi Karlen in three minutes, 52 seconds.

Kahuku's Kawai Chee was pinned at 3:35 of the 103 final by McKinley's Melissa Orden, who won her third straight title. At 108, the Red Raiders' Shanel Vivas lost a dramatic 11-7 final to another three-time champ, Moanalua's Caylene Valdez. Kahuku's Elizabeth Torres was edged 6-5 by Mililani's Debbi Sakai in the 114 finals, and the Red Raiders' Anela Iseke was pinned at 3:37 of the 155-pound finals by Moanalua's Stephany Lee, yet another three-time champion.

Kahuku did not have any entries at 175 or 220, but with the five finalists and Kehau Kamauoha (third place, 140), Leilani Realtor (fourth, 121) and Ashlee Estokio (consolation, 130) it had built a comfortable lead.

"The whole team worked hard and came together," Red Raiders coach Reggie Torres said. "The whole tournament, they wrestled tough. Even the girls who lost, they lost tough matches. I'm proud of them."

In addition to Orden, Valdez and Lee, Nanakuli's Ashley Gaspar (175) also became a three-time champion by pinning Leilehua's Marita Lavea-Jennings in 5:33. Kamehameha's Iwalani Fonoimoana repeated as the 220 champion, defeating Leilehua's Matalaloa Tuitele 10-2. Moanalua's Shani Alvarado won her second title in three years by defeating Kaiser's Anna Tong 14-3.

Kailua's Danyelle Hedin (121) and Mid-Pacific's Jennifer Miyahira (130) joined Swafford and Sakai as first-time champions. Hedin, who upset No. 1 seed Melissa Fukushima 17-4 in the semifinals, held off No. 2 seed Eva Chan of McKinley 8-7. Miyahira pinned Kamehameha's Jazmine Cockett at 3:48 of the 130 final.

The night's most exciting final was at 108, where both Vivas and Valdez rebounded from painful injuries. Vivas, hampered by a shoulder injury all season, had the joint "pop" near the end of the second period. After being examined by trainers, she returned to a surprised Vivas.

"I didn't think she was going to continue," Valdez said. "When she did, I said, 'Damn. Now I've got two more minutes of this.' "

Vivas not only returned, but she closed Valdez's lead to 8-7 in the third period. That's when Valdez suffered a lower back spasm, an injury she has nursed since Jan. 4.

"They both didn't want to stop," Torres said. "They showed a lot of heart and gutted it out."

Valdez was clinging to an 8-7 lead when she scored a takedown with 20 seconds left, then held on for the victory.

"I saw the score, and I wanted a bigger lead," said Valdez, a junior. "I knew she wasn't going to give me anything easy. She came back real strong."

Correction: The final girls team standings had Kahuku with 151 points and Moanalua with 116. Different numbers were credited to each team in a previous version of this story.

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Growth boosts girls wrestling

By Wes Nakama 2/27/02
Advertiser Staff Writer

Now in its fourth official year, the state high school girls wrestling tournament appears to have come of age.

Eight of last year's 10 champions are back, including five who are two-time defending champions. But none of this year's titles are locks, since several of the returning champions have either moved up a weight class or been upset in league finals.

And the team championship, won by Moanalua the past three years, also looks to be up for grabs. For a young tournament with a short history, this one could provide several story lines.

"There are a lot of interesting pairings," Moanalua coach Joel Kawachi said. "Some wrestlers who were No. 1 or 2 in their weight class a year ago might now be 4 or 5."

The five two-time defending champions are McKinley's Melissa Orden (103 lbs.), Moanalua's Caylene Valdez (108) and Stephany Lee (155), Nanakuli's Ashley Gaspar (175) and Kamehameha's Iwalani Fonoimoana (220).

Castle's Tanya Miyasaki (103), Pearl City's Dara Ching (130) and Moanalua's Gabrielle Nicholas (175) also won state titles last year.

Miyasaki and Nicholas, however, will enter the tournament unseeded. Miyasaki won last year's championship at 98 pounds, but moved up to 103 this season and lost to Orden in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association finals.

The 103 division promises to be one of the more competitive this weekend.

"The top five in that weight class were all place winners last year," Kawachi said. "That's pretty remarkable."

Gaspar won the 155-pound title last year, moved up to 175 this season and beat Nicholas for the OIA crown.

Some of the other weight classes also offer intriguing matchups. Valdez, a two-time champ, is not safe at 108. She won the OIA title with an 11-8 victory over Kahuku's Shanel Vivas.

At 114, OIA champion Debbi Sakai of Mililani is the No. 1 seed, but only after winning a close 13-9 match with Kahuku's Elizabeth Torres in the OIA finals.

At 130, defending champion Ching could face a challenge from Mid-Pacific's Jennifer Miyahara, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion.

Moanalua's Shani Alvarado was the 130-pound state champion two years ago, but moved up to 140 last year and lost to Lee. Alvarado now is seeded No. 1 at 140 and could face Kaiser's Anna Tong in the finals. The two met in last year's semifinals.

And at 220, two-time champion Fonoimoana could face a strong challenge from Leilehua's Matalaloa Tuitele.

Several teams, Kawachi said, could vie for the overall title.

"Kahuku has eight wrestlers, and all eight have a shot at placing," Kawachi said. "They would have to be the favorite. But Kamehameha is also strong, and Castle and Punahou could be right there."

As for his team, Kawachi said the Menehune have some injuries that may hamper their chances.

"But we're luckier than most teams, because we have backups," Kawachi said. "For most teams, if someone is injured, there's no one else. We have 20 girls on our team, which is pretty good for a girls sport."

Girls wrestling seems to be doing well as a sport, at least at the state tournament level. This year's tournament features 142 wrestlers, compared to 86 in 1998's pilot year.

The tournament had 126 wrestlers in 1999, 132 in 2000 and 142 last year

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Menehunes hurting for another title

Moanalua goes into the state
championship trying to overcome
injuries for its fourth straight crown

By Marc Dixon 2/27/02
mdixon@starbulletin.com

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Moanalua High School wrestlers Stephany Lee, left, and Caylene Valdez lead the Menehunes into the state championships, which start Friday.

Moanalua girls wrestling coach Joel Kawachi rides into the state tournament this weekend with his squad as the three-time defending champion.

On his roster are four former state champions, including three defending champions and three No. 1 seeds. But according to him, the Menehunes are the underdogs.

According to Kawachi, eight of last year's 10 champions return this year, and of those eight, five are two-time champions.

"This is the most talent I've ever seen at a state championship," Kawachi said.

In what Kawachi has called a "freak year," 14 out of his 21 girls have suffered a substantial injury, the most costly being an ankle injury to defending 175-pound champion Gabrielle Nicholas.

Nicholas, who started the week on crutches, is a match-day decision and maybe the hinging factor between runner-up status or a fourth championship in a row.

"If she's healthy, then we are the favorite," Kawachi said. "But with her questionable and all the other injuries, you have to look at Kahuku."

Hawaii's football powerhouse suits up only one No. 1 seed, 98-pound Justine Swafford. However, a couple of other names may draw more attention. Senior Shanel Vivas is ranked eighth nationally at 114 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine, and Elizabeth Torres, a junior, is ranked second nationally at 110 pounds.

But you can't count Moanalua out yet. The Menehunes still have a chance to stand tall with experienced state champions Caylene Valdez, Stephany Lee and Shani Alvarado.

Valdez, a junior and the smallest and most experienced of the trio, is a two-time state champion. Wrestling USA ranks her third nationally at 110 pounds. Wrestling since fourth grade, a win this weekend will give her a shot at four-year dominance and a springboard to her dream.

"Most likely I'll wrestle in college," Valdez said. "But I really want to be an Olympian."

Earlier this season, Valdez was sidelined by a back injury for over a month. The injury was so severe it altered the way she brushed her teeth and got out of bed. "I could walk, but I couldn't wrestle," said the 108-pounder. "I owe my return and a chance this weekend to Dr. Ronald Hanagami."

Aside from the distraction of a bad back, Valdez will also have to worry about Vivas. "She won everything before Caylene came back," Kawachi said.

Like Valdez, Lee has never experienced a wrestling season where she didn't win the state title. A two-time champ at 140, Lee is looking to add a third this year at 155. Also a four-time national judo champion, Lee has dominated her opponents this year, drawing comparisons to St. Louis' boys wrestler Jonathan Spiker.

"Her greatest strength is her physical strength," Kawachi said. "She has no fear and she wrestles hurt."

Lee has fought a recurring shoulder injury since her sophomore year, and despite not being 100 percent, she still demands the best from her opponents.

"I like the girls who are aggressive, attack and come at me," Lee said. "I don't like to wrestle someone that is scared or backing off."

Lee plans to join a Hawaii contingent going to the nationals in March, where she is looking forward to test herself against the country's best before retiring to heal or return to Judo. "I want to win nationals and then no more wrestling," Lee said.

Unlike her teammates, Alvarado is not an overwhelming favorite to win her weight class. Two years ago, Valdez was a state champion but finished third last year behind current teammate Lee and Kaiser's Anna Tong, the number one ranked 138-pound girl in the country. With Lee having moved up to 155, Tong and Alvarado are left to claim a prize that Alvarado has been eyeing for a long time.

"I want it (the state championship)," said Alvarado. "I want it bad this year -- it's been my goal from the start."

Citing that this year she has more heart and more desire than any other year, Alvarado has taken the steps necessary to take what she feels is hers. When not practicing, she watches tape of her earlier matches and constantly asks the coaching staff questions. The work has paid off. While Tong beat Alvarado twice last year, this year Alvarado returned the favor.

"I look at wrestling as my ticket -- I take it seriously, I want to wrestle in college," Alvarado said.

Besides the future, Alvarado has found other things to inspire her this year. She wants to win for her father, Marcelo, who got her interested in the sport but never won a state title for Nanakuli High School.

"He finished third," Alvarado said. "He could never beat Yoshi Honda." The recent transfer from Mililani has also dedicated her season to a friend and fellow wrestler who passed away last April in a traffic accident.

"This year is for Andrew (Delos Reyes)," Alvarado said.

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association 2002 Boys and Girls Wrestling Championships begin Friday and conclude Saturday at the Blaisdell Center.

Data House State Wrestling seedings
GIRLS
98: 1. Justine Swafford, Kahuku; 2. Naomi Karlen, Punahou; 3. Bernadete Javier, Leilehua; 4. Mitra Hefforn, Hilo.
103: 1. Melissa Orden, McKinley; 2. Dawn Haraguchi, Waiakea; 3. Shannon Lee, Hawaii Baptist Academy; 4. Ashley Trapp, Maui.
108: 1. Caylene Valdez, Moanalua; 2. Janelle Hanaike, Kamehameha; 3. Lisa Sakoda, Hilo; 4. Vanessa Chavez, Maui.
114: 1. Debbie Sakai, Mililani; 2. Jaynee Kim, Punahou; 3. Sharon Ketchum, Kohala; 4. Channasy Casio, Maui.
121: 1. Mellissa Fukushima, Punahou; 2. Eva Chan, McKinley; 3. Oriana Parker, King Kekaulike; 4. Lindsey Borges, Hilo.
130: 1. Dara Ching, Pearl City; 2. Jennifer Miyahira, Mid-Pacific; 3. Veronica Ferreira, Baldwin; 4. Jasmine Norman, Konawaena.
140: 1. Shani Alvarado, Moanalua; 2. Ashley Revera, King Kekaulike; 3. Chaneal Meletia, HBA; 4. Tiffany Wong, Keeau.
155: 1. Stephany Lee, Moanalua; 2. Selina Perez, Baldwin; 3. Ashley Truchan, Hilo; 4. Abigail Logan, Kamehameha.
175: 1. Ashley Gaspar, Nanakuli; 2. Melinda Bolo, Lanai; 3. Amber Smith , Punahou; 4. Keisha Siliga, Hilo.
220: 1. Iwalani Fonoimoana, Kamehameha; 2. Matalaloa Tuitele, Leilehua; 3. Lemoe Tautala, Pahoa; 4. Chastity Molina, Waianae.

The full results for Haw.(articles, backets, photos)

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St. Louis keeps its grip on title

By Jason Kaneshiro 3/2/02
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

St. Louis survived a tight three-team battle to retain the boys state wrestling title last night in the finals of the Data House State Wrestling Championships at Blaisdell Arena.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu swept the top four places in the meet, led by St. Louis' 154.5-point performance. Kamehameha came in second with 144 points, followed by Iolani at 143. Punahou finished fourth with 111.5 points.

"It feels even better this year, because it was so tight every week," St. Louis coach Todd Los Banos said. "Last year, I knew we had a great team, but this team accomplished even more because they went undefeated this season.

"It's a tough fight every week."

St. Louis sealed its second consecutive team championship when three-time state champion Jonathan Spiker pinned Punahou's Kevin Takasaki to win the 145-pound division and Kai Kwon beat Baldwin's Spencer Chun 7-0 in the fifth-place match in the 171-pound class.

"It took all of them," Los Banos said of his team's effort. "It just happened to be (Kwon's) match and Jonathan's match that did it."

St. Louis entered the finals in first place with 136.5 points, with Kamehameha (135) and Iolani (130) just behind.

Hilo's Shane Rellez beat Waiakea's Mikhail Higa 3-1 in the 103-pound final in a battle of Big Island rivals.

St. Louis' Benn Willmore defeated Baldwin's Rowell Daquep in the 112-pound class 8-4, and Iolani got first-place points from Jared Wakayama (119 pounds) and Brent Kakesako (125).

Wakayama erased a 3-1 deficit to Waiakea's Nick Galloway with a two-point takedown to end the second period. He took the lead with an escape early in the third and went on to win 6-4 over the top seed.

Kakesako survived a bruising battle with McKinley's Emile Suehiro. Trailing 3-1 entering the final period, Kakesako got a point on an escape and scored with a reversal with about a minute left in the match to win 4-3.

Rene Suehiro earned a measure of revenge for his brother and McKinley by beating Iolani's Kyle Muraoka 6-3 in the 135-pound final.

Mililani helped St. Louis' cause as Justin Kawamata beat Iolani's Owen Yonehara 14-6 in the 130-pound final and Jaime Keehu defeated Kamehameha's Christian Kikuchi 12-3 for the 140-pound championship.

In the tightest match of the evening, Lahainaluna's Jeffery Lavita and Hilo's Alex Kalawe wrestled for seven minutes without a score. Lavita finally scored on a reversal in the second overtime and won 5-0.

Lahainaluna's Kainoa Casco won his second state title with a pin of Farrington's Paul Laga in the 160-pound match.

Robert Yamashita added to Iolani's total with a 14-5 victory over Waiakea's Marcus Busch in the 171-pound final.

Molokai's Justin Luafalemana scored the upset of the night by beating St. Louis' Prince Brown 3-2 for the 215-pound championship.

Waipahu's Maalele Uele won the 275-pound division with a 7-6 win over Lahainaluna's Charles Tang.

GIRLS

Kahuku dethroned three-time champion Moanalua to capture its first state girls championship with a final point tally of 151 points.

Moanalua, the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion, came away with three individual titles but finished second as a team with 116 points.

"It's awesome for these girls," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "They came out and wrestled hard and they wrestled aggressively. Last week (at the OIA championships) we were kind of timid, they wrestled not to lose. This week they wrestled to win."

Justine Swafford won the Red Raiders' lone individual championship when she pinned Punahou's Naomi Karlen 1:08 into the second period of the 98-pound final.

"It was the most incredible feeling in the world," said Swafford, a senior. "It's sweeter than winning the football championship. Women's wrestling hasn't been established yet, and I think after this it'll be established in our school."

Kawai Chee (103), Shanel Vivas (108), Elizabeth Torres (114) and Anela Iseke (155) posted runner-up finishes and Kehau Kamauoha finished third in the 140 class.

Moanalua's Caylene Valdez (108) and Stephany Lee (155) became 3-time champions by winning their divisions and Shani Alvarado won the 140 class for the Menehunes.

Nanakuli's Ashley Gaspar (175) and Kamehameha's Iwalani Fonoimoana (220) joined Valdez and Lee as three-time state champions. McKinley's Melissa Orden won her second title in the 103 division.

OIA schools have won all five girls state championships.

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