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Inside the Blaisdell Arena and on top of the high school wrestling world as a newly minted four-time state champion, Saint Louis’ Corey Cabanban named some colleges he might compete for next year.
“Iowa State, Northern Idaho, Virginia,” he said. “I have choices.”
College is the next step on Cabanban’s ladder, and it will allow him to branch out from that single-minded goal of becoming a four-time champion that he has carried with him throughout high school.
That first step culminated with a win as a freshman in the 106-pound state final against Kapolei’s Jayson Pagurayan. The other threats were neutralized in order — Triston Santos of Campbell at 113 in 2016, Logan Garcia of Moanalua at 120 in 2017, and Casen Watanabe of Punahou at 126 on Thursday.
Aside from all of the training and mental preparation, it also entailed a strict diet that allowed him minimal weight gain — 20 pounds over three years.
Such is the life of a wrestler or, in Cabanban’s case, the self-proclaimed “badass” tag that he threw out there in December when asked what he would tell an opponent about himself if he were coaching that wrestler in a match against himself.
In Thursday’s semifinals, Garcia nearly earned a second chance to steal Cabanban’s glory, but got pinned by Watanabe. Such is the life of chasing the best, and that’s what everybody in Cabanban’s division did for four years. In Wednesday’s quarterfinals, Leilehua’s Isaac Stalcup tried valiantly and came up just short of the ultimate upset, losing 3-1.
When he gets to college, Cabanban — who finished the season as Hawaii’s Prep World’s No. 1 pound-for-pound wrestler — might feel a bit of relief, not having an immediate target on his back.
When you are the best, you’ve got to act like it. And he does. Miss a training session? In Cabanban’s case — not a chance — according to Crusaders coach Al Chee. Take all opponents seriously? Without a doubt.
“They were all tough,” he said about his high school rivals. “Every single one. Everybody was trying to stop me from getting it four times. I had an opportunity and I took it.”
Only four boys before him have achieved the four-year Hawaii slam — ‘Iolani’s Patrick Higa, Saint Louis’ Jonathan Spiker and Brandon Low and Mid-Pacific’s Josh Terao. Like those before him, he created his legacy.
As Chee once said about Cabanban, “He wasn’t born a champion.”
That’s the lesson for others trying to follow in Cabanban’s footsteps. His coaches and training partners helped, but he was the one with the fortitude to make it happen.
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