Punahou kept it all in the family yesterday at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu judo championships.

Another stellar effort from the reliable Chow sisters, Chrissy and Mindy, and complementary efforts from their teammates helped Punahou defend its ILH girls title, 107 to runner-up Kamehameha’s 96 at Saint Louis. The Buffanblu made it a sweep for the day by dominating the middle weight classes on the boys side for 131 points, trumping the 120 of defending champion Pac-Five.

Chrissy Chow toppled her finals opponent in the 129-pound class, ‘Iolani’s Kasie Kashimoto by ippon with a tai otoshi body drop. Mindy, the cleanup hitter, followed suit against the Raiders’ Tara Srirangarajan in the 139 class with an ippon by a similar maneuver.

That heart of the order has been a winning formula for their father and coach, Greg Chow, over the past three seasons.

"They did that (one after the other) for wrestling also," he said. "More than as a dad, as a coach, the whole team, it’s really helpful to have someone who’s reliable, who’s solid at the early weight, set the tempo for the rest of your team."

But that particular combination will come to an end at states in two weeks, when Chrissy, a senior, competes for what she believes will be the final time and prepares to go to Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. She hopes to go out with a grand slam of individual state championships — one for each year of high school — to go with her fourth ILH title she earned yesterday.

She was at peace with her decision to give up her lifelong sports, judo and wrestling, and focus on being a student.

"They’re sports, but I think they’re more about the values that you learn in the training and everything," Chrissy Chow said.

In the meantime, she’s still plenty good. Mindy Chow, a junior, draws strength from watching her sister/sparring partner submit opponents. She then channels it for her own matches.

"I’m used to it that way. It helps me," the younger Chow said. "It’s like, I would say, a bulwark. It kind of steadies me seeing her."

Other family ties were strong at McCabe Gym.

Damien sophomore Royce Mori claimed the boys 161-pound title with a quick ippon on Punahou’s Brett Will. Combined with Jacob Lewis’s title in the 198-pound final, the Monarchs took third place with 94 points. It was sweet validation for a program in just its second year of varsity judo.

Mori and his father and coach, Robin Mori, beamed about their team’s showing.

"We have guys coming out as seniors, first year playing judo, they only played for like three months and are making it to states," said Royce Mori, who avenged his only blemish on a perfect season thus far, a tie to Lewis. "That’s a pride for me, because I’m team captain and had to motivate the players. It just feels great to have a winning team."

The Monarchs should be a threat for seasons to come behind a strong foundation.

"Every year we’re progressing. I’m losing two kids (to graduation), and the rest should return," said Robin Mori.

The Terao brothers of Pac-Five, David and Josh, claimed titles at the 121 and 108 levels, respectively, to buoy their team to a strong start to the final round, but one the Wolfpack couldn’t finish. David Terao, a senior, can go for a fourth state title in two weeks.

"I think we got a good legacy," Pac-Five coach Jerome Fukuda said. "(David) will finish up hopefully strong and Josh (a freshman) can follow up in his footsteps. They’re both great competitors and they play the sport of judo the right way."

All top-five finishers in boys matches qualified for states, while top-four finishers qualified in girls matches.

McKinley girls rule OIA Judo

The McKinley girls judo team swept the first four weight classes at the OIA individual championships last night at Leilehua.

Marina Higa won at 98 pounds, followed by Marissa Rogers (103), Brittany Balanay (109) and Ayame Higa (115). They were the only Tigers to win league titles, twice as many as any other team. Pearl City had two golds, from Mylinda Jefferson at 154 pounds and Sanoe Spencer at 220. The other champions were Marissa Fukunaga of Roosevelt (122), Phairin Hicks of Mililani (129), Kahuku’s Uilani Freitas-Smith (139) and Kaiser’s Makana Borden (172).

The OIA team championships will be held Friday at Moanalua at 5 p.m., with the state championships to follow May 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Parity rules in boys bracket

Seven different schools went home with an OIA championship on the boys side.

Moanalua, Roosevelt and Kahuku all doubled up with gold medals. Brant Tsuda (121) and Kelson Onigama (108) won for Na Menehune, Trevor Kalawaia (145) and Jheryl Makaiau (220) beat all comers for the Red Raiders, and Roosevelt put through Cody Fernandez (114) and Randy Ishitani (178).

Tyler Kono of Kapolei (132), Chaeden Grace-Reyes of Farrington (161), Kalani’s Myler Alokoa (198) and Joey Choi of Campbell (275) also won titles.