More Photos: Wrestling Officials Scholarship Fundraiser tournament »

Mililani’s Chase Tantog was disqualified out of the state tournament last year for slamming an opponent to the mat.

He responded by slamming the field to win the 135-pound class of the Wrestling Officials Scholarship Fundraiser tournament at Leilehua on Saturday.

Tantog took out top-seeded Todd Murakawa of Punahou 11-4 in the semifinals before mauling Cheyden Quiocho of Keeau in the final. The win puts him in the conversation for a state title again, but there is a long season ahead.

"I just have to train hard, keep going," Tantog said. "This was a big tournament, with all of the private schools here. It is the biggest one I’ve won, for now."

Cory Okuda of Aiea made it to the 145-pound championship, nearly stealing Tantog’s thunder. Okuda was unseeded in the tournament but benefited from top seed Tyson Kuahine of Kamehameha forfeiting out of the first round. Okuda took advantage of the surprise by winning four matches to get to the center mat.

Okuda’s magic ran out in the final against No. 2 seed Derek Lee Loy of Moanalua. True to his form of winning ugly, Okuda trailed throughout the final but kept it close in a 6-4 loss. Okuda said conditioning was to blame for the loss, but he thought he still had a chance to make some magic happen until the last second ticked off the clock.

"He is one of those wrestlers who is comfortable in the scramble," Aiea coach Ason Abe said. "As a coach, knowing his style, I am never worried about him. He will always find a way to get it done."

Things are all coming together this season for the senior, who failed to place in states last year after placing third in the OIA. This early tournament seeds wrestlers on last year, forcing Okuda to get two full days of work. He was not even being counted on to score for Na Alii, with teammate Shannen Opostadiro scheduled to wrestle in his bracket. But Opostadiro came up ill before the tournament and Okuda picked up his mate.