The defending state champion Pearl City girls judo team delivered its best evidence yet that it is all about team.
The Chargers rolled to the team championship last week but went 3-6 in championship matches in Saturday’s OIA Individual Championships. There just wasn’t as much at stake.
"It was basically the OIA against us in a dual meet," Pearl City coach Robin Puahala said. "We didn’t get the result we wanted, but I liked a lot of the effort."
Pearl City only had three champions, Sherese Ader at 122, Trudi Eltagonde at 139 and Janelle Fuamatu at 172, but showed off its dominance with a representative in every championship match except two and had two judoka in one of them.
Among the most surprising Chargers to fall was Taylor Castro, who lost to McKinley’s Marina Higa in a tough bout.
Higa and Castro went scoreless throughout their four minutes, with neither gaining an advantage, but Higa pushing the action. When the outcome went to a judge’s decision, they favored Castro. But Castro had committed two fouls and the decision reversed to Higa.
It was Higa’s third OIA championship, or her fourth depending upon your perspective. The senior made it to the finals last year but was pitted against teammate Marissa Rogers and both athletes agreed to forfeit rather than go against each other. Someone has to take home the gold, though, so the girls left it up to their coaches to decide and they rewarded Rogers for being a senior.
"I guess it is pretty much four because I didn’t lose to anybody last year," Higa said.
Higa would not have come close to her three golds without Castro. When Higa started in the sport she was Castro’s rag doll for a long time, but each bruise she gained made her better. Castro has one OIA championship to her credit, and both seniors will be looking for their first state crown next week.
"When I first started judo she was my main opponent because she was my weight," Higa said. "She would always throw me since I first began. I have never beat her, so to finally win is really nice. Also because she is a black belt it is even better."
Higa wore a brown belt on the podium.
Stacy Suda was McKinley’s other champion, beating Chale’ Chee of Kahuku at 98 pounds. Kaelynn Canyete of Kapolei (103), Kaylin Castro of Mililani (109), Khrysten Gameng of Campbell (129), Joy Kurosawa of Moanalua (154) and Talia Jones of Leilehua (220) were the other OIA champions on the girls side.
Moanalua boys dominate
The Moanalua boys team rolled after winning last week’s team title, getting five judoka into a championship and receiving wins from all of them. They dominated the awards ceremony, too, with their seniors standing atop the podium in full prom regalia, picking up their medals and scooting off to the ball.
Kelson Onigama (114), Brant Tsuda (132), Kulana Salera (145), Justin Fujiwara (178) and Chaeden Grace-Reyes (198) picked up individual titles for Na Menehune. That they always win when pitted against a tough opponent is no coincidence; they see the toughest in practice every day.
"We have great coaches and the practice is intense," Salera said. "The team is feeling pretty good going into next week."
Fujiwara and Grace-Reyes echoed the same refrain, both crediting teammates for their success. Moanalua has won the past four team titles and the past three state titles. States will be Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"We are as prepared as we can be," Fujiwara said. "We just have to keep working our hardest."
Micah Platt of Campbell (108), Chevy Felicilda-Tabiolo of Farrington (121), Robert Kim (161) and Dayton Furuta (220) of Mililani and Weston Akamine (275) of Roosevelt will also enter the state championships with an OIA title to their credit.
Jerry Campany, Star-Advertiser
