Campbell repeats in boys and wins first title in girls

Winning the boys OIA wrestling title wasn’t enough for Campbell last year, so the Sabers went for the sweep this time.

Campbell’s boys scored 214 points to beat Pearl City by 28 points to defend its championship and the girls from Ewa beat McKinley by seven for their first OIA team championship at Leilehua on Saturday.

"As a team we pulled it together, but next week is all it comes down to," Campbell girls coach Brian Weida said. "We get one more practice week, but we got used to competing in front of an audience with tight matches. A lot of times you don’t see this kind of draws from the crowds."

The Sabers did it with only three individual champions, Christian Natividad at 120 for the boys and Alicia Liemsithisak at 117 and freshman Angela Peralta at 135 for the girls. Campbell had four girls finish second and the boys had four make the final but fall short.

"As a team we did well," Campbell boys coach Mark Buelow said. "We only had one champion, but we had 12 placers, and as a team I think we did pretty well going into states."

The Sabers have never won a state team title, but their boys finished second to Kamehameha last year. Their lone OIA individual champion thinks that this edition of OIA champions is more prepared for the gauntlet.

"I’d say we earned it more this year," Natividad said. "We worked harder than we did last year. We all pushed each other and everyone was looking out for Campbell and trying to beat Campbell this year."

Pearl City, Kapolei and Mililani all had more individual boys champions than Campbell, with three each, but couldn’t match the Sabers’ depth. Campbell had a wrestler finish in the top eight at every weight class except 170.

The individual stars were Pearl City’s Blake Cooper and Mililani’s Brayden Akeo, who enjoyed their third time on the top step of the podium at the OIA championships. Both of them will be going for their third state title next week.

"It just gives me more confidence for states," Cooper said. "Now I know I can beat everybody. All of the guys here were good. I just did what I had to do."

Rodney Williams of Castle (170) and Dayton Furuta of Mililani (220) joined Natividad with their second OIA championships.

The girls brackets had winners from 10 different schools, led by Roosevelt with three. McKinley matched Campbell with two. Malie Gonsalves of Waianae (101), Angela Enos of Moanalua (105), Jocelyn Tabion of Kapolei (155) and Kaydie Tahotu of McKinley (220) all won their second OIA titles.

The Sabers had too much quality top to bottom, and there may be more titles on the way. Their two champions are a sophomore (Liemsithisak) and a freshman (Peralta).

"It makes all the girls feel so accomplished," Peralta said. "We all worked super hard and pushed each other to our limits. It just feels so successful."

OIA Championships

Boys team results–1. Campbell, 214; 2. Pearl City, 186.5; 3. Kapolei, 156.5; 4. Radford, 134; 5. Waianae, 131; 6. Mililani, 130; 7. Leilehua, 94; 8. Moanalua, 86; 9. Castle, 56; 10. Kaiser, 54.

Boys individual results

106 pounds–1. Jayson Pagurayan, Kapo; 2. Shazer Valeriano, Camp; 3. Brandon Aceret, Wail.

113–1. Shandon Ilabon Totten, Kapo; 2. Chance Ikei, Kais; 3. Cayde Tagami, Roos.

120–1. Christian Natividad, Camp; 2. Alika Agustin, Wain; 3. Draten Morisato, Kaln.

126–1. Alex Ursua, PC; 2. Chevy Tabiolo Felicilda, Moan; 3. Aaron Nakama, Kapo.

132–1. Zackary Diamond, Mil; 2. Bishop Moore, Roos; 3. Alika Durham, Kais.

138–1. Braydon Akeo, Mil; 2. Jacob Naosusuga, Wain; 3. Cable Sardinha, Camp.

145–1. Liam Corbett, Rad; 2. Josh Gima, Aiea; 3. Swayne Lunasco, Cast.

152–1. Jacob Solomon, Kalh; 2. Tristen Kamaka, Lei; 3. Michael Graziano, Wain.

160–1. Blake Cooper, PC; 2. Francis Taua, Camp; 3. Lopaka Lono, Lei.

170–1. Rodney Wiliams, Cast; 2. Kristian Vaana Kikuyama, PC; 3. Zorich Palimoo, Moan.

182–1. Moses Wiseman, Kapo; 2. Maui Iii Lee, PC; 3. James Sullivan, Camp.

195–1. Mahvan Tau, Wain; 2. Thor Kapesi Brady, Camp; 3. Paul Joe, PC.

220–1. Dayton Furuta, Mil; 2. Tristan Ludiazo, Camp; 3. DJ Chatman, Rad.

285–1. Jordan Fuamatu, PC; 2. Toese Tia, Camp; 3. Maake Muti, Lei.

Girls team results–1. Campbell, 153; 2. McKinley, 146; 3. Pearl City, 129; 4. Waianae, 123.5; 5. Kapolei, 83; 6. Aiea, 81; T7. Castle, 79; T7. Leilehua, 79; 9. Kahuku, 77; 10. Roosevelt, 76.

Girls individual results

97 pounds–1. Maia Phanthadara, Roos; 2. Brandi Yoshida, Camp; 3. Alexis Nelson, Wain.

101–1. Malie Gonsalves, Wain; 2. Kalissa Pundyke, Camp; 3. Nina Bean, Kaim.

105–1. Angela Enos, Moan; 2. Breanne Takaesu, PC; 3. Ilysia Sharai Sana, Wain.

109–1. Tammy Le, McK; 2. Nakia James, Lei; 3. Aarica Barcina, Kah.

113–1. Kristen Kojima, Roos; 2. Alexis Ford, PC; 3. Alsie Bahilot, Cast.

117–1. Alicia Liemsithisak, Camp; 2. Kayla Guillermo, Cast; 3. Hiu Chang Lau, McK.

121–1. Angela Lee, Mil; 2. Asia Lien Evans, PC; 3. Rebekah Johnson, Cast.

125–1. Maria Garcia, Roos; 2. Nina Brown, Rad; 3. Ashley Mercado, Lei.

130–1. Lhyca Joy Butac, Lei; 2. Asia Igafo, Cast; 3. Jacqueline Fuamatu, PC.

135–1. Angela Peralta, Camp; 2. Taysia Kano, Kapo; 3. Cheynell Kawaihae, Kail.

140–1. Kari Okubo, Aiea; 2. Lokelani Kam, Camp; 3. Asialyn Fernandes, PC.

155–1. Jocelyn Tabion, Kapo; 2. Caragh Morris, Camp; 3. Kanoeala Nakoa, Kais.

175–1. Jocelyn Alo, Kah; 2. Sarah Miner, Aiea; 3. Kay Tehotu, McK.

220–1. Kaydie Tehotu, McK; 2. Sabrina Alo, Kah; 3. Avei Lualemaga, Aiea.