Kapolei’s Andre Pagurayan did not defend his judo championship on Saturday, but he did something not too many competitors in any sport would do in this day and age.
Pagurayan had just been thrown down by Mililani’s Tayler Otsuka as time ran out in the 114-pound final at the Oahu Interscholastic Association championships. There he was, beaten by yuko and on his knees at the Leilehua gym, and the first thing he did was clap for the winner, who is also someone he considers a friend.
Sportsmanship at its highest level.
“He is so good and kind-hearted,” Otsuka said about Pagurayan. “I’m so thankful that I got to go against him and I’m glad I came out on top. It was a tough match. I tried to push the pace at the end, looking for a good opportunity. We’re still great friends, on and off the mat. I’m looking forward to going against him at states (next weekend).”
Pagurayan, who also won the 114-pound state crown a year ago, was a picture of happiness after the match.
“I had fun,” he said, despite the loss. “That’s what matters to me. I will train harder because I know I’ll be seeing him in the final at states. We’re 1-1 now. I beat him at (OIA) Westerns by yuko last week and he beat me by yuko this time.”
Somebody’s math is off. Otsuka said that he lost all three previous matches against Pagurayan.
In a high-grade girls final at 115 pounds, Roosevelt’s Macy Higa defeated defending champion Czarina Pineda-Abaya of Kalani by ippon. Higa came in as the reigning 109-pound titlist.
“I fought her last weekend (in a win at OIA Easterns), and she’s a really, really good judoka,” Higa said about Pineda-Abaya. “I was glad I was able to compete with her. She pushed me to work harder. That last match went to overtime after neither one of us scored.”
McKinley’s Risa Higa scored an upset by defeating defending 129-pound champion Zoe Tateyama of Kalani by shido.
“I didn’t expect to win and I doubted myself,” Higa said afterward. “But I knew I would be trying my hardest. Winning OIAs is a good feeling, I guess. I’m hoping to get that state title.”
In another upset, this one on the boys side, Moanalua freshman Noah Wusstig topped Kapolei’s Jayson Pagurayan, a two-time OIA winner who also owns a state title, by wazari in the 121-pound semifinals. Wusstig went on to beat Mililani’s Cody Tallman by ippon in the final.
“Jayson (who is Andre’s twin brother) and I were banging, going at it,” Wusstig said. “And he’ll be banging next week at states.”
The win made it two in a row for Wusstig over Pagurayan, with the first one coming at the OIA team championships.
Moanalua’s Sienna Ho became a two-time OIA champ, adding another piece of hardware to her 2014 trophy, by dropping Kalani’s Phoebe Pineda-Abaya by ippon at 122.
Six others became two-time OIA titlists: Moanalua’s Amanda Higa (98), Roosevelt’s Menjam Tamang (103), Kapolei’s Anthony Brett (132), Kalani’s Micah Tateyama (145), Kapolei’s Rodman Salangdron (161) and Kahuku’s Lerod Tongi (220).
Tongi got through a brutal bracket that included the 220-pound champ from 2014, James Lawhn of Kalani, and Aiea’s Matthew Miner, who won a year ago at 275. Tongi beat Lawhn in the final by ippon.
