Kamehameha’s Zion Grace Vierra won her fourth Interscholastic League of Honolulu individual wrestling championship Thursday in her home gym.
Next week, Vierra suits up for her last try at a state title Wednesday and Thursday at the Blaisdell Arena.
“I’m grateful for the four ILH titles, but I really need the state championship,” said Vierra, who won by pin over Warriors teammate Jordan Yogi in the 145-pound final. “I pushed myself harder this year and hopefully I get it. I couldn’t have done any of this if it wasn’t for God and for my team pushing me. I had to be an example for my team and push extra hard so they would want to push even harder.”
Saint Louis’ Corey Cabanban completed his ILH four-title slam Thursday, too, but what is utmost in his mind is adding a fourth state crown.
“I’m ready to go for that fourth title now for states,” Cabanban said. “This season has been long, but it went by so fast and it’s my senior year, so I’ve got to make it worthwhile.”
Cabanban, who defeated ‘Iolani’s Casen Watanabe 9-3 in the 126-pound final and is No. 1 in Hawaii Prep World’s pound-for-pound rankings, will make an official recruiting visit to Iowa State after the season.
“We’re all at the top and they’re all coming after me, so I’ve got to defend my spot,” he said. “I give props to (Watanabe and) them for taking me on.”
Two wrestlers captured their third league titles — Kamehameha’s Ashley Gooman (No. 3 p4p) and ‘Iolani’s Kaysen Takenaka.
“She is really good, too,” Gooman said about ‘Iolani’s Robyn Kim, whom she pinned in the 112 final.
Gooman recently moved up to 112 from 107 and could be squaring off with OIA champion Tiare Ikei (No. 6 p4p) at some point at states.
“Maybe it will happen,” she added. “She’s really good. I give her so much credit. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be for states. I’m excited.”
In the 170 boys final, Takenaka got past Kamehameha’s Kainalu Huddy 5-2. Both wrestlers will join a packed group in the division at states.
“I’m ready, hell yeah,” Takenaka said. “I want to win in my last year — as a state champion in perhaps the best weight class in the state right now.”
‘Iolani’s Kaua Nishigaya and Kamehameha’s Paige Respicio (No. 9 p4p) and Kysen Terukina (No. 5 p4p) became two-time ILH titleholders. Nishigaya topped Saint Louis’ Ansen Ursua 12-6 in the boys 132 final; Respicio pinned Punahou’s Isabella Wong in the girls 132 final; and Terukina dropped ‘Iolani’s Brady Hoshino 9-1 in the boys 120 final.
Terukina lost a match, a rarity, at the Officials tournament in December and isn’t taking anything for granted.
“Knowing I can get caught, it makes me realize that no matter who I’m challenging I always gotta be in good position and be on my ‘A’ game,” he said. “I’m never satisfied, really, when I wrestle. There’s always something I can do better and there’s always something I mess up on.”
Five wrestlers were denied a second ILH crown, and two of them were in boys 220, where defending champ Brock Ai of Kamehameha lost to 2016 champ Dominic Tominiko of Saint Louis in the semifinals before top-seeded Legend Matautia of Punahou rolled past Tominiko 12-4 in the final.
‘Iolani’s Jake Angelo did not repeat as an ILH champ, losing a 9-4 decision to Kamehameha’s Makana Tapia in the 152 final. Punahou’s Sarah Obra Nakata also came up short on her attempt to repeat when she was pinned by ‘Iolani’s Zoe Omura in the girls 97 final. In addition, 2017 champ Anela Kahuli-Apo lost in the semifinals at 184 to Pac-Five’s Dylan Huddy, who went on to win the bracket.
In the boys 285 semis, Damien’s Harry Lloyd upset Saint Louis’ Kayson Kekahuna (No. 10 p4p) 3-2, but Kamehameha’s Chase Bollig pinned Lloyd for the title.
The host Warriors won both team titles. The boys (184.5) finished ahead of runner-up Saint Louis (159.5), and the girls (173) ended up well ahead of second-place Punahou (94).
