Baldwin girls surprise themselves with title

Baldwin was here to accomplish some goals, but winning states took the Bears by surprise.

Thanks to Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp’s pin in the second-to-last match of the night, Baldwin squeezed by Kamehameha for the girls team title at the Texaco/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships on Thursday night at Blaisdell Arena. Only a half-point separated the two squads — 157.5 to 157.

“We have great girls on the team and we’re very young,” Bears coach Malakai Panuve said. “It wasn’t our expectation to come here and compete for the title. We came here to wrestle and for girls to accomplish little goals — to win a match or place or just getting to the second day. Doing that made them realize that something great can happen.”

Estrella-Beauchamp’s pin of Kamehameha’s Alexis Nova Posiulai in the 127-pound final was the clincher. Baldwin also got a win from Jahnea Miguel, who topped OIA champ Sadie Antoque of Castle 7-3 in the 145 final for her second straight state championship. Because she’s a sophomore, Miguel still has a chance to accomplish the four-title slam.

“For Baldwin, this is something big,” she said.

Kahuku’s Teniya Alo, who is No. 1 in Hawaii Prep World’s pound-for-pound rankings, wrapped up her distinguished high school career with a third state championship. She won by fall in 2 minutes, 30 seconds over Kamehameha’s Krystal Puahala in the 138 final.

“I’m honored,” said Alo, who plans to try to make the U.S. Olympic team for 2020. “My Kahuku team helped me with my stamina and prepared me really well for this tournament. I knew I had it.”

Leilehua junior Kelani Corbett (No. 2 p4p) topped Pearl City’s Nina Seoane 12-4 in the 155 final for her third straight crown. She is going for her fourth next season.

“All three (titles), you just can’t believe it when it happens,” Corbett said. “It’s been two years since my first one and that still hasn’t sunk in, and this one feels just like the first one.”

Kaiser’s Tiare Ikei (No. 6 p4p) won her first state championship while denying Kamehameha’s Ashley Gooman (No. 3 p4p) a third title (and an eventual chance at a fourth) with a 4-1 win in the 112 final. Both girls are only juniors, so they could wind up meeting again.

“I’ve wrestled Ashley since I started three years ago,” Ikei said. “She’s always been quicker and more technical, so I had to utilize my strength and conditioning and hopefully my improved technique. Some people think of this as the end of the season, but with every end there is a beginning. Winning a state title is an accomplishment, but it’s a minor accomplishment compared to what I can achieve and want to achieve.”

Pearl City’s Jennie Fuamatu (No. 8 p4p) was going for a second state crown, but wound up on the short end of a 10-3 decision to Konawaena’s Kapoina Bailey in the 168 final.

“Honestly, she (Fuamatu) is really good,” Bailey said. “She beat me my freshman year. I got second place last year. But I didn’t want to lose again. Losing pushes me to do better. I saw a comment (online) saying the BIIF’s a joke. It’s not a joke.”

Lahainaluna’s Nanea Estrella (No. 4 p4p, 122) and Ira Navarro (No. 7 p4p, 102) and Roosevelt’s Macy Higa (No. 5 p4p) all won their second state championships. Two other p4p wrestlers — Kamehameha’s Paige Respicio (No. 9, 132) and Kahuku’s Tangiteina Niutupuivaha (No. 10, 225) captured their first state titles.