Moanalua’s Noah Wusstig learned from a stinging loss last week and overcame it.
A junior, Wusstig won a third consecutive title in the Atlas Insurance Agency/HHSAA Judo State Championships on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center. In the 145-pound final, he defeated Pearl City’s Shayden Yip by ippon in 1:11.
“I had some pretty emotional hardships this year,” he said. “I got upset at the OIAs (by Kapolei’s Rodan Salangdron). It was really hard for me to lose that. I took it, came back to the lab, did the work and now I’m on top again. All last year, I was dominant. This year, I had a hard time winning it and I took (the loss) kinda hard.”
Wusstig and his older brother Chase Wusstig were a big part of Na Menehune’s path to Saturday’s team title.
“Ever since my freshman year, I’ve been wanting this (team) title,” Noah Wusstig said. “We had to work hard for this. We deserved it.”
It was Moanalua’s fourth state championship and first since 2012.
Chase Wusstig, a senior, earned a second state crown, defeating Kapolei’s Jake Brett by ippon in 0:30 in the 178 final.
It was a breakthrough night for Punahou’s Nicolas Nakaoka, who became a four-time state placer. More importantly, he took his first state title — and did a backflip after winning the 161-pound final by ippon in 0:48 over Kapolei’s Branden Pagurayan. The officials were not smiling, and it turned out to be only a warning and minus-three team points.
“I was in the moment, my third time in the finals after coming up short the last two years,” Nakaoka said. “It’s my last year of high school judo. I felt like I wanted to get it all out. I know what it’s like to come in second — so close, yet so far. Now, to be able to claim the title, it’s a great climax for the season and my whole judo career.”
Kalani’s Kailer Okura added a second state title to his resume, topping ‘Iolani’s Akihiro Iwakiri by shido (penalty) in the 198-pound final.
Two judoka, Mililani’s Tayler Otsuka (132 pounds) and McKinley’s Laulii Iosefa (220), failed in their bids for a second crown. In their final matches, Saint Louis’ Joseph Chinen beat Otsuka by yuko, and Punahou’s Legend Matautia got past Iosefa by ippon in 36 seconds.
Tyler Ibarra, a Saint Louis senior who also wrestles, waited for this very last tournament to become a state champion. He knocked off Kaiser’s Koby Chun by han soku make (disqualification) in the 121 final. Last week, he lost in the ILH final to ‘Iolani’s Hunter Fujiwara.
“From the beginning of the season, I always told myself I want to be a state champion,” Ibarra said. “When I took that loss at ILH, I knew that would be my fire to drive me even more.”
Coach Brandon Maki’s Moanalua boys champions scored 78 points. Pearl City was second with 59, followed by Saint Louis in third with 41.
HHSAA State Championship
At Stan Sheriff Center
Boys
Team
1. Moanalua 78. 2. Pearl City 59. 3. Saint Louis 41. 4. Kapolei 40. 5. Punahou 39. 6. Kalani 37. 7, ‘Iolani 35. 8. McKinley 29. 9. Mililani 28. 10. Waiakea 27. 11 (tie), Campbell 12, Kaiser 12, Mid-Pacific 12. 14 (tie), Hilo 9, Konawaena 9. 16. Leilehua 8. 17. University 7. 18 (tie), Damien 5, Kalaheo 5, Roosevelt 5.
Individual
108 pounds: 1. Keane Escaba (Moan). 2. Aden Leyson (Waiak). 3. Brennan Larita (PC). 114: 1. Mitchell Funasaki (Mil). 2. McCade Ho (Moan). 3. Kolby Namnama (Waiak). 121: 1. Tyler Ibarra (StL). 2. Koby Chun (Kais). 3. Seth Wilson (Hilo). 132: 1. Joseph Chinen (StL). 2. Tayler Otsuka (Mil). 3. Cambey Quijano (PC). 145: 1. Noah Wusstig (Moan). 2. Shayden Yip (PC). 3. Rodan Salangdron (Kap). 161: 1. Nicolas Nakaoka (Pun). 2. Branden Pagurayan (Kap). 3. Trigg Salvador (Moan). 178: 1. Chase Wusstig (Moan). 2. Jake Brett (Kap). 3. Kainoa Titcomb (StL). 198: 1. Kailer Okura (Kaln). 2. Akihiro Iwakiri (Iol). 3. Damein Agao (Moan). 220: 1. Legend Matautia (Puna). 2. Laulii Iosefa (McK). 3. Noah Calibuso (Camp). 285: 1. Paulsson Solomon (PC). 2. Ezekiel Samuelu (McK). 3. Hailama Anakalea (Kona).
Girls
Team
1. Moanalua 92. 2. Pearl City 72. 3. Kalani 31. 4. Waiakea 30. 5. Aiea 28. 6. Punahou 27. 7. Konawaena 25. 8. Kamehameha 23. 9. Mid Pacific 21. 10 (tie), Campbell 19, Roosevelt 19. 12 (tie), ‘Iolani 16, Mililani 16, Waipahu 16. 15. Leilehua 15. 16. Maryknoll 12. 17. Kaiser 7. 18 (tie), Baldwin 5, Kahuku5. 20 (tie), Hawaii Baptist 3, Kamehameha-Maui 3, Kapolei 3, Keaau 3, Nanakuli 3.
Individual
98 pounds: 1. Precious Tampos (Waip). 2. Jazmin Lazo (Moan). 3. Samantha Yamamoto (Waiak). 103: 1. Xiaolin Mai (Roos). 2. Maddy Kogachi (Pun). 3. Nicole Shimizu (Moan). 109: 1. Liann Yamamoto (Waiak). 2. Kayla Odo (PC). 3. Sophia Saiki (MPI). 115: 1. Amanda Higa (Moana). 2. Taylor Arakaki (Mary). 3. Chelsea Johnny (Camp). 122: 1. Mayu Wise (Mil). 2. Marisa Iha (Pun). 3. Alyson Hayashi (Iol). 129: 1. Skye Realin (KS). 2. Emily Paulino (Kaln). 3. Phoebe Pineda-Abaya (Kaln). 139: 1. Zoe Tateyama (Kaln). 2. Charlize Jasmine Pascual-Tabuyo (MPI). 3. Rebekah Garcia (Moan). 154: 1. Nina Seoane (PC). 2. Faith Joy Okubo (Moan). 3. Dana Sugai (Kona). 172: 1. Kapoina Bailey (Kona). 2. Alana Dela Pena (Moan). 3. Jayda Toleafoa (Aiea). 220: 1. Jennie Fuamatu (PC). 2. Kyrah Hughley (Moan). 3. Princess Leota (Moan).
