Leilehua’s Corbett finishes on top with 4-year slam

Kelani Corbett joined an elite club Thursday.

The Leilehua senior wrestler did it with four years of toil, and for her efforts, she received a smattering of boos amid the loud cheers at Blaisdell Arena.

Those boo birds — fans of Corbett’s opponent Kapoina Bailey of Konawaena who appeared to have a problem with the officiating of their 168-pound final at the Texaco/HHSAA Wrestling State Championships — are now in the past, as are all of the wrestlers who unsuccessfully took a shot at Corbett during her run of four titles.

Only four others have done the four-year slam since girls wrestling became a state tournament sport in 1998.

A few hours before accomplishing the feat, Corbett sat at a table near the entrance of the arena. In back of a Lyon College banner, Corbett ceremoniously signed a letter of intent to the school, where her brother Kevin — a two-time state placer earlier this decade — is the head coach.

Against Bailey, Corbett — who finishes the season at No. 1 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s pound-for-pound rankings — was certainly in danger of losing, ahead by one point midway through the third period. At that point, she was on the bottom in a defensive posture with Bailey on top aggressively and desperately trying to score. Corbett nearly escaped for a point, but instead, pulled off the reversal for two and a 4-1 victory.

It should be noted that Corbett chose the tougher of two routes for the fourth jewel in her crown.

“I knew she was a tough opponent,” Corbett said afterward. “She was my teammate from summer travels. I knew it was going to be a grind out. One of the main reasons I went to 168 (from 155, where she won her first three state titles) was I wanted better competition.”

Ashley Gooman, No. 2 in the final rankings, succeeded in her comeback from a bitter defeat in the final a year ago. The Kamehameha senior wrapped up a stellar career with the 122-pound title. All that stood between her and four years of championship glory was a 4-1 loss last year to Kaiser’s Tiare Ikei, who is now with Team USA and whose career has skyrocketed, with two international victories since then.

Just as much as the three titles, Gooman will cherish the team championships this season and when she was a freshman.

“This is incredibly important to me, with it being my last match, but I was doing it for the team and we were out to get what we deserve,” she said after beating Pearl City’s Makana Cooper 6-1 in the final.

Lahainaluna’s Nanea Estrella, No. 3 on the final p4p list, will strive for the slam next year after winning the 127-pound division for her third state championship.

Two wrestlers in the final p4p Top 10 became two-time state champions Thursday — Kamehameha junior Paige Respicio (No. 4, 138 pounds) and Baldwin junior Waipuilani Estrella Beauchamp (No. 5, 132).

Baldwin senior Tianna Fernandez is one of four first-time state champs on the final p4p list. Her victory at 102 pounds solidified her standing at No. 8. The other three newly minted champs are Campbell’s Jazmyn Enriquez (No. 6, 97 pounds), Kamehameha senior Alana Vivas (No. 7, 117) and Baldwin sophomore Shayna Kamaka (No. 10, 155).

Baldwin junior Jahnea Miguel (No. 9, 138), a two-time state champ, is the only one in the Top 10 who lost Thursday.