Upending a defending state champion is a difficult task, but Roosevelt’s Yuting He did it twice Saturday.

Wrestling in the girls 117-pound class, she topped Pearl City’s reigning state champion, Alexis Ford, in two out of three showdowns at the Pearl City round-robin tournament.

The two locked up in three tenacious encounters, including two that went right down to the end. He got the upper hand in the middle bout with a pin. Earlier, Ford scored a 3-2 victory, and then the two ended their grueling day with He surviving a 3-2 match. Earlier this year, Ford won a tight encounter at Kalaheo. All told, they are 2-2 against each other and could be on a collision course to meet at the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship tournament or states.

“Every single time, it’s really close against her,” He, a junior, said. “I have a lot more to work on. I know in the future I will meet her again. It’s really hard going against a good wrestler three times in one day. My coaches have a lot of hope in me that I can go far.”

Holding off Ford in that third match was not easy. Ford was real close to an escape to tie it, and when it was over, He was drenched in sweat and could barely get words out because she was breathing so hard.

Roosevelt coach Ted Kaneda said He is a prime example of what all his girls wrestlers are about.

“They’re all well-mannered,” Kaneda said. “Yuting was quiet when she first came out for wrestling and she has kind of opened up. She never complains about anything.”

Kaneda said his Rough Riders girls team has a shot at winning OIAs but that winning the states will be a lot tougher with loaded teams such as defending state champion Lahainaluna and Kamehameha out there. Roosevelt’s Menjam Tamang, who wrestles at 97 pounds, is a top contender at states.

Pearl City coach Mike Lee said, “Roosevelt’s girls are so respectful. They’ve got tough wrestlers and are very deep. It’s good for the sport.”

The Chargers’ Ford was disappointed in her day’s showing.

“Sometimes, I lost focus,” she said. “I need to practice harder and push more. Coaches say there’s always something to improve.”

Pearl City’s girls team is looking strong on paper, with two defending state champions (Ford, and Asia Lien Evans at 127) and two state runners-up (Mikayla Abe at 107, and Netanya Kang at 138).

“Asia and Alexis are both very tough and don’t stop wrestling,” Lee said. “One thing we’re trying to get across to our boys and girls is that if you have good technique, then you don’t always have to overwhelm people with power. We want them to stay within themselves. They’re great at being straightforward, but at the same time you’ve got to wrestle.

“We (the Chargers girls) got off to a slow start this season. Maybe a summer hangover, but we seem to be picking it up.”

Ford admitted that she is one of those who are guilty of trying to use power instead of technique.

“I’m stubborn,” she said.

Jacqueline Fuamatu is another Pearl City girl with credentials. She was fifth in the state at 145 last year. On Saturday, Abe and Fuamatu won three matches each, and Evans and Kang earned two victories apiece.

“We’re looking really good (as a team),” Ford said. “I’m really proud of my team this year and last year (fifth place at states).”