Meanwhile, Waiakea standout Tanalei Louis (130), who sports a gaudy 9-0 record, sat out with an ear infection but plans to compete when the season continues Saturday with a 10 a.m. all-schools meet at Keaau.
BY WAYNE JOSEPH | STEPHENS MEDIA
Who let the Cats out?
That’s what many Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestlers — besides a few from Kamehameha-Hawaii — were wondering when they exited the Konawaena gym on Saturday after a grueling day on the mats.
The host Wildcats were short on numbers and experience, according to coach Mark Aoki, but huge on heart and determination as Sage Aoki (120 pounds) and Amiee Shiraki (220) came up in big matches.
Shiraki was unstoppable, going 3-0 while winning all of her matches by pins against formidable opponents from Ka’u, Pahoa and Hilo.
“I like the outside single move,” Shiraki said. “Sometimes I get too ambitious with my moves and get caught off balance.”
Shiraki utilized the right moves and proper balance last year when she won a BIIF judo championship.
“Judo has definitely helped me in wrestling,” she said. “I like wrestling because it is different and I like the competition and the chance to meet new people.”
Shiraki made it to the state championships last year, missing out on a medal by one match.
Aoki is vying to repeat his BIIF championships, and he wrestled in an extremely competitive match Saturday that should pay dividends at the end of the season.
In what was considered the premier matchup of the day, Aoki, who won his title at 108 last season, bumped up in weight class to face Kamehameha’s Nalu Kekona-Souza.
In a 125 match that went the distance, Kekona-Souza used a single leg takedown and won 14-3, but both he and Warriors coach Brendan Courtot appreciated the fact that Aoki gave him his stiffest test of the season.
“I admire Sage for bumping up to face one of the best wrestlers in the league,” Courtot said. “Sage wrestled up to challenge himself and gain better competition.”
With two BIIF titles and a state runner-up finish at 120 last season, Kekona-Souza’s goals are clear.
“I’m hoping to be a three-time BIIF champion and to go on to win a state title,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with my wrestling performance, but I still want to get better.”
Kamehameha sophomore Troy Gibson wrestled at 135 and won two matches by pin and another by a score of 17-0.
“My favorite pinning combination is the cradle move,” Gibson said, “but I still need to work on my cardio.”
Meanwhile, Waiakea standout Tanalei Louis (130), who sports a gaudy 9-0 record, sat out with an ear infection but plans to compete when the season continues Saturday with a 10 a.m. all-schools meet at Keaau.