Good day for Keaau wrestlers

BY WAYNE JOSEPH | STEPHENS MEDIA

KEAAU — Hungry Cougars took down their prey on the mat as the Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestling season continued Saturday.

Several Keaau wrestlers had strong performances at Saturday’s event at Keaau High School.

Leading the Keaau attack was defending BIIF champion at 135 pounds Cheyden Quiocho, who continued his undefeated streak.

In his first match of the day, Quiocho used a duck-under for a takedown of his Hawaii Prep opponent to bring his mark to 15-0.

Last year, Quiocho finished fourth in the state.

“I need to work on protecting my legs more,” Quiocho said. “I also need to get stronger to repeat as BIIF champ.”

Freshman Ashlee Lopez won her first match in the 130 division against a Kamehameha-Hawaii opponent.

“I tried a half cradle and stuck my chin in her shoulder,” Lopez said. “Once on the mat I held her other hand out and looked up to gain leverage for the pin.”

Senior Cougar Treyven Ah Quin-Fely wrestled in the 189 division and beat his HPA opponent in a 17-second pin.

“I dropped down to bear hug and then reached out for a half as I pinned his shoulder,” Ah Quin-Fely said.

Ah Quin-Fely improved his BIIF record to 5-0.

Keaau sophomore Kainalu Burley at 120 won his opening match in a second-round pin before losing his second match.

Also going undefeated in BIIF competition is Waiakea’s Tanalei Louis, at 130 pounds, who sat out the previous week in Konawaena with an ear infection. At Keaau, Louis came out with a vengeance in beating all three of her opponents easily with second-round pins.

“I felt excited, refreshed and happy to be back on the mat,” Louis said.

In the process, Louis improved her overall season record to a perfect 11-0.

The BIIF wrestling season continues Saturday with an all-schools meet at Waiakea, starting at 10 a.m.