The BIIF venue moves to an East/West format this Saturday with Pahoa hosting the East Hawaii schools and Honokaa hosting the West.
BY WAYNE JOSEPH | STEPHENS MEDIA
Kealakehe hosted a Big Island Interscholastic Federation all-schools wrestling meet on Saturday and left little doubt that its boys team is a contender for the league title this season.
Several of its athletes had impressive performances as the season enters its final two weeks.
Allin Franco could certainly have been considered the headliner for Kealakehe on Saturday. The 140-pounder went a perfect 4-0 on the day, winning three matches by pin and the other with an impressive 10-1 victory.
“I try not to tie up in the beginning of my matches and let my opponents come to me,” Franco said. “Once they come in, I’ll then take my shot.”
Franco, the BIIF runner-up in 2011, usually goes for arm drags and then switches to a single before taking down his opponents.
His overall BIIF season record is 14-1.
Continuing the Waverider tradition of talented wrestlers was defending BIIF champion Robin Arellano in the 114 weight division.
“Robin is one of our team captains and certainly will help us in our quest of a team title,” Waverider coach Mike Ciotti said.
Arellano, a senior, brings a quick takedown technique to the mat. His success lies in getting that first take-down while he pushes the offense.
His three wins came as a result of having a good bar series on top while executing a barbed wire and chicken wing maneuvers.
“Robin has a good arsenal of maneuvers and is quick on his feet,” Ciotti said. “He’s also good at escaping from the down position while he continues to press the pace.”
Waverider teammate Asaiah Guieb, at 145, went 3-1, losing his first BIIF match of the season. He now holds an overall 13-1 record.
“I lost a close, 6-5 match to a Waiakea guy that I had previously wrestled during preseason,” Guieb said. “I learned from that match and will come into it next time better prepared.”
Guieb didn’t let his only loss of the year deter his nearly perfect day. He won his three other matches by pin.
All three of Guieb’s pins came by using the half nelson and a cradle while being able to react quickly to his opponents’ opening advances.
Guieb, a senior, is determined to challenge for the overall BIIF individual title when it comes up at Kamehameha-Hawaii on Feb.18.
“I didn’t even place in the top three last year and have not gone on to states,” Guieb said. “But being a senior this year I not only want to win the BIIF title, I’d also like to medal at the state championships.”
Teammate Dan Gampon, at 120, faces being in one of the toughest divisions in the BIIF every week he wrestles.
Gampon carries a 13-5 overall season record. His only losses have come from Kamehameha’s Nalu Souza, the defending BIIF champion, and Konawaena’s Sage Aoki, the BIIF runner-up.
On Saturday, Gampon had four matches, going 3-1 with his only loss to Aoki by a 13-5 score.
“I feel pretty honored to be in one of the toughest weight classes,” Gampon said. “Nalu and Sage make me better every time I wrestle because I learn from them.”
Gampon’s three wins came on impressive scores against Hilo, winning by 15 points, Keaau (13-5) and Honokaa (12-6) opponents.
The Waverider boys team seems to have the balance and numbers to contend this season for the team title.
Ciotti was pleased with his team’s overall performance, and he gave kudos to the grapplers’ grit and determination.
“We have a solid team from top to bottom that is committed,” Ciotti said. “We carry 25 boys and eight girls, and I believe we are a contender for the boys team title.”
The BIIF venue moves to an East/West format this Saturday with Pahoa hosting the East Hawaii schools and Honokaa hosting the West.