Schools from around the Big Island converged on Kealakehe for the first BIIF wrestling meet of the season on Saturday. While most schools did not have their full squads at the opening meet, the local coaches were able get a
Schools from around the Big Island converged on Kealakehe for the first BIIF wrestling meet of the season on Saturday. While most schools did not have their full squads at the opening meet, the local coaches were able get a sneak peak at what they have this year and several early storylines emerged.
The most notable is the large female division in the BIIF. Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s dominance in the girls division last year prompted many coaches to scout within their school for more talent and the fruits of their labor look promising early on.
Kealakehe coach Ivan Louis, who has a daughter wrestling at Oklahoma City University, also believes the rise in female wrestlers is because of the growth of the sport at the collegiate level.
“There is a lot of expansion right now and a lot of opportunities for girls to go to college,” Louis said. “Maybe these girls don’t fit into other sports, but wrestling could be it for them.”
Kealakehe is returning a promising overall squad in 2016, led by boys standout Pulama Louis, who won the BIIF championship last year and finished fifth at states. He went 3-0 at the Kealakehe meet on Saturday. Pulama Louis is wrestling at 182 this year.
Keoni Miles is also challenging for that 182 slot for
