It was an even fight for Waiakea’s girls, which meant it wasn’t so even after all.
It was an even fight for Waiakea’s girls, which meant it wasn’t so even after all.
The Warriors, it turns out, were both lucky and good in snatching the BIIF judo title away from Keaau last Saturday at Konawaena.
“No surprises,” coach Jason Tanaka said Tuesday as his judoka prepared at the school cafeteria for Saturday’s individual championships. “Looking at them, they were really strong this season. It was the boys I was worried about.”
And for good reason. The Warriors saw their five-year reign end at the hands of Hilo, but not before Waiakea scored a convincing victory on the girls side.
Not having to contend with either Keaau’s Ivory Ayers or Ebony Ayers in the final, the Warriors and Cougars both carried six judoka, and Waiakea didn’t lose a match.
The Warriors carry five top seeds into the finals: Raelyn Ai-Yoneda (98 pounds), LiAnn Yamamoto (103), Kyana Shimabuku (115), Katie Lee (122), and Daysha Towata (139).
In the case of Ai-Yoneda and Yamamoto, Tanaka already is looking ahead to the HHSAA tournament.
Ai-Yoneda is undefeated and owns victories against the other four judoka in her division, while Yamamoto is a defending BIIF champion and coming off a victory Saturday against Keaau’s Ilima Kepano, the top seed at 109.
“We’re pretty confident they can do well at BIIFs and hopefully at states,” Tanaka said.
Shimabuku is a BIIF defending champion as well, but her path has been tougher and figures to remain so.
She was thrown on her head in the team finals, winning by disqualification, and Tanaka points to her weight division as the toughest on the girls side. Shimabuku is 1-1 this season against Hilo’s Tessa Kishigawa, the No. 2 seed, while Keaau’s Maelin Tamashiro represents a strong challenge as the third seed.
“Really, 1-2-3, it could go either way,” Tanaka said. “Just heart and determination will make the difference.
“The first three girls are matched up really well.”
Just a sophomore, Lee is coming off a victory against Keaau’s Mikele Pokaka’a, and if the seeds hold they’ll meet again in the final. Pokaka’a beat Lee in last season’s BIIF final, but Lee has won both matches against Pokaka’a this season.
“Katie is really strong technically, and she’s got a background in the sport,” Tanaka said.
There are only two competitors at 139, so Towata and Hilo’s Kassandra Tongpalan will meet in the final with HHSAA berths in tow. (The top three in each division earn state trips.) Towata won a match Saturday against Keaau in her return to the mat. An ACL injury her freshman year had derailed much of her career.
Waiakea’s Shamma Nakama is the third seed at 154, a division in which Kamehameha’s Kayla Araki is the prohibitive favorite as she goes for her second straight title.
Also going for a repeat will be Ivory Ayers at 172. Because of an injury, Ebony Ayers won’t have a chance for a threepeat at 220, leaving Kealakehe’s Roxie Umu as the top seed.
A Cougar will be crowned at 129, as Keaau’s Hula Kahaookaulana and Shayde Acia-John are the only two competitors.
By now, Waiakea is used to having to practice at its cafeteria.
“Roll out the tables, roll out the mats, practice, and roll everything back up,” Tanaka said.
But for the finals, Waiakea gets to move down to its gym. The competition starts at 10:30 a.m.