Ultra-Close Matches Highlight ILH Wrestling Championships; 8 Repeat As Title Winners

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Note: Be on the lookout for an upcoming post with select videos of title matches from the ILH Championships.
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Eight wrestlers put on repeat performances Saturday at Kamehameha’s Kekuhaupio Gym by winning individual titles in the ILH Championships for a second year in a row.

Of the eight, six are from Kamehameha — girls Joy Jeremiah (112 pounds), Jax Realin (127), Hualii Hudgens (145) and Alena Bartley (225) and boys Evan Kusumoto (113) and Scotty Dikilato (185). The other two are Mid-Pacific’s Logan Lau (120) and PAC-5’s Xander Erolin (152).

For some of these two-time league champs, the wins solidified their state pound-for-pound rankings. Dikilato is tied at No. 1 in Bedrock’s p4p, with Lau at No. 3, Realin at No. 5, Kusumoto at No. 8 and Erolin at No. 11.

In perhaps the biggest matchup of the day, Erolin topped Punahou’s Justyce Meracdo for the boys 152 title. Both will be among the top contenders at states in two weeks and they’re both going for a second straight win there. A year ago at states, Erolin (No. 11 p4p) took top honors at 152, with Mercado (No. 14 p4p) winning at 145.

“I knew it was going to be a good match and he was going to be tough,” said Erolin, who lost to Mercado in overtime in the regular season last year before beating him 4-3 earlier this year. “I’ve wrestled him in the practice room. He’s a good guy and a good wrestler. I will be doing some fine-tuning. This win is huge and it’s huge for seeding at the state tournament.”

For Mid-Pacific’s Valynn Kwan’s, winning the 138-pound ILH championship — by fall over Kamehameha’s Breylin Dano — was sweet. A year ago, she almost didn’t make states because of a concussion. After she was cleared, the only way she could get in was to bump up a weight class and go in unseeded. She did that and wound up placing third at 138.

“My plan (moving forward) is to give it what I’ve got,” Kwan said. “I’m a senior and just want to put my best foot out there, be a good example for my school and show the kids that anything is possible as long as you train hard and put your mind to it.”

Kamehameha’s Traven Wailehua finally got to taste an ILH title, too. The San Francisco State-bound wrestler was injured and didn’t compete last year and worked hard to make it back. On Saturday, he beat ‘Iolani’s Casey Honbo 3-2 in the 160 final.

“I wish I could have done it last year,” Wailehua said. “This year is my year. I’m going to take it all.”

Two wrestlers missed out on winning a second straight ILH crown — Kamehameha’s Akoni Kaaialii and Rylie Nishida.

Kaaialii lost 6-2 to Saint Louis’ Kaihi Cobb-Adams at 145 pounds. When the match ended, the score reflected 6-4, but 6-2 is recorded in the official results.

‘Iolani’s Maya Rose DeAngelo edged Nishida 3-2, a rematch of the Officials tournament final, where DeAngelo also won, 7-3.

Extra-Close Finals Matches Galore

There were some super close finals matches, including some that were won in the final seconds.

In the boys divisions from 120 through 160 and in three girls finals, it came down to just a few points. You can see see all of the finals results below, but for now take a look at those scores: 4-2, 8-6, 3-2, 8-6, 3-2 and 8-6 in boys and 10-8, 5-3 and 3-2 in girls. Whew!!

The 14 girls champions represent the following programs: Kamehameha (6), ‘Iolani (4) Punahou (2), Mid-Pacific (1), PAC-5 (1).

The 14 boys champions represent the following programs: Kamehameha (6), Saint Louis (3), ‘Iolani (2), Mid-Pacific (1), PAC-5 (1), Punahou (1).

ILH Girls Championship Matches
>> 97: Aliya Quillopo (Pac-Five) def. Sydney Lau (Pac-Five), 10-8
>> 102: Tehya Romero (‘Iolani) def. Kawailani Molina (Kamehameha), fall, 4:25
>> 107: Tatiana Paragas (Punahou) def. Anela Hokoana (Kamehameha), fall, 4:11
>> 112: Joy Jeremiah (Kamehameha) def. Blu Wong-Ogata (Pac-Five), fall, 2:57
>> 117: Elle Mizue (‘Iolani) def. Erika Olkowski (Punahou), 5-3
>> 122: Maya Rose DeAngelo (‘Iolani) def. Rylie Nishida (Kamehameha), 3-2
>> 127: Jax Realin (Kamehameha) def. Jada-Love Jose Santiago (Kamehameha), fall, 0:28
>> 132: McKenzie-Leigh Fuata (Kamehameha) def. Emma Ito (Punahou), fall, 4:52
>> 138: Valynn Kwan (Mid-Pacific) def. Breylin Dano (Kamehameha), fall
>> 145: Hualii Hudgens (Kamehameha) def. Maple Yamada (‘Iolani), fall, 3:42
>> 155: Kahiau Kaahaaina (Kamehameha) vs. Vanessa Welch (Pac-Five), forfeit
>> 168: Caelan West (‘Iolani) unopposed
>> 184: Nalei Meyers (Kahemahema) unopposed
>> 225: Alena Bartley (Kamehameha) def. Kaia Marcellano (Damien), fall, 5:57

ILH Boys Championship Matches
>> 106: Hunter Berger (Saint Louis) def. Kaulana Esmena-Faria-Kapoi-Halemano (Kamehameha), technical fall, 17-1
>> 113: Evan Kusumoto (Kamehameha) def. Eli Suan (Saint Louis), major decision, 14-2
>> 120: Logan Lau (Mid-Pacific) def. Joshua Frias (‘Iolani), 4-2
>> 126: Brendan Sekulich (Punahou) def. Noah McKenzie (Kamehameha), 8-6
>> 132: Hoakea Salter (Kamehameha) def. Gavin Buelow (Punahou), 3-2
>> 138: Kai Sekigawa (‘Iolani) def. Zion Amerson (Saint Louis), 8-6
>> 145: Kaihi Cobb-Adams (Saint Louis) def. Akoni Kaaialii (Kamehameha), 6-2
>> 152: Xander Erolin (Pac-Five) def. Justyce Mercado (Punahou), 9-4
>> 160: Traven Wailehua (Kamehameha) def. Casey Honbo (‘Iolani), 3-2
>> 170: Johan Machida (‘Iolani) def. Tau Tuikolongahau (Kamehameha), 8-6
>> 182: Kaipono Rees (Kamehameha) def. Ethan Ito (Punahou), major decision, 11-3
>> 195: Malakai Holland (Saint Louis) def. Kainalu Seales (Kamehameha), injury default, 2:34
>> 220: Kainoa Gonzales (Kamehameha) def. Jordan Fuifui (Saint Louis), fall, 1:47
>> 285: Scotty Dikilato (Kamehameha) def. Houston Kaahaaina-Torres (Saint Louis), major decision, 8-0

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The Season As It Unfolds:
>> Hawaii High School Wrestling Command Center