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Hawaii wrestlers flocked to Farmington, Utah, to compete in the individual portion of the Western States Championships last week.
Five from Hawaii won in all three styles — Greco-Roman, freestyle and folkstyle: Micah Thai, Mikah Labuanan, Keegan Goeas, Layla Pasion, and Taimane Mataafa-Grove.
What’s more, Labuanan and Goeas captured four titles overall because they entered and won two folkstyle divisions.
Also, eight other Hawaii wrestlers won in two of the three styles — Kameo Rozet, Diesel Del Rosario, Aukai Walsh, Dylan Buelow, Catherine Asami, Miles Higgins, Shylea-Love Domen, and Henry Buelow.
Plenty more Hawaii wrestlers won in one style, and many others placed in the top six (see below for a list).
On a side note, two top Hawaii high school wrestlers, Lanai’s Diesel Del Rosario and Kamehameha’s Evan Kusumoto — went head to head in all three styles at 120. Both weighed in at 119 pounds, with Del Rosario winning two out of three, but Kusumoto coming back to win the last matchup after two losses.
A little background:
Kusumoto is a two-time Hawaii high school state champion, winning at 106 in 2021 and at 113 in 2022. Del Rosario, meanwhile, placed third at states at 120 in 2022.
And here’s the results when they faced each other last week:
Greco-Roman
>> Del Rosario def. Kusumoto, technical fall, 14-3 (en route to title)
Freestyle
>> Del Rosario def. Kusumoto, 17-8 (in first-place match)
Folkstyle
>> Kusumoto def. Del Rosario, 7-3 (en route to title)
Here’s a list of Hawaii’s winners and placers:
Western States Wrestling Championships
(At Farmington, Utah, June 22-24, 2023)
Hawaii’s Champions (4 titles)
Greco-Roman, Freestyle, and 2 Folkstyle divisions
>> Mikah Labuanan
>> Keegan Goeas
Hawaii’s Champions (3 titles)
Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Folkstyle
>> Micah Thai
>> Layla Pasion
>> Taimane Mataafa-Grove
Hawaii’s Champions (2 titles)
Greco-Roman and Freestyle
>> Kameo Rozet
>> Diesel Del Rosario
Freestyle and Folkstyle
>> Aukai Walsh
>> Dylan Buelow
>> Catherine Asami
Greco-Roman and Folkstyle
>> Miles Higgins
>> Shylea-Love Domen
>> Henry Buelow
All of Hawaii’s Champions By Discipline, Age Group And Weight Class
Boys Freestyle
>> Zeke Scott, 6-U, 43-36 champion
>> Micah Thai, 10-U, 55 champion
>> Aukai Walsh, 12-U, 70 champion
>> Kameo Rozet, 12-U 100 champion
>> Henry Buelow, 12-U, heavyweight champion
>> Dylan Buelow, 14-U, 92 champion
>> Mikah Labuanan, 16-U, 138 champion
>> Keegan Goeas, 16-U, 145 champion
>> Diesel Del Rosario, high school, 120 champion
>> Sanalio Vehikite, high school, 285 champion
Girls Freestyle
>> Layla Pasion, 10-U, 60 champion
>> Taimane Mataafa-Grove, 12-U, 105 champion
>> Catherine Asami, high school, 180 champion
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Boys Greco-Roman
>> Ryzin Ranis, 6-U, 39-43 champion
>> Zaliah Akina, 8-U, 70 champion
>> Micah Thai, 10-U, 55 champion
>> Kameo Rozet, 12U, 100-110 champion
>> Slayter Kamimura, 12-U, 120 champion
>> Henry Buelow, 12-U heavyweight champion
>> Miles Higgins, 14-U, 130 champion
>> Mikah Labuanan, 16-U, 138 champion
>> Keegan Goeas, 16-U, 145 champion
>> Diesel Del Rosario, high school, 120 champion
Girls Greco-Roman
>> Layla Pasion, 10-U, 60 champion
>> Shylea-Love Domen, 10-U, 70 champion
>> Taimane Mataafa-Grove, 12-U, 105 champion
>> Auriana Wakinekona, middle school, 106 champion
>> Shansi Boaz-Vasquez, high school, 140 champion
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Boys Folkstyle
>> Micah Thai, Grades 3/4, 55 champion
>> Aukai Walsh, Grades 5/6, 70 champion
>> Dylan Buelow, Grades 5/6, 94 champion
>> Jaden Thai, Grades 7/8, 96 champion
>> Miles Higgins, Grades 7/8, 130 champion
>> Koan Hotema Grades 9/10 100 champion
>> Micah Labuanan, Grades 9/10, 138 champion; and high school, 138 champion
>> Keegan Goeas, Grades 9/10, 145 champion; and high school, 145 champion
>> Evan Kusumoto, high school, 120 champion
>> Justyce Mercado, high school, 152 champion
>> Ikaika Gonzales, high school, 160 champion
Girls Folkstyle
>> Layla Pasion, 10-U, 55-60 champion
>> Shylea-Love Domen, 10-U, 70 champion
>> Taimane Mataafa-Grove, 12-U, 105 champion
>> Aubrie Molina, high school, 130 champion
>> Catherine Asami, high school, 180 champion
Hawaii Wrestlers Also Placing
Freestyle second place
>> Ryzin Ranis, 6-U, 38-42
>> Zaliah Akina, 8-U, 70
>> Shylea Love-Domen, 10-U, 70
>> Fury Mataafa, 10-U, 95
>> Rylan Thai, 12-U, 75
>> Kaila Tatekawa-Maes, middle school, 81-87
>> Auriana Wakinekona, middle school, 106
>> Paliku Chang, 16-U, 113
>> Micah Dunn, 16-U, 145
>> Naomi Kulukulualani-Sales, high school, 105
>> Tatiana Paragas, high school, 115
>> Teani Medeiros-Maielua, high school, 125
>> Aubrie Molina, high school, 130
Freestyle third place
>> Everett Badua, 8-U, 56
>> Anela Nitta, 10-U, 60
>> Kaalokuloku Walsh, 10-U, 70
>> Stylin Ranis, 12-U, 85
>> Jaden Thai, 14-U, 96
>> Lawsen Reed, 14-U, 140-150
>> Irving Bicoy III, 16-U, 106
>> Joy Jeremiah, high school, 115
>> Evan Kusumoto, high school, 120
>>. Kivah Caballero, high school, 120
>> Teata Mataafa-Grove, high school, 134
>> Justyce Mercado, high school, 152
>> Ikaika Gonzales, high school, 160
Freestyle fourth place
>> Kalea Nitta, 6-U, 34-47
>> Cruz Soriano, 10-U, 60
>> Elijah Martinez, 10-U, 70
>> Kamekona Chang, 10-U, 84-91
>> Justice Chung, 12-U, 70
>> Jasiah Domen, 12-U, 89
>> Caleb Recopuerto, 12-U, 94
>> Kaimalie Wong-Stone, middle school, 140
>> Miles Higgins, 14-U, 130
>> Koan Hotema, 16-U, 100
>> Gavin Buelow, 16-U, 132
>> Sarai O’Day, high school, 110
>> Anela Hokoana, high school, 115
>> Peyton Diamond, high school, 125
>> Kulika Corpuz, high school, 126
>> Jensen Tanele, high school 170
Freestyle fifth place
>> Camden Recopuerto, 10-U, 60
>> Arlis Kalalau, 8-U 62
>> Kapeli Wakinekona, 10-U, 65
>> Connor Badua, 12-U, 75
>> Tia Hotema, middle school, 96
>> Hepua Salter, middle school, 116
>> Saxon Bristol, 14-U, 101
>> Jarett Koyama, 16-U, 126
>> Hoakea Salter, high school, 132
>> Caese Calaro, high school, 152
>> Ohia Borden-Phillips, high school, 165
Freestyle sixth place
>> Trez Paragas, 10-U, 65
>> Jian Khai Cuaresma, 10-U, 70
>> Elijah Domingo, 14-U, 86
>> Joshua Kawaiaea, 16-U, 126
>> Chloe Obuhanych, high school, 105
>> Erika Olkowski, high school, 110
>> Laylee Pasion, high school, 115
>> Kalina Hotema, high school, 125
>> Ethan Ito, high school, 170
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Greco-Roman second place
>> Zeke Scott, 6-U, 46-55
>> Fury Mataafa, 10-U, 95
>> Aukai Walsh, 12-U, 70
>> Rylan Thai, 12-U, 75
>> Tia Hotema, middle school, 96
>> Dylan Buelow, 14-U, 92
>> Jaden Thai, 14-U, 96
>> Paliku Chang, 16-U, 113; and high school, 113
>> Micah Dunn, 16-U, 145
>> Naomi Kulukulualani-Sales, high school, 105
>> Evan Kusumoto, high school, 120
>> Kivah Caballero, high school, 120
>> Teani Medeiros-Maielua, high school, 125
>> Teata Mataafa-Grove, high school, 135
>> Catherine Asami, high school, 180
>> Sanalio Vehikite, high school, 285
Greco-Roman third place
>> Arlis Kalalau, 8-U, 62
>> Cruz Soriano, 10-U, 60
>> Anela Nitta, 10-U, 60
>> Kamekona Chang, 10-U, 95
>> Justice Chung, 12-U, 70
>> Kaila Tatekawa-Maes, middle school, 87
>> Koan Hotema, 16-U, 100
>> Irving Bicoy III, 16-U, 106
>> Chloe Obuhanych, high school, 105
>> Erika Olkowski, high school, 110
>> Tatiana Paragas, high school, 115
>> Ikaika Gonzales, high school, 160
>> Jensen Tanele, high school, 170
Greco-Roman fourth place
>> Everett Badua, 8-U, 56
>> Kaalokuloku Walsh, 10-U, 70
>> Jasiah Domen, 12-U, 89
>> Caleb Recopuerto, 12-U, 94
>> Lawsen Reed, 14-U, 140-150
>> Kulika Corpuz, high school, 126
>> Aubrie Molina, high school, 130
>> Hoakea Salter, high school, 132
>> Crystin-Dior Treu, high school, 135
>> Justyce Mercado, high school, 152
>> Ohia Borden-Phillips, high school, 165
Greco-Roman fifth place
>> Kalea Nitta, 8-U, 45
>> Camden Recopuerto, 10-U, 60
>> Kapeli Wakinekona, 10-U, 65
>> Elijah Martinez, 10-U, 70
>> Connor Badua, 12-U, 75
>> Stylin Ranis, 12-U, 85
>> Kaimalie Wong-Stone, middle school, 140
>> Colt Kalaukoa, 16-U, 106
>> Sarai O’Day, high school, 110
>> Ryder Armitage, high school, 113
>> Joy Jeremiah, high school, 115
>> Piikea Joy, high school, 120
>> Peyton Diamond, high school, 125
>> Ethan Ito, high school, 170
Greco-Roman sixth place
>> Ella Scott, 8-U, 53
>> Jian Khai Cuaresma, 12-U, 70
>> Zane Dean-Verdadero, 14-U, 112
>> Laylee Pasion, high school, 115
>> Caese Calaro, high school, 152
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Folkstyle second place
>> Fury Mataafa, 10-U, 95
>> Lawsen Reed, Grades 7/8, 150
>> Tia Hotema, middle school, 96
>> Micah Dunn, Grades 9-10, 145
>> Ethan Ito, Grades 9-10, 171
>> Chloe Obuhanych, high school, 105
>> Diesel Del Rosario, high school, 120
>> Kivah Caballero, high school, 120
>> Teani Medeiros-Maielua, 125
>> Hoakea Salter, high school, 132
>> Crystin-Dior Treu, high school, 135
Folkstyle third place
>> Auriana Wakinekona, middle school, 106
>> Kaimalie Wong-Stone, middle school, 140
>> Gavin Buelow, Grades 9/10, 132
>> Naiomi Kulukulualani-Sales, high school, 105
>> Irving Bicoy III, high school, 106
>> Erika Olkowski, high school, 110
>> Tatiana Paragas, high school, 115
>> Hepua Salter, high school, 120
>> Peyton Diamond, high school, 125
>> Teata Mataafa-Grove, high school, 135
>> Sanalio Vehikite, high school, 220-heavyweight
Folkstyle fourth place
>> Anela Nitta, 10-U, 55-60
>> Xyra-Lee Rapoza, 12-U, 85
>> Henry Buelow, Grades 7/8, 130
>> Ryder Armitage, high school, 106
>> Joy Jeremiah, high school, 115
>> Kalina Hotema, high school, 125
>> Ohia Borden-Phillips, high school, 165
>> Jensen Tanele, high school, 170
Folkstyle fifth place
>> Hepua Salter, middle school, 116
>> Colt Kalaukoa, Grades 9/10, 106
>> Noah McKenzie, Grades 9-10, 132
>> Colt Kalaukoa, high school, 106
>> Sarai O’Day, high school, 110
>> Huali Hudgens, high school, 150
>> Caese Calaro, high school, 152
Folkstyle sixth place
>> Jarett Koyama, Grades 9/10, 120-116
>> Koan Hotema, high school, 106
>> Kulika Corpuz, high school, 126
>> Kameron Arizumi, high school, 170
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