Hawaii Wrestling Collegiate Update: Clarissa Chun Is Iowa Head Coach; At Least 77 On Rosters From Coast To Coast

Some of the biggest Hawaii wrestling news in 2021 came in November when former Roosevelt High and U.S. Olympic star Clarissa Chun was named as the head coach of the women’s team at the University of Iowa.

And less than a month earlier, Chun was selected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022.

Hawaii’s Clarissa Chun is the women’s head coach in the heartland — at the University of Iowa.

“I want so bad for the next Olympic champion to come out of Hawaii one day, because it wasn’t me and I want someone coming out of Hawaii for that because I believe the spirit of Hawaii is like no other,” she told KHON2 in October.

At the top of her many accomplishments, Chun won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and placed fifth at the 2008 Beijing Games. In 1998 and 1999, Chun captured the 98-pound state championships with the Rough Riders.

Bedrock Sports Hawaii took an quick look into which former Hawaii high school wrestlers are competing in college in 2020-21.

Below is a list of wrestlers on college rosters now. It is not a complete list. If you know of any wrestlers from Hawaii grappling in college or if something is missing or not right about the list, please email [email protected].

First, here are some of the many transfers/changes:

>> Elijah Kaawa (Saint Louis) transferred from Campbell University in Buies, North Carolina, to Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa.
>> Samantha Higa (Aiea), who was recently an assistant coach at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, is back in Hawaii as the boys and girls head coach at Aiea.
>> Ariston Bartley (Kamehameha) transferred from Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas, to Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas
>> Sadie Antoque (Castle) transferred from Midland University in Midland, Texas, to the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana
>> Ashley Gooman (Kamehameha) transferred from Midland to the University of Providence
>> Jolette Miner-Ho (Kapaa) transferred from Midland to the University of Providence
>> Tangiteina Niutupuivaha (Kahuku) transferred from Midland to the University of Providence
>> Piage Respicio (Kamehameha) transferred from Midland to the University of Providence
>> Alexis Tupuola (Moanalua) transferred from Midland to the University of Providence
>> Ansen Ursua (Saint Louis) transferred from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, to Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Oregon
>> Brianna Funakoshi (Aiea) from Missouri Valley College to Life University in Marietta, Georgia

HAWAII WRESTLERS LISTED ON 2020-21 COLLEGE ROSTERS

(Updated: Jan. 31, 2022)

AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY (Minneapolis): Devin Shimabukuro, So. (Pac-Five). Note: Currently injured and expected to join team in fall.

CENTRAL COLLEGE (Pella, Iowa)
>> Shandon Akeo, Sr. (Kapolei)

COWLEY COLLEGE (Arkansas City, Kansas)
>> Makana Tapia, Fr. (Kamehameha)

DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY (St. George, Utah)
>> Ashley Lavarius, Fr. (Hilo)

DOANE UNIVERSITY (Crete, Nebraska)
>> Sam Dunwell, S0. (Lanai)
>> Lahaina Kane, Fr. (Kailua)

(UNIVERSITY OF) DUBUQUE (Dubuque, Iowa)
>> Thomas McCreadie, Fr. (Kaiser)
>> Caleb Shimaoka, So, (Waiakea)

EMBRY-RIDDLE UNIVERSITY (Prescott, Arizona)
>> Jonah Chew, Fr. (Kamehameha)

GANNON UNIVERSITY (Erie, Pennsylvania)
>> Gabby Perez, So. (Moanalua)
>> Lana Perez, So. (Moanalua)

GETTYSBURG COLLEGE (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
>> Mason Canonico, Sr. (Punahou)

INDIAN HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Ottumwa, Iowa)
>> Elijah Kaawa, Fr. (Saint Louis)

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (Ames, Iowa)
>> Corey Cabanban, Jr. (Saint Louis)
>> Kysen Terukina, So. (Kamehameha)

LIBERTY COLLEGE (Lynchburg, Virginia)
>> Maile Kaahauni, So. (Molokai)
>> Claudia Keanini, So. (Molokai)

LIFE UNIVERSITY (Marietta, Georgia)
>> Brianna Funakoshi, Fr. (Aiea)

LYON COLLEGE (Batesville, Arkansas)
>> Ariston Bartley, So. (Kamehameha)
>> Kelani Corbett, Jr. (Leilehua)
>> Kevin Corbett, women’s team head coach (Leilehua)
>> Emma de Brum, Sr. (Lanai)
>> Rebekah Garcia, Sr. (Moanalua)
>> Mariah Spix, Sr. (Leilehua)

McKENDREE UNIVERSITY (Lebanon, Illinois)
>> Skye Realin, Fr. (Kamehameha)

MENLO COLLEGE (Atherton, California)
>> Alejandra Corral, Fr. (Aiea)
>> Nanea Estrella, So. (Lahainaluna)
>> Tianna Fernandez, Jr. (Baldwin)
>> Rysan Leong, So. (Kalaheo)
>> Alana Vivas, Jr. (Kamehameha)

MIDLAND UNIVERSITY (Midland, Texas)
>> Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp, So. (Baldwin)
>> Mahealani Lewis, Jr. (Kamehameha)
>> Pualani Louis, Fr. (Kealakehe)
>> Zoe Omura, Fr. (Mililani)
>> Ashlee Palimoo, So. (Kamehameha-Maui)
>> Emily Paulino, Fr. (Kalani)
>> Tayler Pelegrino-Hayase, Jr. (Lahainaluna)
>> Tyeisha Takamori, Fr. (Baldwin)
>> Alizeih Villalpando, So. (Campbell)

MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE (Marshall, Missouri)
>> Elijah Asuncion, Fr. (Moanalua)
>> Alyandina Bushe, Jr. (Kapolei)
>> Lilliana Campbell, So. (Hilo)
>> Makoa Goeas, Fr. (Kamehameha)
>> Mahealani Ramirez, Sr. (Aiea)
>> Weiyi Zheng, Fr. (Aiea)

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY (Annapolis, Maryland)
>> Zander Manuel, So. (Punahou)

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)
>> Brant Porter, Fr. (Kamehameha)
>> Kanai Tapia, Fr. (Kamehameha)
>> Manaia Wolfgramm, So. (Kamehameha)

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (Forest Grove, Oregon)
>> Hunter Atagi, So. (Farrington)
>> Ian Higa, Sr. (Kalani)
>> Randy Kubo, Fr. (Damien)
>> Isabella Tayo, Sr. (Kealakehe)

(UNIVERSITY OF) PROVIDENCE (Great Falls, Montana)
>> Sadie Antoque, Fr. (Castle)
>> Christian Balagso, Jr. (Lahainaluna)
>> Ashley Gooman, So. (Kamehameha)
>> Dylan Huddy, Fr. (PAC-5)
>> Raf Leapaga, Fr. (Kapolei)
>> Jolette Miner-Ho, Fr. (Kapaa)
>> Ira Navarro, Jr. (Lahainaluna)
>> Iverly Navarro, Sr. (Lahainaluna)
>> Tangiteina Niutupuivaha, Fr. (Kahuku)
>> Paige Respicio, So. (Kamehameha)
>> Alexis Tupuola, So., (Moanalua)

SHREINER UNIVERSITY (Kerrville, Texas)
>> Allicia Mahoe, Jr. (Kapolei)

SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY (Ashland, Oregon)
>> Kelsey Bicoy-Juario, So. (Molokai)\
>> Kama Suzuki-Scott, Sr. (Kamehameha)
>> Kyara Tagami, So. (Kalani)

SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Coos Bay, Oregon)
>> Jaycen Crisostomo, Fr. (Moanalua)
>> Abraham Mamizuka, So. (Kaiser)
>> Jules Marinas, Fr. (Baldwin)
>> Branson Magsayo, Fr. (Waianae)
>> Ansen Ursua, Fr. (Saint Louis)

TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY (Fort Worth, Texas)
>> Rusty Bowman, Jr. (Kamehameha-Hawaii)
>> Shane Burke, Fr. (Kamehameha-Hawaii)

UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Roseburg, Oregon)
>> Kaya Akana, So. (Waimea)

URSINUS COLLEGE (Collegeville, Pennsylvania)
>> Stone Franczyk, So. (PAC-5)

WALDORF UNIVERSITY (Forest City, Iowa)
>> Kuuipo Chan, Fr. (Kamehameha-Hawaii)
>> Leona Toledo, So. (Hilo)

WARTBURG COLLEGE (Waverly, Iowa)
>> Zayren Terukina, Jr. (Campbell)

HAWAII WRESTLERS WHO MAY NO LONGER BE COMPETING IN COLLEGE

No new information was found on a bunch of Hawaii wrestlers (and one assistant coach) who were listed as underclassmen on college teams as recently as September, 2020. Their listing from back then was as follows.

>> Colby Community College (Colby, Kansas): Kaena DeSantos, So. (Leilehua)
>> Dixie State University (St. George, Utah): Alexis Encinas, Jr. (Lahainaluna)
>> Doane University (Crete, Nebraska): Logan Garcia, Jr. (Moanalua)
>> (University of) Dubuque (Dubuque, Iowa): Liam Corbett, Jr. (Leilehua)
>> Gannon University (Erie, Pennsylvania): Kennedy Javier, Fr. (Mililani)
>> Missouri Valley College (Marshall, Missouri): Shantelle Mangrobang, Fr. (Leilehua)
>> New York University (New York): Kainalu Huddy, So. (Kamehameha)
>> North Idaho College (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho): Micah Tynanes, So. (Campbell) second of two years was in 2019-20
>> Shreiner University (Kerrville, Texas): Allie Mahoe, Jr. (Kapolei); Shannlynne Mahoe, Fr. (Nanakuli); Keely Oyadomari, So. (Kapolei); Gianni Oyadomari, Jr. (Kapolei)’ Naikoa Simao, So. (Leilehua)
>> Southwestern Oregon Community College (Coos Bay, Oregon): Jahnesia Edwards, (Kapolei) second of two years was in 2019-20; Shanayah Marshall, So. (Kapaa); Tiana Peterson, (Kapolei) second of two years was in 2019-20; Alize Wright, So. (Campbell); Noah Wusstig, So. (Moanalua)
>> Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, Texas): Isaac Stalcup, Jr. (Leilehua)
>> Waldorf University (Forest City, Iowa): Women’s assistant coach Carrieann Randolph (‘Iolani)
>> Warner Pacific College (Portland, Oregon): Kawehi Gillcoat, So. (Lahainaluna)

HAWAII WRESTLERS BELIEVED TO BE RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE OR HAVE RUN OUT OF ELIGIBILITY

>> Coast Guard Academy (New London, Connecticut):  Steven Pangelinan (Campbell) 2021
>> Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia): Cendall Manley (Molokai) 2020
>> Menlo College (Atherton, California): Taryn Ichimura (Punahou) 2021; Laynee Pasion (St. Francis) 2021; Angela Peralta, (Radford) 2021; Blaysen Terukina (Kamehameha) 2021
>> Midland University (Midland, Texas): Leilani Camargo-Naone (Kamehameha) 2020; Tanalei Louis (Kealakehe) 2020
>> Pacific University (Forest Grove, Oregon): Iokepa Aken (Kamehameha) 2021; Landon Obra-Nakata (Damien) 2021
>> (University of) Providence (Great Falls, Montana): Ivory Ayers (Keaau) 2021
>> Shreiner University (Kerrville, Texas): Cody Cabanban (Saint Louis) 2021
>> Southern Oregon University (Ashland, Oregon): Micah Arakawa (Kaiser) 2021

2022 Hawaii High School Wrestling Command Center