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They led their teams to state tournament victories and they won individual state titles as two of the best Hawaii wrestlers during the 2023 season.
We’re talking about Moanalua’s Isabelle Asuncion and Kapolei’s Brycen Pagurayan, and they were given statewide recognition on Thursday.
That’s when the National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced them as the state winners for the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award and the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Asuncion is a two-time 117-pound state champion and a three-time state placer. Pagurayan is a two-time 170-pound champion and also a three-time state placer.
The award winners are selected on the basis of three criteria: success and standout performances and sportsmanship in wrestling; review of GPA and class rank, academic honors and distinctions; and participation in activities that demonstrate commitment to character and community.
Schultz, who died in 1996, is a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame. He won gold at the 1984 Olympics and won the 1983 world championship.
Saunders is a four-time world champion and was the first woman inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. She is also a member of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Asuncion and Pagurayan are among all of the state winners who could possibly be named regional winners on April 25 or national winners on May 2.
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