State Wrestling Day 1: Athletes Fight On In Wake Of Tragic Death

No, I refuse to be that cold-hearted journalist.

A male wrestler died on the eve of the state tournament Thursday night, and I will not be using the athlete’s name or school or cause of death out of respect to all. All I want to say is he was highly respected throughout the state and that he was a favorite to win his weight class.

This type of news is sad. A shock. His teammates plowed on somehow.

When I heard the news, I wondered how we can do silly things like wrestle (or cover wrestling) when we lose a life like this. I guess that’s just how it is. You move on. But you never forget.

Can you imagine the agony that his parents are feeling right now? His teammates? His friends? His coaches?

There really is no sense to make out of the fact that he is gone. I hope to write a tribute to him soon, but want it to be the right time to speak with coaches, teammates and family.

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And there was wrestling Friday and people moving on despite the tragedy, so we must plod on with that wrestling news.

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BEEN MEANING to tell people who might not know that anyone looking for results of each match can find them at TrackWrestling.com. At some point, Bedrock hopes to publish every championship bracket match result as well as a list of the top-six placers in each division.

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Next up for this post are a bunch of photos from the quarterfinals. Later in this post, look for some reporting on the quarterfinals as well as a list of ALL semifinal matchups that start at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Here’s the photos:

Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Lainey Eckart, top, beat King Kekaulike’s Briseis Obregon in the 127-pound quarterfinals by major decision, 14-2.

Mid-Pacific’s Jadelyn Retuta won this 117-pound match in overtime. 

Kalani’s Kade Okura with a takedown against Keaau’s Akeakama Cariaga in the 138 quarters.

Pearl City’s Joe-Xahn Rapoza defeated Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Raizen Aina in the 138 quarters. Aina is a 2020 state placer.

One of the best matches of the day. Kapolei’s Kinau McBrayer is up in the air against Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Jeremiah Borce. McBrayer beat Borce, a 2020 state placer, in the final second of the 138 quarters, 7-5.

Campbell’s Holden Soares, right, moved on to the quarterfinals of the 152-pound class by beating Saint Louis’ Logan Geronimo, 6-1.

It took a while, but Moanalua’s Blaze Sumiye finally beat Saint Louis’ Connor Creech by fall in 4:39 in the 160 quarterfinals.

Kamehameha’s Ramsey Nishida dropped the pride of Kauai, Kapaa’s Nathan Marovish, 9-4 in the 170-pound quarters.

Highly-touted Keawe Kane-Keahi of Lahainaluna made the quarterfinals by dropping Aiea’s Raphael Dela Cruz by fall in 3:03.

Saint Louis’ Boston Opetaia Falls In Upset To Kapolei’s Joseph Keo

Kapolei’s Joseph Keo dropped Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s No. 7 pound-for-pound wrestler Boston Opetaia of Saint Louis in the 182 quarterfinals.

Keo won by fall in 2:58 and moves on to face Lahainaluna’s Keawe Kane-Keahi in the semfininals.

The other side of the bracket is going to be tough, with No. 3 p4p Karter Nitahara of Moanalua going against Punahou’s Will Straton.

Kapolei’s Kinau McBrayer Takes Aim

Kinau McBrayer is somewhat of an underdog and is certainly the pit bull type who doesn’t quit.

He’s in the middle of a loaded 138-pound division.

McBrayer came into the tournament unseeded and got past two super tough customers in PAC-5’s Josiah Lum, 7-1, and undefeated BIIF champion and 2020 state placer Jeremiah Borce of Hawaii Preparatory Academy, 7-5.

If he can get to the final, his likely opponent is Kalani’s Kade Okura, who is ranked No. 6 pound-for-pound by Bedrock Sports Hawaii and is a 2020 state placer. McBrayer met Okura in the OIA Championships semifinals, losing 5-4.

Ahhh, but that won’t be easy getting to the final. McBrayer must face Keegan Goeas, who was Mr. Upset more than once at the OIAs.

And Okura may just have his hands full against Pearl City’s Joe-Xahn Rapoza, who was busy winning three matches on Friday, including a 6-5 win over undefeated ILH champion Akoni Kaaialii of Kamehameha in the preliminary round and 2020 state placer Raizen Aina of Kamehameha-Hawaii in the quarters.

Nishida Sisters Make The 132 Semifinals

Rylie Nishida a freshman at Kamehameha, and Reese Nishida, a senior at Moanalua, made it to the semifinals of Girls 132.

If they both win in the semis, there’s some sort of national rule where they can’t wrestle in the finals. But we’ll see if they make that far and that rule holds true in the wild, wild West of Hawaii.

Farrington’s Teizannaho Paleafei upsets Hilo’s Lilliane Toledo

Farrington’s Teizannaho Paleafei scored a 6-5 overtime sudden victory over 2020 state placer Lilliane Toledo to move to the semifinals.

Toledo came into the tournament ranked No. 10 in Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s pound-for-pound list.

Moanalua Boys And Girls Are In First Place

The Moanalua boys, with 104 points, lead the team standings going into Day 2. Na Menehune are followed by Kamehameha (84), Saint Louis (69), Baldwin (65.5) and Punahou (53).

On the girls side, Moanalua leads the standings with 113 points, followed by Kamehameha (84), Lahainaluna (69), Mililani (58) and Baldwin (46).

Altogether, in the 28 weight classes, Moanalua has 16 finalists.

Here Are The Semifinal Matches Starting At 10 A.M. Saturday At the Blaisdell

The semifinals:

GIRLS 97
>> Erin Hikiji (Mililani) vs. Serraya Garrido (Hilo)
>> Angelina Godoy-Holt (Kapolei) vs. Nanci Nakagawa (Punahou)

GIRLS 102
>> Liana Ferreira (Baldwin) vs. Kayla Shota (Moanalua)
>> Kayce Dudoit (Lahainaluna) vs. Tristan Nitta (Mililani)

GIRLS 107
>> Naiomi Kulukukalani-Sales (Lahainaluna) vs. Makena Abe (Mililani)
>> Kanoelani Kekiwi-Jones (King Kekaulike) vs. Madison Kalamau (Moanalua)

GIRLS 112
>> Nohea Moniz (Kamehameha) vs. Casey Bernabe (Kapaa)
>> Lillie Awaya (‘Iolani) vs. Evelyn Suzuki (Kalani)

GIRLS 117
>> Isabelle Asuncion (Moanalua) vs. Kelly Ichimura (Punahou)
>> Victoriana Kim (Mililani) vs. Aliya Takano (Kamehameha)

GIRLS 122
>> Haley Narahara (Kamehameha) vs. Aliza Leander (Konawaena)
>> Taydem Uyemura (Pearl City) vs. Chystin-Dior Treu (Lahainaluna)

GIRLS 127
>> Alicia Frank (Lahainaluna) vs. Jax Realin (Kamehameha)
>> Lainey Eckart (Kamehameha-Hawaii) vs. Rachel Oshita (Moanalua)

GIRLS 132
>> Kianna Chargualaf (Campbell) vs. Rylie Nishida (Kamehameha)
>> Teani Mederios-Maielua (Lahainaluna) vs. Reese Nishida (Moanalua)

GIRLS 138
>> Emma Wharton-Hsieh (‘Iolani) vs. Anissa Wright (Campbell)
>> Taylor Furstenworth (Kamehameha-Hawaii) vs. Aubrie Molina (Pearl City)

GIRLS 145
>> Rayden Kukahiwa (Hilo) vs. Kaui Lee-Tynan (Kapolei)
>> Tylanna Abraham (Kealakehe) vs. Jahlia Miguel (Baldwin)

GIRLS 155
>> Kaceylee Pua (Baldwin) vs. Bethany Chargualaf (Campbell)
>> Mehana Kapoi (Kamehameha) vs. Taryn Titcomb (Moanalua)

GIRLS 168
>> Shiloh Kamaka (Baldwin) vs. Jadyn Crisostomo (Moanalua)
>> Sarah Balbarino (Kalani) vs. Kealohilani Grace (Kamehameha-Hawaii)

GIRLS 184
>> Teizannaho Paleafei (Farrington) vs. Jasmine Adiniwin (Moanalua)
>> Catherine Asami (Lahainaluna) vs. Leina Balancio-Sadamaru (Waianae)

GIRLS 225
>> Maia Esera (Kahuku) vs. Tapaita Hufanga (Leilehua)
>> Isabella Martinez (Radford) vs. Alena Bartley (Kamehameha)

BOYS 106
>> Evan Kusumoto (Kamehameha) vs. Caden Guevara (Mililani)
>> Austin Kaalekahi (Molokai) vs. Joshua Estabilio (Moanalua)

BOYS 113
>> Cyrus Bucsit (Saint Louis) vs. Jayden Seson (Moanalua)
>> Marcus Marinas (Baldwin) vs. Khansith Chanthanouasith (Leilehua)

BOYS 120
>> Dylan Landford (Kamehameha) vs. Kulika Corpuz (Mililani)
>> Logan Lau (Mid-Pacific) vs. Joseph Lathwood (Moanalua)

BOYS 126
>> Tobey Ravida (Baldwin) vs. Tanner Higa (PAC-5)
>> Mikah Labuanan (Kamehameha-Maui) vs. Kaistin Vasquez (Punahou)

BOYS 132
>> Kai Sekigawa (‘Iolani) vs. Tyger Taam (Moanalua)
>> Nainoa Silva (Kamehameha-Maui) vs. Bransen Porter (Waianae)

BOYS 138
>> Kade Okura (Kalani) vs. Joe Xahn Rapoza (Pearl City)
>> Keegan Goeas (Castle) vs. Kinau McBrayer (Kapolei)

BOYS 145
>> Kai Yawata (‘Iolani) vs. Jesse Jeremiah (Kamehameha)
>> Justyce Mercado (Punahou) vs. Zion Amerson (Saint Louis)

BOYS 152
>> Nai Hasegawa (Baldwin) vs. Xander Erolin (PAC-5)
>> Holden Soares (Campbell) vs. Kailer Lee (‘Iolani)

BOYS 160
>> Blaze Sumiye (Moanalua) vs. Branztyn Reyes (Nanakuli)
>> Ayden Coronil (Kamehameha) vs. Gabriel Valdez (Baldwin)

BOYS 170
>> Pookela DeSantos (Leilehua) vs. Seth Kim (Hilo)
>> Brycen Pagurayan (Kapolei) vs. Kolt McCreadie (Saint Louis)

BOYS 182
>> Joseph Keo (Kapolei) vs. Keawe Kane-Keahi (Lahainaluna)
>> Karter Nitahara (Moanalua) vs. Will Straton (Punahou)

BOYS 195
>> Blaze Holani (Saint Louis) vs. Maika Kahale-Akeo (Kapolei)
>> Jonas Baekkuland (Moanalua) vs. Kayzehn Aiwohi-Frisby (Waianae)

BOYS 220
>> Leo Kalipi (Moanalua) vs. Zachary Kaliko (Saint Louis)
>> Sanalio Vehikite (Lahainaluna) vs. Vanderlei Yong (Waianae)

BOYS 285
>> Scott Dikilato (Kamehameha) vs. Caleb Lauifi (Waipahu)
>> Kanale Coelho (Leilehua) vs. Kolinaise Latu (Lahainaluna)