The grapplers who won their respective divisions at the Kauai Interscholastic Federation Championship wrestling meet earlier this month were named league all stars.
The official list was released by the league on Tuesday.
Kapaa High School also has nine all-stars — six girls and three boys.
“The year before, we only qualified six (for states). So having nine win KIF this year was a big jump for us,” said Kapaa coach Jess Jensen. “The before that, I believe there was only three (that qualified). And then the year before that, I think, there was only one. They’re progressing. The girls side, we’re really seeing a lot of strength there. We only had one girl that was a KIF champion that is a senior, and everybody else is returning. So, we’re excited about that. We’ve got a strong group of sophomores and juniors that will be returning next year.”
Among this year’s Warriors all-stars is 152-pound boys winner Braeden Jensen, who placed sixth in his weight class at the 2018 Texaco Wrestling Championships on Oahu, and 132-pound girls winner Tessa Jensen. Both are the children of coach Jensen.
For seniors Braeden Jensen and 117-pound girls winner Anna-Malia Santos, Jess Jensen said, to not have them next season will be a bit unusual.
“They have been with the program for a long time. Braeden has been with the program all four years, and Anna-Malia has been with the program for three years,” he said. “For us, it’s going to be strange not having them around. … In a way, it’s an end of an era. But we’re looking forward to the sophomore and juniors stepping up next year.”
Waimea High has seven standouts — one girl and six boys.
The Menehune won the KIF boys title at the league championship meet. It was the second wrestling boys championship for the school.
“Just really happy the year worked out. We had really good team unity, and it really helps when you have guys that are similar in weight. It helps with training and everything,” said Waimea coach C.J. Threat. “They had a good bond, and it reflects on how we ended the year with the KIF championship for the boys. All of the boys that are all-stars, except for one, were all seniors. That was pretty awesome that they all got to go to states together.”
Waimea’s lone all-star girl, freshman Ashlyn Agena, was just shy of competing in the medal round at states.
“She started last summer doing a little bit of freestyle. Also her older brother, Corey, is a senior this year. So, she’s been around him. And I also coached her cousin when she wrestled six years ago,” Threat said. “She’s known about it and has been around, but she really didn’t start actually practice wrestling until last summer. The fact that she almost had a chance to place after just starting the previous summer, it’s pretty awesome.”
Kauai High School, winner of this year’s KIF girls wrestling championship, has eight all-stars — three girls and five boys.
Red Raiders coach Paul Shindell couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
2017-18 KIF Wrestling All-Stars
Girls
102 pounds: Sarai Valdez, Kauai, sophomore
107 pounds: Ashlyn Agena, Waimea, freshman
112 pounds: Jordyn Kahananui, Kauai, senior
117 pounds: Anna-Malia Santos, Kapaa, senior
122 pounds: Danielle Santos, Kapaa, senior
127 pounds: Shanayah Marshall, Kapaa, junior
132 pounds: Tessa Jensen, Kapaa, sophomore
138 pounds: Olivia Kelekoma, Kapaa, sophomore
145 pounds: Halle Sakai, Kauai, senior
155 pounds: Jolette Miner-Ho, Kapaa, sophomore
Boys
106 pounds: Coby Lawrence, Kauai, freshman
113 pounds: Mason Stoll-Tolentino, Kauai, sophmore
120 pounds: Jeremiah Fukushima Fernandes, Kauai, junior
126 pounds: Kainoa Rivera, Kapaa, senior
132 pounds: Corey Agena, Waimea, senior
138 pounds: Matthew Tamanaha, Kauai, senior
145 pounds: Lowen Matsusaka, Kauai, junior
152 pounds: Braeden Jensen, Kapaa, senior
160 pounds: Bryan Ingeniero, Waimea, senior
170 pounds: Kalama Fernandez, Waimea, senior
182 pounds: Levi Eulalio, Kapaa, senior
195 pounds: Jaime Mararagan, Waimea, senior
220 pounds: Cody Artaho, Waimea, senior
285 pounds: Rogerland Dela Cruz, Waimea, senior
