Wrestlers put in some good matches Saturday when the Kauai Police Activities League and the Warrior Wrestling Club hosted the USA Wrestling Spring Season Tournament No. 3 at the Kapaa High School cafeteria.
“It is good to see so many elementary and middle school youth on the mat, having fun and learning about the sport,” said Mac Pigott, USA Wrestling tournament director. “This is how we will build the high school program.”
During the tournament, boys and girls from 6 to 18 years old grappled in seven bracketed divisions with the 6- to 11-year old, 45- to 60-pound class having the biggest division with five wrestlers participating in the double elimination format.
Matthew Tamanaha got some good mat time as he trained for the USA Wrestling high school nationals in July.
Tamanaha, accepting a scholarship earlier this year from Western State Colorado University, will be wrestling one final time at the high school level when he participates in the national competition in July.
“Jolette Miner-Ho, a sophomore at Kapaa High School, also got some good wrestling time,” Pigott said. “She is also training for the national competition.”
The USA Wrestling Spring Season continues Saturday when Tournament No. 4 unfolds at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea. Weigh-in start at 8 a.m. with the first bouts getting underway at 9:30 a.m.
Wrestling during the spring season is open for boys and girls of any age, any size, or weight. Weekly practices are held on the eastside on Wednesday and Friday by contacting Coach Jess at 634-1686. Westside practices are held on Tuesday and Thursday by calling Coach Mac at 639-8858.
Results
Youth 45-60 pounds: Dane Jensen, Elijah Ladera, Ethan Hartshorn
60-80 pounds: Rush Nikolas, Addi Jensen, Talven Saraos
110-140 pounds: Keanu Ebasu, Herman Santos, Lester Garcia
90-130 pounds: Lincoln Miner-Ho, Loea Keana‘aina, Shavonn Armitage
High School 130 pounds: Lucas Freitas-Diaz, Mason Stoll-Tolentino
145 pounds: Jolette Miner-Ho, Olivia Kelekuma
155 pounds: Matthew Tamanaha, Mckenna Holt
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
