LIHUE — The Jess Jensen family did it all Friday night when the Kauai USA Wrestling Championship closed its spring season with the 2018 Sam Silva Memorial Kauai USA Wrestling Championships before an enthusiastic crowd of families in the Kauai High School cafeteria.
Dane Jensen topped the youth 40-50 pound division, being joined by Meah Jensen with a gold medal in the youth 100-120 pound division, Tessa Jensen finding bronze in the high school 135-155 pound division, and Braeden Jensen nailing bronze in the open 150-180 pound division.
“Kapaa Warrior head coach Jess Jensen brings his whole family to run the spring season,” said Coach Mac Pigott, the Kauai USA Wrestling tournament director. “Honestly, without the Jensen family, there would be a big hole in the spring season — they run the scoring table, wrestle and coach!”
Twenty-eight grapplers weighed in from 40 pounds to 180 pounds, boys and girls from 6 to 28 years old making their appearances on the mat for a shot at medals while wrapping up the six-week season separate from the high school season.
“We do our best to match up the wrestlers as competitively as possible,” Pigott said. “No matter what the outcome is, everyone involved is encouraged to stick with the sport. The smiles on the youth wrestlers up on the podium with their medals say it all — the Kauai USA Wrestling spring season was good fun for everyone. It is so good to see all the youth, all the families, enjoying the tough competition and learning the life lessons of wrestling on the mat.”
One of those tough matches saw Jaden Walman make a concerted effort in the third round of the youth 100-pound match to edge out Kana‘i Torcato on a 12-11 decision, but coming up short in the finals.
Pigott said the final match of the Kauai USA Wrestling spring season is named for Sam Silva, who did much to help get high school wrestling started on Kauai.
“Sam helped us run our first USAW tournament on Kauai in 2005, and was a friend of Kauai wrestling ever since,” Pigott said. “He was my good friend, and a long-time coach.”
The Westside Wrestling Camp is the next event on the calendar, taking place June 15 and 16 in Waimea. The two-day, free camp for current and future high school wrestlers includes intense training with college coaches, beach runs, strength training and more.
Info: Pigott, 639-8858
Results
Youth 40-50 pounds: Dane Jensen, Giani Hurd, Kaonohi Armitage, Koaia Sakamoto
Youth 55-70 pounds: Krista Torcato, Kaiwahie Sakamoto-Flores, Joe Santos, Kyla Malama
Youth 60-75 pounds: Rush Nikels, Ryder Armitage, Taiven Salas
Youth 100 pounds: Kana‘i Torcato, Jaden Walmen
Youth 100-120 pounds: Meah Jensen, Kaia Gampong, Shavonn Armitage
High School 115-125 pounds: Lucas Freitas-Diaz, Keanu Ebesu, Herman Santos
High School 135-155 pounds: Makenna Holt, Danielle Santos, Tessa Jensen
Open 150-180 pounds: Matthew Tamanaha, Paul Shindell, Braeden Jensen
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Congratulations to the Jenson’s! Thank you for all you do for our Island, and it isn’t just limited to your incredible wrestling accomplishments! Your whole family simply makes Kauai a better place for all!