LIHU‘E — Saturday was the final day for Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation wrestlers qualifying for the state meet to have an opportunity to grapple before heading to O‘ahu.
The qualifying wrestlers and the remaining members of the KIF wrestling field were paired together for matches within their related weight classes with the winner garnering points for their side, and allowing the qualifying wrestlers an opportunity to grapple before leaving the island.
Darren Delacruz of Kaua‘i High was one winner of a non-fall-determined match when he took the match over fellow Red Raider Epraim Salud by major decision, 20-9. But despite that sustained match, Delacruz was the subject of his coaches yelling for more points… “You need more points to win by major decisions!”
Kelan Keohokapu of Kapa‘a also took one of the boys 154-pound class by decision, edging Waimea’s Jayred Tumbaga by a point, 9-8.
The nine other matches were settled by pinfall, with the fastest match going to Kaua‘i High’s Kakoa Lovell-Obatake, who pinned his fellow Red Raider Walker Turpin in less than a minute in the boys 222-pound class.
The KIF wrestlers leave Thursday for the 2022 Texaco Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association wrestling championships that will take place Friday and Saturday at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in O‘ahu.
Results
Girls 109: Ambrie Rocha (Kau) def. Kayleigh Martinez (Wai) – fall 1:34
Girls 114: Casey Bernabe (Kap) def. Ambrie Rocha (Kau) – fall 3:15
Girls 157: Meleana Rita (Kau) def Skyelynn Ripley (Wai) – fall 2:25
Boys 134: Jayden Manibog (Kau) def. Deandri Gonzalez (Wai) – fall 1:59
Boys 140: Deandri Gonzalez (Wai) def. Connor Raybuck (Kap) – fall 1:56
Boys 154: Kelan Keohokapu (Kap) def Kayden Libre (Wai) – fall 2:53
Boys 154: Kelan Keohokapu (Kap) def Jayred Tumbaga (Wai) – decision, 9-8
Boys 162: Ka-Lel Butac-Sagucio (Kau) def Shawn Parraga (Wai) – fall 1:03
Boys 182: Nathan Marovish (Kap) def Eliam Ornellas (Wai) – fall 1:34
Boys 184: Darren Delacruz (Kau) def Ephraim Salud (Kau) – major decision 20-9
Boys 222: Kakoa Lovell-Obatake (Kau) def Walker Turpin (Kau) – fall :58
