PUKALANI, Hawai‘i — Skyelynn Ripley, the sole female wrestler from the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation at the tourney, finished the 52nd annual Garner Ivey Maui Invitational Wrestling Tournament with a 2-1 record, good for second place in the 155-pound class, at the tournament that wrapped up over the weekend.
According to KIF Wrestling Tournament Director Mac Pigott, the KIF was represented with seven boys, six from Kapa‘a High, and Ripley and Deandre Gonzalez from Waimea, at the tournament that was the first one held following the pandemic shutdowns.
Gonzalez finished with a 4-2 record in the 126-pound class for fourth place to complete the medal collection for the Menehune at the tournament.
“It was nice to see all of Skye and Deandre’s hard work and dedication pay off,” said Waimea Coach William Wilder. “They should be very proud of their performances. I know I am.”
Gonzalez wrestled a hard six matches over the two days to finish with a respectful fourth-place finish, Wilder said. Ripley wrestled three times and finished second, placing her in a unique position of having the highest major tournament finish in Waimea’s history.
“Finishing the event winning a combined six of their nine matches was a nice way to start off the season,” Wilder said. “This being their first time to this tournament, they had a great time, and can’t wait to go take their team to tournaments in Pa‘ani and Moanalua.”
Kapa‘a wrestler Samuel Gomes led the Warrior contingent with three wins in his four matches to finish with a fourth-place finish in the 145-pound class.
Kelan Keohokapu won two of his five matches in the 160-pound class to finish in fifth place, along with Justin Harrington, who took one of his three matches for fifth place in the 195-pound class.
Other KIF wrestlers include Orien Hodges, who finished 0-2 in the 126-pound class, the same class that Gonzalez did well in. Codey Barnes was 2-2 in the 145-pound class, the same division Gomes placed in, and Ian Cook was 0-2 in the 170-pound class.
Tuesday marks the final day of weight monitoring for the KIF before the first matches take place on Jan. 14, 2023, at the Kaua‘i High gym. The first matches are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Wrestlers will report for weigh-in starting at 8 a.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
