2010 HHSAA State Judo Championships: Boys Finals – Matside Coverage

Attended the 2010 HHSAA State Judo Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center on May 8, 2010.  Coverage includes Boys Championship matches.

Notes/Observations:

I was hoping that the tournament organizers would hold all championship matches (Boys and Girls) on one mat which would have allowed me to give video coverage of all finals.  But they separated the Boys and Girls finals on back-to-back mats which put me in tough situation as there was no way I could run back and forth to capture all finals, so I had to choose.  With the seemingly more intriguing match-ups on the Boys side, I decided to give that side the coverage.

Note – Finalists are listed in order according to their seeding.  The order for the finalists’ picture from left to right are 6th, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 5th.

108

Brendan Chang (Maryknoll) vs Kelson Onigama (Moanalua)

Chang won by ippon.  Brendan, the top seed and ILH champion, defeated Kelson, the 3rd seed and OIA champion.  Brendan is a freshman and I believe so is Kelson, and that would mean many more years of battles between these two judoka.  Brendan brought home another individual state title for Maryknoll after Cassidy Oshiro brought home Maryknoll’s first title ever in wrestling this past season.

Congratulations to Brendan on your championship and to Kelson for a successful season!

(L to R) Justin Raymond (Konawaena), Zachary Kido (Campbell), Kelson Onigama (Moanalua), Brendan Chang (Maryknoll), Kevin Miyamasu (Moanalua), Jacob Arakaki (Kamehameha-Kapalama)

114

Jacob Palimo’o (Moanalua) vs Jordan Ng (Punahou)

Ng won by ippon.  Jordan, the 4th seed and ILH champion, defeated Jacob, the 2nd seed and OIA champion.  Jordan, a senior, ends his high school career with back-to-back state titles in wrestling and judo.  Jordan also won the state title last season at 108.  Jacob had a huge win in the quarterfinals over Cassidy Oshiro.

Congratulations to Jordan on your championship and to Jacob for a successful season!

(L to R) Cody Fernandez (Roosevelt) (stand-in shown), Skye Yonamine (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Jacob Palimo’o (Moanalua), Jordan Ng (Punahou), Cassidy Oshiro (Maryknoll), Logan Yamamoto (Iolani)

121

Logan Bucsit (Farrington) vs David Terao (MPI)

Terao won by ippon.  David, the 3rd seed and ILH champion, defeated Logan, the top seed and OIA champion.  These two know each other very well having battled in wrestling and judo for numerous years.  This was also a repeat of last season’s 114 final also won by David.  David has proven so dominant and with his 3rd state title under his belt, he will be gunning for a distinguished 4th next season.

Congratulations to David on your championship and to Logan for a successful season!

(L to R) Cody Uyejo (Mililani), Blaine Bolibol (Punahou), Logan Bucsit (Farrington), David Terao (MPI), Ryan Oda (Punahou), Brant Tsuda (Moanalua)

132

Brady Lafortune (Moanalua) vs Tyler Kono (Kapolei)

Lafortune won by ippon.  Brady, the 4th seed and OIA champion, defeated Tyler, the 7th seed and OIA runner-up.  Tyler is so tough and he scored a huge win over Sean Tachibana in the quarterfinals.  Brady was the talk of the tournament as he became the 4th judoka to win 4 state titles joining Taylor Iberra of Farrington, Lianne Tomishima of McKinley, and Christian Pavo of Pearl City.  But Brady became the first judoka in Hawaii history to win 4 state titles in 4 different weight classes.  Quite an accomplishment and something for all of the Hawaii judo community to be proud of!

Congratulations to Brady on your championship and to Tyler for a successful season!

(L to R) Koan Kojima (Roosevelt), Trevor Kalawaia (Kahuku), Tyler Kono (Kapolei), Brady Lafortune (Moanalua), Sean Tachibana (Maryknoll), Evan Uehara (Punahou)

145

Tyler Yonemori (Waiakea) vs Jordan Ogata (Mililani)

Yonemori won by wazari.  Tyler, the top seed and BIIF champion, defeated Jordan, the 7th seed and OIA runner-up.  Tyler improved on his 5th place finish last season at 145.  There was an early buzz this season about Tyler and he proved the hype was correct and he was the only neighbor island state champion this tournament.  Jordan scored an upset in the quarterfinals against Jacob Luning-Hoshino and he was the runner-up last season at 132.

Congratulations to Tyler on your championship and to Jordan for a successful season!

(L to R) Royce Mori (Damien), Jacob Luning-Hoshino (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Jordan Ogata (Mililani), Tyler Yonemori (Waiakea), Chaeden Grace-Reyes (Farrington), Cody Kagawa (University)

161

Kainalu Matthews (Kamehameha-Kapalama) vs Damon Hom Jr. (McKinley)

Hom won by ippon.  Damon, the 3rd seed and OIA champion, defeated Kainalu, the top seed and ILH champion.  This match gets my vote for the Best Winning Reaction, narrowly edging out Lafortune’s match, and also the Fastest Finals Ippon (8 seconds).  Damon was so ecstatic after his win that he literally leaped into the arms of Kainalu in a big bear hug, then he ran to bow and then ran off the mat… probably ran into the back somewhere to scream in happiness.  Damon finished 5th in the state last season at 161 and he finally captured his first state title in his senior year.  Kainalu has been so dominant all season and his height presented major problems for his opponents.

Congratulations to Damon on your championship and to Kainalu for a successful season!

(L to R) Tyler Vaughn (Hilo), Ken Kobayashi (Punahou), Kainalu Matthews (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Damon Hom Jr. (McKinley), Gaston Carr (Kahuku), Lindsey Nelson (Roosevelt)

178

Punahele Soriano (Kahuku) vs Robby Ostovich (Moanalua)

Soriano won by ippon.  Punahele, the 2nd seed and OIA champion, defeated Robby, the 5th seed and OIA runner-up.  Punahele has had quite a senior year capturing his first state title in wrestling and now another state title in judo.  Robby has been an accomplished wrestler and judoka and closes out his high school career as well.

Congratulations to Punahele on your championship and to Robby for a successful season!

(L to R) Taylor Sakanashi (McKinley), LJ Remillard (Punahou) (stand-in shown), Robby Ostovich (Moanalua), Punahele Soriano (Kahuku), Tevin Miyahara (Leilehua), Randy Ishitani (Roosevelt)

198

Myer Alokoa (Hawaii Center for the Deaf & Blind) vs Tyler Hayashi (Roosevelt)

Alokoa won by ippon.  Myer, the top seed and OIA champion, defeated Tyler, the 6th seed and OIA runner-up.  Quite a story for Myer who has learned to overcome his disability and capture his first state title after finishing 3rd in the state last season at 198.  Myer competed for Kalani in the regular season.  Tyler finished 3rd in the state last season at 178 and also had a runner-up finish in wrestling this past season.

Congratulations to Myer on your championship and to Tyler for a successful season!

(L to R) Kawika Scott (Konawaena), Warren Mamizuka (Kahuku), Tyler Hayashi (Roosevelt), Myer Alokoa (Hawaii Center for the Deaf & Blind), Diego Meyers (Campbell), Makale’a Medeiros (Baldwin)

220

Dane Paihi Pestano (Kamehameha-Kapalama) vs Kyle Tsubota (Lutheran)

Pestano won by yuko.  Paihi, the 3rd seed and ILH champion, defeated Kyle, the 8th seed and ILH runner-up.  This was Round 4 for these two top judoka.  During the ILH season, Paihi won twice and Kyle won once, and all were great, close battles… like a chess match, one unable to truly dominate the other.  Paihi, a freshman, is a national caliber judoka with Hawaii Tenri Judo Club and he will be setting his sights on a repeat title next season.  Kyle was the returning state champion at 220 and scored a big win over Jheryl Makaiau in the quarterfinals.

Congratulations to Paihi on your championship and to Kyle for a successful season!

(L to R) Demetrius Roby (Saint Louis), James Lloyd (Kaimuki) (stand-in shown), Kyle Tsubota (Lutheran), Paihi Pestano (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Jheryl Makaiau (Kahuku), Weston Akamine (Roosevelt)

275

Alex Kozuma (Moanalua) vs Keith Chargulaf-Tuilepa (Farrington)

Chargulaf-Tuilepa won by ippon.  Keith, the 4th seed and OIA champion, defeated Alex, the 3rd seed and OIA runner-up.  Keith was the runner-up last season at 275 and this was a sweet victory as Keith lost an OT battle with Jheryl Makaiau in the 285 state wrestling final.

Congratulations to Keith on your championship and to Alex for a successful season!

(L to R) Simeon Vierra (Kahuku), Iokepa Alcantra (Pearl City), Alex Kozuma (Moanalua), Keith Chargulaf-Tuilepa (Farrington), Kaulana Buchanan (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Abraham Hall (Saint Louis)

Team Runner-up

KAMEHAMEHA-KAPALAMA

The Warriors bested their rival Punahou (who finished 4th) after Punahou edged them out by 5 points at the ILH Championships.  This team has a talented, young nucleus returning and with Paihi Pestano anchoring the team for 3 more years, they will be aiming for a team title in the coming years.

Note – I didn’t manage to get a picture as Kainalu Matthews received the team trophy and left a little too fast for my camera.

Congratulations to Kamehameha-Kapalama on your success and to the Kamehameha-Kapalama coaching staff!

Team Champion

MOANALUA

Moanalua has always had a solid judo program, but Punahou has stood in their way the past 3 years.  Their team is very young and very talented and they will be shooting for no less than a repeat team championship next season.

Congratulations to Moanalua on your championship and to Coach Brandon Maki, Coach Scott Pak, and their staff!

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