2010 HHSAA State Judo Championships: Girls Finals – Matside Coverage

Attended the 2010 HHSAA State Judo Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center on May 8, 2010.  Coverage includes Girls 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.  However, I did manage to get pictures of the awards ceremony for the Girls and they are shown under each final capsule.

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.

98

Erin Uehara (Punahou) vs Marina Higa (McKinley)

Uehara won by wazari.  Erin, the top seed and ILH champion, defeated the 3rd seed and OIA champion Marina.  Erin placed 4th in the state last season at 98 and the senior has been on a mission this season.

Congratulations to Erin on your championship and to Marina for a successful season!

(L to R) Mary Jane Garcia (Waipahu), Taylor Vidad (Pearl City), Marina Higa (McKinley), Erin Uehara (Punahou), Meagan Aina (Kamehameha-Hawaii), Victoria Meno (Moanalua)

103

Marissa Rogers (McKinley) vs Shayla Pang-Kee (Castle)

Rogers won by ippon.  There were big upsets in this bracket as Marissa, the 9th seed, defeated Shayla, the 14th seed.  Marissa placed 3rd in the OIAs and 4th in the state last season at 103.

Congratulations to Marissa on your championship and to Shayla for a successful season!

(L to R) Shanelle Ramelb (Kapolei), Jamie Kakugawa (Campbell), Shayla Pang-Kee (Castle), Marissa Rogers (McKinley), Kimmi Lum (University), Toni Uyehara (Pearl City)

109

Brittnay Balanay (McKinley) vs Kayla Martin (Kahuku)

Balanay won by wazari.  Brittany, the top seed and OIA champion, defeated Kayla, the 10th seed.  Brittany also took home the 109 title last season and has been the cornerstone for a very successful McKinley Girls team this season.  Kayla had a nice run to reach the finals and she placed 3rd in the OIAs and was the runner-up at 109 in the state last season as well.

Congratulations to Brittany on your championship and to Kayla for a successful season!

(L to R) Mary Coroando (Kaimuki), Taylor Castro (Pearl City), Kayla Martin (Kahuku), Brittany Balanay (McKinley), Nicole Taniguchi (Punahou), Diane Mikuni (Kapolei)

115

Bree Rapoza (Kamehameha-Kapalama) vs Megan Yamaguchi (Kalani)

Rapoza won by ippon.  Bree, the 3rd seed and ILH champion, defeated Marisa, the 4th seed and OIA champion.  This was also a battle between two current state champion wrestlers.  Bree, a freshman, has proven dominant this season and it is likely that she could become a 4-time state champion in both sports.  Megan placed 3rd in the state last season.

Congratulations to Bree on your championship and to Megan for a successful season!

(L to R) Ilisha Badua (Kapolei), Ayame Higa (McKinley), Megan Yamaguchi (Kalani), Bree Rapoza (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Marisa Fukunaga (Roosevelt), Jenna Aina (Kamehameha-Hawaii)

122

Tiare Mashima (Kamehameha-Kapalama) vs Brittney Shinsato (Kalani)

Shinsato won by wazari.  Brittney, the 8th seed, upset the 2nd seed and ILH champion Tiare.  Brittney was the runner-up in the OIAs.

Congratulations to Brittney on your championship and to Tiare for a successful season!

(L to R) Liko Fukumoto (Moanalua), Tiare Mashima (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Brittney Shinsato (Kalani), Julia Afuso (Iolani), Rochelle Pagaduan (Waipahu)
Note – the organizers failed to call out 6th place finisher Shayla Rivera of King Kekaulike, but did call her up later.

129

Chrissy Chow (Punahou) vs Tanalei Louis (Konawaena)

Chow won by ippon.  Chrissy, the top seed and ILH champion, defeated Tanalei, the 3rd seed and BIIF champion.  Chrissy is a national caliber judoka with Hawaii Tenri Judo Club.  This is her 3rd state title in as many years and she will be shooting for a 4th next season.

Congratulations to Chrissy on your championship and to Tanalei for a successful season!

(L to R) Lindsay Villarmia (Aiea), Tara Srirangarajan (Iolani), Tanalei Louis (Konawaena), Chrissy Chow (Punahou), Kiana Borengasser (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Abigail Helenihi (Kapolei)

139

Morgan Yamaguchi (Kalani) vs Mindy Chow (Punahou)

Chow won by han soku make.  Mindy, the 4th seed and ILH champion, defeated Morgan, the 2nd seed and OIA champion.  Mindy is a national caliber judoka with Hawaii Tenri Judo Club.  This is her 2nd state title in as many years and she will be shooting for a 3rd next season.  Morgan placed 3rd in the state last season at 129.

Congratulations to Mindy on your championship and to Morgan for a successful season!

(L to R) Lacey Katakura-Enos (Pearl City), Rachel Factora (Campbell), Morgan Yamaguchi (Kalani), Mindy Chow (Punahou), Kayla Mishima (HBA), Kalena Shiroma (Kamehameha-Hawaii)

154

Amber Ah Sue (Kahuku) vs Kaimana Lundquist (Punahou)

Lundquist won by ippon.  Kaimana, the 3rd seed and ILH champion, defeated Amber, the top seed and OIA champion.  Kaimana is a national caliber judoka with Hawaii Tenri Judo Club.  This is her 2nd state title in as many years and she will be shooting for a 3rd next season.  Amber was the runner-up in the state last season at 154.

Congratulations to Kaimana on your championship and to Amber for a successful season!

(L to R) Tiffany Kotani (Moanalua), Jayna Koko (Roosevelt), Amber Ah Sue (Kahuku), Kaimana Lundquist (Punahou), Kasie Kashimoto (Iolani), Meridian Burrhus (Aiea)

172

Tiara Kaye (Punahou) vs Mei Ling Keiki (Pearl City)

Keiki won by ippon.  Mei Ling, the 4th seed and OIA champion, defeated Tiara, the 2nd seed and ILH champion.  This has been a great school year for Mei Ling as she also recently brought home a state title in wrestling.  Mei Ling was the runner-up in the state last season at 172.  Tiara placed 5th in the state last season at 139.

Congratulations to Mei Ling on your championship and to Tiara for a successful season!

(L to R) Joo Yeon Kang (Moanalua), Aja Gample (St. Francis) (stand-in shown), Tiara Kaye (Punahou), Mei Ling Keiki (Pearl City), Makana Borden (Kamehameha-Kapalama), Erika Bareng (Waipahu)

220

Patrice Yamane (Castle) vs Sanoe Spencer (Pearl City)

Spencer won by ippon.  Sanoe, the 12th see, upset the 3rd seed and OIA champion Patrice.  This has been a great school year for Sanoe as she also recently brought home a state title in wrestling.  Sanoe was the runner-up in the state last season at 220.  Patrice placed 3rd in the state last season at 220.

Congratulations to Sanoe on your championship and to Patrice for a successful season!

(L to R) Sade Hendricks (Leilehua), Patrice Yamane (Castle), Sanoe Spencer (Pearl City), Jamilyn Chur (Pearl City), Angela Kim (University)

Team Runner-up

PEARL CITY

This has been a great season for the Pearl City Girls.  They narrowly beat McKinley for the OIA team title by 1 point, and edged McKinley yet again by 3 points to capture the runner-up trophy.

Congratulations to Pearl City on your success and to Coach Rob Puahala and his staff!

Team Champion

PUNAHOU

Despite not placing in 4 weight classes, Punahou still managed to defend their team title by 31 points by having 4 state champions.  The team only loses Erin Uehara to graduation, so they will be shooting to defend their title again next season.

Congratulations to Punahou on your championship and to Coach Greg Chow and his staff!

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