The short history of girls wrestling in Hawaii has never been so loaded with accomplished athletes.
There are 16 state titles represented by this year’s preseason top 10, the same number we left off to end last season despite the graduation of Teniya Alo, Macy Higa and Ira Navarro. Kaiser’s Tiare Ikei took her talents to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, possibly the only place in the country a girl can find better competition than here in Hawaii.
The 2020 Olympic hopeful finished last season fifth on the P4P and leaves plenty of talent behind, led by Leilehua senior Kelani Corbett.
Corbett is in line to become the fifth girl to win four consecutive state titles, and the first since 2016’s top two pound-for-pound finishers in Teshya Alo of Kamehameha and Lahainaluna’s Lalelei Mataafa. Hoku Nohara (2007) of Kamehameha and Moanalua’s Caylene Valdez (2003) also won the state slam and all four are in the HHSAA’s Hall of Honor.
The coast seems to be clear for Corbett to become the OIA’s second slammer, with Moanalua senior Alexis Tupuola the highest remaining threat from her weight class last year. Tupuola lasted into the second round against Corbett at last year’s OIA championships.
Threats from outside of Corbett’s weight class include Tayler Pelegrino Hayase of Lahainaluna, Castle’s Sadie Antoque and Shayna Kamaka of state champion Baldwin.
Kamehameha’s Ashley Gooman saw her hopes of a state slam end last year in a close 4-1 loss to Ikei, but the three-time state finalist still has the chops to start the season No. 2 on this elite list.
She can follow Chrissy Chow of Punahou, Kamehameha’s Bree Rapoza and Teniya Alo of Kahuku as the only girls to win three titles non-consecutively.
No. 3 Nanea Estrella of Lahainaluna will try to end her career with a third title to go with her Cadet national title in Fargo. Jahnei Miguel‘s hero run last year, bumping up to help Baldwin win the team title, will be the next in line to join the state slam list in 2020.
A parade of state champions follow Miguel on the watch list, with an unprecedented pair from the Big Island in Konawaena senior Kapoina Bailey and Kealakehe’s Roxie Umu. Bailey is gunning for a third state medal while Umu is competing for her fourth.
There have only been eight state champions from the BIIF, and never a two-timer.
Paige Respicio of Kamehameha, Baldwin’s Waipuilani Estrella Beauchamp, Kahuku’s Tangiteina Niutupuivaha and Sami Saribay of Lahainaluna are the other state champions looking to repeat.
The honorable mention list includes eight girls with an appearance in a state final. 2017 state champion Kauanoe Keahi might not wrestle this season.
Click here for last season’s final rankings.
Hawaii Prep World Pound-For-Pound Rankings
Updated: Nov. 29
1. Kelani Corbett, Leilehua senior
2018 state champ (155), 2017 state champ (155), 2016 state champ (155)
2018 OIA champ (155), 2017 OIA champ (157)
2017 Officials champ (168), 2016 Officials champ (155)
2016 Paani champ (155)
2. Ashley Gooman, Kamehameha senior
2018 state second (112), 2017 state champ (107), 2016 state champ (102)
2018 ILH champ (112), 2017 ILH champ (107), 2016 ILH champ (102),
2015 Officials champ (102)
3. Nanea Estrella, Lahainaluna junior
2018 state champion (122), 2017 state champion (117)
2018 MIL champion (124), 2017 MIL champion (117)
2017 Officials champion (122)
2018 Paani champion (132)
4. Jahnea Miguel, Baldwin sophomore
2018 state champion (145), 2017 state champion (127)
2018 MIL champion (147), 2017 MIL champion (129)
2016 Paani champ (132)
5. Kapoina Bailey, Konawaena senior
2018 state champion (168), 2017 state second (168)
2018 BIIF champ (168)
2018 MIT champ (168)
6. Roxie Umu, Kealakehe senior
2018 state champ (184), 2017 state third (225), 2016 state fourth (225)
2016 BIIF champ (225)
2018 Paani champ (184)
7. Paige Respicio, Kamehameha junior
2018 state champion (132), 2017 state third (127)
2018 ILH champion (132), 2017 ILH champ (127)
2017 Officials champion (138)
2018 Paani champ (138)
8. Waipuilani Estrella Beauchamp, Baldwin junior
2018 State champion (127), 2017 state third (122)
2018 MIL champion (129)
2017 Officials champion (127)
2018 Paani champion (127)
9. Tangiteina Niutupuivaha, Kahuku junior
2018 state champion (225), 2017 state fifth (225)
2018 OIA champion (225)
2017 Officials champ (225)
2018 Paani champion (225)
10. Sami Saribay, Lahainaluna senior
2018 state champ (107), 2017 state fifth (102)
2018 MIL champ (109)
2018 Paani champ (107)
Next 10 (alphabetical order)
Sadie Antoque, Castle junior
2018 state second (145), 2017 state fourth (127)
2018 OIA champ (2018)
Tianna Fernandez, Baldwin senior
2018 state fifth (102), 2017 state second (97), 2016 state fifth (97)
2017 officials champ (107)
Marisa Iha, Punahou sophomore
2018 state second (122)
2018 ILH champ (122)
Kauanoe Keahi, Lahainaluna junior
2018 state third (132), 2017 state champion (138)
2018 MIL champion (134), 2017 MIL champion (140)
Allicia Mahoe, Kapolei senior
2018 state second (97), 2017 state fifth (97), 2016 state sixth (97)
2017 OIA champion (98)
2017 Officials champ (97)
2018 Paani champ (97)
Alexis Nova Posiulai, Kamehameha senior
2018 state second (127), 2017 state third (117)
2018 ILH champ (127)
Krystal Puahala, Kamehameha sophomore
2018 state second (138)
2018 ILH champ (138)
Tayler Peligrino Hayase, Lahainaluna senior
2018 state third (145), 2017 State fourth (132), 2016 State fifth (132)
2017 MIL champ (134), 2016 MIL champ (132), 2015 MIL champ
2017 Officials champion (145)
2018 Paani champion (145)
Siera Vida, Baldwin
2018 state second (184)
2018 MIL champ (184)
2017 Officials champ (184)
2016 Paani Novice champ (184)
Alana Vivas, Kamehameha senior
2018 state second (117)
2018 ILH champ (117)
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