The 2016 Chevron Hawaii/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships begin Friday. To get you ready, we will preview the matchups in each weight class for both boys and girls.
FIRST ROUND
Kato def. Wusstig, 0:43
Manning def. Simao, 1:58
Manley def. Miles, 7-2
Terukina def. Murakami, 15-5
Nardi def. Portugal, 17-2
Keliinoi def. Perez, 11-3
Mizota def. Deguzman, 8-4
Galigo def. Caniete, 2:39
QUARTERFINALS
Kato def. Manning, 1:22
Terukina def. Manley, 6-1
Keliinoi def. Nardi, 1:20
Mizota def. Galigo, 5-2
With all of the top talent coming together this year, this bracket is different. It is Kato in the sandbox by himself.
Cameron Kato, Punahou
vs.
Noah Wusstig, Moanalua
Naikoa Simao, Waimea
vs.
Jericho Manning, Pahoa
Kato is the reigning state champ and it looks like injury will be the only thing to stop him, but he has been there before. He added his third ILH title last week and is currently ranked the top pound-for-pound fighter in the state. There are no other state placers in this quad, with Wusstig’s big accomplishment a fourth place at the Garner Ivey and OIA East title. Simao vs. Manning should be interesting, Waimea’s program has made real strides. They have had only two state placers in the history of the tournament, but those came in the last two years. Something brewing over there.
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Caele Manley, Molokai
vs.
Jackson Miles, Keaau
Ian Murakami, Assets
vs.
Zayren Terukina, Campbell
Murakami really might be the second best wrestler in this weight class but being in this quad prevents him reaching the final unless he can beat Kato. Murakami was second to Waianae’s Keliinoi at the Garner Ivey but came back to reach the final at Officials against Kato, but nobody wants to see a rematch anyway. Caele Manley is trying to become the third Manley from Molokai to place at states in the boys tournament, Clinton Manley actually made three state finals and lost all of them. Last year broke Keaau’s string of four years with a state placer. Terukina vs. Murakami might be the best first-round match in the tournament. Terukina took the OIA championship last week after a disappointing fifth at Officials he has really grown.
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Souta Nardi, Baldwin
vs.
Kahlil Portugal, Kalani
Matthew Perez, Kamehameha
vs.
Keale Keliinoi, Waianae
Nardi won the MIL last week, it is hard to believe it was his first. He really struggled in December, taking fifth at MIT but improving to fourth at Officials. Portugal should give him a good test even though he was only fourth in the OIA East. Perez is a complete unknown and he opens with Keliinoi, a state placer and MIT champion. Keliinoi also took third at Officials with a 10-4 win over Nardi after a close loss. He is the only other state placer at this weight class after Kato and Galigo.
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James Mizota, Iolani
vs.
Luisito Deguzman, Mililani
Treyson Caniete, Kapolei
vs.
Trey Galigo, KS-Hawaii
If Iolani is going to compete for the team title, it will follow Mizota there. None of these four guys placed at Officials, Deguzman just hit the scene before divisionals and was lights out last week before and after being pinned by Terukina. If he can get past Mizota, he would meet Caniete in the quarters after pinning him last week. Galigo comes in as the BIIF champ and the second seed over Nardi despite not traveling in December. He placed sixth in this bracket last year, which is a huge accomplishment considering the names in it: ILaban-Totten, FOng, Nakasone and Ruiz.
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