Wrestling

Latest news

Latest news

Hope for prep sports? Tupola, Blangiardi on tiers and flexibility

By Paul Honda on January 9, 2021

Diligence and persistence matter in high school sports, COVID-19 pandemic era. While Hawaii maintains some of the lowest rates and numbers in the nation, the state’s high school student-athletes and the communities that support them are bearing the brunt of complete cancellations. State restrictions and a City and County of Honolulu tier format — both are factors according to Oahu Interscholastic Association Executive Director Raymond Fujino — continue to draw large-scale discussion across the islands. Fujino declined to comment on […]

Coaches, players reeling after BIIF principals ax fall, winter sports

By Paul Honda on January 8, 2021

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation made it official on Thursday as principals voted to cancel fall and winter sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league’s athletic directors had voted to cancel two days earlier as case numbers increased after the holiday season. The BIIF followed in line with the Oahu Interscholastic Association and Maui Interscholastic League. “This hurts my heart,” said Konawaena girls basketball coach Bobbie Awa, who has guided the Wildcats to nine Division I state crowns. Several […]

Coaches unsurprised, disappointed as MIL cancels fall, winter sports

By Paul Honda on January 6, 2021

The Maui Interscholastic League is the latest of the state’s five high school leagues to cancel sports. The MIL announced on Wednesday that it has cancelled all fall and winter sports, including football and competitive cheer. Those two sports were slated to begin in the spring after being postponed. Air riflery, basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, cross country, paddling, soccer, swimming and diving, and wrestling — all done for the 2020-21 pandemic year. “I think it’s because of all the challenges. […]

Neighbor island coaches hoping leagues buck trend of Oahu

By Paul Honda on January 4, 2021

Sometimes, even when outside pressure mounts, the neighbor islands go their own way. What that means for high school sports is that the Big Island, Maui and Kauai sometimes stand alongside their Oahu counterparts and, sometimes, though, they don’t. That was apparent at HIADA’s annual conferences in years past. Even when the two largest leagues, the Oahu Interscholastic Association and Interscholastic League of Honolulu clearly outnumbered the neighbor island leagues, the latter often stood with an opposing viewpoint — because […]

OIA makes it official: All winter sports cancelled

By Paul Honda on January 2, 2021

Winter is not coming to the Oahu Interscholastic Association. Less than three hours after the Hawaii High School Athletic Association canceled state tournaments for “Season 1”, the public-school OIA canceled its entire winter season sports calendar on Saturday. Season 1 includes some fall sports that had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic: air riflery, basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, cross country, paddling, soccer, swimming and diving, and wrestling. Winter is the busiest of the traditional three seasons in prep sports. […]

Relief and redemption: Boltyn Taam’s rise to All-American

By Paul Honda on December 24, 2020

When the challenge is toughest, state wrestling champion Boltyn Taam is at his best. The Moanalua senior came home from Tulsa, OK. with a new prize: All-American status. Taam earned the honor after a superb performance at the World of Wrestling Kickoff Classic. The achievement came months after Taam — a state champion as a sophomore — lost in the state tournament as a junior. He regained his momentum after the state tourney, working diligently through the spring and summer. […]

Poll: Coaches optimistic about bowling, swimming, less so on wrestling

By Paul Honda on December 15, 2020

Finality is not here, not quite yet in the strange year of 2020. While vaccines for the COVID-19 virus are being flown across the country, high school sports in Hawaii remain on hold. Leagues are waiting on bated breath for word — and approval — from the Department of Health. Coaches across the state are optimistic about the chances for outdoor sports like soccer and swimming/diving, according to a Hawaii Prep World poll. Eighteen winter-sport coaches, roughly half of those […]

Luna senior wrestler Nalani Kirkman signs with Menlo

By Paul Honda on October 28, 2020

This Roughneck is just getting started. Nalani Kirkman wrestled for the Lahaina Roughnecks long before she stepped on the Lahainaluna High School campus. As a sophomore, she reached the 102-pound state quarterfinals before losing to Kalai Tengan of Kamehameha, 3-0. Her junior season as a Luna was a heartbreaker, losing to Kennedy Javier of Mililani, 15-11, in the preliminary round of the 102 weight class. Kirkman went 1-1 in the consolation bracket, and began looking ahead to senior year. With […]

Fall Sports

LATEST FROM PREP WORLD
Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball Fab 15: Bonus round March 28, 2024
Twain Wilson's 26 points spark Team Red at Farias Senior Classic March 8, 2024
Damien Farias Senior Hoops Classic on Saturday March 1, 2024
Saint Louis, Kohala prepared to defend state titles, but... February 21, 2024
Lola Donez, Olivia Malafu spark Team Red to Jamboree title February 20, 2024

RECENT TWEETS

RECENT TWEETS