Kamehameha’s Kysen Terukina starts season on top

The Hawaii high school wrestling season begins in earnest this weekend with the Annual Garner Ivey MIT on Maui, but it won’t be the only place to catch the state’s elite.

Three-time state champion Kysen Terukina of Kamehameha will not begin his season this week, but he starts the year in the same place he left off last year: In the top spot of Hawaii Prep World’s pound-for-pound.

Terukina took over the top spot from Corey Cabanban of Saint Louis two years ago, and his grip on it is as solid as ever. He is followed by potential future slammer Branden Pagurayan of Kapolei, Baldwin’s Coby Ravida and Brant Porter of Kamehameha.

There are nine state champions in the top 10 to begin the year, six from the ILH, three from the OIA and Ravida repping the MIL. Possible logjams occur at 113-132 with Ravida, Porter, Moanalua’s Elijah Asuncion and Ansen Ursua of Saint Louis waiting to see where things will shake out.

Moanalua’s Boltyn Taam is the king at 160 but a rematch of narrow 1-0 victory over Pagurayan is always possible.

Taam will join Kamehameha’s Makana Tapia in the Walsh Jesuit Ironman this week, but Terukina declined to join them in favor of a tournament over the summer.

Punahou phenom Mason Stefanelli is still a phenom, but not in Hawaii. Stefanelli is expected to wrestle at the Ironman for national power Blair Academy in Jew Jersey after transferring there. Stefanelli won states at 106 as a freshman last year, and was the only one in his class still alive for a state slam. He will share a wrestling room with Marc-Anthony McGowan, the No. 3-ranked wrestler in the nation at 106 pounds. Blair doesn’t have a seeded wrestler at the Ironman at 113 pounds, so that might be Stefanelli’s new home.

Pound-for-Pound

1. Kysen Terukina, Kamehameha senior
Last year: No. 1
2019 state champion (126), 2018 state champion (120), 2017 state champion (113)
2018 Officials champion (126), 2016 Officials champion (113)
2019 ILH champion (126), 2018 ILH champion (120), 2017 ILH champion (113)

2. Branden Pagurayan, Kapolei junior
Last year: No. 3
2019 state champion (152), 2018 state champion (152)
2019 OIA champion (152), 2018 OIA champion (152)
2018 Officials champion (152)
2019 OIA West champion (152), 2018 OIA West champ (152)

3. Coby Ravida, Baldwin senior
Last year: No. 5
2019 state champion (113), 2018 state champion (106), 2017 state fifth (106)
2019 MIL champ (113), 2018 MIL champ (106), 2017 MIL champ (106)

4. Brant Porter, Kamehameha senior
Last year: No. 7
2019 state champion (120), 2018 state second (106), 2017 state third (106)
2019 ILH champ (120), 2018 ILH champ (106)
2018 Officials champ (120), 2017 Officials champ (106)

5. Boltyn Taam, Moanalua junior
Last year: No. 9
2019 state champion (160), 2018 state second (145)
2019 OIA champion (160), 2018 ILH champion (145)
2019 OIA East champion (160)

6. Ansen Ursua, Saint Louis senior
2019 state champion (132), 2018 state fourth (132), 2017 state fourth (126)
2019 ILH champ (132)
2018 Officials champion (132)

7. Legend Matautia, Punahou senior
2019 state champion (220), 2018 state third (220)
2019 ILH champ (220), 2018 ILH champ (220)
2017 Officials champ (220)

8. Zander Manuel, Punahou junior
2019 State champion (182)

9. Elijah Asuncion, Moanalua senior
Last year: NR
2019 state fifth (120), 2018 state champion (113), 2017 state fourth (113)
2019 OIA champ (120), 2018 OIA champ (113)

10. Blaze Pascua, Iolani
2019 state second (170), 2018 state third (160).
2019 ILH champion (170)

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Next 10 (alphabetical): Andrew Adiniwin, Moanalua; Nicholas Cordeiro, Waianae; Pookela DeSantos, Leilehua; Elijah Kaawa, Saint Louis; Stone Franczyk, Hanalani; Marcus Lombard, Kahuku; Elijah James Ramos, Farrington; Toby Ravida, Baldwin; Alan Sanchez, Lanai; Kanai Tapia, Kamehameha.