LIVE BLOG: Boys wrestling semifinals

Boys 106
Landon Obra Nakata of Damien is a surprise finalst, beating Leilehua’s Isaac Stalcup 16-3. He will meet Moanlaua’s Logan Garcia under the lights. Garcia beat Iolani’s Kaua Nishigaya 13-9.

Boys 113
Saint Louis’ Corey Cabanban is through to the final as the top seed, beating Chaden Morisato of Kalani 6-0. He will meet Campbell’s Triston Santos, who beat Iolani’s Colby Watase 5-3 and will be going for a repeat state title after struggling during the season.

“All the time, all the training we put in is for this, to be the state champ,” Corey Cabanban said after beating Chaden Morisato at 113 pounds to get to the final and while watching his brother Cody Cabanban beat Draten Morisato, Chaden’s brother, in a 120-pound wrestleback. “Just going to put all my heart into it.

Boys 120
Jake Nakasone of Iolani is in the final as the top seed, beating Kapolei judo star Jayson Pagurayan 14-6. He will face Lahainaluna’s Kainalu Estrella, who beat Christian Tavares of Redford 9-3.

Iolani’s lead in the team standings is up to 101-78.5 over Campbell. The coronation continues.

Boys 126
Cameron Kato needed to impress this week, and he is doing it. He beat Campbell’s Zayren Terukina 16-5 to return to the state final. He will meet surprise Waianae finalist Keale Keliinoi, who beat Iolani’s James Mizota 5-2. It’s okay, Mizota will get a part of the team trophy. Iolani leads Campbell 106-78.5 with Waianae running third.

“This whole week has been pretty emotional for me,” Kato said “It’s could be my last time on the mat and it could be the last time I’m going to see a lot of these people, so I just want to finish up strong.”

On battling Zayren Terukina, the sophomore brother of Blaysen Terukina, who earlier in the season, Kato moved up a weight class to 132 to face:

“You can tell when certain people have been training hard, working their butts off and the Terukinas of course, they work hard, improving.”

Boys 132
The rematch is on! Kamehameha’s Blaysen Terukina pinned Managua’s Antonio Ruiz inn 49 seconds and Kapolei’s Shandon Laban-Totten beat University’s Joseph Fong 10-6. If they ranked the finals, this would be the co-main event. Terukina beat Ilaban-Totten in the feature match at Officials. They are both reigning state champs.

“I feel real good. I’m ready for this one. It’s my peaking point. I worked so hard for this moment. I’m going to get it. I beat him earlier (5-4 at the Officials meet), so hopefully I can do the same.”

While being interviewed, Terukina was watching his brother Zayren of the Campbell Sabers lose to Cameron Kato at 126.

“He just had a tough loss,” he said about Zayren, who was emotionally distraught after the loss.

Ilaban-Totten on Terukina: “Last match of my high school career. Go out there and just have fun. The plan is never to go down. I just want to into that match with a good mind-set and hopefully come out with ‘W.’ Difference is going to be whoever wants it more, whoever has the biggest heart. He’s a tough opponent, so I just gotta push, push, push, push the pace.”

Boys 138
Sheldon Bailey of Waianae is through to the final with a 3-0 win over Alex Mimura of Mid-Pacific. He will meet Pearl City’s Baylen Cooper, who beat Kaimaina Tampos of Waipahu 12-3. A pall falls over the crowd as Managua’s Caeleb Reyes is taken out of the arena on a stretcher.

Boys 145
Campbell’s Josh Gallarde beats Alika Kalilikane Delos Reyes of Baldwin 5-3 and will go to the final. He may have already won it after controversy in the other semi.

Zack Diamond, was disqualified from his match with Moanalua’s Caeleb Reyes for an illegal hold and a slam. Diamond is not disqualified from the tournament, he can wrestle for third but will not be eligible for a state championship according to officials. Reyes left the arena on a stretcher.

Boys 152
The big match is on. Leilehua’s Liam Corbett beats Kaleo Miyasaki of Hilo 24-6 and KJ Pascua of Iolani does his part with a pin in 4:34 of Madison Leanio. Let the hype begin.

‘Iolani coach Walden Au on KJ vs. Liam:

“They both come to the table with different strengths. For KJ, we’re hoping his endurance, his strength and his slickness is going to carry him. We can’t count Liam out for anything. Liam is a phenomenal wrestler, who is also strong and in great condition. We’re just hoping for a really good head-to-head match. It might be a tight one, but we’re hoping that we’ll come out ahead. Liam has a lot of good experience traveling on the mainland. I think KJ in his high school years has yet to really go out there, but KJ’s been prepping for this … the kids talk about this one. I think KJ is excited for this. We’re telling him that he really has nothing to prove, nothing to lose out there, so wrestle your heart out and live in the moment. I hope he enjoys it.”

Leilehua coach Kevin Corbett on KJ vs. Liam:

KJ is very strong, very good wrestler. Liam is kind of more fancier. Really good at riding and scrambling. Doesn’t really panic. It’s going to be a tough battle. On their feet, you’ve got an immovable object against the wind. Liam is all over and KJ is right there in front of you., so it’ll be good to see. It’s one of those matches that stylistically they’re polar opposites and you never know. That’s the beauty of the sport. It’s going to be great to watch as a fan. It’s going to suck for me as a coach; I won’t lie. I’ve coached KJ coming up when he was younger. Him and Liam wrestled together for years traveling the nation (Pascua prior to high school) . They’re both phenomenal, so it’s going to be a really good match.”

Boys 160
Thomas Stevenson of Baldwin is through to the final, beating Cullen Slavens of Kamehameha by technical fall, 21-6. He will meet Kapolei’s Rodman Salagdron, who beat Lincoln Mussell of HBA 12-10.

Iolani leads the team title 119-89.5 over Campbell.

Boys 171
Troy Waki of Baldwin is in the final, beating Aiea’s Brandon Burgos 4-3. He will meet Damien’s Connor Villarmia, who beat Jacob Naosusuga of Waianae 18-9.

Boys 182
Caelb Cardus of Waianae is through to the final, beating Kealakehe’s Pulama Louis 2-0. He will meet Iolani’s Saiaiga Fautanu, who stopped Kaimana Young’s Cinderella Story for Saint Louis with a 6-3 decision.

Iolani leads Campbell 130-89.5 in the team standings.

Boys 195
Micah Tynanes of Campbell is predictably in the final, beating Matthew Keopuhiwa of Pearl City 14-1. He meets Kahuku’s Jess Kanongataa, who beat Clayton Smith of Managua 3-1.

Boys 220
Campbell’s James Sullivan continued his scourge, pinning Trinity Fautanu of Saint Francis in 2:22. He will meet OIA rival Lerod Tongi of Kahuku, who beat Kapolei’s Johnny Morrison 14-5.

Boys 285
And your heavyweight final will be an all-ILH affair. Iolani’s Dane Yamashiro beat Kahuku’s Lennex Alo 12-4 and Punahou’s Kanai Eldredge beat Kuikamokuokalani Han 6-4.

Iolani leads the team score 142-114.5 over Campbell after the semifinal round. Waianae is in third with 93.5.

The Raiders and Sabers both have four finalists, followed by Waianae with three.