Hawaii was the first to the party in the world of girls high school wrestling, but apparently it still has a lot of catching up to do.
Eight states currently sanction all girls tournaments, yet only two state champions from the Aloha State — Kelani Corbett of Leilehua and Kahuku’s Teniya Alo — are deemed among the top 10 in their class in today’s national rankings released by USA Wrestling, FloWrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.
Hawaii pound-for-pound queen Teniya Alo switched weight classes but kept the same spot, coming in at No. 3 nationally at 138 pounds behind Washington senior Emma Bruntil and Connecticut senior Cara Broadus. Alo was ranked ahead of Broadus during the summer.
Corbett’s dominance in Hawaii was not enough to move her past Alexis Gomez of Illinois. The Leilehua state champion remains ranked No. 2 behind her at 152 pounds.
Farrington’s Lavenia Fotu remains ranked No. 2 nationally at 225 pounds despite skipping the season and watching Kahuku sophomore Tangitenia Niutupuivaha clean up her division. Niutupuivaha dominated at the state tournament and enters the national rankings at No. 9.
The only other girl ranked in the top 10 of her weight class is Lahainaluna’s Nanea Estrella, who is slotted at No. 9 at 122 pounds. Estrella is No. 3 in Hawaii Prep World’s final pound-for-pound rankings released earlier today.
The committee was not impressed with Kamehameha’s Ashley Gooman‘s courage.
Gooman, who moved up to accept a challenge from Kaiser’s Tiare Ikei at the state championships last week and lost a narrow 4-1 contest, dropped out of the rankings. The two-time state champion from Kamehameha started the season ranked No. 8 at 106 pounds and fell to No. 11 last month before capturing her third ILH championship. Gooman is No. 6 in Hawaii Prep World’s final pound-for-pound rankings.
Ikei is a spot ahead of her at No. 5 and did get recognized by the national committee for the first time. She makes her national debut at No. 13 at 112 pounds.
There are two Hawaii state champions ranked nationally at 100 pounds, but neither of them rose to the top 10. Lahainalua’s Ira Navarro enters the poll at No. 11 and Xiaolin Mai of Roosevelt jumps in at No. 14.
Other Hawaii girls ranked nationally are Sami Saribay of Lahainaluna (13th at 106), Roosevelt’s Macy Higa (13th at 117), Waipulani Estrella-Beauchamp of Baldwin (13th at 127), Kamehameha’s Paige Respicio (13th at 132), Kapoina Bailey of Konawaena (14th at 164) and Kealakehe’s Roxie Umu (15th at 180).
Mainland tournaments seem to be heavily weighted in the rankings, so Hawaii girls still have a chance to make an impact. The release dates for the rest of the season are scheduled for March 14, April 11, May 23 and July 11.
Eight states (Idaho, Oregon, Georgia, Washington, California, Texas, Alaska and Hawaii) have sanctioned all-girls state tournaments.
Hawaii was the first to be sanctioned, in 1998.
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