The wrestling season will start with a bang in the 52nd annual Garner Ivey MIT at Lahaina Civic Center on Saturday.
Three-time state champion Nanea Estrella is not easing into her senior year, registering for the 132-pound class at the tournament where her rival and cousin, Waipuialani Estrella-Beauchamp of Baldwin, resides.
The Luna is Hawaii Prep World’s top-ranked female wrestler in its pound for pound, the Bear is right behind her at No. 2.
Estrella is the reigning queen at 127 pounds and Estrella-Beauchamp rules at 132. The cousins wrestled each other on Maui last year, with the underdog winning 9-2.
Both girls will have to win a semifinal bout to face each other.
Another anticipated matchup is set for the the 126-pound class on the boys side with teammates Kahiliwala Joy and Coby Ravida of Baldwin set to clash if they can get through their semifinals. Joy pinned his only opponent on Friday and Ravida won his match by technical fall.
Ravida has to get through Cael Yasutake of Lahainaluna while Joy takes on Brandon Martin of Benicia.
The first day of the tournament went to form but had some standouts.
>> Baldwin’s Tobey Ravida is the top seed at 113 pounds and won his lone match 15-0.
>> Lanai’s Alan Sanchez, the top seed at 120, won his lone match 7-2.
>> Miguel Acuna of Bencia had the fastest pin, a nine second job. Other quick stoppages included Bencia’s Jian Perseveranda (0:12), Lahainaluna’s Leland Hayase (0:13) and Ariez Igafo of Castle (0:21).
There are a slew of elite girls in the tournament, but only Tiare Carlson of Waianae made it onto the mat. She wasn’t there long, though, pinning her opponent in 21 seconds. Other big names expected to wrestle today include Siera Vida of Baldwin (225), Lahainaluna’s Shannon Jaramillo (184), Shayna Kamaka of Baldwin (168), Castle state champion Sadie Antoque (155), and Baldwin’s Jahnea Miguel (138).
Lahainaluna leads the team scores with 133.5, followed closely by Waianae (132) and Bencia (130). Baldwin is in fourth with 111.5.
COMMENTS