Wise, Wusstig go for 3 state judo titles

Roosevelt's Macy Higa, top, can become the third judoka in school history to place four consecutive years at the state tournament. Photo by Dennis Oda/Star-Advertiser.

Moanalua’s Noah Wusstig and Mililani’s Mayu Wise are halfway to the career slam and will attempt to win their third state judo titles at the 2018 Atlas/HHSAA State Judo Championships on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Wise is the No. 1 seed at 122 pounds and Wusstig is unseeded at 145 pounds after losing in the OIA final to Kapolei’s Rodan Salangdron.

Wusstig can become the first three-time state champion from Moanalua since Brady Lafortune finished off a slam in 2010.


He would join Lafortune, Pearl City’s Christian Pavao and McKinley’s Michael Fujiuchi as the only three-time state champions from the OIA in judo.

The top matches on the boys side include a potential showdown at 132 pounds between two-time state placer Evan Nishida of Mid-Pacific and Mililani’s Tayler Otsuka, a runner-up at 108 pounds as a freshman in 2015 and the state champion at 114 pounds as a sophomore in 2016.

The boys 198-pound final could be a rematch of last year’s final if top-seeded Kailer Okura of Kalani and unseeded Tyler Kawakami of Punahou can advance their way through.

On the girls side, Roosevelt’s Xiaolin Mai and Macy Higa can join Kristin Kojima and Menjam Tamang as the Rough Riders’ only two-time state champions. They can also join Kojima and Marisa Fukunaga as Roosevelt’s only four-time state placers.

Kalani’s Zoe Tateyama can become just the second Falcon to place at states in four straight years, joining Czarina Pineda-Abaya.

Camryn Kahalewai is already Molokai’s most decorated female judoka. Kahalewai can place at states for the third time this year. The Farmers have never had a state champion and she is the only girl with more than one state placing.

Kelani Corbett can become just the second three-time state placer from Leilehua, joining Alyssa Miya. Corbett is a junior and no Mule has ever placed four times at states.

Michelle Tanuvasa can become the fifth Pearl City girl to place four times at states, joining legends Mei Ling Keiki, Mikayla Abe, Sanoe Spencer and Tonya Kageno.

Campbell’s Kayla Cuizon can become the Sabers’ first four-time state placer.

Here’s a look at all returning state placers competing in Saturday’s championships. Hawaii Prep World will provide updated results beginning at 10:30 a.m. all the way through the finals.

BOYS
108
Brayden Bella, Punahou (third in 2017)

114
McCade Ho, Moanalua (third in 2017)
Mitchell Funasaki, Mililani (second at 108 last year)
Kolby Namnama, Waiakea (fifth at 108 last year)

121
Hunter Fujiwara, ‘Iolani (second in 2016, fourth in 2015)
Timothy Nakamoto, Waiakea (sixth at 108 last year)
Seth Wilson, Hilo (sixth at 114 last year)
Tyler Ibarra, Saint Louis (fifth at 114 last year)

132
Evan Nishida, Mid-Pacific (third at 132 last year, sixth at 121 in 2016)
Tayler Otsuka, Mililani (state champ at 114 in 2016, runner up at 108 in 2016)
Max Higa, Roosevelt (fourth at 121 last year)
Travis Kon, ‘Iolani (fifth at 121 last year)
Caleb Shimaoka, Waiakea (sixth at 121 last year)

145
Rodan Salangdron, Kapolei (second at 132 last year)
Cameron Nishida, Mid-Pacific (third at 132 in 2016)
Noah Wusstig, Moanalua (state champ at 132 last year, state champ at 121 in 2016)


161
Nicolas Nakaoka, Punahou (second in 2017, second in 2016, fifth in 2015)
Rysan Leong, Kalaheo (fifth in 2017)
Trigg Salvador, Moanalua (second in 2017)
Luke Horiuchi, Maryknoll (third in 2016)

178
Chase Wusstig, Moanalua (state champ at 145 last year, state second in 2016)
Justin Musgrove, Pearl City (fourth last year)

198
Kailer Okura, Kalani (state champ at 198 in 2017, third in 2016)
Damien Agao, Moanalua (fourth in 2017)
Tyler Kawakami, Punahou (second in 2017, lost to Okura by shido in final)
Isaac Ingall, Waiakea (sixth in 2017)

220
Laulii Iosefa, McKinley (state champ at 220 last year)
Nicklaus Kakazu, Roosevelt (fourth last year)
Legend Matautia, Punahou (sixth last year)

285
Paulsson Solomon, Pearl City (fourth last year)
Charles Kam, Iolani (fifth last year)
Ezekiel Samuelu, McKinley (sixth last year)

GIRLS
98

Prescious Tampos, Waipahu (won states at 98 last year)
Meagan Funasaki, Mililani (third last year, did not meet Tampos)
Samantha Yamamoto, Waikea (second last year, lost to Tampos in the final)

103
Nicoelle Nishimura, Aiea (third last year)
Maia Fernandes, Pearl City (sixth last year)
Nicole Shimizu, Moanalua (second last year)
Xiaolin Mai, Roosevelt (state champ last year, fourth in 2016, second in 2015)

109
Kayla Odo, Pearl City (state second last year, state fourth 2017)
Sophia Saiki, Mid-Pacific (state second last year)
Liann Yamamoto, Waiakea (state third last year, state third 2017)
Kaylee Johson, Mililani (state fourth last year)
Kari Tanji, Iolani (state fifth last year, state sixth 2017)

115
Amanda Higa, Moanalua (state champ 2016, state fifth 2015)
Anjelynn Baron, Roosevelt (state fourth last year)
Chelsea Johnny, Campbell (sixth last year)

122
Mayu Wise, Mililani (state champ last year, state champ 2016)
Macy Higa, Roosevelt (state fourth last year, state second 2016 with loss to Wise, state champ 2015)
Mariah Spix, Leilehua (state third last year)

129
Phoebe Pineda-Abaya, Kalani (state third last year, state third 2017)
Cameryn Kahalewai, Molokai (state sixth last year, state sixth 2017)
Gabby Perez, Moanalua (state fourth last year)
Shanna Inouye, Pearl City (state sixth last year)

139
CJ Pascual-Tabuyo (state first last year at 129)
Noelle Nakaoka, Punahou (state second last year, lost to Alo)
Zoe Tateyama, Kalani (state second last year, state third 2016, state champ 2015)

154
Faith Joy Okubo, Moanalua (state third last year, state second 2016)
Nina Seoane, Pearl City (state third last year)
Kelani Corbett, Leilehua (state third last year, state fourth 2016)
Dana Sugai, Konawaena (state second 2016)

172
Kapoina Bailey, Konawaena (state fourth last year)
Michelle Tanuvasa, Pearl City (state sixth last year, state fifth 2016, state sixth 2015)


220
Kayla Cuizon, Campbell (state third last year, state third 2016, state fifth 2015)

Boys State Judo Bracket
Girls State Judo Bracket

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