Brian Pascua of ‘Iolani might be the most improved wrestler in the state in the past year.
Pascua finished fifth in both the Garner Ivey and Hawaii Officials tournaments to begin last year, but got stronger after the calendar flipped to take his first ILH title and finish second at states behind three-time champion Braydon Akeo of Mililani.
He seems to have picked up where he left off last year, capturing the 152-pound class on Maui with a win over Jacob Naosusuga of Waianae in the final. That effort moved him into the boys pound-for-pound top 10 for the first time. His rise dropped Punahou’s Josh Crimmins a spot.
Other movement included Campbell’s Tristan Ludiazo jumping over Kaiser’s Chance Ikei for the fourth spot. Ludiazo won his bracket on Maui with a 4-3 win over triple overtime over Lahainaluna’s Connor Mowat (That would have been quite a matchup for Trench Warfare) and Ikei moved up in weight but finished a disappointing fifth at the Garner Ivey.
The girls side remained unchanged except for ‘Iolani’s Taniya Alo jumping over Campbell’s Angela Peralta after the Raider won her bracket and the Saber made her final but lost 11-0 to No. 3 Carly Jaramillo of Lahainaluna.
Taysia Kano of Kapolei, Angessa Newman of Waianae and Diamond Freitas of Lahainaluna made moves onto the honorable mention and will be worth watching on Friday and Saturday at Leilehua.
The big movement will probably come next week after Officials, the tournament wrestlers use to see where they are at. The tournament had 10 different champions go on to win state titles last year.
Boys wrestling, week 2
1. Zack Diamond, Mililani
Won 138-pound class at MIT
2. Liam Corbett, Leilehua
Went 2-0 at Aiea, pinning Mililani’s William Flynn and Aiea’s Harley Oshiro before forfeiting the final to teammate Lopaka Lono
3. Christian Balagso, Lahainaluna
Won 126-pound class on Maui, beating Iolani’s Jake Nakasone in the final
4. Tristan Ludiazo, Campbell UP ONE SPOT
Won the 285 class with a narrow win 4-3 in triple overtime over Lahainaluna’s Connor Mowat.
5. Chance Ikei, Kaiser DOWN ONE SPOT
Fifth at Garner Ivey, behind No. 1 Zack Diamond, Robert Campos of Lahainaluna, Fernando Lanza of Calif. and Matthew Mantanony of Campbell. Moved up in weight for the event.
6. Cameron Kato, Punahou
Did not compete in Maui
7. Blaysen Terukina, Kamehameha
Did not compete on Maui
8. Boman Tokioka, Kamehameha
Did not compete on Maui
9. Brian Pascua, Iolani UP TWO SPOTS
Won 152-pound class, beating Jacob Naosusuga of Waianae in the final.
10. Josh Crimmins, Punahou DOWN ONE SPOT
Did not compete on Maui
Honorable mention:
Shandon Ilaban, Kapolei; Makoa Cooper, Pearl City; Thomas Rosen St. John, Lahaianluna; Isaac Diamond, Mililani; Connor Mowat, Lahainaluna; Thomas Stevenson, Baldwin; Connor Barfield, Punahou; Cody Cabanban, Saint Louis.
Girls wrestling, week 2
1. Teshya Alo, Kamehameha
Did not compete on Maui
2. Lelelei Mataafa, Lahainaluna
Did not compete on Maui
3. Carly Jaramillo, Lahainaluna
Beat No. 8 Angela Peralta of Campbell 11-0 to win the 145-pound class
4. Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez, Lahainaluna (135)
Beat Angessa Newman of Waianae to win the 138-pound class
5. Asia Evans, Pearl City (121)
Did not compete on Maui
6. Kalissa Pundyke, Campbell (101)
Did not compete on Maui
7. Donavyn Futa, Kamehameha (113)
Did not compete on Maui
8. Taniya Alo, ‘Iolani (NA) UP ONE SPOT
Beat Taylor Rabara of Baldwin to win the 127-pound class
9. Angela Peralta, Campbell (135) DOWN ONE SPOT
Lost to No. 3 Carly Jaramillo 11-0 in the 145-pound final.
10. Jocelyn Alo, Kahuku (175)
Did not compete on Maui
Honorable mention: Taysia Kano, Kapolei; Angessa Newman, Waianae; Diamond Freitas, Lahainaluna; Chieko Imai, Punahou; Nalani Stanley, Kamehameha; Pomaikai Yamaguchi, Kamehameha.
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