Razor close.
Campbell’s Tristan Ludiazo and Lahainaluna’s Conor Mowat have waged two wars already early in the wrestling season.
Ludiazo, the defending state champion in the 220-pound class, beat Mowat twice by a single point in ultimate tiebreakers at 285 pounds.
In both matches (the Maui Invitational and the Hawaii Wrestling Association Officials Scholarship Tournament), the two were tied after the three regulation periods and three overtime periods, and Ludiazo earned the escape point twice in the ultimate tiebreaker.
According to Campbell coach Lucas Misaki, if Mowat had won at the Officials meet, his Lahainaluna team would have received four points to put them past Moanalua for the title. As it turned out, Na Menehune won the boys title by 1 1/2 points.
It’s possible Mowat and Ludiazo could meet again on Monday or Tuesday in the Moanalua duals.
“He (Ludiazo) has been a good leader for us, for both the varsity and JV teams,” Misaki said.
A year ago, Ludiazo beat Mililani senior Dayton Furuta in the 220-pound final, another overtime battle. Furuta eventually earned an induction into the Hawaii High School Hall of Honor for his exploits in football, wrestling and judo.
Ludiazo was a sack master, among other things, on the defensive line for the Sabers in the fall. Mowat was a two-way lineman for the Lunas, the Division II state runners-up.
On his NCSA recruiting profile on the Internet, Ludiazo wrote, “As a student and athlete, I am always looking for ways to improve, and I will usually take the narrow path. I embrace the grind wholeheartedly and give everything that I have.”
Earlier in the season, Misaki’s Sabers hosted Punahou for a preseason dual meet.
“It was a great event,” he said. “We had a spotlight on the matches and there was a good crowd with an announcer that kept everybody informed on what was going on.”
The Buffanblu and Sabers tied 6-6 after all the boys matches.
I had the unfortunate experience of watching the match at officials. These guys are so out of shape that its laughable. Ludiazo needs to take a break from Taco Bell and Mowat needs to stay out of Krispy Kreme.
They are not quite in wrestling shape due to football…. Although they both did not open up during the entire match, they both stayed active and took legit leg attacks/shots. I think we’ve seen far worst at heavy weight in prior years. They both are very athletic kids….. hopefully we get more points in the rematch.
I would like to see how “Cross Fitter” fares on the mat with one of us.
I would fare very well on the mat with the both of you. Only problem is I’m 183 pounds so you both need to drop 75 pounds.