Wrestling

Latest news

Latest news

Kamehameha’s Robert Hesia steps down, takes on brand-new position

By Paul Honda on February 4, 2021

Gladiator competition has been ingrained in Robert Hesia almost from the start. Hesia grew up with combat fighting in his bloodline. Older brother Ricky Hesia was a prominent boxer back in the day. Years as a wrestler at the high school and collegiate levels led Robert Hesia to a career as an educator and state-championship coach at Kamehameha. Now, Hesia takes on a brand-new position on the hill: Director of Campus Athletics and Human Performance. If that sounds like a […]

National Federation of High Schools: No more tiers on COVID-19 restrictions

By Paul Honda on February 2, 2021

The National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) has removed tiers from its recommended guidelines regarding COVID-19. The NFHS wrote: “Two of those factors are that prevailing community infection rates appear to be the strongest predictor for high school athletes being infected, and proven cases of direct COVID-19 transmission during athletics remain relatively rare. “The other recommended factors to consider are that participants in non-contact sports show lower rates of COVID-19 infection than those in contact sports, participants in outdoor sports show lower rates […]

Safe Sports Hawaii releases 44-page book of guidelines for all sports

By Paul Honda on January 29, 2021

On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council unanimously approved RES21-018 CD1, submitted by Councilmember Andria Tupola. On Friday evening, Safe Sports Hawaii released a 44-page guide examining its guidelines for protocols and safety, covering everything from ballroom dancing to wrestling. The foreword is provided by Tupola and former Hawaii and CFL football standout Chad Owens. The resolution and the guide are in the hands of new mayor Rick Blangiardi. Organized youth and high school sports are currently not permitted at City […]


Eye of the Tyger: Moanalua 8th-grade wrestler Taam lands national ranking

By Paul Honda on January 29, 2021

Tyger Taam never wanted to be good. The Moanalua Middle School eighth-grader just wants to be great. The relentless wrestler is now ranked No. 6 nationally in his weight class by Rokfin.com. Taam took a step in that ascent by making sacrifices and stepping up to face the nation’s best wrestlers. He went 4-2 at the World of Wrestling tourney in Tulsa last fall. “Even though he went to Tulsa and took losses, and didn’t place, they still bumped him […]

City Council unanimously approves Safe Sports Hawaii resolution

By Paul Honda on January 27, 2021

It is official for the continuing mission to bring youth and high school sports back, at least on Oahu. The Honolulu City Council passed RES21-018 CD1, spearheaded by Councilmember Andria Tupola, on Wednesday at Honolulu Hale. The measure was drawn up by Safe Sports Hawaii and passed by a 9-0 vote. Now, it moves to Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office for examination and adjusting. “COVID-19 has brought a new challenge to the world and this comes with a set of protocols […]

Second online forum for Safe Sports 808 is on Friday afternoon

By Paul Honda on January 14, 2021

A second community virtual forum on Zoom is scheduled for Friday, 5 p.m., on the issue of bringing youth and high school sports leagues back on Oahu. The forum is hosted again by City Councilmember Andria Tupola, a backer of Safe Sports 808. Former Hawaii football great Chad Owens is another key to the group, which is working on a plan that will be submitted to Mayor Rick Blangiardi by Monday. Owens announced the formation of Safe Sports 808 earlier […]

Safe Sports 808: Resolution to bring sports back to Oahu marches forward

By Paul Honda on January 12, 2021

They called Chad Owens a superhero of sorts back in the day. The former Hawaii and pro football player was “Mighty Mouse” back then as he dominated competition on the turf at Aloha Stadium. Now, he’s an activist on behalf of high school student-athletes. Owens announced the establishment of “Safe Sports 808” on Tuesday afternoon. This comes just days after the former Hawaii standout gave his full support to son Chad Owens Jr., a Moanalua football player who began a […]

Long debate ends with KIF cancelling fall, winter sports

By Paul Honda on January 12, 2021

After roughly a week of deliberation, the Kauai Interscholastic Federation has cancelled postponed fall and winter sports. Despite having the lowest COVID-19 case numbers in the state, administrators opted to follow the rest of the leagues in continuing to keep high school sports closed until spring season. The KIF went nearly a week after beginning talks amongst athletic directors and principals. Other public-school dominant leagues — the Oahu Interscholastic Association, Maui Interscholastic League and Big Island Interscholastic Federation — needed […]

RECENT TWEETS

RECENT TWEETS