Alo is No. 1 in first pound-for-pound rankings

The first edition of the 2017 girls pound-for-pound rankings might as well be a national list.

The top five girls on the list are all nationally ranked in their weight classes, led by Kelani Corbett of Leilehua and Farrington’s Lavenia Fotu in the top two.

Kahuku senior Teniya Alo starts the year where she finished it last year, at the top spot. Last season she was the hunter, chasing down Radford’s Angela Peralta and taking her crown late in the season. This time she will be the hunted, but the only challengers close to her in weight reside on Maui in Baldwin phenom Jahnei Miguel (No. 8) and Lahainaluna’s Kauanoe Keahi (No. 10).

Sensational juniors Corbett and Kamehameha’s Ashley Gooman figure to be the heirs to Alo’s throne and it could come sooner rather than later if Alo slips up at Officials, Paani or beyond.

Alo jumped up to 145 last year to take on Peralta, so meeting in the middle with Corbett is not out of the question.

There is little margin of error this year, nine of the top 10 wrestlers are defending state champions and all 10 have won a title in their careers.

The future of the sport is certainly strong, as the highest-ranked senior is Farrington’s Fotu.

Wrestlers on the cusp of the top 10 include Kaiser junior Taire-Lynn Ikei and Roosevelt senior Xiaolin Mai with Tianna Fernandez of Baldwin, Lahainaluna’s Taylor Pelegrino Hayase and Roxie Umu of Kealakehe looming.

The girls get their second chance at a major tournament this year with the Officials tournament this weekend at Leilehua. Alo will be going for her third crown there.

Hawaii Prep World will have coverage from both days of the tournament.

Click here for the final 2017 pound-for-pound rankings.

1. Teniya Alo, Kahuku senior
2017 state champ (132), 2016 state third (122), 2015 state champ (122),
2016 ILH champ (122), 2015 ILH champ (124),
2017 OIA champ (134)
2016 Officials champ (127), 2014 Officials champ (127)

2. Kelani Corbett, Leilehua junior
2017 state champ (155), 2016 state champ (155)
2017 OIA champ (157)
2016 Officials champ (155)
2016 Paani champ (155)

3. Ashley Gooman, Kamehameha junior
2017 state champ (107), 2016 state champ (102)
2017 ILH champ (107), 2016 ILH champ (102),
2015 Officials champ (102)

4. Ira Navarro, Lahainaluna junior
2017 state champ (97), 2016 state third (102)
2017 MIL champ (99)
2016 Officials champ (97)

5. Lavenia Fotu, Farrington senior
2017 state champion (225)
2017 OIA champ (227)
2016 Officials champ (225)

6. Jennie Fuamatu, Pearl City senior
2017 state champ (184), 2016 state second (168)
2017 OIA champ (186), 2016 OIA champ (168)
2016 Officials champ

7. Macy Higa, Roosevelt senior
2017 state second (112), 2016 state champ (112), 2015 state sixth (112),
2017 OIA champ (114), 2016 OIA champ (112)
2016 Officials champ (117)

8. Jahnea Miguel, Baldwin sophomore
2017 state champion (127)
2017 MIL champion (129)
2016 Paani champ (132)

9. Nanea Estrella, Lahainaluna sophomore
2017 state champion (117)
2017 MIL champion (117)

10. Kauanoe Keahi, Lahainaluna sophomore
2017 state champion (138)
2017 MIL champion (140)