Kaiser’s Tiare Ikei is on to the Pa’ani Challenge final at 112 pounds, winning her semifinal match by pin against Baldwin’s Madison Vierra.
Ikei is No. 8 in Hawaii Prep World’s pound-for-pound rankings. Later Thursday, she will face sophomore Shantelle Mangrobang of Leilehua, who has blazed through her bracket so far at the Punahou gym.
Mangrobang pinned Jennifer Gallardo in 33 seconds Wednesday night and returned to stick Rosalyn Kagimoto of Kalani in 22 seconds.
In the semifinals Thursday, Mangrobang pinned Baldwin’s McKenzie Acob.
Mangrobang said she is going for the pins to not lose stamina for later rounds.
Mangrobang said she has wrestled against Ikei twice, losing by points once and by pin in the other meeting.
“I got pinned by her but she’s a really experienced wrestler, a good challenge for me,” Mangrobang said. “I really like that. Whenever I get to wrestle her, I get to build more experience.”
Ikei is a two-time state placer — second at 102 pounds in 2016 and third at 112 in the spring of 2017.
Mangrobang placed sixth at states at 112 as a freshman last spring.
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