Judoka going for combat sports double

Only three athletes swept wrestling and judo state titles last year, the fewest since 2005 when judo was in its infancy as a state sport.

The combat sports double hit its zenith in 2008 and 2010, when nine different athletes stood on the top of the podium in winter and spring, led by Punahou’s Chrissy Chow.

Six judoka, four boys and three girls, will go for the elusive double of a state judo title to go with a state wrestling crown. None of them are the top seed headed into Saturday’s state championships at the Stan Sheriff Center. Only one, Kamehameha’s Teshya Alo, has ever won a state judo title before but she will miss the tournament for a second straight year to wrestle on the mainland.

Those athletes are:

Brian Pascua, Iolani
Pascua is seeded fourth at 161 pounds as the ILH champ, facing Pearl City’s Blayze Remata in the first round. He has never placed at states, falling short at 145 pounds last year. As the fourth seed, he is on the same side of the bracket as Kapolei’s Kekua Marumoto, a two-time OIA champ and state champ in 2013. Pascua beat Baldwin’s Thomas Stevenson for his first state wrestling title.

Connor Villarmia, Damien
Villarmia is unseeded at 178 pounds and faces Aiea’s Brandon Burgos in the first round and would meet second seed Kody Minemoto of Hilo in the second round. He would be the third boy from Damien to take a state judo title, and the first to do the double. Baldwin’s Keian Inouye is the top seed. Villarmia beat Campbell’s Matthew Aguigui for his first state championship.

Joseph Hoshino, Kamehameha
Hoshino, the ILH champ for the last three years, is the No. 3 seed at 198 pounds and will face Aiea’s Kobe Nakasone in the first round. His biggest threat is Moanalua’s Zorich Palimo’o, but he wouldn’t see him until the final round. Hoshino was a state runner up to Moanalua’s Chaeden Grace-Reyes in 2013 and slipped to fourth last year while Palimo’o took the title. Between Joseph and his brother Jonah, the family has appeared in four state judo finals and lost every time. Hoshino beat Pearl City’s Maui Lee, who is seeded third at 178 pounds on Saturday, for his first state wrestling title.

Jackson Fuamatu, Pearl City
Fuamatu is seeded fourth at 220 pounds and will see Waipahu’s Christian Bangloy in the first round. Fuamatu, the OIA runner up, was second to Mililani’s Dayton Furuta last year. Aaron Arellano of Kealakehe is the top seed in a wide open bracket devoid of past state placers other than Fuamatu. Fuamatu beat Campbell’s James Sullivan for his first state wrestling title.

Bailey Hoshino, Punahou
The ILH champ, a freshman, is seeded second at 98 pounds and will face Kapolei’s Shania Amodo in the first round. Hoshino has Moanalua’s Jackie Agena, a returning state champ, unseeded on her side of the bracket and OIA champ Menjam Tamang of Roosevelt is the top seed. Hoshino beat Waianae’s Alexis Nelson for her first state wrestling title.

Taniya Alo, Iolani
Alo is another ILH champion as a freshman and is seeded fourth at 122 pounds where she will meet Shana Inouye of Pearl City in the first round. Alo is on the same side of the bracket as top seed Haylie Hinsato of Mililani, who beat reigning champion Kristen Kojima of Roosevelt for her first state title last year. Alo beat Taylor Rabara of Baldwin for her first state wrestling title.

Teshya Alo, Kamehameha
The original Judo Girl was awarded the third seed at 139 pounds where she drew Farrington’s Saelor Taumua in the first round, but she will not be competing on Saturday. Alo swept wrestling and judo titles as a freshman did not compete in prep judo as a sophomore. With Alo gone, the bracket is still stacked with state placers. McKinley’s Risa Higa (3rd, 2014) and Pearl City’s Kayelah Arakaki (2nd, 2014) are in the bottom of the bracket. The other side of the bracket has four state placers, led by top seed Cassandra Tongpalan of Hilo (4th, 2014). Alo beat Alexandria Simon for her third wrestling title in three years to cap off the winter season.

Combat sports sweeps
2014
Shayna Dilliner, Kamehameha
Cameron Kato, Punahou
Josh Terao, Mid-Pacific

2013
Bree Rapoza, Kamehameha
Teshya Alo, Kamehameha
Josh Terao, Mid-Pacific
Chaeden Grace-Reyes, Moanalua
Dane Pestano, Kamehameha

2012
Kaelynn Canyete, Kapolei
Bree Rapoza, Kamehameha
Mindy Chow, Punahou
Sanoe Spencer, Pearl City
Josh Terao, Mid-Pacific
Chaeden Grace-Reyes, Farrington
Dane Pestano, Kamehameha

2011
Marissa Fukunaga, Roosevelt
Chrissy Chow, Punahou
MIndy Chow, Punahou
Josh Terao, Mid-Pacific
David Terao, Mid-Pacific

2010
Bree Rapoza, Kamehameha
Chrissy Chow, Punahou
Mindy Chow, Punahou
Kaimana Lundquist, Punahou
Mei Ling Keiki, Pearl City
Sanoe Spencer, Pearl City
Jordan Ng, Punahou
David Terao, Mid-Pacific
Punahele Soriano, Kahuku

2009
Taylor Ibera, Farrington
Macy Yonamine, Kamehameha
Jenny Ojiero, Punahou
Reid Oshiro, Punahou

2008
Taylor Ibera, Farrington
Keiko Akamine, Iolani
Chrissy Chow, Punahou
Tani Ader, Farrington
Risha Mishima, Hawaii Baptist
Amanda Soliai, Kahuku
Olivia Fatonga, Iolani
Daniel Chow, Punahou
Tyler Lauifi, Pearl City

2007
Keiko Akamine, Iolani
Randolyn Nohara, Kamehameha
Richard Torres, Kahuku
Daniel Chow, Punahou

2006
Megan Morisada, Iolani
Tani Ader, Farrington
Daniel Chow, Punahou
Dylan Rush, Ka’u

2005
Kira Tamashiro, Iolani
Kalei Kawaa, Kamehameha

2004
Johanson Quist, Hilo

2003
Caylene Valdez, Moanalua
Kehau Kamauoha, Kahuku
Brandon Low, Saint Louis