Kaiser’s Ikei comes up big at Pa’ani Challenge

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There was no dodging Tiare Ikei this time.

Ikei, of Kaiser, controlled Lahainaluna’s Alexis Encinas in the third period to win 6-3 in the 112-pound final of the Pa’ani Challenge at Punahou on Friday, bringing the OIA champion another title.

Ikei and Navarro were in the same class at Officials a week ago, but avoided each other when Ikei lost to Kamehameha’s Ashley Gooman and Encinas cruised through the bracket on her way to the title and Hawaii Prep World’s No. 5 pound-for-pound ranking.

Ikei is unranked for the moment but No. 7 on the list of others. The rankings will be updated in the middle of next week.

Ikei is a state runner up in addition to being a reigning OIA champion. She pinned her two previous opponents at the Pa’ani Challenge.

Iverly Navarro of Lahainaluna earned her third straight Pa’ani title with a pin of Kapolei’s Keely Oyadomari to join Carly Jaramillo of Lahainaluna and Asia Evans of Pearl City as the only girls to take three titles in the tournament’s highest division.

Navarro is ranked No. 2 in Hawaii Prep World’s Pound-for-Pound list, behind Angela Peralta of Radford. Peralta pinned all three of her opponents in the Pa’ani Challenge to take her second title.

No. 9 Kelani Corbett of Leilehua was the only other ranked girl in the tournament, beating Jacque Fuamatu of Pearl City 5-1 to win the 155-pound final.

Among those on the cusp of the rankings, Ira Navarro of Lahainaluna won at 97 pounds, Roosevelt’s Xiaolin Mai picked up her second Pa’ani championship at 102 pounds, Waianae’s Anuhea Hamilton won at 127 for her second Pa’ani title and Jennie Fuamatu of Pearl City won her first with a pin of Myra Liufau of Kealakehe at 184 pounds.

Unranked Kayla Araki of Kamehameha-Hawaii beat Keaau’s Ivory Ayers 7-3 at 168 pounds for her second crown. Ayers won in the B division last year.

Araki earned her second crown in part because Ayers pinned Baldwin’s Saydie Kala and the two-time Officials champ forfeited the rest of the tournament to finish sixth.

Kala finished third in the state at 168 pounds last year while Araki took third at 145. Ayers was sixth at 168.

Here are past winners of the tournament: