Leilehua wrestling coach Kevin Corbett and assistant Corey Taniguchi have been named the 2018 coach and assistant coach of the year for Hawaii by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Corbett and Taniguchi led the Mules to their first state boys championship since 1995 under Stan Ono on the strength of state champion Brett Barefoot and runners-up Hunter Nagatani, Keanu Punley and Jonah Caminos Freitas to beat Kamehameha by a single point.
Other state placers included Joe Kila Faafiu (third place), Isaac Stalcup (fifth), Kaena Desantos (third) and Jose Jahael (sixth).
Leilehua’s eight state placers are the most ever for the school, beating the seven garnered by Ono’s 1995 squad. The Mules finished 10th last year for the boys under Corbett and seventh for the girls.
Leilehua’s girls finished 11th, but earned a third straight state title for Kelani Corbett.
Other state placers for the girls included Shaina Miyasato Kawaguchi (sixth), Mariah Spix (fifth),
Corbett and Taniguchi will receive their NWCA award certificates next year at a major tournament and are up for regional awards.
‘Iolani’s Walden Au and Punahou’s Maika Nagata won the awards last year.
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