Lahainaluna’s Kauanoe Keahi and Kamehameha’s Paige Respicio will tangle in the Pa’ani Challenge 138-pound final Thursday afternoon after semifinal victories earlier in the day.
Keahi is the reigning champion in the weight class. She pinned Kamakana Hernandez-Waialae of Waianae at 3:34. Keahi is trying to come back to form after losing in the Officials tournament semifinals.
Respicio, who won the Officials tournament, knocked off Jahnea Miguel of Baldwin 7-3 in the other semifinal Thursday in a rematch of the Officials final.
“She’s really good and I really like wrestling her,” said Respicio, who finished third at states at 127 last year — the weight class that Miguel won.
Keahi and Miguel were both previously in Hawaii Prep World’s pound-for-pound rankings, but have since dropped out.
COMMENTS