The 2016 Chevron Hawaii/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships begin Friday. To get you ready, we will preview the matchups in each weight class for both boys and girls.
FIRST ROUND
Cor. Cabanban def. Hokama, 3:55
Pagurayan def. Hanley, 1:33
C. Morisato def. Desantos, 5:04
Galanto def. Baker, 5-0
Gillcoat def. Nitta, 4:30
Watase def. Helm, 1:54
Abe def. Kilrain, 12-2
Santos def. Nagatani, 2:46
QUARTERFINALS
Cor. Cabanban def. A. Pagurayan, 3-1
C. Morisato def. Galanto, 2:34
Watase def. Gillcoat, 12-4
Santos def. Abe, 3:24
Strong bracket here with two state champions and two other state placers.
Corey Cabanban, Saint Louis
vs.
Sean Kilrain, Damien
Andre Pagurayan, Kapolei
vs.
Colby Hanley, King Kekaulike
Cabanban leads this quad as a reigning state champion at 106 and two-time ILH boss and should have an easy time in the first round with league rival Kilrain. The second round won’t be as easy, though, as Cabanban gets the winner between Pagurayan and Hanley. Pagurayan is a state placer, making it to the semis before losing a 9-7 heartbreaker and Hanley will test him right off the bat after taking a weak MIT way back in December.
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Chaden Morisato, Kalani
vs.
Kaena Desantos, Leilehua
Jordan Baker, Pac-Five
vs.
Elison Galanto, Kealakehe
It seems pretty rare, but we have all six placers from Officials wrestling at this weight this year. This quad seems pretty even with no state placers but Morisato did step up to take second behind Cabanban at Officials and lost to Santos 3-0 in the OIA final. Morisato beat Desantos 10-3 last week and looks to do the same this week but this looks like a dangerous way to start states. The winner gets either Baker or Galanto, Baker is battle hardened in a stacked ILH bracket and Galanto is the BIF champ but didn’t travel to Oahu in December.
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Kawehi Gillcoat, Lahainaluna
vs.
Casey Nitta, Mililani
Noah Helm, KS-Maui
vs.
Colby Watase, Iolani
Watase should be the heavy favorite in this quad as a two time state placer, taking fourth the last two years and bringing the experience that comes with it. None of the others have placed in states. Gillcoat is the MIL champion and Nitta placed fourth at Officials behind Watase’s third with Watase pinning him in just 55 seconds.
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Joey Delos Santos, Konawaena
vs.
Justin Abe, Punahou
Elani Nagatani, Waipahu
vs.
Triston Santos, Campbell
Triston Santos is the reigning state champ in this class and a two-time OIA champ with a resume nearly identical to Cabanban’s. The one difference came in December, when Cabanban hit the mat ready to roll and Santos struggled, falling to sixth at Officials after suffering an injury. He took a long time to get his groove back but discovered it just in time to repeat at the OIA West championships and overall OIA championships. He won both and should be considered a heavy favorite over Nagatani and whoever comes out of the Abe/Delos Santos tilt.
Kaua Nishigaya