Alo qualifies for OIympic Trials

Kamehameha senior Teshya Alo has qualified for the United States Olympic Trials in Iowa April 9-10.

That places her a step away from representing the United States in Rio. But first Alo is going for the victory.

Alo won her first two matches at the U.S. Senior Nationals today, pinning Axa Molina in 1:35 to reach the second round and then stopping 2014 Hawaii state champion for Lahainaluna Breana Dudoit-Vasquez in 1:35.

Dudoit-Vasquez, who currently wrestles at Wayland Baptist, will have to win her next two bouts to join Alo at the Olympic trials.

Alo is currently killing time waiting for her semifinals match to begin. She faces Maya Nelson with a spot in the finals on the line. Alo has pinned Nelson five times in her career, but Nelson beat Alo once by a point when Alo was injured. Nelson has outscored her opponents 19-2 today.

UPDATE: Alo beat Nelson 10-0 for a technical fall. She faces top seed Kelsy Campbell in tonight’s championship. Campbell is already an Olympian, competing in the 2012 games.

Alo and Campbell have never faced each other but they have trained together. Campbell won the 2012 Olympic Trials and is already locked into the 2016 trials with Alo.

Dudoit-Vasquez had her bid to join Alo in the Olympic Trials end in her first match of the wrestlebacks. She lost 12-4 to Becka Leathers.

UPDATE: The finals will begin at 5 p.m. Hawaii time. They can be viewed at http://www.flowrestling.org/, but it costs money. Results can be found at http://s100.trackwrestling.com/tw/opentournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&sport=wrestling&TIM=1450485894832&pageName=&ie=false&frameSize=818

UPDATE:

Teshya Alo is dominating the Olympian after one period, leading 8-0 after putting her on her back.

Campbell rallies but Alo wins 8-1. It is her first Senior National Champion title.

Alo picked up her hardware and posed with a few fans and head coach Charles Ariola. There will be no rest for the champion when Team Teshya returns to the islands.

“Honestly, I am super proud but back to the drawing board when we get back to Hawaii,” Ariola said. “This is only the first stage of this Olympic year.”