Pearl City girls raise the trophy after winning a third consecutive state title. Evan Asato | SL

×

050513_EA_JUDO2013_States 66.jpg - Evan Asato | SL

Purchase this image
4x5 5x7 8x10 image download

> HHSAA Judo Championships: Girls division final day results and video replays of every match

Pearl City took top honors for the second consecutive time at the HHSAA Judo Championships held at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The Chargers had a combined team score of 72, a full sixteen points better than second place finisher Kamehameha-Kapalama, and did so without winning a single individual honor.

"We didn't get any champions, but all our girls pulled through and I wouldn't want to have it any other way." said Pearl City head coach Robin Puahala.

The Warriors from Kapalama's runner up finish included three state champions, including Bree Rapoza in the 122 pound class, who won by wazari in a closely contested final to claim a fourth state title.

"I really respect her beccause she watched me and she knew how I was, so it was great competition for me." said Rapoza of her opponent Sherese Ader.

"When she (Ader) came out her freshman year she didn't know anything about judo. She slowly progressed and I'm very proud of her, she held her own." said Puahala.

The Warriors other individual titles came from Teshaya Alo, who took down Waiakea's Skye Matsuura by ippon in the 129 pound class and Jaclyn Fontanilla, who won by wazari over Sacred Hearts' Kaela Fiesta in the 154 pound division.

Kahuku's Chale' Chee defeated Maia Phanthadara in the opening match of the tournament, one of two state championships headed back to the North Shore.

"It was really great. Our sensei is actually retiring this year and so it was a good way to end the year. It was a really good feeling." said Chee.

"We're actually really close, we go against each other a lot and we kind of know each other's throws so at that point it kind of like hard for us to both get anything in," said Chee of Phanthadara. "So I just caught her when she wasn't expecting it I guess."

Mililani made a strong showing the tournament, finishing third despite having just four judoka competing. Two Trojans took home state titles, the most ever for the Mililani girls program.

"It was big. We've only had one state champion in team history and we've never had more than one state champion boys and girls (combined) in the same year." explained Trojans' head coach Kalani Takase.

Phairin Hicks won by ippon over Trudi Eltagonde of Pearl City, and her teammate Kaylin Castro won by yuko over Saint Andrew's Priory's Taylor Miyao to take the 109 pound division title.

"It was really hard with her, she was a really good opponent, she was really strong and she stopped a lot of my attacks, I didn't expect that but I just got though somehow." said Castro.

Oahu teams dominated the top four slots in the team standings, but Hawaii island placed two teams in the top 10, with Konawaena finishing fifth and Hilo in a tie for eighth.

Vikings senior Lia Nakamura brought a state title back home to the Big Island with her for a second time in as many years, besting Iolani's Alex Fautanu by ippon in the 172 pound class final.

"Its hard defending your title than actually getting it because everyone is out for you." said an elated Nakamura when asked about her successful title defense. "They know what you do they look for you, and its my senior year too."