No One Gets Left Behind In Lady Chargers Judo Ohana
By Jack Danilewicz
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When Robin Puahala became caretaker for Pearl City girls judo six years ago, one of his first calls came from former coach Roy Kawaji.
“He told me not to just build a winning team, but to build a team everyone wants to be part of,” Puahala recalled.“The family mentality is something we always strive for.”
Kawaji’s imprint is unmistakable. He led the team to OIA titles in 1999 and 2000, before his successors Jason Katoda and then Puahala took over.
He’s now retired from coaching and is in the midst of a world tour that continues to the present, although that tour has included a few stops over the years to check on the Pearl City program.
The family atmosphere he tried to instill during his own reign is clearly evident in the current girls’ team on its 25-member roster. The Chargers, who are both the defending OIA and state champions, are as cohesive a group as Puahala has seen in his run with them.
“They’re very close - this is more a family to them,” he said. “In other sports, you have your cliques or groups (within the team). These girls all hang out together whether it’s going to church or to the beach. They play for each other, and they don’t want to lose. I believe that’s why we’re where we’re at.”
The Chargers rolled through their season undefeated, with all but two matches ending in runaways. Next up, they take part in Saturday’s OIA individual championships (10:30 a.m. at Moanalua High), where the top eight finishers in each weight class also will secure berths for the upcoming Boys
State Judo Championships. (The OIA team championships will be held April 25 at Aiea.)
Despite their dominance over the past two years, the Chargers are hardly a team without something to prove, to hear Puahala tell it. Among the individual storylines to track this spring is that of junior Mei Ling Keiki, who was undefeated (and an OIA champion) heading into her state title match in the 172-pound weight class last May before losing a heart-breaker.
“She really regrets that, and we’ve seen a difference in her training,” Puahala said. “To make up for it, she took up wrestling this year. She refuses to lose and always rises to the occasion. She’s one of our captains - the only one to ever be promoted to captain as a sophomore - but she had those (leadership) qualities already.”
The Chargers also boast junior Kelly Ancheta, who was a state wrestling champion in the 114-pound class in February, and seniors Janine Realin (98 or 103-pound class), Breanna Delos Santos (109), Elyse Bojorquez (129) and Keri Uyehara (122).
“Kelly is a happy-go-lucky person,” Puahala said. “Everyone looks up to her. She’s been in our program for awhile, and she’s a household name in the OIA. Elyse was a back-up last year, so she’s had to wait her turn, but she’s doing great. Keri is going to turn some heads. She’s been one of our key role players.”
Realin and Delos Santos remain undefeated in individual matches this season. “Janine is our vocal leader. That girl never quits, and she’s strong for her size. She loves to lift (weights), and she’s one everyone respects and listens to, also. Breanna is just spunky. I like to call her our spark plug.”
As was the case last year, Punahou figures to be the Chargers’ biggest road-block to a second straight state title. The Buffanblu finished runner-up to Pearl City last year and handed the Chargers their only defeat in preseason, although Puahala’s team was with a handful of key performers for that encounter.
“We’re thankful for that loss - our girls have a ‘we’re-on-top’mentality now,” Puahala said. “Some people may have thought we were untouchable, but Punahou proved that’s not the case. Their goal this year is to take down Punahou.”
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