Red Raiders Use Brains Over Brawn
By Jack Danilewicz
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As Reggie Torres prepares his girls wrestling team for this weekend’s state championships, collective mental preparation remains at the forefront of their efforts.
“You have to keep your emotions out of it,” said Torres, whose Kahuku team was gunning for its sixth overall OIA title in eight years last weekend at the league finals. “When you don’t, this is a sport that does not forgive. We’re working a lot on cleaning up our technique.We’re also doing less live work now and trying to stave off injuries. Staying healthy and maintaining weight control are big right now.”
Even by their own lofty standards, 2010 has already been a year to remember. Kahuku breezed to the East title a couple weeks ago by totaling 170 points. In contrast, second-place Farrington has less than half of that at 68.0. The Red Raiders achieved this by placing first in six weight classes and runner-up in three more.
Finishing first in their respective weight classes in the East were Darian Auna (103), Alana Iseke (120), Kristy Rabaino (125),Anela Santiago (140), Amber Ah Sue (155) and Libby Petrie (220).All figured to qualify for this week-end’s state tournament.
Scanning his lineup, Torres sees senior Ah Sue as overall leader. “She brings the team together.She’s the strongest girl we have. Besides the mat, she works hard in the weight room. She’s really applied herself there.”
Iseke also is a senior and has excelled despite asthma undermining her momentum the past three seasons.“She’s battling,“Torres said.“She’s been around (wrestling) for a few years, and she knows how to adapt. She’s a good leader.”
Like her older sister, Danica Auna (who was a standout in her own right during her Kahuku prep days), Darian Auna figures to be a factor at the state level in the 103-pound class this weekend.
“She’s just scrappy. She’s a good athlete who works hard. As a wrestler, she has a lot of leverage because of her height (5-foot-6) for her weight.”
Rabaino, Santiago and Petrie also all are looking to close out solid seasons in style this weekend.“Like the other girls, Kristy has the desire to excel. She stays after practice to do extra work. She multi-tasks.She has a lot on her plate besides wrestling.
“Anela took a year off last year, but what an athlete,” Torres added of Santiago, who finished second in the state as a freshman in the 130-pound class.“You can add (a good) work ethic to that, and she’s quick with great skills.
“Libby is one of our calmest. She’s always the same (emotionally). She enjoys wrestling, and she’s just a good girl.”
Brianna Awa (98), Jo Reece Peapealalo (175) and Kayla Martin (108) each finished second in the East, which is no small feat given that those weight classes are among the most competitive in the OIA as well as the state level. Torres calls the 114-pound class “by far, the toughest"and has high hopes for Kehau Kamakaala, who finished third in the East in that class. Meagan Mahe, who took fifth for Kahuku in the 130-pound class, also was a good bet to qualify for the state meet.
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