Mowat captures state wrestling title

By Fred Guzman

MauiNow.com

Of the nine MIL athletes that reached their respective final fours in the state high school wrestling championships, only one returned home from Oahu with a gold medal.

That distinction belonged to Lahainaluna’s Holden Mowat, who lived up his top seed by capturing the 152-pound title with a 5-2 victory over Punahou’s Zachary Hernandez.

The Lunas finished third in the boy’s team race with 125 points, well behind Punahou at 240 and Kamehameha at 186.5. It marked the seventh straight year that Lahainaluna had a top five finish at states.

The final rounds of this year’s event were postponed until Sunday because of Saturday’s tsunami warning, causing additional expenses for the Neighbor Island teams, who needed to extend their stay and alter their travel plans.

Other Lunas highlights: George Chihara finished second at 125, Chase Uyeda fourth at 140 and Teanu Rickard fourth at 215. Baldwin’s Elomar Cabbal ws third at 108, Molokai’s Delfin Corpuz was fourth at 152.

In the girl’s division, Punahou edged Kahuku for the team title, 146.5 to 144. The Lunas were ninth with 57. Lunas’ junior Makanalani Hussey was second at 140 while teammate Gina Bella-Mata’afa was third at 175. Molokai’s Charrise Manley was fourth at 130.

UH VOLLEYBALL: Much to the disappointment of Valley Isle fans, the sold-out volleyball match between the University of Hawaii and BYU at War Memorial Gym was postponed because of Saturday’s tsunami warning. The match was rescheduled for tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center. Those who purchased tickets at the Pacific Radio Group offices can receive cash refunds at the same location starting tomorrow.

PREP HOOPS: Kamehameha-Maui couldn’t have drawn a tougher opponent in the first-round of the state high school D-I basketball tournament that tips off on Wednesday. The Warriors will challenge ILH power Punahou in a 5 p.m. game at McKinley High. The winner will face third-seeded Hilo in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

MIL champ Lahainaluna was seeded fourth and drew a bye into the quarters, facing the winner of the Kahuku-Waiakea game at 5 p.m. Thursday at Radford High. The other D-I seeds are No. 1 Iolani and No. 2 Moanalua.

MIL champ Seabury Hall was seeded second behind Roosevelt in D-II, which had its field reduced from 12 to eight teams as a result of earlier budget cuts, giving the MIL only one berth in the state tourney. The Spartans, who steamrolled through the MIL, will open on Thursday in a 5 p.m. contest at Kalani High against the winner of today’s play-in game between Academy of the Pacific and Hawaii Baptist.