The Pearl City Chargers are pumped up to get going in this weekend's HHSAA State Boys & Girls Varsity Wrestling Championships to be held on Friday and Saturday at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
The Charger girls team heads into the state championship after capturing the OIA Championship last weekend at Leilehua High School. Pearl City (174), Aiea (124) Campbell (103), Mililani (97) and Kahuku (84) rounded out the top 5 finishers. The Chargers out distanced second place Aiea by 50 points for the championship.
Pearl City Senior Sanoe Spencer was the lone first place finisher for the girls at 222 lbs. defeating Kahuku's Libby Petrie for the title. Spencer received strong support and a comfortable lead team before she even hit the mat from her teammates with four 2nd place finishes from Rachel Tolentino (100 lbs.), Sherese Ader (122 lbs.), Mylinda Jefferson (142 lbs.), and Janelle Fuamatu (157 lbs.)
The Charger boys finished in 4th place behind OIA Champion Mililani (192), followed by Campbell (189), Moanalua (170) and Leilehua (115) who finished in 5th place. Three points separated first and second place which came down to the wire for Mililani's championship victory over Campbell.
The Chargers tallied two first place winners with Gabriel Iereneo-Baring defeating Moanalua's Jacob Palimoo in the 132 lbs. division and Blake Cooper bringing home the gold in the 147 lbs. division over Moanalua's Derek Lee Loy.
Pearl City will be in for a challenge as top high schools from around the state converge this weekend at Blasidell Arena. Powerhouse Punahou returns to the 2012 HHSAA State Championship after sweeping both the boys and girls team titles for the ILH Championship.
Photo courtesy of Steven Ching
Pearl City's Sanoe Spencer defeated Kahuku's Libby Petrie to capture the OIA Championship in the 222 lbs. division.
Photo courtesy of Steven Ching
Janelle Fuamatu picked up valuable points for the Lady Chargers with a second place finish to Nankuli's Joslynn Kahala Minczer in the 157 lbs. division.
Pearl City Chargers – OIA Girls Championships
Rachel Tolentino – 2nd -100 lbs.
Sarah Alagaria – 5th – 105 lbs.
Breanne Takaesu – 3rd – 110 lbs.
Xandria Ford – 3rd – 116 lbs.
Sherese Ader – 2nd – 122 lbs.
Kaimiloa Evans – 4th – 127 lbs.
Mylinda Jefferson – 2nd – 142 lbs.
Janelle Fuamatu – 2nd – 157 lbs.
Matauaina Toomalatai – 6th – 177 lbs.
Sanoe Spencer – 1st – 222 lbs.
Photo courtesy of Steven Ching
Gabriel Iereneo-Baring defeated Moanalua's Jacob Palimoo to win the 132 lbs. championship.
Photo courtesy of Steven Ching
Pearl City's Blake Cooper took home 1st place in the 147 lbs. division over Moanalua's Derek Lee Loy.
Pearl City Chargers – OIA Boys Championship
Anthony Clemente – 6th – 116 lbs.
Gabriel Iereneo-Baring – 1st -132 lbs.
Tristin Kamaka – 3rd – 137 lbs.
Timothy Riviera – 4th – 142 lbs.
Blake Cooper – 1st – 147 lbs.
Maui Lee – 6th – 162 lbs.
Paul Joe – 5th – 191 lbs.
Benjamin Bourque – 3rd – 217 lbs.
Jordan Fuamatu – 3rd – 287 lbs.