Charger Boys 2-Peat, Lady Chargers Runner-up at OIA Team Judo Championships

“I want to thank the fans; we couldn’t have done it without them. I’m proud that the boys took first and the girls took second. As a whole, Pearl City did the best in the OIA. That’s something to tip our hats on. I’m really proud of them. We didn’t pull through with the girls, but we’ll come back to the drawing board next week.”

Boys Coach Andy Toyama

“We lost to Kapolei in regular dual meets so we knew we needed to step up our game. They changed up their line up and I think that’s what caught them. We weren’t expecting some of their players to be where they were, but I guess it worked out in our favor. It's about leadership in our captain Paulsson. He is our captain. It show’s in our practice. He doesn’t slack off and it shows in tournaments that he fights hard and he fights to the end. Going into semi’s we knew it was going to be a bloody fight with Moanalua, they were just way to strong, but we had our game plan. Our fans are the number one fans in the state, probably in the nation. They comprise of students who are on the team, who aren’t on the team, parents and everyone else. Without them we wouldn’t be here. They fuel our fire.”

Paulsson Solomon, Charger Team Captain, Champion

"It was all of us out there on that mat. I take on the courage of the whole team with me. Even though it was just one person, that whole team too take that last lap for us each time. That win is for the whole team and with the team at all costs. I wouldn’t be here if wasn’t for all of them. Vice versa, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for each other. It’s always like that and it will always be like that in Pearl City Judo. The coaches are a huge piece of it too. We’re all pieces to a puzzle, and that puzzle doesn’t look good if even one piece is missing. Everybody is a part of it, everybody in the stands too. Even though they’re not literally on team, they allow their kids to be there. We’re all pieces to the puzzle.”