That Moanalua’s Chaeden Grace-Reyes is the top contender in the OIA at 171 pounds is a given.
But he might be the league’s best at 189 and 215 pounds, too.
Grace-Reyes, the defending state champion at 171, pinned three different 215-pounders in an OIA dual meet at Kalani on Saturday. In December, Grace-Reyes won the 189-pound class at the officials’ tournament at Leilehua. Anyone hoping to compete at 171 this season should be very afraid.
"It’s kind of hard to say because each guy is different," Moanalua coach Derek Tokioka said. "These guys were heavier, but the skill level wasn’t there so he was just running circles around them. It’s kind of hard to judge, next week will be a turning point for him with the better competition."
Grace-Reyes and his coaches knew he would have the edge on speed, but Grace-Reyes didn’t use that advantage until he needed to. He attacked his bigger foes immediately and had no trouble lifting them off the mat, just because he could.
"I like to think I am stronger than them, but when I am on the mat, they feel stronger than me." Grace-Reyes said. "Adrenaline just gets going."
Grace-Reyes became Farrington’s first state champion in 30 years when he beat Kamehameha’s Ikea Ikehara 2-1 in a tough match, needing every ounce of strength to hold onto his lead. After bringing the Governors the rare glory of having a state champion on campus, Grace-Reyes moved out of the district and joined the Moanalua squad. He said it wasn’t easy leaving the team he won a state title and three OIA championships (at 135, 152 and 173 pounds) for, but the transition to a better situation has gone swimmingly.
State runner-up Derek Lee Loy, at 160, and 108-pound contender Shon Aragon give Moanalua a chance to win its first OIA title since 1998.
Grace-Reyes didn’t duck anyone at Kalani on Saturday, and doesn’t plan to start now. He just takes down whoever coaches put in front of him.
"I don’t know who is at 171 yet," Grace-Reyes said. "I know a Kamehameha boy won officials, so I guess he would be the favorite."
Tinei Makaiau is that Kamehameha boy and he’s been getting better each week since 171 is stocked in the ILH with the likes of ‘Iolani’s Spencer Kiehm and Punahou’s Robert Tano.
Grace-Reyes didn’t wrestle last week because none of the schools at his event put anyone in his weight class knowing that it was probably a guaranteed loss.
Moanalua hosts Kahuku, Kaimuki and McKinley, among others, next week. There are only two events before the OIA division championships.
