The Kapolei boys judo team made its league’s individual championships a team affair on Saturday night.
The Hurricanes had five champions and one runner-up in 10 weight classes at the OIA judo individual championships at Leilehua.
"It wasn’t a surprise," Kapolei senior captain Kekua Marumoto said. "I expect everybody on the team to win championships, at least the semifinals, because I know what everyone on this team is capable of."
Jayson Pagurayan got the party started for Kapolei, beating Tayler Otsuka of Mililani at 108 pounds for his second OIA title. Andre Pagurayan got his first gold medal with a win over Diamond Inouye of Moanalua at 114 and Anthony Brett beat Castle’s Wendell Ebesu at 121 to make Kapolei 3-for-3.
Kaulana Narciso lost to Kalani’s Micah Tateyama at 132 pounds, but Rodman Salangdron earned another win for Kapolei with a victory over Mililani’s Brent Ikei.
Marumoto put the exclamation point on the night with an emotional win over Kalani’s William Pineda-Abaya at 161 pounds. Marumoto earned his second OIA title and was easily the most emotional champion.
Pineda-Abaya is one of the rare judoka to compete with his name in a patch on his back because he competes internationally, and he caught Marumoto in a sweep in the first seconds of the match to prove it. Marumoto, who describes himself as a clown, then turned serious and dictated the pace.
"I think he is one of the best judo players in the state," Marumoto said. "I was surprised, I was like ‘Oh my, I’m going to lose’ but as I got more comfortable, let’s just say I got lucky and keep it at that."
Marumoto declined to describe his winning move, with the OIA team championships coming up next week followed by states. But his coach, Marc Narciso, says Marumoto’s win was anything but luck.
"(Pineda-Abaya) is a multiple time national champion, he’s good," Marc Narciso said. "But (Marumoto) wasn’t lucky, he was himself today."
The tournament started with 15 judoka going for a multiple league crowns, but the number dropped to seven by the finals. Moanalua’s Chevy Tabiolo Felicilda suffered the biggest upset as the only athlete going for No. 3, losing to Kaulana Narciso in the semifinals.
It wasn’t the only big win for the Hurricanes, who put six boys in the finals. Nobody else had more than three. If they weren’t the favorite to repeat as state champions before, they are now.
"I hope we are the state favorite," Marc Narciso said. "But we can’t say that, we have to show it like we did today. Every school has great players, but if we show up we can do it."
Moanalua’s Zorich Palimo‘o was the only state champion in the finals, and he added a second OIA title to that haul with a win over Matthew Keopuhiwa of Pearl City at 198 pounds. Pearl City’s Maui Lee stole the show with an entertaining win over Andrew Pascua of Moanalua at 178 pounds, but Leord Tongi of Kahuku drew the loudest cheer when he flipped Jackson Fuamatu of Pearl City for a win at 220 pounds. Matt Miner was the other boys’ winner, beating Kelemente Iam-Sam of Farrington at 285 pounds.
Aiea’s Kari Okubo was the only girl to double up, beating Tiana Peterson of Kapolei in the 154-pound final to add a second OIA gold to the state title she won last year.
Three other past champions lost in the semifinals.
Moanalua’s Jackie Agena fell short after losing to Menjam Tamang of Roosevelt at 98 pounds, and Kaylin Castro of Mililani was on the mat for barely a minute before being dumped on her head by Czarina Pineda-Abaya and having to quit because of injury. Sienna Ho of Moanalua lost her bid for a double at 122 pounds when she lost to Mililani’s Haylie Shinsato.
Other girls winners were Amanda Higa of Moanalua (103 pounds), Macy Higa of Roosevelt (109), Zoe Tateyama of Kalani (129), Aiea’s Gezlen Ramos (139), Mana Borden of Pearl City (172) and Aiea’s Sarah Miner (220).
