Hurricanes Judo Team Sweeps Through OIA, Wins States

The spring of 2014 was plainly one to remember for the Kapolei boys’ judo team. After an undefeated regular season run through the ultra-competitive OIA Western Division, the Hurricanes then went on to capture the Hawaii High School Association State “Team” Judo title as well.

With that in mind, the Hurricanes were well-represented when the OIA released its list of All-Star teams recently, as Kapolei boasted a league-high six players on either the West Division’s First or Second Teams.

Three Hurricanes earned a spot on the West’s First Team: Jason Pagurayan (108 pound weight class), Andre Pagurayan (114) and Rodman Salangdron (145).

The OIA’s All-Star teams are selected in a vote of league coaches at season’s end.

Jason Pagurayan was the OIA’s Individual Champion in his weight class and went on to finish second at the State Tournament.

Andre Pagurayan took third in the OIA and second in the state, while Salangdron finished second and third in the OIA and the state finals, respectively.

Earning Second Team honors in the West from Kapolei were Anthony Brett (121), Shaundale Magnani (178) and Isaiah Alapai (285). Brett finished third overall in the OIA and second at the state finals. Magnani took fifth in the OIA and fourth at the State Tournament, while Alapai was a third-place finisher in the OIA Individual Championships.

Kekua Marumoto (161; fourth) and Brysen Hughes (198; sixth) also had figured big in Kapolei’s State Championship run by placing among the top six in their respective weight classes.

Honors also went to Kapolei’s Marc Narcisco, who was selected as the West’s Coach of the Year by his peers.

Pearl City was a close third at the recent State Championships behind the Hurricanes and second-place Waiakea.

The Chargers placed both Paul Joe (178) and Kapu Yasumura (198) on the OIA West’s First Team. Joe was an Individual champion in both the OIA Finals as well as the State Tournament. Yasumura took second in the OIA and third in the state in his weight class.

Receiving Second Team honors in the West from Pearl City were Jake Bactista (198), Jackson Fuamatu (220) and Jon Domingo (108).

Aiea placed both Josh Gima (161) and Trinity Fautanu (285) on the West’s First Team. (Na Ali’i teammate Matt Miner also had a solid season, having finished third and sixth in the OIA and the state, respectively, in the 220-pound weight class.)

Campbell’s Cole Kido made the First Team in the 121-pound class. He was both an individual OIA champion as well as a state champion. Saber teammate Micah Platt (114) earned Second Team All-West honors. He took first in the OIA and fifth at the state finals.

Jessie Saribay was selected to the First Team from Waipahu in the 132-pound class.

Email Jack Danilewicz at jackster.1969@yahoo.com