By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Her bronze medal felt like heaven for Hilo junior Marissa Guerra, who enjoyed her perched view at the HHSAA state wrestling championships.
Guerra defeated Farrington’s Jaryn Cachola, 10-5, in the 107-pound weight class to take third on Saturday at Neal Blaisdell Center, becoming one of only two BIIF wrestlers to bring home a medal.
Kamehameha’s Kayla Araki, the BIIF champion, defeated Castle’s Asia Igafo, 6-2, to seize a bronze medal in the 132-pound class.
It’s the first state medal for Guerra, the BIIF champion.
“It was pretty crazy. I didn’t expect to be that high on the podium,” she said. “It’s a great feeling. Indescribable.”
After she graduates, Guerra is planning on joining the Coast Guard. She carries a 3.2 grade-point average, and has an uncle who’s in the Coast Guard.
Last year, Guerra finished third at BIIFs in the 121 class and didn’t place at states.
She didn’t wrestle as a freshman.
In fact, the wiry Guerra has a better track record in her other sport — judo, where she is the reigning two-time BIIF champ at 122 pounds. (She didn’t place at states both years.)
Her natural walking weight is 115 pounds, so she didn’t have to cut much bulk, and retained her strength.
However, Guerra soon learned that strength was not enough to handle a tough Governor in Cachola.
At least, Guerra had a good preparation, losing to eventual state champion Alexis Encinas, from Lahainaluna, in the semifinals.
“It was really difficult. The Farrington girl was really strong,” Guerra said. “It was back-and-forth for a long time. I was really scared because the score was so close. It was easy for her to catch up. But I did everything I could to make sure she couldn’t catch up.”
Cachola kept shooting for takedowns, looking for a pin and slam-dunk victory. But Guerra maintained her composure, and relied on her technique.
“I mainly got all my points on defending her takedowns, stuffing her all the way down,” Guerra said. “But she was so strong, she would still drive up fully for another takedown. I stuffed her head down, got her arms off my legs, and really put pressure onto her head.”
With her bronze medal in hand, Guerra realized she’s a different Viking, a well-rounded one. She always thought of herself as a judoka first — her goal is to be a four-time BIIF champ.
“Now I can say I did better in wrestling,” she said. “In the past, my wrestling has struggled to keep up with my judo. I’m starting to get the hang of wrestling.”
Hilo coach Alex Kalawe saw improvement in Guerra in a lot of areas, but pointed to a key intangible as a major reason she brought home a bronze medal.
“It’s definitely her mindset, her focus,” he said. “She’s more committed to doing better than just being a participant.
“She had a really good shot at being a state champ. She lost to the girl who ended up winning. The competition at states is always tough. This year wasn’t any different. That medal is something she definitely earned.”
BIIF medalists
The HHSAA also awards medals to the fourth, fifth and sixth place finishers.
Following are the BIIF medalists:
Girls
• 107: Third place, Marissa Guerra, Hilo, def. Jaryn Cachola, Farrington, 10-5
• 112: Fourth, Katie Funai, Hilo, lost by pin to Desiree Corpuz, Molokai, 2:16
• 132: Third, Kayla Araki, Kamehameha, def. Asia Igafo, Castle, 6-2
• 138: Fifth, Loke Ching, Hawaii Prep, pinned Kayla Gaspar-Takahashi, KS-Kapalama, 1:55
• 168: Fourth, Ivory Ayers, Keaau, lost by pin to Reydell Kauhane, Nanakuli, 2:29
• 225: Fourth, Shavon Mello-Waiawaiole, Ka‘u, lost by pin to Sabrina Alo, Kahuku, 1:47
• 225: Fifth, Ebony Ayers, Keaau, pinned Tristen Borden, Baldwin, 4:26
Boys
• 120: Fifth, Kolton Pang, Hilo, def. Keale Keliinoi, Waianae, 5-2
• 126: Sixth, Trey Galigo, Kamehameha, lost by pin to Josten Saribay, Lahainaluna, 1:55
• 132: Fourth, Seannacy McNeil, Kealakehe, lost to Joshua Gallarde, Campbell, 8-6
• 195: Fifth, Pulama Louis, Kealakehe, def. Connor Donaher, Waimea, 5-0
• 285: Fourth, Pono Davis, Kamehameha, lost to Connor Mowat, Lahainaluna, 6-1
