For so long, Shamma Nakama’s shadow on the judo mat was Kayla Araki, who always had a reservation spot for first place on the medal podium.
Araki, a Kamehameha senior, was attempting to make history at the BIIF individual championships on Saturday at Waiakea’s gym, shooting for a 3 for 3 career gold finish.
She earlier closed her BIIF wrestling career with a 4 for 4 run and three bronzes at the HHSAA tournament.
A 7 for 7 stat line as a judoka/wrestler would have placed her right below 2012 Kamehameha graduate Megan Aina, who went 8 for 8 and won gold in both sports at states.
However, Nakama, a Waiakea junior, had a good technical day at her home gym and recorded an ippon against Araki for her first BIIF title in the 154-pound class.
Araki finished her BIIF career 6 for 7 as a two-way standout and relinquished the history spotlight to another judoka.
Keaau senior Ivory Ayers won the 172 title for her fourth BIIF gold and batted 7 for 7 in her two-sport career; she didn’t’ wrestle as a freshman.
Last year, Nakama lost to Araki in the same weight class at BIIFs. As a freshman, Nakama fell to Araki at 129 in her first shot for a league title.
Nakama’s trains at Waiakea Judo Club where her dad Verl Nakama is a sensei. She started at 7 years old. Her brother Sheldon Graham, a Hilo graduate, also competed in judo.
Araki got her seasoning at Puna and Kona Hongwanji and pushed herself at offseason tournaments, especially for wrestling.
She missed her shot for an 8 for 8 opportunity when she suffered a concussion in her freshman year for judo.
The two Warriors, from different schools with the same nickname, met frequently in club judo. The result was always the same: Araki won.
After her breakthrough victory, Nakama was subdued. She reflected on the long journey to reach the top of the podium.
“I’m a little relieved,” she said. “I’ve challenged her so much in club judo and to finally beat her is an accomplishment.
“I thought about changing weight classes but never followed through. I just stayed at whatever weight I was. She beat me a lot in club. I’ve been close a few times in high school.”
Nakama’s win went down as the upset of the day.
It was a tough loss for Araki, who captured state gold last season and has two bronze medals. She’s still got a shot for another medal to add to her collection.
Araki’s No. 1 sport is wrestling. She took second at a Las Vegas national tourney and plans to wrestle at Warner Pacific.
Still, thinking about her upset loss on the judo mat, Araki went down as champion in both victory and defeat.
She’s won her lion’s share of medals and credited Nakama.
“It went by really quick.” Araki said. “I was too eager, and she countered me. I’ve never lost to her. But she deserved to win.”
It may not be the last meeting between the two. They could battle at the HHSAA tournament May 6 on Oahu.
Nakama’s dad gave her simple advice: “Go your hardest.”
It always stayed with her after suffering one defeat after another at the hands of Araki, who can follow a few words of wisdom from her foe.
“I would get frustrated losing to her,” Nakama said. “But I used that as motivation to get better.”
