Iolani's run of state championships, begun last week by basketball and swimming, broke new ground Saturday as the Raider women brought home the school's first ever girls wrestling championship.
In a close-as-could-be thriller, the Iolani girls wrestling team won the State Championship Saturday afternoon 130.5 to 129.5 over the Baldwin Bears thanks to a crucial pin by Akemi Holmes in the final match for the Raiders.
The close victory takes the sting out of last week's two point loss to Kamehameha in the ILH Championships.
The fabulous four of Carla Watase, Kira Tamashiro Catherine Chan and Joleen Oshiro did their usual stellar best in leading Iolani to victory.
Tamashiro won all her matches and an individual championship with an overtime pin at 98 pounds.
Carla Watase joined Tamashiro on the top pedestal with a 4-2, come from behind overtime win at 103 pounds over a strong Kahuku wrestler.
Joleen Oshiro completed the championship run with a decisive 10-4 win at 108 pounds.
Catherine Chan lost to the eventual champion at 114 pounds, but brought home a crucial bronze medal to contribute vital points to the Raider's score card.
Brandee Toyama made her presence felt with a sixth place finish at 120 pounds.
Trailing by seven points as its final wrestler, Akemi Holmes took the mat, the coaches knew they needed a win, but Holmes did not. She simply went out and performed perfectly, pinning her opponent in the 220 division for the eight points that gave Iolani its one point margin of victory.
Also contributing to the Iolani effort were Courtney Whang at 125, Sridevi Fournmier (140) and Lindsey Tufono (175).
Life on the boys' side was not as happy, as the guys finished seventh in the state competition. Nick Matayoshi won the 103 pound title, defeating a Punahou wrestler, 8-4.
Aaron Ishikawa won the championship at 112 pounds over a Baldwin Bear, 6-5, after trailing 4-1.
Zach Matoyoshi took fourth at 119 pounds, as did Kelsy Kokubun at 130.
That was it for the Raiders, as they finished with 84 points, well behind the 128.5 scored by state champion Kamehameha.
