WAILUKU - Wrestlers from 23 Hawaii high schools will hit the mats for the 40th annual Maui Invitational Wrestling Tournament, which kicks off today at War Memorial Gym.
Even though Hawaii will be well represented, this will be the first time in recent memory that there will be no Mainland teams competing in the event.
''I guess with the economy and down-sizing, it's had an effect on teams coming to Hawaii,'' Baldwin coach Malakai Panuve said. ''We're still going to have a lot of good wrestling.''
Panuve said the girls division should be particularly tough.
''We've got the Punahou girls, the defending state champions. They have five returning state-placers,'' he said. ''Baldwin has a pack of tough girls. Kamehameha Maui is the defending MIL champions.''
Four-time defending Maui Interscholastic League champion Lahainaluna looks tough in the boys' division, according to Panuve.
''Lahainaluna is going to be the squad to beat this year,'' he said. ''Pac-5 is always a powerhouse and Damien has some good kids, and of course, Iolani has great tradition.''
Lahainaluna returns four boys MIL champions: George Chihara (125 pounds), David Arcangel (135), Chanse Uyeda (140) and Blake Ball (145). The Lunas also return one girls champion, Brittany Bermudez-Lynch at 98.
Still, Lahainaluna coach Todd Hayase said his 55-person team is very young.
''We have so many young wrestlers. It's going to be exciting, anticipating what they're going to do,'' Hayase said. ''Like every year, the MIT is a great tournament to gage where our experienced kids are at. I have no idea what to expect.''
Punahou state placers include Erin Uehara (98), Nicole Taniguchi (108), Chrissy Chow (125), Mindy Chow (130) and Kaimana Lundquist (175). Other state placers in the tournament include Kazia Lecker (108) of Lahainaluna; Megan Chun (103), David Terao (120) and Sean Tachibana (130) of Pac-5; Keoni Colson (152) of Hawaii Prep; Geo Chavez-Pardini (160) of Honokaa; and Marcus Finau (215) of Damien.
Other teams hitting the mats are Hana, Hilo, Kamehameha Hawaii, Kealakehe, King Kekaulike, Konawaena, Lanai, Laupahoehoe, Maui High, Mililani, Molokai, Pahoa, Roosevelt and St. Anthony.
Weigh-ins will be at 8:30 a.m., with wrestling starting at 11 a.m.
