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Baldwin’s Ferreira returns with dominant showing as MIL wrestlers hit home stretch

By Robert Collias 7 min read

PUKALANI -- Liana Ferreira can see her wrestling future clearly. Her wrestling present looks pretty good, too.

Ferreira, a Baldwin High School senior and state runner-up in 2020 at 97 pounds, won all three of her matches via pin on Saturday at the Maui Interscholastic League round-robin meet at King Kekaulike.

They were her first matches in high school action since the 2020 state tournament 720 days ago. Last season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic and she missed the first part of this season while having COVID herself.

"It feels good, I'm actually excited," Ferreira said. "I think sitting out opened my eyes and made me want to work harder, focus in on myself ... and recovering from COVID."

She added, "I feel stronger than before (COVID). I did a lot of training when I was off from practice."

And, for the last week, she has been in Ashland, Ore., working out with and eventually signing a scholarship agreement with Southern Oregon University.

"It was a good experience because I got to watch them wrestle against other colleges and it was really interesting," Ferreira said. "I feel like this team is good for me because it's a great fit for not just wrestling, but for the environment where the school is at.

"It's very safe there, the people are nice, the school is really good, there's tutors that will help me and the team is very like, they include me in everything."

Before college wrestling, her final state meet is set for March 4-5 at the Blaisdell Arena on Oahu.

"I know I will win it," Ferreira said without hesitation. "I've worked too hard. I will win it in my last year."

Ferreira's standout teammate for the Bears boys, Tobey Ravida, was at the meet on Saturday in street clothes.

"Not wrestling today," said Ravida, the 2020 state champion at 113 pounds. "For personal reasons, I haven't wrestled (yet this year). It's pretty tough, you know, just trying to stay in shape, just missing the mat a lot, just trying to compete as soon as possible."

Ravida added that he plans to compete in the MIL championship and hopes to add a second state title in March. Like Ferreira, he plans to wrestle in college.

"I feel like I will be ready, not only physically, but mentally as well," Ravida said.

There were no fans or parents allowed in the King Kekaulike gym on Saturday because three mats were in use, forcing one side of the gym's bleachers to be closed. The other side had bleachers open for the teams to congregate.

MIL officials said their reason for running three mats was to allow the Lanai and Molokai teams to return home Saturday afternoon -- the Pine Lads travel by ferry and the Farmers travel by plane.

Lanai's Diesel Del Rosario, a sophomore at 120, finished first in a field of seven at 120 pounds on Saturday.

"It feels good to wrestle again, it's been a long time," Del Rosario said.

Pine Lads teammates Jaeden Dumlao-Ranis (113A) and Christian Oliva (106) each finished second in their weight classes.

"I feel like the bond me and my teammates have, we're like brothers, we're really close," Del Rosario said. "Knowing that we're all around the same weight, we just make each other better, stronger."

MIL officials said Saturday that they are hopeful parents will be allowed into the MIL championship meet on Feb. 26 -- the meet is set for Baldwin's Jon Garcia Gym, but could be moved to a larger facility if necessary.

"The biggest challenge is just not having spectators, not having parent support, community support -- that's huge, it's huge," Baldwin coach Malakai Panuve said. "I strongly feel that we need to address that issue."

It has been a challenging season for every MIL team.

"One of the biggest challenges is COVID protocols, your athletes are coming down with the sickness, coming back after that you have to follow the protocols, you know, several days off from practice, slowly transitioning back to your normal routine," Panuve said.

The Molokai team had to shut down for a 10-day span earlier this season due to COVID protocols.

"It definitely gives more things that we have to keep in mind," Molokai coach Randy Manley said. "We got closed down for 10 days prior to the first tournament -- that set us back, so we put some extended COVID protocols in place just for us.

"So, yeah, it's been our challenge, just beyond competing and everything else."

Manley said the main thing is getting the wrestlers on to the mat.

"Absolutely, whether we have a great season or not, it's a great season just because we're competing," Manley said.

Lahainaluna's Todd Hayase said Saturday that this will be his final season as Lunas' head coach, a post he has held for more than two decades. Hayase said his reason for stepping down is he needs to spend more time with his parents, who are both 88 years old.

His final season has been like no other.

"It's been challenging," Hayase said. "Like I said, this is my last year, but it has been very challenging. We haven't had a full roster at practice the whole, entire season and right when we think we're taking one step forward, something comes up and we take two steps back. It's been challenging to say the least.

"I always say to myself, 'You have got to laugh about some things or you'll cry.' That's kind of how it's been."

Hayase, a meticulous note taker who charts out the MIL championship team chases annually, sees very close races for both boys and girls in 12 days.

"Yeah, definitely, there's just a lot of parity," Hayase said. "Each school has their studs and each school has, um, it's going to be really spread out. It's going to be tight."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

MIL Round-Robin Meet

Saturday's Results

At King Kekaulike

Girls

97 pounds--1. Nicole Fernandez, Baldwin; 2. Hayley Sedino, Maui High.

102--1. Liana Ferreira, Baldwin; 2. Kayce Dudoit, Lahainaluna; 3. Kailani Bicoy, Molokai; 3. Shayne-Tory Kahele, Maui High.

107--1. Naiomi Kulukulualani-Sales, Lahainaluna; 2. Kanoelani Kekiwi-Jones, King Kekaulike; 3. Elena Beauchamp-Estrella, Kamehameha Maui.

112--1. Barbara Simon, Molokai; 2. Kailee Paishon Galios, Hana; 3. Kailah Caballero, Lahainaluna; 4. Kadie Kron, Lahainaluna; 5. Skye Kaawa-Caparida, Molokai.

117--1. Kivah Caballero, Lahainaluna; 2. Deja Fernandez, Baldwin; 3. Shaelyn Perreira, Maui High; 4. Krystel Valoroso, King Kekaulike.

127--1. Alicia Frank, Lahainaluna; 2. Crystin-Dior Treu, Lahainaluna; 3. Briseis Obregon, King Kekaulike; 4. Kuulei Simon, Molokai.

132--1. Teani Medeiros-Maielua, Lahainaluna; 2. Kapili Poaipuni-Pasco, King Kekaulike; 3. Carly Dudoit, Molokai.

145--1. Lilata Sansone, Hana; 2. Ryley Jackson, King Kekaulike.

155--1. Kaceylee Pua, Baldwin; 2. Jahlia Miguel, Baldwin; 3. J-Lah Sinenci, Hana; 4. Stephanie Gandeza, Molokai.

184--1. Catherine Asami, Lahainaluna; 2. Shiloh Kamaka, Baldwin.

Boys

106--1. Chase Yasutake, Lahainaluna; 2. Christian Oliva, Lanai; 3. Austin Kaalekahi, Molokai; 4. Kaimana Hammond-Reyes, Baldwin; 5. Jadney Bryce Paz, Maui High; 6. Raymond Curry, King Kekaulike.

113A--1. Marcus Marinas, Baldwin; 2. Jaeden Dumlao-Ranis, Lanai; 3. Randy Esperanza, Baldwin; 4. Shadow Wong, Molokai.

113B--1. Keona Holokai-Basa, Baldwin; 2. James McCall, King Kekaulike; 3. Reyn Raguindin, Molokai; 4. Peyton Cagasan, Kamehameha Maui.

120--1. Diesel Del Rosario, Lanai; 2. "Happy" Nitahara, Kamehameha Maui; 3. Yokote Kalani, Baldwin; 4. Jeyden Laborte, Lahainaluna; 5. Jayse Koyama, Lahainaluna; 6. Kody Sakamoto, Kamehameha Maui; 7. Kawelo Yoro-Pua, Maui High.

126--1. Kalaheo Sakamoto, Kamehameha Maui; 2. Enoka Balinbin, Lahainaluna; 3. Hoken Hironaka, Lahainaluna.

132A--1. Mikah Labuanan, Kamehameha Maui; 2. Tony Passetti, Maui High; 3. Giovanni Baltazar-Membrila, Lahainaluna.

132B--1. Johnson Harris, Molokai; 2. Titan Nitahara, Baldwin; 3. Jarett Koyama, Lahainaluna.

138--1. Christian Clarion, Lahainaluna; 2. Kannon Dunbar, Baldwin; 3. Arlee Milliron, King Kekaulike; 4. Kamanawaikapuokala Kanuha, Molokai; 5. Jonah Garaganza, Maui High; 6. Brandon Koga-Truong, Baldwin; 7. Angel Oviedo, Maui High.

145--1. Bryson Adric, Baldwin; 2. Race Takahashi, Maui High; 3. Caese Calaro, Baldwin; 4. Cody Alejo, Maui High; 5. Klent Lyvenn Gumboc, Maui High.

152--1. Hezekiah Horner, Molokai; 2. Jonahs Kalalau, Lahainaluna; 3. Jhai-re Domingo Andaya, Maui High; 4. Thomas Borges, Lahainaluna.

170--1. Gabriel Valdez, Baldwin; 2. Clarance Horner, Molokai; 3. Ikaika Gonzales, Lahainaluna; 4. Keala Smith, Lahainaluna.

182--1. Leonaitasi Vehikite, Lahainaluna; 2. Elisha Horner, Molokai; 3. Akyles Almeida-Kekona, Baldwin; 4. Izaac Pacheco-Garcia, Lahainaluna.

195A--1. Keawe Kane-Keahi, Lahainaluna; 2. Aaron Hue Sing, Baldwin; 3. Jackson Hussey, Lahainaluna; 4. "Heno" Kaiama, Molokai

195B--1. Caleb Castillo, Maui High; 2. Koalii Mahoe Williams, Maui High.

220--1. Sanalio Vehikite, Lahainaluna; 2. Leo Kalipi, Molokai; 3. Chaser Boaz, Lahainaluna.

285--1. Kolinaise Latu, Lahainaluna; 2. Tysyn Estrella, King Kekaulike; 3. Joshua Gonzales, Baldwin.

Starting at /week.