Punahou's championship finish looked nothing like the season it had.

The Buffanblu traded grins, high-fives and lei after winning their fourth straight Chevron/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships yesterday. Together, they celebrated at the Blaisdell Arena after finishing with 240 points.

"This year's team, we never gave up," said Punahou's Jordan Ng, the 114-pound champion. "We had some dual meet problems, we lost a few, but in the end, these past two weeks, everyone has been giving it their best, leaving everything on the mat. I'm so proud of these guys."

Punahou's Galen McCleary pinned Radford's Rodney Howard in 1 minute, 44 seconds to win at 140 pounds and Todd Murakawa beat Lahainaluna's George Chihara, 10-4, to win at 125 pounds.

"We did a lot more team bonding stuff, which helped out, doing more stuff together outside of wrestling," said McCleary, who attributed a trip to Minnesota for a tournament for bringing the team together.

Punahou coach Matt Oney described the state title as bittersweet. He was proud of how his team overcame adversity throughout the season and how they're closer now than at the beginning of the season. But on a team that focuses more on one's performance than the final outcome, he empathized for some of his wrestlers who didn't win.

"I'm very proud of the team effort demonstrated over the last several weeks, they really came together as a team," Oney said. "There were some challenging performances today. But because performance is what we focus on, you feel for the kids who didn't wrestle their best."

Ng said the coaching staff has been patient and supportive.

"It's always phenomenal (to win), you don't expect it," Ng said. "These guys work so hard. We got great coaches, the parents are so supportive, so all that combined, it's an amazing feeling."

Jacob Luning-Hoshino of Kamehameha repeated at 135 pounds and teammate Shayden Terukina won at 130 after winning at 112 in 2008, helping the Warriors finish second with 186.5 points.

"It was very surprising that our underclassmen were able to step into their roles this year, so maybe next year we can bring home that team championship," Luning-Hoshino said.

Holden Mowat won at 152 pounds to help Lahainaluna finish third with 125 points.

Tyson Tynanes-Perez beat Roosevelt's Tyler Hayashi, 5-4, to repeat at 189 pounds and help Campbell place fourth with 88 points. Moanalua was fifth with 72.5.

Pearl City's Raynald Cooper beat defending champion Kameona Hokoana of Kamehameha, 8-6, at 160 pounds. Cooper won last year's 152 title.

"Kameona is the returning state champ at 160, so I knew I had to challenge the best," Cooper said.

'Iolani's Ian Akamine, last year's 140-pound champion, won at 145 after beating Kamehameha's Isaiah Fonoti, 5-3.

Two wrestlers also won their school's first titles with Maryknoll's Cassidy Oshiro winning at 108 and Damien's Marcus Finau winning at 215.

"Maryknoll never had a (wrestling) state champ, so I felt the pressure," Oshiro said.

Said Finau: "It's an honor to be the first (state champion) from my school. I just have to thank my coaches and my family."

Mid-Pacific's David Terao won at 120 and Kahuku's Punahele Soriano and Jheryl Makaiau won at 171 and 285.

1, Punahou 240 points. 2, Kamehameha 186.5. 3, Lahainaluna 125. 4, Campbell 88. 5, Moanalua 72.5. 6, Farrington 70. 7, Kahuku 69. 8, Damien 56. 9,'Iolani 52. 10, Pearl City 49.5. 11, Mililani 45. 12, 'Aiea 39.

13, Kapolei 38. 14, Kaiser 37. 15, Konawaena 36. 16, Moloka'i 35.5. 17, Roosevelt 33. 18, Maryknoll 31.5. 19, Honoka'a 29. 20, Mid-Pacific 28.5. 21t, Baldwin, Castle 27. 23, McKinley 22.5. 24, Radford 22. 25, Kaimukī 18. 26, Saint Louis 17. 27, Kamehameha-Hawai'i 16. 28t, Kealekehe, King Kekaulike, Maui 14. 31, Hawai'i Prep 13.5. 32, Waiākea 13. 33, Hawai'i Baptist 11. 34, Wai'anae 6. 35t, Leilehua, Waipahu 4. 37t, Hilo, Kalāheo, Kea'au 3. 40, Hanalani 2. 41, Kamehameha-Maui 1.


Advertiser Staff Writers Dayton Morinaga and Kalani Takase contributed to this report. Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2451.