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ASHSAA season warming up

The American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) wrestling season is just getting warmed up for this 2011-2012 season,with its first regular season tournament on Saturday at the Samoana High School gymnasium, with a starting time of 9:00 a.m. Nine teams are competing; Leone, Nu’uuli VocTech, Tafuna, Faga’itua, Samoana, Kanana Fou, South Pacific, Fa’asao Marist and Manumalo.

Its first tournament was a pre-season tournament that took place on Saturday Jan. 14, at Leone High School, with the host school Leone taking 1st place overall — sending a message to all of the other teams, that they better be ready, ‘or else’.

The Leone Lions, which suited the biggest team at the pre-season tournament, will be going into this first regular season Tournament most likely seeded at the top due to its size with all of the reserves it can choose from. Then there is Nu’uuli VocTech, who is lead by Nathaniel Tuamoheloa, who dominated the 187lb class at the pre-season tournament along with Daniel Etuale, from the 264lb class.

The Tafuna Warriors, who was last year’s overall champions, have two wrestlers in the lighter weight classes, Rommel Fenis (128lbs class) and Valentini Taua (145lbs class); and along with John Ludgate Jr. (163lbs class) should give Leone problems holding onto the top two spots.

All the way from the East Side, there is the Faga’itua Vikings, who will be entering a team for the first time. They will be led by Vincent Simanu, who competes in the 167lbs class. He was able to capture 1st place in the pre-season tournament, setting the pace in that class.

The Samoana Sharks, who will be suiting one the most inexperienced teams in the regular season, will in no doubt have Abraham ‘Spider’ Siatu’u (220 lbs class) out in front to lead this young team.

The Kanana Fou Stallions, who participated well last year, will have last year’s overall ASHSAA Most Valuable Wrestler, Bruce Scanlan (163lbs class), returning to lead the charge for his school.

The South Pacific Academy Dolphins, Fa’asao Marist Crusaders and Manumalo Baptist Academy Flames, have yet to prove themselves, but have had ample time since the pre-season match to ready themselves for the opening of the 2011-2012 ASHSAA Wrestling Season.