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Third ASHSAA Wrestling season tourney has Warriors on top again

The American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) Wrestling season continued last Saturday with fans and supporters witnessing another successful tourney. Held at Leone High School, home of the Lions, the tournament drew one of its bigger crowds yet of the season, as the numbers seem to be growing in support of the fledging sport in American Samoa — wrestling is after all one of oldest sports in the world.

The Tafuna Warriors and Faga’itua Vikings continue to finish in the top two spots in each tournament, with the Warriors placing 1st each time and the Vikings finishing a close second.

This past Saturday the Warriors did it once again, as they finished in the top spot, with the Vikings only five points behind for second.

 But this time, the Vikings were not alone in their second place finish, as the Samoana Sharks were able to make a late surge in the heavier weight classes, to finish the tournament tied for second place.

Samoana, who have finished low throughout tournament play this season due to its lack of wrestlers in the lighter weight classes, finished strong last Saturday, and are no doubt ‘gearing up’ and preparing themselves themselves for the ASHSAA Wrestling Championships scheduled for this coming Saturday Feb. 25 at Samoana High School.

But if Tafuna and Faga’itua keep up their winning ways, it could spell trouble for the Sharks in the championships.

The Kanana Fou Stallions, who are led by Bruce Scanlan, continue to finish in the middle of the pack, and appear to be playing a strategy game, as they may be saving the best for last when the championship day arrives.

Another team that usually finishes in middle of the pack, is the Nu’uuli Voc-Tech Wildcats. However they were without some of their top wrestlers last Saturday, such a Daniel Etuale who wrestles in the 264lb weight class, and as a result finished near the bottom for the first time this season.

The Leone Lions who continue to struggle with injuries, are resting their top wrestlers, getting them ready for this coming Saturday’s championship day. The Lions started the season fast off the gun, but have since been hit with bad luck. It is possible they have had ample time for recovery for their top wrestlers, and will hit pay dirt this Saturday.

Sione Lui of the South Pacific Academy Dolphins continues to rule the toughest weight class of wrestling, which is the 145lb class, and should take the class in the championships if he can stay healthy. The reason for the low finishes in each tournament for the Dolphins, is due to a lack of wrestlers in most of its weight classes.

This weekend’s ASHSAA Wrestling Championships have a scheduled starting time of 9:00 a.m.

The head of the American Samoa Wrestling Association, Ethan Lake, would like to invite the public out for the ASHSAA Wrestling Championships this coming Saturday. For more information on wrestling you can contact Lake at 770-1006 or at asa@fila-wrestling.com.

Here are each team’s points and placing:

1st            Tafuna            53 points

2nd            Faga’itua            48 points

2nd            Samoana            48 points

3rd            Kanana Fou            46 points

4th            Leone            45 points

5th            Voc-Tech            14 points

5th            South Pacific            14 points

First place wrestlers:

92lbs            Niles Tuamoheloa            Voc-Tech

119lbs            John Scanlan            Kanana Fou

139lbs            Valentini Taua            Tafuna

145lbs            Sione Lui            South Pacific

152lbs            Shane Meredith            Tafuna

163lbs            Bruce Scanlan            Kanana Fou

187lbs            Nolan Puletasi            Kanana Fou

220lbs            Brandon Ripley            Faga’itua

264lbs            Stephan Sialega            Faga’itua

UNL            Eldon Finau            Samoana