By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 14, 2012
If this was the World Cup futbol tournament, the upper bracket of the heavyweight division of the Far East High School Wrestling Tournament would be the celebrated “Group of Death.”
And what a road defending champion Chidi Agbo of St. Mary’s International School had to hoe this week. Just to get a chance at a gold-medal repeat, Agbo first had to survive a three-period decision against Yokota’s Jesse Hogan – which many tabbed Tuesday’s “bout of the day” – and on Wednesday faced an opponent as hungry to beat him as anybody else, Kadena’s Gabe Ahner, who lost to Agbo in both the freestyle and dual-meet finals, clinching each team title for the Titans.
“It’s like I’m wrestling the finals today,” Agbo said before taking the mat against Hogan, whom he survived 3-0, 3-3 big point, 1-1 last point. It took a very late lift and takedown by Agbo, before teammates and spectator surrounding the mat and screaming with all the urgency of a gold-medal bout, which is what it resembled.
“It’s an interesting top side of the bracket, fun to watch,” Titans coach Ian Harlow said. “It could be the difference in total (team) points for the tournament.”
How did Hogan, one of the favorites to reach the final against Agbo, get into that situation? Losing by first-period pin to unheralded David Costello of host Nile C. Kinnick.
“When people lose matches they should win, that’s what happens,” Hogan’s coach, Brian Kitts, said. “Anything can happen at Far East.”
“It’s sad that it had to happen that way, but that’s the way things go,” Harlow said.
***
While Agbo survived to reach Wednesday’s semifinal, 2011 Far East tournament champion Thomas Cioppa of Kadena wasn’t as fortunate, losing a two-period decision to Callan Murphy of American School In Japan. The two had met at last month’s “Beast of the Far East” tournament, with Murphy winning in three periods.
Murphy’s reward was a semifinal date Wednesday with Guam island champion Bryan Taijeron of Guam High. “Whatever happens, happens,” Murphy said. “I’m going out to win.”
***
Other results I didn’t see coming involved Shaira Espino of Simon Sanchez, pinning Guam High’s Victoria Davis at 101 pounds. Should Espino win her semifinal bout, she would become the first girl to reach a Far East gold-medal final.
At 108, reigning Far East champion Steven Walter of Kubasaki got a good scare from Kinnick’s Brandon Yoder before prevailing in two periods.
At 180, Darnell Vinson of E.J. King pinning Zama American’s Mitchell Harrison. Wow!
How about 148-pounder Xavian Washburn’s chances at bringing home Daegu High’s first gold medal in school history?
I can’t make up my mind which is the tougher weight-class final four:
-- 129, with reigning Far East champion Soma Yoshida of St. Mary’s, Christian Academy Japan’s Yuma Fuseya, Robert D. Edgren’s Cody Scherrer and Seoul American’s Robert Rhea?
-- 122, with Murphy, Taijeron and Osan American’s Brett Hammontree?
-- 141, with Zama’s Chad Wilder, Kubasaki’s Zach Standridge and St. Mary’s JP Kwak?
-- 168, with St. Mary’s Jeff Koo, Yokota’s Stanley Speed and Seoul American’s Jonny Porter?
While much of the talk at the officials’ table revolved around 141, I’m leaning toward 129. The winner of that weight class should be named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
***
Almost sneaking past us under the radar was the Far East tournament’s individual freestyle meet reverting back to the single-elimination format that had been used on and off since the 1996 Far East at Kinnick, the first one to employ something other than a true international freestyle format.
For the last four years, starting with the 2008 tournament at Kubasaki, Far East had employed a double-elimination format that gave wrestlers a second chance if they lose an early-round bout. In fact, DODDS Pacific officials had expressed their intent to make the double-elimination format permanent.
Whether a case of miscommunication or lack of passdown from the Osan American High School organizers of the 2011 Far East meet at Camp Humphreys, South Korea (all of whom are gone now), and despite the lack of an outcry from anybody, the issue should be raised at the next Far East athletics council meeting in April on Okinawa, and the format should be standardized forever, one way or the other.
***
… and believe it or not, DODDS Pacific’s athletics coordinator Don Hobbs sat there, going page-by-page through the Far East wrestling tournament program and COUNTED the number of countries, states and U.S. territories represented.
“I don’t know if you’ll find a more international tournament like this, except for the Olympics,” Hobbs said after counting 11 countries, 33 states and two territories.
What are they, you ask?
*deep breath*
Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, England, South Korea, Philippines, Peru, Nigeria, Canada, Ireland and the United States.
*deep breath*
New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Mississippi, Colorado, Michigan, Idaho, Iowa, Hawai’i, Illinois, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Washington, Missouri, New York, Nevada, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alaska, Arizona, Alabama, New Mexico, Maryland, Delaware, North Dakota and Minnesota.
ANNNNNNDDDDD …
Puerto Rico and Guam.
***
Perhaps the most taken for granted and thankless jobs there are at a Far East tournament are those reserved for student volunteers who spent much of the week as timers and scoreboard keepers. They probably get yelled at more than anybody else – “HOW MUCH TIME LEFT?” and “THE POINTS ARE WRONG!” – just as the many involved with athletics who do jobs in which they please 46 percent of the people 50 percent of the time.
Nile C. Kinnick High School juniors Sheila Rojo and Khaimook Grosshuesch raised their hands to volunteer to work the table at Mat 4, “because we wanted to help the school out,” Grosshuesch said.
Clearly, the tasty carrot is the getting out of class aspect, which is why most volunteers are the upper crust of students who can handle the books as well as the stopwatches. “We get out of class, but we have to make up the assignments later,” Grosshuesch said.
What are the biggest challenges of keeping time and the flip-down scoreboard?
“Being precise about the timing,” Rojo said.
“Keeping up with the referee” as he signals points, sometimes in bang-bang fashion as wrestlers turn each other over, Grosshuesch said.
Thank you, and the so many others, for what you do.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 13, 2012
The kid battled the veteran, and a returning Far East Wrestling Tournament gold medalist at that, for position in their 108-pound round-robin bout on Monday. Freshman Brandon Beaumont of Robert D. Edgren and reigning weight-class champion Steven Walter of Kubasaki fought for the advantage, then came crashing down together, side by side.
For full-field results of every last pool-play bout on Monday, plus KAIAC Division II basketball tournament and conference awards and photos of Monday's Kinnick vs. Zama boys basketball game at Atsugi, click here.
Opportunity knocked. And Beaumont simply did what any wrestler presented an opportunity would do – he covered his quarry, pinning Walter in 1 minute, 47 seconds.
Humble and unassuming, Beaumont himself seemed overwhelmed by what he’d done.
“Somewhat of a surprise,” he said. “I guess what happened, happened.”
“He’s a good kid,” coach Justin Edmonds said. “They’re all good kids.”
Granted, the victory occurred during pool-play, and didn’t relegate Walter in any way to a knockout round or diminish his chances at a repeat title in any way.
But Walter wasn’t the only one to rediscover that staying at the top can sometimes be harder than getting to the top.
Brett Hammontree of Osan American scored just as big an eyebrow raiser, a two-period decision over Thomas Cioppa of Kadena in which Hammontree started out slowly, but scored two three-point throws in the second period to finish him off.
It was a great way for Hammontree, a 122-pounder, to return to the Far East circuit; he missed most of last season with a knee injury and was hungry to get back on the mat.
“He’s a good wrestler,” Hammontree said of Cioppa. “He gave it his all; I just gave a little more.”
The lesson to be learned by both the reigning champions and those who would want to bring them down? “You have to bring the same attitude as you did the year before,” Hammontree said.
Those who figured to make deep runs at a first gold medal also found some roadblocks on Monday’s opening day of the 35th Far East High School Wrestling Tournament.
Nile C. Kinnick’s 180-pounder Aaron Stravers, who had gone a pedestrian 1-4 against Mitchell Harrison of Zama American, not only beat Harrison but pinned him for the first time.
“I think I have a chance now, definitely,” Stravers said.
Girls enjoyed their moment in the sun as well. Shaira Espino of reigning island champion Simon Sanchez won a pair of round-robin bouts, but refused to look too far ahead nor pronounce herself a contender for the 101-pound weight title.
“I wouldn’t want to say anything,” said Espino, who won silver at the Guam All-Island meet two months ago. “Each match, I pretend it’s my first match.”
Neophyte programs such as Matthew C. Perry of Japan, which brought just two wrestlers to Far East, also reveled in the spotlight when Connor Hadlock, a 158-pounder, recorded the first bout win in school history by pinning Steve Parotte of Daegu High in 1:19.
“It feels great,” Hadlock said. “Getting here and winning one just now, it’s awesome.”
Four years ago, Craig Bell, a student at Perry, won the 122-pound gold medal, but was technically listed as a member of E.J. King’s team and scored team points for the Cobras. In 2004, Adam Krievs, who divided his senior year between Kinnick and Perry High Schools and wrestled at Far East unattached, won a bronze at 180.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 13, 2012
UPDATES with new girls top 15.
Boys
1. Kubasaki, Okinawa (17-14): Dragons capture second straight OAC season series title.
2. Seoul American (22-7): Bounced back from first high-school loss to win KAIAC tournament title.
3. American School In Japan (13-1): How to contend against the Mustangs? Slow the pace!
4. Morrison Academy, Taiwan (20-1): Far East is next for the Mustangs.
5. Robert D. Edgren, Japan (17-2). Eagles keep soaring after DODDS Japan tourney title.
6. Kadena, Okinawa (11-13): Panthers fall victim to second-hald Dragons rally.
7. Faith Academy, Philippines (19-6). Vanguards open against Seoul American at Far East.
8, Yokota, Japan (18-7): Played well all weekend until the final quarter against Edgren in DODDS Japan final.
9. Okkodo, Guam (9-1): Bulldogs shining atop the Guam heap.
10. George Washington, Guam (8-2): Geckos have dropped two of last three.
11. Daegu High, South Korea (13-9): Lost in KAIAC final; could still contend for Far East D-II title.
12. Matthew C. Perry, Japan (13-9): Didn’t fare well at DODDS Japan; could be a Far East D-II darkhorse.
13. Yongsan International-Seoul, South Korea (13-6): Strong regular season, KAIAC tournament finish.
14. Zama American, Japan (13-11): Trojans could be standing at the cusp of Far East D-II title contention.
15. Taejon Christian International, South Korea (12-6). Not the best showing for the Dragons, but their best season in years.
Dropped out: Father Duenas Memorial, Guam.
Random observations—Seoul American will likely use the first two days of Far East, pool play, to gauge if Bryant McCray is back all the way from an ankle sprain. They’re close to where they want to be. … Take the air out of the basketball, especially with no shot clock. That may be the way to neutralize ASIJ’s full-court game. History shows that formula works, and St. Mary’s International set the template for that. … Trailing 47-34 after three quarters against Yokota in the DODDS Japan final, it looked as if the Robert D. Edgren boys’ “great at home, not-so-great on the road” reputation was safe. Then the Eagles blew that reputation to smithereens, outscoring the Panthers 21-6 in the final period. Not only can they win on the road, they can do it in pressure situations. … Shut down C.J. Crenshaw and you have a fighting chance to stop Kubasaki. Problem with that is, nobody’s been able to lately.
Girls
1. Yokota, Japan (24-1): Panthers swap places with Mustangs based on second straight DODDS Japan tournament title.
2. American School In Japan (10-1): Not that much of a gap between ASIJ and the top.
3. Kadena, Okinawa (16-7): Second straight OAC season series sweep in the books.
4. Faith Academy, Philippines (15-4): Far East D-I tournament next.
5. Seoul American (17-5): Falcons bypass one of their two regular-season tormentors.
6. Daegu High, South Korea (16-2): From regular-season champions to KAIAC tournament bronze medalists.
7. Nile C. Kinnick, Japan (22-7): Not a very good week at DODDS Japan.
8. Zama American, Japan (12-10): Don’t look now, but this team has really come out.
9. Seoul Foreign (17-7). Nice KAIAC tournament run to end season
10. Notre Dame, Guam (season complete). See Faith.
11. Yongsan International-Seoul (14-7): Closed the KAIAC tournament by ousting Seoul Foreign and regular-season champion Daegu High.
12. Simon Sanchez, Guam (season complete).
13. Morrison Academy, Taiwan (8-9): That record might not mean much come Far East D-II. Mustangs always pride themselves on defense.
14. Okkodo, Guam (season complete).
15. Academy of Our Lady of Guam (season complete).
Random observations—They may not be as athletic as the Liz Gleaves-Jordan Elliott-Desintee Harrison teams, but Seoul American is primed to make a run at a fourth straight Far East D-I tournament final berth. … Trinity Davis showed no signs of discomfort from that leg injury suffered in January and Yokota is playing that much better for it. … Beating Kinnick 51-49 in the DODDS Japan tournament? Are you kidding me? Zama went 4-2 for the week, and coach Mark Millington is talking about how the team is bent on “hanging the (D-II) banner” instead of rebuilding as it was in November. … Something’s just not right in Red Devil Nation. … Daegu need not far too much about its middling KAIAC tournament performance. Many a DODDS team that finished third in that tournament went on to win the Far East D-II title. … So much – for now – about the talk that Kubasaki was ready to take down Kadena. But that says more about respect for the Dragons than anything. The Panthers were very concerned going into last Thursday’s game at Kubasaki, and their play showed it. Don’t expect Kadena to look past any foe the rest of the way.
Think your ratings are more accurate? Shout it out! Be true to your school, and remember: You’ve entered THE “No-Hate Zone.” :)
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 11, 2012
“All those shots in the driveway,” Yokota coach Paul Ettl said, helped his daughter Erika take the first step up to a higher level of ball.
The All-Far East senior basketball guard has signed a national letter of intent to play point guard and shooting guard at Valley City State University in North Dakota. Between athletic, academic and diversity student aid, Ettl will get “nearly a full ride” to play for the Vikings of the Dakota Athletic Conference. They’re 15-13 overall and 0-4 in conference with two regular-season games left.
Ettl has been the face of Yokota girls basketball for four seasons, leading the Panthers to a third-place finish in the Far East Division I Tournament last February at Naval Station, Guam, and DODDS Japan championship in her senior year.
“I’m excited, looking forward to see what the next level is like,” Ettl said.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 11, 2012
His star came and went quickly, both for Kadena in 2008 where he was named Outstanding Freshman, and 2009 and 2010, where he set school records in the intermediate and high hurdles before moving on to Syracuse High (N.Y.) for his senior year.
Cory Serfoss is now making a name for himself at Villanova, a Division I school in the Big East Conference. Give a peek at his bio page. Nice to see an ex-Pacific star shining brightly at the next level!
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 10, 2012
Thursday’s 58-28 drubbing by Kadena over Kubasaki may have seemed like more of the same between the two girls basketball teams throughout the Okinawa Activities Council regular season. Everything is not what it seems, though, with regard to the teams’ regular-season finale.
Kadena knew it was up against a much improved Dragons team, coach Willie Ware said. Not only had Kubasaki taken the Panthers to overtime on Kadena’s home court the last time they faced them, Sydney Johnson scored 36 points in the Dragons’ 65-60 home loss on Monday to Kitanakagusuku. And Kadena had to play the season finale in the Dragons’ Den.
Thus, it was with a newfound sense of urgency that the Panthers took the court against a Dragons team playing with a “newfound confidence,” Ware said. It may have been a 30-point victory, but it was nothing like their previous encounters.
“Our defense was on target. The girls came out focused,” Ware said. “Kubasaki is not a pushover any more. We didn’t want to come in unprepared and get steamrolled. We created turnovers and got layups in transition.”
Kubasaki's boys, meanwhile, got a 32-point performance from C.J. Crenshaw and battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit to beat Kadena 76-67 and clinch the OAC season series three games to one.
The next time the two teams might meet would be in the Far East Division I Tournaments, the girls Feb. 20-25 at Yokota and the boys at Naval Station, Guam.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 10, 2012
Looks like Major League Baseball fans of all ages at Yokota Air Base and Camp Zama will see a special group of visitors come late March when the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s come to Tokyo to open the 2012 season, officials told Stripes on Thursday.
Oakland plans to send a handful of players to Yokota on March 25 and the Mariners to do likewise on March 26 to Zama for handshake, photo and autograph sessions. Keep an eyeball glued to your base’s commanders’ access channels and Facebook pages for details.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 8, 2012
The answer: There will be a new No. 1 atop Stripes’ boys basketball ratings early next week.
The question: Who will it be?
The first warning shot: Tuesday at Capps Gym, where the homestanding Yokota Panthers, playing American School In Japan for the first time with the luxury of no shot clock, played stall ball the first two periods, got a huge game inside from A.J. Eldridge, and held off the Mustangs 50-44, ASIJ’s first loss in 14 games.
That may have been easier done, though, than Yokota’s 48-41 victory the very next night at home over Christian Academy Japan.
Two reasons for this:
1) Yokota spent a great deal of emotional energy beating ASIJ, something palpable in the crowd’s behavior on Wednesday. The Panthers admittedly came out flat against CAJ.
2) Everybody knows where they stand against ASIJ, which prides itself on open-floor fast-break, press-and-transition ball. CAJ? The Knights are this year’s Forrest Gump box of chocolates team: You never know what you’re going to get. If CAJ’s firing on all cylinders, look out. And that’s what makes the 4-9 Knights so dangerous.
Right now, ASIJ still sits atop the pile, followed by Kubasaki, which hosts No. 4 Kadena on Thursday, and Seoul American, which plays in the Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference Division I Tournament this weekend at Seoul Foreign. Even Yokota (15-6) might have an outside shot at the top if the Panthers can win the DODDS Japan Tournament, also at Capps Gym, this weekend.
What does SportsBlog Nation think? Who’s going to be the new No. 1? Shout it out! But remember, you've entered THE "No-Hate Zone." :)
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 6, 2012
Start making those flight arrangements to Inchon International Airport and those reservations at the Dragon Hill Lodge. The 22nd Pacificwide Open Interservice Softball Tournament is on.
Jeff Jackson, vice president for business development for DRASH, a military clothier, said via Facebook message that he’s worked with Yongsan Garrison command and the tournament will happen May 25-28 at the Lombardo Field FourPlex on Yongsan’s south post.
The format stays the same as last year, Jackson said. That means an open- and post-level teams tournament, plus one for company-level teams and one for women. The men’s open tournament will feature pool play plus two double-elimination brackets with the winners squaring off in a best-of-three final.
Entry fee is the same as last year, $500. While the entry deadline is May 10, “that may slide one way or the other” as DRASH and Yongsan command finalise details. For information, e-mail jjackson@drash.com or phone 914-806-3473 for now. DRASH plans to set up a tournament Facebook page. Once a point of contact within the garrison is established, Jackson says he’ll provide it.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: February 6, 2012
Yongsan International School-Seoul had its beginnings 22 years ago as International Christian School-Seoul, part of the Network of International Christian Schools. Something in the title must have been translated to read “Seoul American High School boys basketball team’s personal piñata.”
Never in its long history, not after converting to YIS-Seoul seven years ago, had the Guardians defeated the Falcons. In fact, seven years ago, the Falcons helped christen the new school by beating the Guardians by 60 points.
Until Friday. 45-39 at YIS-Seoul. Streak and a long piece of history over.
YIS-Seoul held all Falcons players except Tomiwa Akinbayo to four points or fewer (Akinbayo had 21), while holding SAHS as a team to 29-percent field goal shooting. Raymond Lee led three Guardians in double-figure scoring. Jon Bai just missed a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.
“It was certainly a team win,” coach Daniel Hale said of his 8-5 Guardians.
“We had a definite gameplan and we executed. We kept the turnovers low and took the right shots at the right time. Today, they fell. Our defense is solid. It has been all season. Our offense stepped it up. And our seniors really put team before themselves.”
The win, Hale said, goes out to “all the players who have come through the program and the coaches who have spent so much time developing this program.” One of them, Steve Epps, won a Far East Division II Tournament title in 2008 at the Guardians’ helm.
“God deserves the glory, and that’s where the boys want the glory to go,” Hale said.
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