Iolani's KJ Pascua is the second-seed in the boys 152 pound division and is looking for his second state title this weekend. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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There was a time when Iolani ruled the world of boys wrestling.

No other program comes close to the Raiders' 12 team championships in the 50-year history of the state tournament, but it's been more than a dozen years since their last crown.

That could all change at this weekend's Chevron Hawaii/Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Championships, where Iolani is a prohibitive favorite to win it all.

The two-day tournament gets underway Friday morning at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.

The Raiders boast not just quantity, but quality in their numbers. They have 13 entrants in the tournament — one in every weight class. Six of them are league champions and two of them — 120-pounder Jake Nakasone and heavyweight Dane Yamashiro — are No. 1 seeds in their respective divisions.

"We have hopes and expectations that each of our kids will get to day two and get us some points," Iolani coach Walden Au said. "We would love to get championships from a few individuals, but our message has been that everyone has a part and if we get that team title, it will be a result of not only our individual champions, but everyone fighting and getting points on the board for one another."

This season Iolani captured its first Interscholastic League of Honolulu title in 12 years, according to Au.

"In terms of impact, I think it's pretty huge for us," Au said. "I think for the kids to finally get something in terms of a tangible championship for the team was a great feeling for them. We've always had some solid individuals, but never really the full depth of the team so that brought the kids together and hopefully helps to get them ready for states."

Longtime Lahainaluna coach Todd Hayase said that if the preseason is any indication, the Raiders should be the ones hoisting the team title come Saturday night.

"If you use Officials and the Moanalua duals as a measure, obviously Iolani is an odds-on favorite," said Hayase, whose team became the first-ever neighbor island school to win the crown last year. "Those are usually two great guides to see who is the top team and they won both."

Other teams expected to contend are Baldwin, Campbell, Leilehua, Kamehameha and Kapolei.

"I think Campbell and Leilehua are going to give Iolani a challenge for sure and I think Baldwin has a shot as well, but I think from top to bottom Iolani is pretty solid," Punahou coach Yoshi Honda.

Honda, himself a three-time individual state champion for Radford in the early ‘80s, has a special bond with the Raiders' program. He was the last coach to lead them to a state title back in 2003. Many of the current Iolani coaches wrestled under Honda.

"Those boys are now the coaches, which makes it really great for me, and they won a state championship as well" Honda said. "It's probably one of the greatest things ever. I'm just so proud and so happy for them. They've put a lot of work into it and gave back to the kids and that's what it's all about. I'm really excited for them."

Make no mistake, however, Au isn't counting his chickens before they hatch.

"i still think it's anyone's game," Au said. "There are a lot of tough teams out there with a lot of tough wrestlers so we're not going to take anything for granted. We're going to take it one match at a time and hopefully we'll find ourselves in a good place come Saturday."

Individually, eight boys will be vying for their second state crown. Two of them — Iolani's KJ Pascua and Leilehua's Liam Corbett — appear to be on a crash course for one another in the 152-pound bracket. Pascua, who won at 145 pounds last season, is the No. 2 seed. Corbett won the weight class a year ago, is the top seed.

Two other returning state champs are the top seeds at 132 pounds. Kamehameha's Blaysen Terukina moved up from 120, where he won last year, and is the No. 1 seed. Kapolei's Shandon Ilaban-Totten, who claimed the 126-pound division last year, is the No. 2 seed.

Matches begin at 10 a.m. Friday. Saturday's championship finals are expected to begin around 4:30 p.m.