Sylvia Lee | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

First-year Kamehameha boys wrestling coach Rob Hesia is taking his team's early-season success in stride.

The Warriors were the big surprise at the conclusion of the two-day Hawaii Wrestling Officials Association Scholarship Tournament, which wrapped up at Leilehua's Paul T. Kobayashi Gymnasium Saturday night. They edged out defending state champion Iolani by a mere two points, 134 1/2 to 132 1/2, to firmly put them on the radar as potential challengers to the state title come February.

While Kamehameha is hardly lacking the talent, the fact that it won what is considered to be the premiere preseason tournament in the state was a surprise to many — Hesia included.

"I didn't anticipate this, to be honest with you," Hesia said. "We do work hard and the kids buy in and they put out, but I mean, it's the beginning of the year. I'm focusing on states. This is just the beginning."

The Warriors finished eighth in last season's state tournament and had just one returning state place-finisher amongst its 12 entrants at Officials in 220-pounder Amir Mirza, who was fourth at 195 last year.

"Given that fact, my expectations were that we come out and just battle everybody," Hesia said. "I just wanted them to have that mentality that anybody can get it and that it doesn't matter if their opponent is a state champ. Just battle and stay with them and that's what they did; They battled everybody and we're going to continue to battle everybody."

While Iolani loaded up on first-place points from three individual champions, Kamehameha had just one individual winner in freshman Kysen Terukina, who defeated Damien senior Landon Obra-Nakata in the 113-pound final, 6-1.

But the Warriors also got supporting efforts from Matthew Perez at 132 pounds and Sheydan Dano at 195 — both of whom earned runner-up finishes.

"Sheydan Dano is my 170-pounder and he wrestled at 195," Hesia said. "That kid is fearless and I couldn't be any prouder of him. I couldn't be any prouder of any of them."

Three others picked up valuable points in consolation finals. Freshmen Brant Porter (106 pounds) and Kason Nitahara (145) placed third in their respective weight classes and Amir Mirza won his fifth-place bout at 220 pounds.

"All the kids that came out here and put out, every single one of them — whether they won of lost — they battled it out and they put it all on the line," Hesia said. "To get them to do that this early (in the season), that's all on them. They put in the work and they believe that they can be in any arena with anybody. That's on them, not me. I'm just the guy screaming."

Kamehameha has won five team state crowns, the last coming in 2013. While a victory at Officials was a big step in the right direction at closing the gap on Iolani, Hesia is cautious of looking down the line.

"We're focusing on us, we're focusing on match by match," said Hesia,. "This feels great, no doubt, but we don't want to change our mentality. We're still going to go out and battle everybody."

The Warriors return to the mat for the Moanalua Holiday Dual Meet Tournament on Dec. 28 and 29.