Punahou won its first Chevron/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Boys Wrestling Championship since 1968 last night, outdistancing second-place Kamehameha, 161.5 points to 141, before a crowd of about 2,700 at Blaisdell Arena.

The Buffanblu began the day with a tiny 1/2-point lead over the Warriors (71.5 to 71), but sent eight boys into the evening championship and consolation final rounds and all eight scored points to help Punahou pull away.

"We've come so far, this is great for the program," said junior Daniel Chow, who won the Buffanblu's only individual championship at 140 pounds. "I knew everybody would step up today, and everybody did."

Punahou also had three runner-up finishes: Bryson Fukushima at 112 pounds, Arnold Toriumi at 125 and Josh Plechaty at 145 in one of the most anticipated and exciting matches of the tournament against Kahuku's Richard Torres.

The Buffanblu also got two third-place finishes, from Reid Oshiro at 119 pounds and Kenny White at 152. Also, Rudie Schaefer took fourth at 160 pounds and Maika Nagata took fifth at 130.

"All of the kids stepped up and wrestled great," said longtime Punahou coach Matt Oney. "Our senior leadership was fantastic."

The Buffanblu won their first Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship since 1978 last year, then repeated as ILH champ last week.

Last night's victory came after years of watching league counterparts 'Iolani, Kamehameha and Saint Louis hoist the state championship trophy.

"This is a culmination of a lot of people's efforts," Oney said. "A lot of alumni and coaches have come back to help the program over the years, and it's a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to this senior class."

The night was historic for other wrestlers as well.

Lahainaluna junior Lake Casco, who won at 152 pounds, became the third Casco brother to win an individual state title. Kainoa won the 160-pound championship in 2002 and the 152 crown in 2001. Kawika won the title at 171 pounds in 2000 and the 152-pound title in 1999.

Torres and sister Kapua, the 108-pound state champ from Kahuku in 2003, are believed to be the first brother-sister combination to win state titles.

Richard Torres defeated Plechaty, who was the state champ at 103 pounds as a freshman, in an intense 9-5 victory.

And Campbell brothers Lowen and Miles Tynanes-Perez almost entered the history books by winning individual state titles. Lowen won the championship at 160 pounds with a 6-3 victory over Moloka'i's Clinton Manley, and Miles lost in overtime to Leilehua's Mike Mullen, 1-0, in the 275-pound finals.

Waipahu's Branden Mina joined Chow as the only repeat champions by taking the title at 119 pounds with a victory over Wai'anae's Raymond Mathewson. Mina injured his right arm during his O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship victory last week.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.