ISLE FILE
Hawai'i surfers advance at World Junior meet
Advertiser Staff
Eleven of the 12 surfers from Hawai'i advanced in the winners bracket of the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Championship yesterday.
The second day of the contest was completed in 2- to 3-foot waves at Caparica Beach, Portugal.
In the Boys 18 division, Kai Barger, Tonino Benson, Kekoa Cazimero and Granger Larsen advanced to the third round of the winners bracket. Benson, who is from the Big Island, won the Boys 16 division world title in 2005.
In the Boys 16 division, Keanu Asing, Dylan Goodale and Albee Layer advanced to the third round of the winners bracket. Asing was one of the day's standouts, receiving a two-wave score of 12.83.
Tanner Hendrickson of Maui lost in the second round and dropped to the consolation bracket.
In the Girls 18 division, Alana Blanchard, Monica Byrne-Wickey, Leila Hurst and Alessa Quizon won first-round heats to advance to the second round of the winners bracket.
More than 260 surfers representing 28 countries are participating in the event. Hawai'i is entered as its own nation because of its storied history in the sport.
JUDO
IBERA STRIKES GOLD
Honolulu's Taylor Ibera won the women's 44-kilogram (97-pound) division at the USA Judo Senior National Championships last month in Miami.
Ibera, from the Hawai'i Tenri Club, was unbeaten in a round-robin division that included 2006 Pan Am Team member Veronica Prado and top-ranked Alexa Liddie.
Melinda Swanson, also from Hawai'i Tenri, took third in the Women's Open division. Derrick Kerr, of Hawai'i Tokai International, took second in the Masters 45-to-49 division for 100 kilograms-plus (220 pounds).
TAKATA GRABS BRONZE
Taylor Takata, a 2000 'Iolani graduate from Wahiawa, won a bronze medal at an international tournament in Havana, Cuba, last month.
Takata, who trains at the USA Judo national training center in Harlingen, Texas, competes in the 66-kilogram (145.5-pound) division.
WRESTLING
THREE CLAIM SILVER
Three wrestlers from Hawai'i earned second-place finishes at last month's Body Bar Women's National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.
In the University Women's Freestyle competition, Honolulu's Sadie Kaneda was runner-up in the 105.5-pound division; Kailua's Dany Hedin fell in the final of the 121-pound division, while Honolulu's Mary Shamblin took fifth; and Wailuku's Shyla Iokia reached the 130-pound final before falling.
GOLF
PUBLINX ENTRY DEADLINE
Tomorrow is the entry deadline for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, to be played June 18 to 23 at Kearney Hill Golf Links, in Lexington, Ky. Cost to enter is $50.
The USGA championship is open to female amateur golfers who are public course players.
To obtain an application, call the USGA at (908) 234-2300 or download the form at www.usga.org. Golfers need to select one of approximately 40 qualifying sites.
Qualifiers will be held nationwide from May 20 to June 2, with spots awarded at each site to fill the field of 156 players.
Hawai'i's qualifiers are May 20 at Wailua, May 26 at Kapalua Bay and June 2 at Ala Wai.
