Kyoto Yawata Wins High School Invitational Team Title

NIIGATA, Niigata (March 27-28) – Kyoto Yawata defeated high school national champion Hanasaki Tokuharu of Saitama, 4-3, in the final of the National High School Invitational for its second “senbatsu” team title and first since 2008.

The Kyoto wrestlers won the first three bouts, two by technical fall, at Niigata municipal gymnasium, but it took a 3-1 decision by Toshiyuki WAKITA at 84kg to seal the victory for the west Japan school.

The third-place trophies went to Hiryu high school of Shizuoka and Wakayama Kita. It was the second straight consolation trophy for Hiryu, while Wakayama Kita became the first school from Wakayama to win a third-place trophy in the invitational.

Championship final results:

Kyoto Hachiman df. Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama), 4-3

50kg – Takuma TANIYAMA (Kyo) df. Natsuki OTANI by TF, 11-0, 2:31

55kg – Ryutaro HAYAMA (Kyo) df. Yuto TSUCHIYA by TF, 11-0, 4:19

60kg – Kojiro SHIGA (Kyo) df. Rui SAKASAI, 4-1

66kg – Tsuyoshi NAKAMURA (Hana) df. Yuki TAKEMOTO by TF, 11-0, 2:56

74kg – Minto MAEDA (Hana) df. Raiki NAKABAYASHI, 3-0

84kg – Toshiyuki WAKITA (Kyo) df. Kazuhisa FURUICHI, 3-1

120kg – Takashi ISHIGURO (Hana) df. Ryoma MOKUMOTO by TF, 10-0, 1:20

Semifinals

Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama) df. Hiryu (Shizuoka), 4-3

Kyoto Hachiman df. Wakayama Kita, 4-3

Quarterfinals

Hiryu df. Ashikaga Kodai (Tochigi), 7-0

Hanasaki Tokuharu df. Tamana Kogyo (Kumamoto), 4-3

Kyoto Hachiman df. Saitama Sakae, 5-2

Wakayama Kita df. Kanoya Chuo (Kagoshima), 4-3

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