Waialua Wrestler Doubling Up On Practice For State Title
The all-consuming effort that Waialua’s Treylan Kobayashi puts forth on the wrestling mat never wavers. Indeed, when the prep wrestling season reaches tournament time, the senior has yet another gear.
“Around the time of the (OIA) Western finals, I start doubling up on my practice time – I practice with Waialua, and I practice with my club (Grapplers),” he said. “I like the determination and drive it takes and how wrestling pushes you.”
Kobayashi is hoping to put the final touches on what has been an impressive prep career at this weekend’s state wrestling championships.
He finished second at last year’s state finals in the 114-pound weight class and needed a strong performance over this past weekend in the OIA overall finals to officially ensure a slot in this week-end’s state tournament.
Kobayashi already had captured the OIA Western Division individual championship Feb. 9.
In addition to finishing second in the state last season, he also finished second in both the West and the OIA. As a sophomore, Kobayashi won both the West and the OIA and finished fifth in the state in the 108-pound weight class.
As long as he can remember, Kobayashi has wanted to win an individual state championship.
“I’ve thought about competing in the Blaisdell Arena since I was a kid,” he said.
“It’s been a pretty big goal for me.”
Kobayashi’s introduction to wrestling began at home. Older brothers Wes and Toran competed for Waialua during their own high school days. Today Wes Kobayashi is Waialua’s head coach, while Toran assists.
“I used to go every day to the wrestling room to watch them practice, and I went to all of their matches,” Treylan said. “I was in fourth grade when I started in the PAL League. My brother has been my coach from then to now.”
Asked if the brothers engage in competition at home, Treylan said with a laugh, “It prevents us from fighting, so we just wrestle.
“We get along,” added Kobayashi, who was still undefeated at press time at 18-0. “It’s all fun. We’re a wrestling family. My dad (Kenlan) wrestled (for Waialua High School) in the 1980s.”
Except for approximately two months, Kobayashi wrestles “pretty much year-round.” Last summer, he competed in his age group for Team Hawaii at the U.S. Wrestling Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
“For the couple of months I have off, I like to go to the beach and fish and hunt – outdoor things.”
“When I got to intermediate (school), I really became more serious about my training,” he added.
“I gave up other sports for wrestling. I used to play football in the ninth grade.”
Nine years after taking up the sport, Treylan’s will to work remains one of his best attributes as a wrestler, according to Wes Kobayashi.
“He has the motivation and drive – he’ll go the extra mile every day in practice,” he said. “The sport grew on him. He enjoys it.”
