(For story in Scoring Live, click here)

For the third straight year, more than 200 female wrestlers took part in the Punahou Invitational Girls Wrestling Tournament

Tuesday at the Buffanblu's Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

The tournament, also known as The Paani Challenge, included wrestlers from 24 schools from six islands and one school from Arizona.

"I think we got some really good turnout again despite several of the schools having to opt out because they are still taking final exams, but overall I think the participation is fabulous and there's good representation from the neighbor islands, as always," tournament vice-chair Natalie Taniguchi said.

Wrestlers were placed into the A, B or C bracket of their respective weight classes - based on experience and ability - with the hope of getting each wrestler quality mat time...

Kalani Takase, Scoring Live

Last weekend the team flew from Sacramento, California to attended the Pa’ani Challenge and I wanted to take the time to congratulate and thank the school, coaches, and tournament staff.  The Punahou High School wrestling team provides a tournament like no other, the experience included an Olympian run clinic, a college fair and a motivational speaker in addition to a well run wrestling tournament.  I have never had a tournament experience like the one Punahou provided, and I think they should be a model of how tournaments should be run. More importantly, my wrestlers had an experience that they will never forget.  Your wrestlers, coaches and staff were all so welcoming, going so far as to give leis to our team and exchange shirts with them.  On behalf of the girls on our team I would like to thank you and the girls wrestling team and staff for doing such a great job.

Sacramento, California

I just wanted to say mahalo to you, and everyone else who put the Pa’ani together.  It’s such an awesome experience for our girls wrestlers in the State of Hawaii.  My one girl wrestler enjoyed it, and got to wrestle matches she normally wouldn’t during a regular season.  The students from Lanai don’t really get a chance to experience what our girl wrestler experienced this past weekend

Lana'i, Hawaii