Wrestling: Girls will crown Far East champs on mat for first time

Kubasaki’s Raegan Cayce pins Kadena’s Emily Perez-Golden.

Kubasaki’s Raegan Cayce pins Kadena’s Emily Perez-Golden. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – A mixture of excitement blended with a healthy dash of nerves.

That’s how most, if not all, of the competitors said they were feeling as they approached this week’s DODEA-Pacific Far East High School Wrestling tournament for girls at Kadena High School.

“I’m excited to see what the mainland (Japan) and Korea schools have brought here,” said Kadena senior 112-pounder Juli Thompson, renowned for her pink coif as well as her wrestling ability. “I’m more excited than nervous. It’s going to be good competition.”