The Punahou girls won their first Chevron/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships yesterday, and a couple of their wrestlers redeemed themselves in their senior years.

Punahou won with 150.5 points, defending champion Kahuku was second with 122 and 'Aiea was third with 87 at Neal Blaisdell Arena.

The Buffanblu's Jenny Ojerio (140 pounds) and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (155) won state championships, and Punahou had top 5 finishes in seven of the 11 weight classes.

"I'm so proud of them," said Punahou coach Matt Oney. "They've worked hard for lots and lots of years. We've had a really solid group of girls, but just not enough of them numbers-wise. This year, they really, really did a great job. Young and old came together."

Oney added he had 15 girls on the roster, and 10 of them qualified for the state tournament.

Ojerio and Macfarlane, both four-year letterwinners, won their first state titles.

Ojerio beat Hilo's Teenaysha Yadao in the final, 19-5; Macfarlane pinned Ahnjahlee Akuna of Hana at 1:14.

"It feels good to finally do it after four years of trying," said Ojerio, who competed at 125 and 130 previously. "I've been seeded first, but I've lost. So finally to finish the right way, it feels good."

Macfarlane lost in the state finals the previous two years at 155 and 140.

"It really feels good. It's awesome," she said. "It's way better than losing. I lost sophomore and junior year in the finals."

Macfarlane said she was driven not only to win an individual title, but also by Punahou's quest for its first girls team title.

The inaugural girls state championships was held in 1998.

"It motivated me more because our girls team, we had a chance of winning the state title as a team," Macfarlane said. "It motivated me more, like I have to do this for the girls."

Oney praised the leadership of Ojerio and Macfarlane.

"They've been with us since day 1," he said. "They started wrestling before they were even in high school. They were working out with us when they were in junior high. They're both really tough girls and it helps a lot to have tough girls working hard."

Punahou got third-place finishes by Nicole Taniguchi (98), Christina Chow (114) and Melinda Chow (120). Shelby Asato (125) placed fourth and Mary Jane Kaimana Lundquist (175) finished fifth.

Kahuku led Punahou in the team competition, 70-68, entering yesterday's semifinals and finals, but the Buffanblu quickly seized control.

Kahuku's highest-placing wrestler was Darian Auna, who was runner-up at 98. The Red Raiders had four fourth-place finishers and two fifth-place finishers.

Farrington's Taylor Ibera (98) and 'Iolani's Olivia Fatongia (220) retained their state titles.

Ibera pinned Kahuku's Auna at 1:15, and Fatongia pinned Kealakehe's Pomai Barton at 2:14.

"It was tough because I knew everybody was gunning for me," Ibera said. "This year I knew I had to work harder than the last, but it was worth it."

Three other wrestlers couldn't retain their titles: 'Iolani's Keiko Akamine (sixth at 103), Christina Chow (114) and Hawai'i Baptist's Risha Mishima (second at 130).