Akana uses football as his mat motivation

To say Cameron Akana has kept a positive outlook in the face of adversity is an understatement.

Saturday at the KingCo 3A wrestling championships, that positive outlook paid off. Using the tough results of past football seasons as motivation, Akana captured the 215-pound title at Liberty High School in his senior season.

Akana, a talented lineman who has been a consistent force for the Totems for the past four seasons, has seen some tough days at Sammamish; in the past four seasons, the football team has gone 7-33.

"That's my motivation for wrestling," Akana said after his win over Mercer Island's T.J. Blackburn. "If I can't go far in football, I sure as heck can in wrestling."

Akana, also a member of the Totems choir, placed fourth in the same weight class last year. His motivation in wrestling, he said, comes down to the fact that success or failure is all dependent upon his performance.

"It's something I can control the outcome in," he said.

Akana reached the championship match with a pin of Mercer Island's Austen Davis in the first round and a 6-1 victory over Liberty's Chris Harlin in the semi's. The senior made quick work of Blackburn in the finals, pinning the sophomore in just 58 seconds.

"I always want to be the one to take control, to have the advantage," Akana said of his strategy during the final. "From there, I just work and wrestle, do what I'm taught."

The victory finally gives the senior a title to call all his own.

Contact Bellevue Reporter Sports Writer Joel Willits at jwillits@bellevuereporter.com or 425-453-5045.

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