Kamehameha athlete Bree Rapoza aims high

Lia Kananipuamaeole Kamana

Hawaii News Now Article (Internship)

For two-sport athlete Bree Rapoza, dreaming big is nothing new. Her goal of winning eight state championships between her two sports, judo and wrestling, began at the young age of six years old.

“No one has really done it before for judo and wrestling and so I wanted to be the first and ever since I was six years old, I would train for that main reason,” said Rapoza.

Rapoza ended her career just shy of her goal, but her hard work and training paid off. Rapoza graduated with four judo state championships and three wrestling state championships. She has also been named the country’s top female wrestler twice and won a judo national championship at the age of nine.

“My dad taught me to prepare one step ahead, you always have to be one step ahead. Even if you are only in middle school you have to train like you are in high school, even if you are only in high school you have to train like you are ready to become a collegiate national champion, that’s always been the mindset and I love it,” said Rapoza.

Becoming that collegiate champion is Rapoza’s next goal and her coach since seventh grade, Bill Venenciano believes she has it in her.

Rapoza will be heading off to Missouri Baptist University on a full ride wrestling scholarship.

“My first step is to succeed in college,” said Rapoza. “And maybe one day if I reach that goal then maybe one day I will make it to the Olympics.”

Venenciano believes that Rapoza’s Olympic goal is well within reach.

“She has that potential to make it to the Olympics,” said Venenciano. “She is more than prepared to take on international competition.”

“It’s only a short term [goal] and the most I can do is try and that’s what I want to do even if I fail at least I tried,” said Rapoza. “At least I can say I tried to make it to the Olympics.”