Three Red Raiders accept Division I football scholarships

Family members, classmates, friends and media in the Kahuku High gymnasium watched as eight Kahuku High athletes signed letters of intent on February 3, 2010, accepting scholarship offers to play college football this Fall.

And even as school officials were getting ready to start the annual ceremony, at least one other current athlete sat out while she decided which offer to accept, and several additional scholarship offers came in by fax for two alumni.

Those signing during the ceremony included:

• Hauoli Jamora, University of Washington
• Jackson Kaka, New Mexico State University
• Kona Schwenke, Notre Dame
• Veteson Sauni, Weber State University
• Jaron Compoc-Hurlbutt, Pasadena City College
• Johnny Tupola, Pasadena City College
• Jase Toomalatai, Pasadena City College
• Shaun Fuataga, Pasadena City College
• And from Farrington High, signing in Honolulu, the heavily recruited former Hauula resident VJ Fehoko, University of Utah

After the ceremony, former girls volleyball head coach Uila Vendiola said that Amanda Tonga is "still looking at her options" to play at the next level. "Amanda hasn't made a decision yet. BYU–Hawaii has expressed interest, HPU has been wanting her, and there are some colleges from the mainland. I think Cal State Fullerton is one of them. She wants to make sure she's happy with the school she goes to."

She added that "five of the seven" senior girl volleyball players "are also looking at colleges, and because they play club ball, they're still being recruited."

Football head coach Reggie Torres said the faxed offers came from Golden West College (in Huntington Beach, California) for Kahuku High alumni Pita Tanuvasa and Kimball Niumatalolo. Torres also said that several other Red Raiders are still working on tentative offers, including:

• Ikaika Keoho and Bernard Salazar, Pasadena City College
• Blaze Kubota, Golden West College
• Sage Kaka and Vili Pasi are preparing to serve Latter-day Saint [Mormon] missions before accepting offers…

…but at least one name was missing from the lists above — All-State kicker Cameron Mercado. Torres explained that UH, Northwestern and Wyoming want him, but "he hasn't been answering phone calls" since he returned to Florida for family reasons at Christmas break.

Athletic director Joe Whitford pointed out that these latest athletes join 31 other Kahuku High alumni who are currently on Division I football scholarships, "and we're hoping to continue this trend as we send more of our student-athletes out to these great universities."

"It has always been the ultimate goal of our program for our students to pursue higher education," Coach Torres added. "There are a lot more [former] Kahuku athletes in junior colleges and Division-II schools. We're proud of these kids and we wish the boys the best of luck as they continue their education."

"We're also happy to see these kids going to different colleges, and opening the door for us. For example, we have a first-timer for Washington and Notre Dame, and Benji Kemoeatu's already at West Virginia, so we're setting new grounds."

Going into the signing process, family and friends watched with interest as two of Kahuku's most heavily recruited players received lots of media attention while they changed their minds from earlier verbal commitments:

Hawaii All-State Defensive Co-Player of the Year Hauoli Jamora [pictured at right, being interviewed by KITV] had verbally committed in June 2009 to play for BYU, the first Division I school to offer him a scholarship; but by mid-season last fall he was looking at Boise State and the University of Washington, with the Huskies ultimately getting the nod.

Jamora said making the decision "was kind of hard. There was a lot of pressure from the coaches, family and the community. Staying home would be nice: I love my family and a lot of people could watch me play, but ultimately going away is the best thing for me." That, plus "the whole package" Washington offered, gave the Huskies the edge, he said. "After my visit, they blew [the others] away."

Kona Schwenke's recruiting path took some interesting turns, especially in the past few weeks: BYU was the first D-I school to extend a scholarship offer to Schwenke, in 2008 yet, while he was still a junior. Over time other offers came from Colorado, Oregon State, San Diego, UNLV, Utah, Wyoming, UH and Washington . . . before the tall defensive end verbally committed to the BYU Cougars in July 2009. However, Kona's decision to make an official visit to Notre Dame the last weekend in January 2010 prompted BYU to pull its offer . . . setting the stage for Schwenk'e signing with the Irish.

"When I went to visit [Notre Dame], I really liked the school. I came back and talked with my family about it, and a day later we decided that was the place for me to go," Schwenke said. "BYU is a great school, too, and I love the coaches; but, unfortunately, it didn't work out." He added that he's thinking of majoring in engineering, and contemplating serving a Latter-day Saint [Mormon] mission.

Asked about the earlier verbal commitment, McKay Schwenke, Kona's father [pictured at left with his wife and son], said, "It sounded as if BYU gave us an ultimatum, if Kona was to visit Notre Dame, they would pull the scholarship. It's sad what happened, but we have no ill feelings toward BYU and, hopefully, they have no ill feelings toward us. Kona, of course, had to make a decision based on what was left on the table, and he chose Notre Dame."

"It was a very hard decision, and we wanted to make sure it was the right one for him," the father added. "Knowing that we were LDS, Notre Dame also set up an interview with the local bishop up there, and also got to see the church facilities up there. He reports June 6: He's going to take six credits over the summer and get his workouts in as well. We're all excited."

On another note, the senior Schwenke mentioned that Kona will be their first child to leave home [older sister Telavie Schwenke graduated from Kahuku last year, but is still at home]: "You dread this moment, and sometimes you can't wait for it to happen; but when it finally gets here, it's hard. I know my wife and I are going to get emotional as we get closer to his graduation."

Taking another perspective on going away to play football, Jackson Kaka, son of Jim and Julie Ann Kaka of Laie, said he doesn't think winters in New Mexico will be much different from those he knew in his native New Zealand. He added he put the rugby skills he acquired there into play on the gridiron when he moved here in the ninth grade.

After the ceremony, Kahuku High Behavioral Health Specialist Kingsley Ah You of Laie, who went through his own signing process 22 years ago, said, "I'm very proud of the parents and the student-athletes for the opportunities that their God-given talents have afforded them in furthering their education, and most importantly helping out the parents in paying for it."

"Thanks, too, to Coach Reggie and his staff, and the wonderful teachers here at Kahuku," Ah You continued. "I just hope the young men do their very best in finishing off this school year and getting ready for college." He added it's an even more exciting time because his oldest son, Quayd Ah You, is a freshman. "If he can play just a little like his grandpa [Junior Ah You], I'll be real happy."

As the last people were leaving the gym, Joe Whitford said, "It's another good year. The legacy continues. I also hope the student-athletes take full advantage of these opportunities, because they will continue to open the doors for the kids coming down the road."

— Photos by Mike Foley