Neil Fagarang recently gave three Kaua‘i boys an experience of a lifetime. Kahale Fagarang, Paleku Yasay and Kupa Graycochea were chaperoned by Neil as they attended two football camps in Arizona. About 180 football players from seventh through 11th grades
Neil Fagarang recently gave three Kaua‘i boys an experience of a lifetime.
Kahale Fagarang, Paleku Yasay and Kupa Graycochea were chaperoned by Neil as they attended two football camps in Arizona.
About 180 football players from seventh through 11th grades took part in the Arizona State Sun Devil Camp that was held in 100-degree temperatures.
But the Kaua‘i boys persisted and Yasay was awarded the medal for Best Running back while Kahale raked in the Best Receiver medal.
As part of the camp, the boys were split up into teams, playing touch football against each other, Neil said.
Graycochea’s team made it to the semifinals but came up short in the end, having to watch as the winning team received ASU football jerseys.
This first camp was followed by the Mike Stoops Football Camp held at the University of Arizona for three days and attended by about 130 boys including day campers.
During this camp, the boys dormed at the UA facility with about 100 other football players from around the West Coast.
Neil said at both camps, the three Kaua‘i players got to meet other football players from Hawai‘i schools, including Punahou, Kaimuki and Kamehameha high schools.
“These camps are an avenue for individual players to show their talents and skills to college scouts and recruiters,” Neil said. “The ultimate goal, of course, is an athletic scholarship offer.”
Between the camps, the boys had an opportunity to meet up with Shaun Aguano, a Kapa‘a High School graduate who is currently the offensive coordinator for Chandler High School.
This meeting led to the boys being able to travel with the Chandler Wolves to a 7-on-7 football tournament where they got to see the Chandler and other players in action.
In 2006, Chandler made it to the state semifinals for the first time in 10 years, finishing the year with an 11-2 record and getting close to the state title for the first time in more than 20 years.
Neil said seven of the Chandler players will be recruited by Division I colleges including USC, UCLA and Nebraska.
“The experience was one to be remembered,” Neil said. “The boys are already planning to do it again next year.”
