HONOLULU — Waimea High School senior Saui Matagiese was recruited by Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Portland State University. He gave his verbal commitment to the coach Jerry Glanville and the Vikings program last week, but as of Wednesday, Matagiese officially
HONOLULU — Waimea High School senior Saui Matagiese was recruited by Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Portland State University.
He gave his verbal commitment to the coach Jerry Glanville and the Vikings program last week, but as of Wednesday, Matagiese officially put the pen to the paper as he and some 50 elite local high schoolers signed their letters of intent at the National Letter of Intent Day event at the Neil Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
The defensive end was one of six Neighbor Island football players invited to attend and the lone representative from the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation.
“I’m honored to be a part of this great class,” Matagiese said about the football and soccer players in the 2009 recruiting class which included the nation’s No. 2 recruit, Punahou’s Manti Te‘o, fellow Buffanblu Roby Toma (see related story below) and Baldwin’s Mana Rosa. The portions of the event was broadcast live on ESPN and on local stations.
“It’s a big accomplishment (for me),” he said. “We’ve all been waiting for this day.”
Matagiese was joined by at least 15 of his closest family and friends from Waimea, including his immediate family and football coach Kyle Linoz, who gathered at the Blaisdell center before sunrise on Wednesday for the event.
“It’s a special moment not just for Saui and Waimea High School, but for all of Kaua‘i,” Linoz said. “It’s an honor to be among these high school athletes. We’re happy to be here. Portland is getting a fine player, but even better than that a fine young man in his attitude and work ethic.”
Parents joined their kids on the stage as they went up individually to be introduced and receive certificates from Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann. From then on, they took their seats at their reserved spots for the main event.
Matagiese’s parents, Maka and Aunese, stood behind him as he officially signed his scholarship papers.
“It was nerve-racking; I was trying not to cry,” Maka said. “I’m so happy for him and all of these boys.”
In the months leading up to Wednesday, Maka said there were times that she was worried this day might not come.
“The thoughts did cross my mind. What would be our backup plan?” she said. “But when (the phone calls) came, we were overwhelmed.”
She said the main thing was to get a scholarship and go to school.
It was also a special day for his sister, Xiani, who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday.
“I want to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to her,” Matagiese said.
The event was sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu and the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance, a nonprofit organization designed to inexpensive services to athletes in clinics and combines. In the past, this annual event was held at Kapolei Hale, but according to Hannemann, they needed a bigger venue due to the great number of athletes who received scholarships.
Special guests for the event for the event were host Howard Dashefsky, a former college baseball player and current anchor for KHNL, Aaron Francisco and Duece Lutui of the NFC champions the Arizona Cardinals and Samson Satele of the Miami Dolphins.
Matagiese, an honor student and KIF all-star player, finished his final season with the Menehune with 13.5 tackles (11 solo, five assisted), 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception. He was invited to play in the first-ever Hawai‘i All-Star Football Classic at Aloha Stadium.
Matagiese joins Moses Punzal of Kapa‘a on the Vikings team. Kalua Noa of Kaiser High School on O‘ahu also signed to play for Portland State.
