LIHU‘E — Three Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football All-Stars participated in National Signing Day on Wednesday, as Kapa‘a High School standout lineman Sean Michael Shigematsu, Kaua‘i High School captain and quarterback Trey Shimabukuro and Waimea High School all-everything athlete Kaulana Waalani-Arroyo
LIHU‘E — Three Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football All-Stars participated in National Signing Day on Wednesday, as Kapa‘a High School standout lineman Sean Michael Shigematsu, Kaua‘i High School captain and quarterback Trey Shimabukuro and Waimea High School all-everything athlete Kaulana Waalani-Arroyo each penned their names to play football at the next level, starting next season.
Shigematsu will be trading in one Warriors uniform for another, as the 6-foot-6, 255 pound tackle is jumping the puddle to O‘ahu to join coach Greg McMackin and the University of Hawai‘i.
Waalani-Arroyo, who seemed to play every spot on the field for Waimea this season, saw his efforts net him a full scholarship to the New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college located in Roswell, N.M.
Shimabukuro, named the KIF Offensive Player of the Year as he led his team to a perfect 9-0 KIF season and berth in the Div. II state championship game, signed the dotted line signifying his intent to attend Western Oregon University.
Shigematsu made himself a hot commodity at the All Poly Camp at Kapi‘olani Park on O‘ahu in July, attending with a number of his Kapa‘a teammates. It was there that he quickly put himself on UH’s radar.
His full scholarship offer came shortly after that and he headed into the KIF season already knowing he had a spot at UH waiting for him.
“It kind of took some of the weight off my shoulders,” Shigematsu said. “Like I didn’t have to worry. But it gave me some incentive to play better.”
Even though he knew about seven months ago that he would likely end up as a Warrior, Wednesday’s events were still exciting and a lot to handle.
“Today was pretty overwhelming,” he said. “But it was exciting to be able to represent my family, my school, the island and UH.”
The jump up from the KIF to a Division I program can be a daunting one, but Shigematsu seems to know what to expect and sees the challenge as one he is prepared to handle.
“Guys are going to be a lot bigger, but I’ll be able to handle my own once I get up to their stature,” he said.
UH will be looking to bounce back from a 6-7 season that included a six-game losing streak and a 3-5 record in the WAC.
Asked about what he was looking forward to the most in his upcoming journey, Shigematsu is keeping his sights on the basics.
“Just going to college to get my education and becoming a Warrior,” he said.
Shigematsu was planning to celebrate the occasion Wednesday night with some family and friends, missing out on his varsity basketball game as Kapa‘a took on the Island School Voyagers.
Waalani-Arroyo saw time at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker and as a punt and kick returner for the Menehune, distinguishing himself as the team’s primary playmaker.
He had other offers, including Western Oregon, but none that would have given him a full ride. The program he enters has a strong track record of placing players into four-year schools upon completion.
On his scholarship to play for the New Mexico Military Institute Broncos, Kaulana wanted to thank his grandpa Ricky Waalani, as well as the Waimea football coaches and all the teachers and staff at Waimea High School.
As for Shimabukuro, the recruitment process took what was once a dream and turned it into the reality for the 6-foot-2 quarterback.
“When I was a little kid, I would always dream about being recruited,” he said. “So to experience it firsthand, to talk to coaches… It’s just a real thrill for me and my family.”
The decision to head to Division II Western Oregon originated over the summer.
“I went to the Oregon State football camp,” he said. “My dad went to Western, so we took a drive over there and I fell in love with the atmosphere.”
When evaluating schools, Trey thought about what environment he could see himself living in for the next four or five years. Western Oregon, located in Monmouth, Ore., fit the bill.
“When I went there, I knew it was a place I wanted to go,” he said. “It’s kind of laid back, kind of like Kaua‘i.”
Western Oregon finished the 2009 season with a 5-5 record and went 3-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
As a Red Raider team leader, Trey expressed his mixed emotions about moving on to the next level.
The closeness of this team was unusual and all the experiences and adversity they went through together would stay with him, he said.
“I’m going to miss it for sure,” he said. “The high school experience, waking up early on a Saturday morning after a Friday game to watch film with Coach Tressler, the team bonding… I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life.
“Nobody thought we could do what we did,” he continued. “I think that will help me, or I hope that will help me, because there will be adversity.”
Shimabukuro said that Kaua‘i head football coach Derek Borrero was always thrilled to give him the mail he received from schools that expressed interest in Trey.
“He gave me a big hug when I told him (my decision),” Trey said. “I think he was more excited than I was.”
Shimabukuro, like Shigematsu, was also a member of the Raider varsity basketball team but asked Coach Borrero — who doubles as the head basketball coach — if he could be released from the squad. Western Oregon coaches want Trey to be in the weight room, so he will be focused on that rather than hoops for the rest of the school year.
Trey said that his future coaching staff has not given him any specifics as far as playing time, but he is ready for whatever lies ahead.
“I’m open to everything that comes,” he said. “You never know, anything can happen. Hopefully I’m ready to compete physically and mentally.”
Shimabukuro is one of two quarterbacks to sign with Western Oregon, Wednesday. The school released a statement regarding the 19 players who have signed letters and mentioned the quarterback position.
“We got two really good athletes at quarterback,” said head coach Arne Ferguson. “Both have good arm strength and the ability to make plays which will expand our offense in the future.”
The Wolves, while mainly recruiting in Oregon, have a number of Hawai‘i players, one of them being former Kaua‘i High School standout linebacker Teila Huni, who graduated in 2009.
Teila’s younger brother, Daylin, has become a dominant lineman for the Raiders and will be receiving plenty of recruiting buzz, himself.
Shimabukuro said that having that Hawai‘i group out there and already knowing some members of the team will help out in the transition process.
These three All-KIF players seem poised for the journeys that lie ahead and also understand the challenges they will likely present.
