A Warrior homecoming

LIHU‘E — The University of Hawai‘i Warriors football team traveled to Kaua‘i for a Saturday practice. But it was a homecoming for Kaua‘i’s own Siasau Matagiese and Sean Shigematsu.

Matagiese, a senior, and Shigematsu, a junior, spent Saturday practicing with the rest of the UH Warriors at Vidinha Stadium, and then signed autographs to an appreciative home crowd.

Having grown up in Hawai‘i, playing for UH and the ability to travel back home is surreal for both players, but they are both grateful to have this opportunity.

“It’s exciting. We are going to have a lot of fun (this season),” said Shigematsu, an offensive lineman who graduated from Kapa‘a High School in 2010.

He said he was excited to travel to Kaua‘i and see his family and friends and “give them a good show.”

“It is unexplainable, especially going back to Kaua‘i,” said Matagiese,  a defensive tackle who graduated from Waimea High School in 2009.

While the duo compete to prove their skills on the field, it’s their character off the field that has caught the attention of their coaches.

“Siasau was an extremely hard worker, and comes from a good family,” said former position coach Keali‘i Aguiar. “He is an individual with great character, and that is not something I say often. He works hard on the field, (and) in the classroom as well. Most good players are good people, and so is Siasau.”

Shigematsu shares those same attributes.

“When I first met him, I saw his God given frame,” former head coach Keli‘i Morgado said. “He actually wanted to be a quarterback, but I told him he had the height, but with his frame, I knew UH needed a good tackle, so that’s what we focused on. God may have given him his frame and his size, but his work ethic is what got him there.”

Both Matagiese and Shigematsu were starters for the Warriors in 2012. The team finished the season with a 3-9 record, but both Matagiese and Shigematsu look to have a large role in 2013’s tough schedule.

“It has been a joy coaching them,” UH head coach Norm Chow said. “Siasau is one of our real leaders. He has matured a lot. He walked on here and we quickly realized he deserved a scholarship and put him on a scholarship. Sean has gone through some trials, but he has really grown up this spring, and we plan for him to be a major contributor for us this year. We need more players like them from Kaua‘i.”

Although both players have NFL aspirations, both have team goals they want to achieve in the 2013 season.

“I just want to play every game,” Shigematsu said. “We all just want to win and get to that bowl level and impress the fans.”

Although winning is the goal, both players realize the valuable opportunity they have to play under a coach with college and NFL experience.

“I love the discipline he brings back to the college football,” Matagiese said. “It really kind of brings it back to high school. I have seen teams that lack that discipline. He tells us all the time he is going to be tough because we have a tough schedule.”

The Warriors do have a tough schedule this season — they open with University of Southern California on Aug. 29 — and San Jose State University and Utah State University enter the Mountain West Conference.

“It will be a tremendously challenging schedule,” Chow said.

 “Down right daunting and scary if you look at it week by week, but our guys are anxious to meet that challenge and they are working hard to do that.”

Despite the difficult schedule, Hawai‘i and Chow believe they have the guys with the right work ethic and character to play well, which include the two Kaua‘i grown athletes.

“It all about these young guys and helping them fulfill their dreams, whether it’s in the NFL or attaining a college degree. And it’s especially fun to help when they are such good young guys like Sean and Siasau.

“I say this sincerely, these two guys are our leaders.”

• Rick Killeen, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or sports@thegardenisland.com.