Mililani’s Chelsea Deptula Is One Competitive Wahine
By Jack Danilewicz
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On game day, momentum steadily builds within for University of Hawaii mid-fielder Chelsea Deptula.
“There’s a competitive side to people, and I can hold my ground (in that regard),” she said with a laugh.
Her considerable athletic ability aside, Deptula’s competitive fire may help explain why she has had such an immediate impact for the Wahine soccer team as a freshman. When she looks around on the playing field, she sees mainly upperclassmen.
“It’s been very exciting, playing with a lot of older girls that I look up to,” said Deptula, a Mililani resident and former four-sport stand-out at Punahou. “It’s a good feeling getting the chance to play right away. I didn’t think I’d be playing this much.”
Her timing couldn’t be better as the Wahine are poised for what could be their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. This week, they’re in Boise for the WAC Tournament, whose champion earns the league’s only NCAA berth. The Wahine were in control of their own destiny last weekend as they closed out their regular season with an opportunity to win the championship. Games with Boise State last Friday and Idaho on Sunday were crucial to their WAC Tournament seeding. Depending on that, UH would need to win either two or three straight to take the tournament.
“Our focus right now is on one game at a time,” said Deptula.“We have to take care of Friday and Sunday first before we can talk about (the WAC Tournament).”
Deptula credits the Wahine’s cohesiveness as a driving force in their season.
“I love it here,” she added. “This team is amazing. They’re definitely my family away from home. They always have my back, and I have theirs. I love the team aspect of soccer - seeing how well everyone plays as a team. I like watching our growth, from summer training (through the season) and seeing us apply what we’ve learned in a game.”
Heading into last weekend’s games, Deptula had started all 17 games for Hawaii and had a pair of goals to her credit.
She arrived at UH already a seasoned player, having learned all about competing in pressure-packed games when at Punahou, where she was a member of four state championships teams - two in basketball and two in soccer. Deptula was named Punahou’s Sportswoman of the Year in 2004. Her five years at Punahou weren’t without sacrifices, however. She used to wake at 5 a.m. on school days to catch the bus at 5:40, arriving at the Punahou campus about 7. Often, she didn’t return to her Mililani home before 8 p.m.
Now that she lives on campus, it is a short walk to practice, but Deptula still goes back to Mililani every Friday night and stays through Sunday afternoon. Her parents - former UH football player Peter and her mother, Teri - remain her greatest supporters.
“I’m still in that transition stage - I’m kind of soaking everything up and taking it all in. Going home (on weekends) gives me a break from school. The dorms can get a little lonely, so it’s nice to be with family. My dad had a huge influence on me with all of his encouragement. My mom is actually the one who got me into basketball, and I loved it.”
Deptula never gave any thought to going to college on the Mainland, having followed UH while growing up.
“Both of my parents went there, so I always wanted to play for UH,” she said.“I started playing at four - my dad was my first coach - and I loved it right away. I always imagined myself playing soccer, and I always wanted to stay home.”
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