Tynanes-Perez Comes Alive Under Sabers’ Stadium Lights

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Campbell High’s football staff never worries about whether linebacker Tyson Tynanes-Perez is ready to play on Friday nights under the lights.

On game days, his transformation from student to athlete begins early. Although he is a better than average student in the classroom, carrying a 3.7 GPA, the sights and sounds of football can’t help but creep into his consciousness during the day.

“I’m really quiet the whole day until we get on the field,” said Tynanes-Perez, who packs 195 pounds into a 6-foot frame. “Then I let everything out. I’m competitive, and I just love the game.”

He seems ideally suited to football. His ability to play physical is perhaps second only to his desire to meet the hard work that goes into preparing for a season head-on. The long hours in the weight room and innumerable sprints in the hot air are all worth it when he steps into the gap and levels a running back in a game.

“Lifting, running - I love it all,” he said.“When I get up (from the pile), I want them to remember me.

“I’ve been playing football since the fourth grade, and I’ve always liked the contact. Run-stopping is my strength. I like the action in the middle.”

He’s slated to be one of the Saber leaders in the fall, when Campbell looks to again be a factor in Division II. The team finished 11-2 last year en route to winning the OIA DII title. It went on to reach the semifinals of the state tournament before they were defeated by eventual champion, Iolani.

Tynanes-Perez followed the team’s success from a distance the past two years, having transferred for a year and a half to Kailua High School while the family’s home in Ewa was being restored. He was a two-year starter for the Surfriders at linebacker before transferring back to Campbell in January.

His impact on defense was evident last Thursday night in the spring game, when the hard-hitting junior racked up nine tackles, including three for lost yardage in addition to breaking up a pass. His numbers are more impressive given his playing time was limited as the Sabers’ staff looked to evaluate as many players as they could in a game situation.

His will to work is more easily understood when his family connections are revealed. In older brothers, Myles and Lowen, he had role models close to home. There were even a few battles among the trio.

“There were a lot, and they would always win,” he joked. “That could be a little hard, but they’ve always been there for me. They help me out a lot with football, telling me what to watch for. Watching me, they say I bring back a lot of memories.”

Both Myles and Lowen excelled in wrestling and football at Campbell. In fact, when Tyson was a freshman in 2007, all three qualified for the state wrestling finals. Myles was a runner-up in the finals that year, while Lowen was a state champion for Kailua in the 171-pound class in 2008. Tyson finished sixth that year before coming back to capture the 189-pound class this last season.

Football, however, remains his first love.

“We all wrestled only when we got to high school,” he said.“I’d rather play football, to be honest.”

While Campbell put up eye-popping numbers on the offensive side of the ball last season in their first year under Amosa Amosa, the play of the Saber defense should go a long way toward determining their fate in the fall.

“We have a lot of leaders on the team who are stepping up,” Tynanes-Perez said. “We’re not coming with size, but we have speed and power. There are a lot of returnees, especially on offense. Right now, the defense is a little ahead (of the offense). I think we can do really good this year.”