The Latest Te’o Stepping Onto Kahuku Sports Stage
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usAsk Nile Te’o how her teammates would describe her, and the Kahuku outside hitter says without hesitation:“They’d say I’m a hard worker and a leader.”
And as a team, Te’o and the Red Raiders are seeking nothing less than a perfect volleyball season.
“In the beginning of the season, we set the goal of a perfect season, which means winning the OIA and the state tournament. We have 10 seniors on this team, and we can always go to our bench because they’re all at the same level.”
The team has looked every bit a championship-caliber team so far, having opened OIA Eastern Division play with wins over Moanalua, McKinley and Roosevelt. They finished second in the OIA and fourth at the state tournament last year, further fueling optimism within the program this season.
Te’o had established herself as a top player in the state by the end of last year, and was attracting attention from college recruiters. Her recent announcement that she had decided on UNLV leaves her free of distractions that can accompany the recruiting process and, above all, free to concentrate on the 2008 season. Kahuku is in the midst of another important week of league play with games at home against Farrington Thursday and at McKinley Saturday.
“It’s a really big relief knowing that I’m set for next year,” she said. “I’m excited about being a Rebel. The coaches were the main part of it (choosing UNLV). The way they coach, it’s similar to the style that I play. The girls on the team were very welcoming there, and they have great facilities.”
Whether or not Te’o finds the cohesiveness on future UNLV teams that currently exists at Kahuku remains to be seen, but she hopes that will be the case. She and most of the Kahuku team also play for North Shore Volleyball Club, which is coached by former Red Raider coaches Irwin and Mona Ah-Hoy, adding to their team unity.
“We’re used to each other,” Te’o said.“We’re like sisters.We do everything together, and that makes us more together as a team.”
Natural athletic gifts aside, Te’o's main contribution to this team is as one of its leaders - a coach on the floor for actual head coach Uila Fotu-Vendiola.
“I try to be vocal and lead by example. I’ve always been that way, especially this past club season,when I had to step it up because we had a young team. My dad (David) has talked to me about being a leader.”
David Te’o is on Kahuku head football coach Reggie Torres’ staff and one of many role models for Nile. Her older brother, Shiloah, is a freshman on the BYU football team, having been one of the state’s top-rated recruits by the recruiting service Rivals.com at the end of last season, while cousin Manti Te’o, is the current top-rated college prospect in Hawaii a month into his senior season at Punahou.
“My brother had it hard, being the oldest,” Nile Te’o said of Shiloah.“A lot was expected of him. He showed me that I could do the same thing. He calls me all the time and tells me to just keep working hard, doing what I’ve been doing.”
Like her brother, Nile is a good student and hopes to be a nurse someday. Athletics nevertheless rates a close second to school, given the healthy effect sports has had on the family.
“We all go together to watch everyone’s games,” mom Kelli Te’o said of her family of six children. “Every game is a big family event. We’ve always pushed academics first, but athletics is right there.”
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