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Malepeai's legacy at Mililani goes far beyond football


 



MILILANI — For as great of a football player Vavae Malepeai has been in his three prolific seasons at Mililani, it's hardly his on-the-field exploits that some of those closest to him appreciate the most about the senior running back.

Oh, and his football achievements are pretty darn good.

Malepeai ran for more than 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons, but saved his best for last, amassing a state-best 1,944 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in 2015 en route to being named All-Hawaii Division I Offensive Player of the Year Saturday — just a few days after being selected as the Gatorade State Player of the Year.

Monday morning brought yet another distinction for Malepeai. He was officially invited to participate in the prestigious Army All-American Game with a jersey presentation ceremony at the Mililani High School gymnasium before about 100 family and friends.

"Now I'm officially invited and I'm just thankful for all the blessing that the Lord has bestowed upon my life," said Malepeai, who knew of his unofficial invitation for a few weeks. "Seeing all my family here just touched my heart. Time is something you can never give back to them and words can't describe how thankful I am for them."

Year after year the Army All-American Game is loaded with talent. Nearly 300 participants over the year have gone on to become NFL Draft picks, including the first overall selection in 2012, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Other distinguished alums of the game include 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson, Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles.

This year's game will take place on Jan. 9, 2016 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The hard work on the football field has undoubtedly paid off for Malepeai, who is verbally committed to the University of Oregon, but it's his work in the classroom that most of the faculty and staff at Mililani are especially proud of.

"I met Vae when he was in the tenth grade in an honors English class," said Robin Miller, an assistant principal at the school. "I went over and talked to him. I didn't realized that he played football or anything — that wasn't on my radar — and I asked him if he'd be interesting in taking an (advanced placement) English class the following year."

Miller said Malepeai was placed into a class with "probably one of our toughest teachers.

"It was hard for him, but he stayed in the class the whole year, he went in for help, study hall and he passed. Just the fact that he even did it was one thing, but he didn't want out and he stuck it out; he pushes himself," Miller said.

Malepeai's counselor, Kaiewa Muranaka, recalled meeting him for the first time three years ago and the impression he made on her then.

"When he registered with us I had no clue that he was this big football star," Muranaka said. "I had no idea. I just remember that when I met him and I met his parents for the first time they were the nicest, most appreciative people I've ever met. Vae was so respectful and he always approached me with respect. That's what I'm going to remember; is that he's so polite. It's not only his football talents, but as a person — his character — he's very humble and very respectful."

Mililani athletic director Glenn Nitta said much of the same when talking about Malepeai the student.

"Besides being really humble, just the way he carries himself on campus, it's not like, ‘I'm Vae Malepeai,' Nitta said. "He's just another student on campus and he doesn't bring attention to himself. He's always courteous, always says hello, he's very respectful. I mean, on the field he's an animal, but off the field he's just a teddy bear. It's amazing just to see his demeanor off the field — quiet, unassuming — everything that you want in your student-athlete is how Vae is."

Two-time Super Bowl champion defensive lineman Maa Tanuvasa has had a unique perspective on watching Malepeai's maturation as an assistant on the football team, a member of the staff at Mililani and as a longtime family friend.

"I think the first time I saw the young man he was only in grade school. I used to play basketball at Halawa Park gym on Sundays and I would see the dad with a bunch of kids — Vae was one of them — and they would take the cones out and be doing drills," Tanuvasa said. "From March to the end of summer, every Sunday the dad would bring Vae and his other buddies and they would do drills. Some people only see the finished product, but they don't see all the hard work and effort that he's put in."

Trojans coach Rod York said to the crowd gathered Monday that Malepeai would remind him that ‘someone is always watching.'

"You think no one is watching, but someone is always watching and that's how he lives his life," Tanuvasa said. "He works hard no matter what and sometimes it's lonely being great. He works hard even when no one is watching him."

Tanuvasa said Malepeai's character is a credit to his parents: his father, Amako, and his mother, Tali.

"He'll walk around campus and he's so unassuming that you'd never know the type of athlete he is because of the way he carries himself," Tanuvasa said. "His carries himself with humility, he is family-oriented, he respects his elders, respects the people that came before him and it's a testament to his parents and the way they brought him up. I think the one word you can say about him is humble. He's not looking for attention, he's not looking for notoriety, but because of all his hard work it just seems to bring it to him."

True to form, Malepeai was gracious about his Army All-American invite after Monday's ceremony.

"I'm beyond thankful for the awards, but then again I can't get caught up in the hype, I can't believe I'm this and that," Malepeai said. "I've got to work hard and stay focused on what the goal is and stay focused on getting better everyday. I can't take days off just because I won an award."

Malepeai was most appreciative of the fact that those that he cares about the most were in attendance Monday.

"It's beautiful. I mean, seeing all my friends and family here I'm just thankful for such great blessings they've been in my life," Malepeai said. "Without them I wouldn't be here today, so the credit really goes to them and the Man above."



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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