The UW adds Afoa
Meadow not onto Hopoi's tricks
By: Richard Linde, 31 January 2003

According to the Seattle Times, Wilson Afoa (6-foot-3, 260, DE) out of Saint Louis high school in Honolulu, Hawaii has verbally committed to the University of Washington. Afoa joins Mike Mapu (6-foot-4, 250) of Mesa Junior College and Jordan Reffett (6-foot-6, 240) as one of three defensive linemen in the 2003 recruiting class thus far. The Huskies hope to land nose tackle Mathew Malele (Carson, Calif.) to play nose tackle.

Malele would be a huge get for the Dawgs, since he has the potential to contribute this fall. Mapu is a candidate to fill the slot vacated by DL Kai Ellis, lost to graduation.

Afoa was named Hawaii’s high school defensive player of the year last fall, and he told the Honolulu Advertiser that he liked Washington’s facilities and their schools of education.

This last season, Afoa  had 51 tackles and 19 for a loss.

Afoa should feel right at home at Washington, as the Dawgs have a number of players of Polynesian descent on their team.

The Polys at the UW are an affable group who are more than willing to talk to fans and pose for photographs on Picture Day.

Appearing in the photo (Picture Day 2002) above, are Manase Hopoi (56), Joseph Lobendahn (53), Tui Alailefaleula (55), Francisco Tipoti (71), Tusi Sa'au (61), and Willie Kava (66). The young man clutching the football will play quarterback for the Huskies in 2017.

On that day, I asked DL Hopoi (56, arms crossed) how it was that he was able to blow by OL Robin Meadow on so many plays during the spring game. With a big smile on his face, he told me that Meadow hadn't caught on to his tricks yet, although he was learning them pretty fast.

Some of the Polys at Washington:

• Tom Williams, outside linebacker's coach, was a defensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii in 1975.

• Offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson played for Hawaii (1968, 1969).

• Former Kamehameha athlete Ikaika Malloe (lettered at Washington 1993-1996) also is on Washington's staff.

• Former Iolani trainer Craig Moriwaki is now a trainer at University of Washington. When Donny Mateaki tripped to Washington, Husky players William Kava and Joe Lobendahn hosted him. He also met with Ikaika Malloe and former player Ink Aleaga.

• Joseph Lobendahn (inside linebacker, 5-foot-11, freshman) hails from Honolulu, Hawaii.

• William Kava (6-foot-3, 275, offensive lineman, Laie, Hawaii) is of the Mormon faith 

• Zach Tuiasosopo (outside linebacker, 6-foot-2, 235, redshirt sophomore, Woodinville, Washington) is of Samoan descent.

• Tui Alailealeula (defensive lineman, 6-foot-4, 270, sophomore, Anchorage, Alaska) is of Samoan descent.

• Tusi Sa’au (defensive lineman, 6-foot-2, 300, sophomore, Seattle, Washington) was born in America Samoa. 

• Manase Hopoi defensive end, 6-foot-4, 240, sophomore, Sacramento, California).

• Ken Walker, fullback (6-foot-1, 230, redshirt senior) is from Honolulu, Hawaii.

• Houdini Jackson (6-foot-1, 245, outside linebacker) played for Tom Williams at Hawaii.