Hawai'i players will be whistling Dixie
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Football coach Greg Croshaw of Dixie State (junior) College in Utah will arrive in Honolulu today carrying an armful of letters of intent he intends to get signed before he leaves.
Dixie had six players from Hawai'i last season on a team that went 11-1. Croshaw says he has received commitments from 10 more high school seniors on O'ahu .
The best Dixie player from Hawai'i last year was defensive end Darrell Tautofi (Kaimuki '00), an All-Western States League choice who is coming home to play for Hawai'i next season.
Fiataugalu Taimi (Farrington '01) started several games on Dixie's offensive line and Lia Atuatasi (Wai'anae '01) was in the regular rotation on Dixie's defensive line. "Lia walked on and earned a scholarship," Croshaw said. "He's going to be an impact player."
Siota Malu (Wai'anae '01) got significant playing time at defensive end while offensive lineman Billy Tafea (Farrington '01) was a backup, Croshaw said. Darren Tautofi (Kaimuki '01), Darrell's brother, redshirted.
Croshaw says he has received commitments from:
Fullback Earvin Atuaia (Kahuku), linebacker Alika Durington (Pac-Five), offensive lineman Suliasi Lautaha (Kahuku), quarterback Talelo Mailau (Kailua, who will play receiver), linebacker/defensive end Levi Manutai (Kailua), linebacker Felipo Mokofiso Suliafo (Kailua), fullback Sola Soliai (Kahuku), defensive lineman Willie Talamoa (McKinley), and defensive lineman Lawrence Wilson (Farrington).
Offensive lineman Larry Sooalo (Kailua) signed with Utah but will attend Dixie if he is not accepted academically, Croshaw said.
A letter of intent to Dixie is binding within the 73-team National Junior College Athletic Association but does not apply to California's junior colleges or NCAA and NAIA schools.
JUDO
• US National Team
Taylor Takata (Iolani '00) has been chosen to compete for Team USA in meets in Germany Feb. 23-24 and Hungary March 2-3. Takata won a gold medal in the 60kg (130-pound) division at the Pan American Union Championships in Cordoba, Argentina, in November.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
• Webster (St. Louis)
Edward Aldridge, Big Island basketball Player of the Year last season for Honoka'a, is averaging five points in about 15 minutes a game at NCAA Division III Webster, where his coach is 1990 Hilo High star David Kaneshiro.
"Ed is usually assigned to the other team's top perimeter player; he is one of our best on-ball defenders," said Kaneshiro.
Kaniela Aiona, Aldridge's teammate on Honoka'a's third-place state team last season, is playing on the Webster junior varsity.
