California high school quarterback commits to UH

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ryan Stickler, a quarterback from Alta Loma High School in California, yesterday accepted a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.

Last season, Stickler, who is 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds, completed 72 percent of his passes (118 of 165) for 1,575 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Alta Loma finished with an 11-2 record, and Stickler was named to the league and area all-star teams. Teammates selected Stickler as the Braves' most valuable and most inspirational player.

"He's a born leader," Alta Loma coach Tom Mitchell said. "He does not like to take credit, even though he works extremely hard. He's always in the film room trying to figure out opponents. He's an extremely big-time team player."

Often, Mitchell said, Stickler will decide against passing if he believes a running play will be more effective. "He doesn't try to pad his statistics," Mitchell said. "He's always thinking about the team first."

As a junior at Rancho Cucamonga High, the right-handed Stickler suffered a fractured collarbone during the second game. He did not play the rest of the season.

The following semester, he transferred to nearby Alta Loma, which is located northeast of Orange County.

"When recruiters came around last spring, they didn't know who he was," Mitchell said.

Early in the season, Stickler was on a roll, but "it was too late to get him on anybody's top list," Mitchell said.

At the end of the season, Stickler produced a highlight video that he sent to several schools. Mitchell said Stickler has comparable skills to Nick Rolovich, last season's starting UH quarterback. The UH coaches soon contacted Stickler.

Mitchell said Washington State expressed an interest in Stickler but did not have another scholarship to offer to a quarterback. Stickler visited Utah State and Idaho State. But during this past weekend's recruiting trip to Hawai'i, he decided to become a Warrior, Mitchell said.

"He's going to be a great fit," Mitchell said. "He'll do a good job. I'm happy he's going there."

Tim Chang, who started UH's first three games last season, Jeff Rhode and Shawn Withy-Allen are the Warriors' returning quarterbacks. Jeff Whieldon, who played at Saddleback Community College in California last year, signed a letter of intent in December. Whieldon is enrolled at UH and will compete in spring practice, which begins March 11.

• Kahuku update: Kahuku High School coach Siuaki Livai said last night that the five uncomitted Red Raiders who visited UH this past weekend are still considering their options.

Livai said that since most of them are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, Sunday is designated as a day of rest and worship.

"We don't like to talk about football-related things on Sunday," Livai said. "We don't even buy a newspaper to read about football."

Notes: Former Kahuku High quarterback Orlando Wong, who signed a letter of intent with the Warriors in 1999, will not return from his church mission until late this season. Wong will enroll at UH next January, and will not count against this year's limit of 25 initial scholarships. Linebacker Alipati Mailo, who is on a church mission, should be back in time to compete in training camp in August. Mailo played one season at UH, and his scholarship does not count against this year's limit. Slotback Nate Ilaoa, who was considering going on a church mission, instead has decided to play for the Warriors in the fall. He will go on a mission later.

Staff writer Wes Nakama contributed to this report. Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com and Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.