Leverenz's journey at last ends at Azusa
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
The football journey of Aaron Leverenz from Radford High to Azusa Pacific University in California has been "a long, hard odyssey," says his father, Roman, of Aliamanu.
It has involved five colleges, surgery on his left knee twice, academic problems, surgery on both shoulders, scholarships awarded and a scholarship taken away.
But he finally found a "home" in Azusa, which is 25 miles east of Los Angeles.
Leverenz started every game last season at offensive left tackle as a sophomore, Azusa Pacific coach Peter Shinnick said. "As long as his shoulder is healthy this year, he will continue to be a starter for us."
"We expect him to be an impact player," said offensive coordinator Victor Santa Cruz, a University of Hawai'i graduate. At 6-feet-3 1/2 and 300 pounds, Leverenz definitely makes an impact.
Leverenz's prospects didn't always look so bright.
He signed with Hawai'i after an honorable mention all-state senior season at Radford in 1996. But because he was only 17 years old when he graduated, UH coach Fred von Appen wanted him to "gray-shirt" (attend UH as a part-time student) in 1997-98 to give him time to mature.
In 1998, as a true freshman, Leverenz started two games at offensive left tackle for Hawai'i before a torn meniscus ligament in his left knee sent him under the scalpel for the first time.
He had matured as a player, but not as a student.
"I never went to class," he said, and Leverenz was disqualified from UH academically after his first full-time semester.
He made up his grades at Leeward Community College in the spring of '99 and was invited by former UH assistant Don Dillon to play at American River (Junior) College in Sacramento. But once there, Leverenz found he was still three credits short of being academically eligible.
Back to Leeward, Leverenz earned his AA degree and was signed to a scholarship agreement by New Mexico.
But he re-injured his left knee just before he left in August 2000.
"It would swell to the size of a grapefruit after every practice," Leverenz said. "I didn't play at all" and he had surgery again.
Disenchanted with the Land of Enchantment and what he saw as pressure to play despite his injury, Leverenz looked elsewhere. If he transferred to another NCAA Division I college, he would have to sit out a year, leaving one year of eligibility.
The NAIA has more athlete-friendly transfer rules — he could play three more seasons — so Leverenz contacted Azusa Pacific after noting that coach Shinnick was the brother of his almost-former UH teammate, Chris Shinnick.
Azusa Pacific offered a partial scholarship and Leverenz took hold there, even academically (his cumulative GPA has grown to 2.85). "Going to class helps," he said.
EXTRA POINTS: Junior Chris Chun (Hawai'i Baptist Academy '99/Pac-Five of Salt Lake) and sophomore Jed Thurner (Ka'ahumanu Hou '00, of Pa'ia, Maui) will compete at the same outside linebacker position. "Jed started last year and they had great competition in the spring," Shinnick said. "Chris is versatile enough that he could play something else if need be." ... Keoni Subiano (Honoka'a) also is on the roster and could play tight end ... Azusa Pacific begins football practice Aug. 13.
