Profiles of UH Warrior seniors
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Advertiser Staff
KEALI'I AGUIAR
• Defensive tackle
• 6-1, 325
• Kekaha, Kaua'i
He played at two junior colleges before enrolling at UH in 2001. He has played in 10 games this season, and lists "spitting on my shoes" as a pre-game ritual. He will graduate in June 2004.
Favorite memory: "What I'll remember most is hanging out with the guys. I'm going to miss going on road trips with them, hanging out with them, going through summer camps with them, and sweating and bleeding alongside my fellow teammates."
HOUSTON ALA
• Defensive End
• 5-11, 260
• Wai'anae
The 2000 Kamehameha Schools graduate has endured shoulder injuries, a sprained Achilles' heel and a torn knee ligament to amass 10 career sacks. His parents chose his name after watching a telecast of a Houston Oilers game. His father, Tui Sr., was a former UH player. He is scheduled to earn a bachelor's degree in December 2004.
Favorite memory: "Playing (on the same UH team) with my brother, Tui."
KEANI ALAPA
• Strong-side linebacker
• 6-1, 229
• Ka'a'awa
Alapa, who has played in 40 career games, is sixth on the team with 62 tackles. His aunt is former Miss Hawai'i Luana Alapa, and his girlfriend is Rainbow Wahine basketball player Milia Macfarlane. He will receive his bachelor's degree this month.
Favorite memory: "Just getting to know all of my teammates. ... Coach (George) Lumpkin asked me to come here, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life."
LYLE CASTRO
• Fullback, center
• 5-11, 255
• Honolulu
He was an offensive lineman until last Saturday, when he played running back against Alabama. Castro can bench press 405 pounds and run 40 yards in 4.8 seconds. He has a "Saint Louis" tattoo on his leg, in honor of his alma mater. He will earn a bachelor's degree in sociology in August 2004.
Favorite memory: "Just being around my teammates. That's what I'll miss the most."
JEREMIAH COCKHERAN
• Right wideout
• 6-0, 190
• Fontana, calif.
A high school teammate of former UH wideout Justin Colbert, Cockheran has emerged as the team's best deep receiver, averaging 15.7 yards per catch. Teammates voted him co-captain during training camp. He will earn a liberal studies degree in December 2004.
Favorite memory: "Hanging out with the guys, having fun and relaxing. That's what Hawai'i's all about."
LUI FUGA
• Defensive tackle
• 6-1, 299
• Waipahu
Fuga expects the NCAA to grant him a second medical hardship, allowing him to play as a sixth-year senior in 2004. He earned a bachelor's degree in May, and will complete work on his master's in 2004. He has four body piercings, including one on his chest and one through an eyebrow.
Favorite memory: "That first moment out of the tunnel against USC (in the 1999 season opener)."
DAVID GILMORE
• Free safety
• 6-0, 197
• Albuquerque, N.M.
Nicknamed "Happy," the former walk-on has started the last five games. He leads the team with two forced fumbles. He has played most of the season with a herniated disk. He graduates this month with a degree in travel industry management.
Favorite memory: "Probably beating Fresno at Fresno (last year). It was awesome. Their fans were yelling the whole time."
CLIFTON HERBERT
• Slotback
• 5-7, 159
• Palmdale, CA.
The former high school quarterback leads the team in punt returns with a 10.8 average. Nicknamed "Swerve," he moonlights as a DJ at nightclubs and is an aspiring rap artist. He will earn a degree in history in May 2004.
Favorite memory: "All of the Fresno State wins. That's all that really mattered to me: beating Fresno."
KEVIN JACKSON
• Defensive end
• 6-4, 245
• Moreno Valley, CA.
The pass-rush specialist has four tackles for losses, four quarterback hurries and a sack. Jackson, who can speak Japanese, has done Christian ministry work in Japan and China. He will earn a degree in history in May 2004.
Favorite memory: "The people here are really good. I enjoyed the friendships I've made in the five years I've been here."
SHAYNE KAJIOKA
• Offensive left guard
• 6-3, 302
• Honolulu
Kajioka has made the greatest transformation, losing nearly 80 pounds during his career, and starting 14 games the last two seasons. He will earn a degree in English this month.
Favorite memory: "Back in '99, when we won a share of the WAC championship (and when) I got my first start. Those were my best memories."
CHAD KALILIMOKU
• Middle linebacker
• 5-11, 240
• Kapolei
He is third on the team with 80 tackles, including 12 for negative yards. He also has two sacks. As a sophomore at Santa Ana College, he was named second-team junior college All-America. He will graduate in May 2004 with a degree in sociology.
Favorite memory: "All of the friends I made here."
TRAVIS LABOY
• Defensive end
• 6-4, 254
• San Rafael, CA.
The son of former UH defensive lineman Cliff Laboy, LaBoy (he uses a capital "B") has 12 sacks, five shy of the UH single-season record. Thirty percent of his tackles were in the backfield. He has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl. LaBoy, who dates UH volleyball player Nohea Tano, will graduate in December 2004.
Favorite memory: "Being able to play with guys like Pisa (Tinoisamoa) and Lance (Samuseva). Those are my best memories."
KELVIN MILLHOUSE
• Left cornerback
• 6-1, 205
• Santa Ana,, CA.
As a high school senior, Millhouse turned down UH's offer — his only Division I-A scholarship offer — to attend a junior college. But he joined UH a year later, and has started 35 consecutive games. His 11 career interceptions are two short of the school record. He will earn a communications degree next year.
Favorite memory: "The Fresno State games: (Ashley Lelie's) catch in the end zone, our big win over there, and now this year's game."
MICHAEL MIYASHIRO
• Wideout
• 5-6, 164
• Pearl City
The 29-year-old receiver was a professional dancer and commercial actor before enrolling in junior college and then joining UH. He was born in Saigon, but was raised in Pearl City. He will earn a bachelor's degree in December 2004.
Favorite memory: "This week, right here, beating Alabama."
HYRUM PETERS
• Strong safety
• 5-8, 188
• Lai'e
The team leader in pass breakups (10) took the scenic route to UH. After relinquishing a scholarship from Missouri Valley College, he enrolled at UH, working at Sunset Foodland to pay for his freshman tuition. Peters works during the offseason as a dancer for the Magic of Polynesia show in Waikiki. He will earn a bachelor's degree in May 2004.
Favorite memory: "Just playing Warrior football, and all of the fun."
LANCE SAMUSEVA
• Defensive tackle
• 6-0, 309
• Wai'anae
Regarded as the unsung hero of the defensive line, Samuseva has missed three games in his career and none in the past three years. He will receive his bachelor's degree in June 2004.
Favorite memory: "I won't remember all of the big games, but I'll never forget meeting new friends, good friends, and being around the guys every day. I'll miss the practices at 7 in the morning and going to war with these guys."
ISA'AKO SOPOAGA
• Defensive tackle
• 6-3, 336
• Pago Pago, American Samoa
He is the first graduate of an American Samoa high school to start for the Warriors. Sopoaga can bench press 500 pounds, dunk a basketball and dance the haka. He has performed at the Polynesian Cultural Center and at UH volleyball matches. He will graduate in May 2004.
Favorite memory: "This past game against Alabama. For us to come back and have a big game was fun. I'll miss my friends, the Warriors."
JOHN WEST
• Running back
• 5-10, 180
• San Diego, CA
The 1998 Leilehua High graduate earned the nickname "Johnny Blaze" for his quickness. He has averaged 7.1 yards per carry.
Favorite memory: He dedicated UH's victory over Army to his brother, Sidney, who is stationed in Iraq. During his one-week leave in South Carolina, Sidney watched the telecast of that game. West scored three second-half touchdowns.
JASON WHIELDON
• Quarterback
• 6-1, 187
• Orange, CA.
Saturday, Whieldon will earn his second career start — and first against a Division I-A opponent. The former high school point guard will graduate with a degree in economics in December 2004.
Favorite memory: "Of all of the memories, the best are hanging out with the guys at random times, whether in the locker room or on a Tuesday night or whatever playing video games. I'll miss just hanging out."
GARY WRIGHT
• Cornerback
• 5-10, 201
• Kailua
The Warriors' utility man has played receiver, safety, cornerback and on the six special teams. He is a two-time Scout of the Year. But Wright, whose dance moves energize the crowd during pre-game introductions, is best known to his teammates as "G. Wright, the Entertainer."
Favorite memory: "My best memory is just being with the fellas. Coming in here in '99 and winning the WAC championship our first year, that really started everything."
