LIHU‘E — It’s easy to forget how nerve-wracking and exciting going off to college can be, the anticipation and the unknown increasing throughout the summer until the fall finally presents itself. For student-athletes, those nerves and excitement tend to be
LIHU‘E — It’s easy to forget how nerve-wracking and exciting going off to college can be, the anticipation and the unknown increasing throughout the summer until the fall finally presents itself.
For student-athletes, those nerves and excitement tend to be two-fold, with new experiences ready to take shape both on and off the field.
“There is that fear of not knowing,” said Trey Shimabukuro, a recent graduate of Kaua‘i High School and the football team’s 2009 all-conference quarterback. He related the approaching adventure to getting ready for a game, saying that he would always prepare diligently and watch film on the opponent.
“But when gametime comes, there is still that fear of ‘what if they do this?’ ” he said.
Trey is heading off to Western Oregon University on Monday. He and center Aaron Victorino, who will be leaving for Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. on Aug. 13, sat down to discuss their feelings about hitting the Mainland and exiting the Kaua‘i football program.
The two All-KIF performers led the Red Raiders to the 2009 conference title and were just a touchdown shy of an HHSAA Division II championship.
Now they will be stepping on to the practice field at their respective schools — located about 50 miles from one another — and competing for jobs.
“I’m excited,” Aaron said. “I’ve just been working so hard, training so hard… I’m a little nervous, but you’ve got to go in and do the best you can.”
Though he’s starting fresh again in a new program as a young player, Aaron said he has no intentions of being timid.
“I’m going to be a freshman, but I’m going to act like a senior,” he said. “You have to go in and hit people.”
Aaron said that he has been calling his coaches at least once a week, who told him they may decide to move him over from center to offensive tackle.
“They just want the right attitude,” he said. “They want me to just come in and compete.”
Trey is also looking forward to being a part of his new program, which he will enter along with 2009 KIF Defensive Player of the Year, Cameron Largusa, while joining former Raider Teila Huni.
That familiarity should assist in the transition process, as Trey noted the intensity and heart that Cameron has always displayed on the field.
“We’ve been playing together since Junior Pee Wee,” he said. “He works so hard. He’s a workout maniac.”
The outgoing seniors have been training with the 2010 Raider squad for the summer, hoping to remain in shape before getting to campus. The former quarterback is optimistic about what the team has in store.
“It’s a new look, a new style of Red Raider,” Trey said. “There’s a lot more talent out there.”
That could be a scary assessment coming from a key contributor to last year’s undefeated KIF season.
Both players said they have great memories from 2009, but one that stands out is the team gathering way back in the spring and each player putting a quote on a banner, which they then kept from March through December as a reminder of their goals.
“I’m just going to miss the whole process,” Trey said.
He is expecting the entirety of the college experience to be much different than life on Kaua‘i, noting that small classes and personal attention in school will likely be gone, moving into large lectures with over a hundred students.
It also won’t be quite as easy to afford some everyday commodities.
“You’ve got to start paying your own expenses,” Aaron said. “Don’t have mom and dad there with you.”
Though many colleges lack the small-town feeling that high school football can accentuate, Aaron’s new alma mater has been creating a buzz throughout the Forest Grove community. This will be the first year the school has fielded a football team since 1991.
“I took a visit out there and the whole town was excited,” he said. “We went to a restaurant and the waiter told us how excited they all were.”
Each player expressed great memories from their time at Kaua‘i High School.
“Walking out the tunnel, having everyone scream your name, it’s just an awesome feeling,” Trey said.
“I’m going to miss that guy,” he added as head coach Derek Borrero stuck his head in the room.
They both have a few things planned out for their remaining days on Kaua‘i, with Trey hoping to get his packing done and head to the North Shore to hit Hanalei Pier and Lumahai, while Aaron hopes to get out to Kipu, Hanalei and Polihale.
“They don’t have that in Oregon,” he said.
