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LDS
Sports: July 6, 2001
by
Kelly L. Martinez
Thank
you, thank you, and thank you. I can't thank Meridian readers enough
for the feedback that has been offered regarding this column. It's
exciting to hear from such far away places as Hawaii and New Zealand.
I truly appreciate the leads that I have received from Meridian
readers. I appreciate the feedback that prompted last week's column.
For
some reason, we love sports. Maybe for some, it's the stratagem
involved. For others, it might be the pure athleticism. Maybe it's
the colorful uniforms or the electricity generated by the excitement
of the game. Whatever the reason, it is evident that we, for the
most part, love our sports. As Latter-day Saints, we especially
like to see what our brothers and sisters in the gospel are doing
in the sporting world. So let's get to it!
This
week's column starts on the West Coast and ends in the Hawaiian
Islands:
Offensive
endeavors
A
new head coach has brought new hope to the once-dominant football
program at the University of Southern California. Pete Carroll has
officially taken the reins of the recently struggling program and
has immediately made key coaching changes. Among those changes was
the offensive line.
Keith
Uperesa was named the offensive line coach for the Trojans
in January. He comes to Troy from Idaho State where he was the assistant
head coach and offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Prior
to Idaho State, Uperesa coached at Snow College in Ephraim, UT for
12 seasons-including four as head coach. As head coach at Snow,
he compiled a record of 35-8 and was 4-0 in bowl games. It's interesting
to note that during his first eight years at Snow, he was the offensive
line coach, special teams coordinator, sports information director,
director of student support services, assistant intramural director,
health and physical education department instructor and Polynesian
Club advisor.
Uperesa prepped
at Punhou High School in Honolulu, HI. He played offensive tackle
for BYU from 1974-77 and was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference
team in 1977. After stints with the Denver Broncos in 1978 and the
Oakland Raiders in 1979, he worked in private business for six years
before starting his coaching career at BYU in 1985 as a graduate
assistant. He moved on to Snow in 1987.
Uperesa and
his wife, Kaipo, have a son, Ikaika,
20, and two daughters, Naupaka, 18, and Kahikole,
12.
Miami
heat
After extensive searching, I finally found someone in the
WNBA that is LDS! Credit Meridian Sports reader Tammy Selley
with the assist on this one.
Miami Sol forward
Kristen Rasmussen is averaging 3.8 points and 3.5
rebounds in ten games this season. Sister Rasmussen played her college
ball at Michigan State, where she set the school record for blocked
shots (194). She was named to the All-Big 10 First Team in 2000
while leading the conference in rebounding (9.8 rpg) and double-doubles
(16).
Sister Rasmussen
was drafted by the Utah Starzz in the 2000 WNBA Draft, but was eventually
waived. Miami signed her as a free agent on June 13, 2000.
Basketball seems
to be in the Rasmussen blood. Brother David and
sister Linnette played college ball at Wake Forest
and Grand Valley State University, respectively.
A Cardinal
rules
Stanford seems to be in this column a lot lately.
Women's volleyball
player Logan Tom has more than made her presence
known in her two years at Stanford. She was named to the All-Pac
10 team both of her first two seasons, even though she missed a
month and a half of the 2000 season to compete with the U.S. National
Team at the Sydney Olympics last summer.
While in high
school, she set Utah state records in career kills and service aces
while leading Highland High School to two state championships.
In 1998, Tom
was named the Gatorade Circle of Champions National High School
Volleyball Player of the Year.
I only have
so much room in this column, so take a look at Sister
Tom's accomplishments and honors.
A Gamecock
afoot
At the University of South Carolina, Joey Worthen
has been an integral part of the men's soccer team for the past
three seasons. In 1999, he earned all-South Region honors and led
his team in game-winning goals with four.
Brother Worthen
lettered four seasons at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake. He
was named to the 1998 Soccer America Top 25 Men's Recruits list.
A Titanic
athlete
In the spring of 2000, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa,
CA named its annual Athletes of the Year. David Castleton
was honored with the men's award for his athletic accomplishments
in basketball and football. During the 1999 football season, Castleton
caught 53 passes for 948 yards and four touchdowns and was named
to the All-Mission Conference team. He led his team and the Orange
Empire Conference in scoring in basketball during the 1999-2000
season, posting 22.6 points a game and earning All-OEC honors.
Castleton opted
to pursue basketball at the university level and chose Cal State
Fullerton. During the 2000-01 campaign, he averaged 7.8 points and
3.5 assists an outing for Fullerton. He is expected to start for
the Titans during the 2001-02 season.
Brother Castleton
was a four-year letterman in football and basketball at Mater Dei
High School in Santa Ana, CA.
In closing
On Feb. 19, the Honolulu Quarterback Club awarded its 2000
Coach of the Year Award to a high school football coach, Siuaki
Livai. Livai led Kahuku High School to the 2000 football
state championship in a surprising win over St. Louis High School
last fall. The NFL also awarded Livai with its U.S. High School
Coach of the Year Award at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu.
Livai began
his coaching career in 1984 as Kahuku's JV running back coach. Eventually,
he joined the Varsity staff and took over as head coach in 1996.
Livai never intended to be a coach, but became more interested in
pursuing it as his children began playing.
Brother Livai
and his wife, Fusi, have six children: Siuaki,
Jr., who is serving a mission in Eugene, OR; Semisi,
who plans on serving a mission before accepting a full football
scholarship to the University of Utah; Henrietta,
ninth grade; Charlotte, seventh grade; Tevita,
third grade; and Lasi, first grade. In case the
Livai's didn't have their hands full already, they have five foster
children as well.
Whew! And I
thought I had it tough with three kids!
Anyone for a
doughnut? Better hurry before the elders get here.
If
you are aware of an LDS athlete that deserves recognition in Meridian
Sports, please e-mail the sports writer at sports@meridianmagazine.com
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© 2001 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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