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Garden City Community College continues to excel

[Courtesy photo]
blue@samoanews.com

The Garden City Community College football program continues to excel, and Polynesian players contribute greatly with yet another successful season. Head Coach Jeff Sims has turned the program around in three years and this is evident with the team playing in their second bowl game in a row.

Last year, Garden City Community College played in the El Toro Bowl in Yuma, Arizona against Arizona Western Community College.  Garden City went on to beat Arizona Western 25-23. 

The program skyrocketed and was ranked #1 in the country, after being crowned the 2016 National Junior College Champions and Jayhawk Conference Champions — a first in program history. 

This season, No. 12-ranked Garden City Community College played in their second bowl game in two years, when they took the field during the Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cove, Texas this past Saturday against No. 8 Trinity Valley Community College. 

Garden City lost 41-48 in an action-packed game.

The Polynesian athletes have contributed tremendously to the success of the program. Coach Keiki Misipeka, who grew up in American Samoa, told Samoa News over the weekend that the Polynesian pipeline has ties to American Samoa, Hawai’i, Tonga, Australia, and parts of the United States.

Misipeka has done a tremendous job of recruiting Polynesian athletes to Garden City Community College. Former standout Tafuna Warrior Edward Manase is a two starter for the Broncbusters and hails from the village of Futiga. He plays center and led the #12 ranked Broncbusters into last weekend's bowl game. 

Other athletes who are part of the program include Dixon Siuele (Samoana HS, Fagasa); Brandon Salanoa (Samoana HS, Fagasa); Heston Lameta (Samoana HS, Pago Pago); Vimoto Mageo (Samoana HS, Pago Pago); Tui Ah Chong (Fagaitua HS, Aua); Leti Paaga (Tafuna HS, Nuuuli); Kevin Maukoloa (Nuuuli Voc-Tech HS, Nuuuli); Kahewai Kaaiawaawa (Mililani HS, Hawaii); Kelemete Lam Sam (Farrington HS, Hawaii); CJ Liana (Farrington HS, Hawaii); EJ Faauli (Mckinley HS, Hawaii); TJ Fehoko (Cottonwood HS, Utah); and Tali Amosa (Australia).

Malo lava to our Polynesian athletes. Congrats on another successful season.