The 2014 American Samoa High School Athletics Association (ASHSAA) football champions, the Faga’itua Vikings, were honored last Thursday during a special banquet and awards ceremony held in the school’s gymnasium.

Parents, supporters, and family members, as well as the faculty and staff of Faga’itua High School were in attendance, with Vikings head coach and Vice Principal Suaese “Pooch” Taase, assisted by DJ Rafiki, serving as Master of Ceremony.

The night started off with the football team members singing an opening hymn, followed by a prayer offered by Rev. Suli Faiilagi of the Laulli Assembly of God Church. (Rev. Suli is also the head coach of the Vikings championship girls volleyball team).

Throughout the evening, numerous prizes including a guitar, fan, and tool set – donated by the Tool Shop – were raffled off. Clips of this past season’s highlights and games were shown on a huge projector for everyone to see.

Fagaitu’a High School principal Elvis Unutoa Liufau, during his special remarks, congratulated the players, coaching staff, and parents for a great season and said the championship trophy is not going anywhere, it will remain in the east side. With their victory last month, the Vikings are aiming for their 12th championship title next year.

The 42 players on the Vikings championship squad were each awarded a mini trophy, ie lavalava, and a t-shirt. A total of 19 seniors were honored, as the championship game against Tafuna High School’s mighty Warriors last month would be their last game in the red, white, and black Vikings jersey.

Coach Pooch mentioned that three of the seniors – Fagaese Taase, Tuli Fruean, and Lui Lui Jr. — have already sat and passed the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT), a requirement for entrance into most colleges and universities. He urged the rest of the players to study for and take the SAT, so they can continue on and play football after leaving Faga’itua High School.

Special awards for the night went to Oly Tulafono Taase and Ferrin Manuleleua, both juniors, and the two main returning players the Vikings are depending on to defend their title next season.

Taase was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship game as well as the ASHSAA Co-Offensive Player of the Year while his teammate Ferrin Manuleleua was named the ASHSAA Defensive Player of the Year.