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![USC Assistant Coach Johnny Nansen (standing back row middle), with his parents Tasi and Imeleta, and his siblings. Nansen’s Trojans came from behind and won the Rose Bowl last weekend against Penn State (52-49) in a nail-biting thriller that will go down in history as ‘classic’. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Nansen%20family.jpg?itok=x6HGMurj "USC Assistant Coach Johnny Nansen (standing back row middle), with his parents Tasi and Imeleta, and his siblings. Nansen’s Trojans came from behind and won the Rose Bowl last weekend against Penn State (52-49) in a nail-biting thriller that will go down in history as ‘classic’. [Courtesy photo]")
Those who watched him grow up knew from the get-go that Johnny Nansen was destined for great things.
The young boy who was born in Apia, Samoa and spent his early childhood years in Laulii, American Samoa, left the territory in the early 1980s but never forgot where he came from.
Nansen was raised...
![[SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Ele%20liftingweb.jpg?itok=OyA94ZbD "[SN file photo]")
Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) has confirmed plans to stage a grand celebration for Ele Opeloge when her Olympic medal arrives, according to the Samoa Observer.
President of S.A.S.N.O.C, Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i said they are waiting...
![Psalm Fa'afoisia Pulemagafa Wooching, co-captain of the Pac-12 champions, the UW Huskies football team, is undecided on his future plans but many who have followed his collegiate career predict that he will be a late round pick in April's NFL draft. [photo: courtesy]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Psalm%20Wooching.jpg?itok=MOKxLJfe "Psalm Fa'afoisia Pulemagafa Wooching, co-captain of the Pac-12 champions, the UW Huskies football team, is undecided on his future plans but many who have followed his collegiate career predict that he will be a late round pick in April's NFL draft. [photo: courtesy]")
Pslam Fa’afoisia Pulemagafa Wooching’s college football years may be over, but his presence as a co-captain for the University of Washington's Huskies is unforgettable.
And while the #4 Huskies were defeated (7-24) by #1 Alabama this past Saturday at the Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia,...
The names of the five finalists for the 2016 Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year Award, presented by Hawaiian Airlines, have been announced and they are: OL Mike Iupati (Arizona Cardinals), DT Star Lotulelei (Carolina Panthers), QB Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans), DT Danny Shelton (...
![Ele Opeloge of Samoa competes in the women's +75 kg weightlifting event during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. [Photo: AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE via RNZI]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Ele%20lifting.jpg?itok=L_cs_FbP "Ele Opeloge of Samoa competes in the women's +75 kg weightlifting event during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. [Photo: AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE via RNZI]")
Samoa's first ever Olympic medal has come as a bittersweet victory according to the president of the country's weightlifting federation.
Weightlifter Ele Opeloge originally placed fourth in the, 75kgs and above, women's super heavyweight division, in Beijing.
But a review of test samples in August...
![Tilali Scanlan 17-year-old of Vaitogi feels honored and proud to have represented American Samoa earlier this month at the FINA World Swimming Championship in Ontario, Canada. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AS_swimmer.jpg?itok=KioV-YZ2 "Tilali Scanlan 17-year-old of Vaitogi feels honored and proud to have represented American Samoa earlier this month at the FINA World Swimming Championship in Ontario, Canada. [Courtesy photo]")
With the New Year coming up, Tilali Scanlan, a 17-year-old from Vaitogi, plans an everyday resolution for the New Year — that is to enter the next World’s Swimming Competition in Budapest, Hungary.
Tilali, who is a lifeguard for the American Samoa Aquatic Agency, went to Canada this month for the...
![(FHS) Blessman Ta’ala immediately apprehends ball carrier, (THS) Andrew Toilolo, behind the line of scrimmage during an All-Star practice session. [photo: TG]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/allstar_7249.jpg?itok=NDm-x0Wu "(FHS) Blessman Ta’ala immediately apprehends ball carrier, (THS) Andrew Toilolo, behind the line of scrimmage during an All-Star practice session. [photo: TG]")
The American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) Board along with the Department Of Education’s Sports Department has selected the best players in American Samoa to represent the territory in the Junior Prep Sports (JPS) Paradise Football Classic II that will take place at the Aloha...
![One of the nominees for the “Ueseli Utah Isileli” Award this year – Chase Hess — with Ueseli Utah Isileli, who was honored by Taylorsville High School in the State of Utah last weekend, with an award named after Ueseli, honoring his courage & sacrifice of play. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Chase%20Hess%20n%20Ueseli.jpg?itok=Apgyzm2a "One of the nominees for the “Ueseli Utah Isileli” Award this year – Chase Hess — with Ueseli Utah Isileli, who was honored by Taylorsville High School in the State of Utah last weekend, with an award named after Ueseli, honoring his courage & sacrifice of play. [Courtesy photo]")
with photos
A local son of American Samoa who rocked the gridiron during his time in the Territory, made history at Taylorsville High School in the State of Utah this past weekend, as the school named an award after Ueseli Isileli – the ‘Ueseli Utah Isileli’ Award, where our local boy had the honor...
![The Tafuna High School basketball team that will be departing the territory this Friday to compete in the St. Francis Holiday Hoop Tournament in Hawai’i next week. Head Coach Valusia Talataina leads the team – they are scheduled to return on the 26 of this month. [photo: TG]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tafuna%20bb_6739.jpg?itok=5jVqr4xG "The Tafuna High School basketball team that will be departing the territory this Friday to compete in the St. Francis Holiday Hoop Tournament in Hawai’i next week. Head Coach Valusia Talataina leads the team – they are scheduled to return on the 26 of this month. [photo: TG]")
Tafuna High School’s basketball team was invited by St. Francis to compete in the St. Francis Holiday Hoops Tournament that will be held in Hawai’i, and after coming together as a group since late August – when asked why is it only Tafuna High School’s basketball team going, Valusia Talataina told...
![Sons of American Samoa helped GCCC to their 1st conference title – Keiki Misipeka, Jamie Tago, Tama Toa Edward Manase — it’s the start of more opportunities due to three locals making a name for themselves in the US Junior college program. Tago, pictured here, has since been accepted to the UH football program. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/grden%20city%20football3262_o.jpg?itok=B3-4_rua "Sons of American Samoa helped GCCC to their 1st conference title – Keiki Misipeka, Jamie Tago, Tama Toa Edward Manase — it’s the start of more opportunities due to three locals making a name for themselves in the US Junior college program. Tago, pictured here, has since been accepted to the UH football program. [Courtesy photo]")
Three homegrown sons of American Samoa representing Garden City Community College have lifted the school’s ranking in the region — they are reckoned to be the No.1 Junior College program in the country, according to Keiki Misipeka who is one of the coaches at GCCC.
Misipeka was one of the strongest...