by Dirk Knudsen | Posted on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
Florence, Oregon is one of the prettiest places in the State. But the faraway coastal town is most famous or the Oregon Dunes and not so much for High School Football. But there is a talent there at Siuslaw High School that is so big we just had to take a closer look.
The Vikings feature a solid squad top to bottom and they face powerhouse Central on Saturday morning at Cottage Grove High School. Their hopes of moving on to a 4A State Final game lie squarely on the broad shoulders of one Sonny Tupua.
Tupua is the Vikings 5’10″, 210 pound bruiser back and boy can he run. The powerful frame and running style make him hard to bring down and late this season he crossed into record territory.
In fact he has now rushed for an all time Siuslaw career rushing total of 3866 yards, bringing him to the verge of becoming Siuslaw’s only 4,000 yard rusher.
The previous career rushing record of 3,032 yards set by Brent Sanford in 1989, ’90 and ’91. He is also the all-time leading scorer with 328 points as of last week.
The big back of Polynesian heritage is a powerhouse and that shows up in the weight room where he benches 320 pounds, reps 185 pounds 25 plus times, squats near 430 pounds, and can Power Clean 303 pounds.
He is at the 2,000 yard mark or better this year and is not planning on stopping just yet.
Of his strengths he thoughtfully offered, “Gaining that extra yard, working hard to be a team player are two of my strengths. I make goals not excuses. There are no gains without pains!”
He is also an excellent wrestler and will be one of the top 2 or 3 215 pounders in the State this year. He placed 5th his 10th grade year which was the first year he had ever wrestled and last season took 2nd in State.
Sonny is really involved in his family and is the oldest of 7 Children; 4 boys and 3 girls. He is very focused on setting an example for the rest of the kids and helping the family out.
“I’m the oldest of seven siblings, four boys and 3 girls. My parents work very hard in supporting me and my other siblings. I help my parents with chores at home and also take care of my brothers and sisters. I want to set a good example so that my youngest siblings follow my footstep.”
He also volunteers for the Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane, helps run a youth football camp (middle school), the Relay for Life, and is very active in the Voice of Christ Full Gospel Church and Soroptimist of Florence, Oregon.
If you want to see a true talent from down State head out to Cottage Grove and support Sonny Tupua and his Vikings! This is one great example of the type of talent we have all over the State of Oregon!
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