Sixteen members of Team Amerika Samoa received scholarship offers during the JPS Paradise Football Classic in Las Vegas.
President of JPS American Samoa, Lydia Faleafine-Nomura says that while the team didn’t win the championship, the level of competition has lifted since their last competition, and everyone should all be proud of our boys.
On today’s Morning Show, the JPS President expressed appreciation to all who made the trip to Las Vegas possible.
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The JPS President issued the following press release regarding their trip:
The 2023 Jr. Prep Sports (JPS) All Star Amerika Samoa Football Team arrived safely home on January 16. The team comprised of 36 players, 11 coaches, 8 DOE staff, and 4 JPS Amerika Samoa (JPSAS) Staff spent 10 days in Las Vegas, Nevada, participating in the JPS Paradise Football Classic (PFC) VII. Football Teams of 10U, 14U, and high school representing Japan, California, Washington, and Nevada also participated in the event. Japan and American Samoa were the only participants without 10U or 14U teams.
Team Amerika Samoa was not without challenges as the players and coaches battled the cold weather which at times reached 28 degrees with winds. The early arrival however helped to prepare the team for the cold weather. The first day of competition for Team Amerika Samoa was on Wednesday, January 11 against Japan. Team Amerika Samoa successfully defeated Japan 32-0, which earned them a spot in the Championship Game on Friday, January 13, against Hawaii who had defeated Washington. Japan went on to play Washington in the Consolation Game losing 55 to 42.
The Championship Game was as expected extremely tough and competitive. Both teams were evenly matched and played hard. It was in essence a rematch of the 2020 JPS PFC V Championship Game where Team Amerika Samoa came out the winner. Unfortunately, a few penalties and dropped balls lead to several setbacks resulting in the final outcome of Hawaii winning the Championship, 21 to 12.
JPS Amerika Samoa President Lydia Faleafine-Nomura, stated that, “While Team Amerika Samoa may not have won the Championship, success was plenty in that over 16 players received offers from 2- and 4-year colleges including Washington State, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of San Diego, and Missouri Southern State.
This is the primary reason and goal of participating in the JPS PFC’s. While many other Bowl games highlight athletes who have already made it to D1 colleges, the Jr Prep Sports Paradise Football Classic provides an opportunity for student athletes to showcase their talents and get exposure they would not otherwise have gotten playing in high school conferences. It is through the PFC’s that many of our players have been able to go to college, which is the ultimate purpose of sending our student athletes to outside competitions.
In addition to exposing the talents of our student athletes, Team Ameirka Samoa was able to share our culture and traditions with the many representatives who attended PFC VII. Furthermore, as witnessed by the thousands of media posts and views, families and friends from the States of Hawaii, Washington, California, Utah, Nevada, and even Kansas traveled to Las Vegas to visit and cheer for their family members who were part of the Team Amerika Samoa. The love and generosity of our Samoan people was overwhelming.”
Faleafine-Nomura also expressed her deep appreciation to Governor Lemanu and especially Director of Education Talauega Asaeli Samasoni for their never-ending support and assistance for the JPS Amerika Samoa program, our student athletes, and coaches. Without their belief in sports and education, many of our student athletes would not be able to obtain opportunities for higher education. She also wishes to thank Starkist Samoa for their generous donation of 40 cases of tuna. That along with 70 additional cases donated by 
JPSAS, players, coaches, and staff were distributed to friends and families. And finally, she extends her fa’afetai tele lava to all the friends and families who donated drinks, snacks, foods, and money for the players and coaches.” She stated that, the Jr Prep Sports America motto is “unrivaled, unmatched, and undisputed”, which is how Faleafine-Nomura described the generosity of our Samoan people.
Her final thank you is to the JPS America/Hawaii President, Robert Faleafine and staff.
Putting on an event like the PFC is not an easy feat. It was challenging in Hawaii, and much more in Las Vegas. She expressed pride in her brother’s accomplishments to do this with just a small local staff and at great personal and financial cost. She is reminded of his response, every time he is asked why he does this… “It is for our youth, and if we are able to steer them to a better future, we will be blessed for it.”
She hopes that, next year, Team Amerika Samoa will be able to also include a youth team, perhaps a 10U and or 14U.
Photos: JPS Amerika Samoa
