By Reagan Paz
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For the Trojan football team, coming in just short and losing the state title was enough, but Running Back Sophomore Vavae Malepeai went through two losses that night: the loss of the championship game, and the loss of his biggest supporter, his grandmother Toaiva Sagapolutele.
“She was like my best friend,” said Malepeai, “We would always talk story when I come home, whenever I stayed up late doing homework, she was just waiting for me to finish, but I mean we would talk story almost every night, every day about everything, anything.” Malepeai’s mother Tali Malepeai added, “She went to all his games and was his biggest cheerleader and always encouraged his school and sports. She was always the first person he’d look for in the crowd after his games.”
On Jan. 18, Sagapolutele was diagnosed with lung cancer. When Malepeai found out, he was devastated. “He took it harder than she did. His spirit was broken and he locked himself in his room that night,” explained T. Malepeai.
However, Malepeai managed to stay positive. “The next day, he and his younger siblings told their Mama that they will fight this cancer together,” said T. Malepeai.
After being hospitalized, Sagapolutele lost her battle and passed away on Nov. 23, the day of the state championship game. Malepeai was informed that morning from his father Mako Malepeai. “It was pretty saddening, but I didn’t try to let it bring me down in my game, I wanted it to pick me up and use it as another motivational force to do better in this game,” he said. T. Malepeai added, “It’s hard for all of us because she was the backbone of our family. We know she’s in a better place, we just miss her.”
With family being the foundation to Malepeai’s life, his focus has been to play for his loved ones in every game. “When I go home and seeing how they go through struggles, how we just have a hard time sometimes with the money, and bills, and just what goes on in the house, it just makes me think that if I do good in (football) I can give them a better life,” he said.
Although he is one of the top running backs in the state, with 1,350 yards and 20 touchdowns in this year alone, Malepeai knows no such titles carry weight at home. “We’re very proud of him, and get all crazy in the stadium, cheering for him and his Trojan brothers, but he knows once he walks in the house, he’s not ‘Vavae Malepeai number 19,’ he’s ‘Vavae go do your chores and watch your (siblings),’” said T. Malepeai.
His football career feats may have no credentials when it comes to doing chores but he still holds an important role at home. “We’re blessed to have him as a firstborn. He is missed whenever he is not home. He listens. He doesn’t talk back. He treats his four younger siblings with respect, and cares about them,” expressed T. Malepeai, “(He) is respectful, honest, caring, and has strong Christian and family values.”
Malepeai may have been dealt a bad hand on the day of the championship, but the teachings, nurture and guidance of Sagapolutele is reflected in Malepeai, as he continues to be her living legacy.
