Junior's a Viking

PALMER -- Just as Junior Aumavae finished signing a National Letter of Intent Friday afternoon, he said jokingly to a crowd of fellow students, teammates and classmates looking on in the Palmer High School weight room, "I have just sold my soul."

If that is the case, Aumavae's sale of his soul could be worth over $70,000 as he accepted a scholarship package to attend Western Washington University and play for the Viking football squad.

"He didn't get a full ride, but its awful close to it," Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said. "Division II school's don't give many full rides. It comes down to where he won't have to pay a whole lot."

According to those who have been around Aumavae during his three plus seasons in the Palmer football program, it is Aumavae's soul and determination that has allowed him to be successful.

"It's his work ethic, he really works hard," Christiansen said. "Nothing has been easy for him."

Christiansen said it is Aumavae's constant work in the classroom, weight room and on the football field that has allowed the upcoming Palmer High School graduate to have an opportunity to attend a quality academic institution and play football at a high level.

Aumavae credits the Palmer High School coaching staff that has mentored him throughout his prep career.

Aumavae said several schools were interested in his services and his list of final choices includes Western Washington, Western Oregon, another Division II squad and Valley City State, a program in North Dakota that has attracted several Alaskan standouts, including Aumavae's former teammate at Palmer High School, Ali Larijani. Aumavae also received interest from Division I programs, but ultimately chose to attend the Division II power in Bellingham, Wash.

The Western Washington staff had great interest in Aumavae throughout the recruiting process.

"They like him a lot," Christiansen said. "He's their number one defensive line recruit.

"I believe some other Division I schools may have been interested, but (at Western Washington) he'll be able to play fairly early."

Western Washington brought Aumavae to Bellingham for a campus visit earlier this winter.

"The campus was really nice, and there was a level of competition where I fit in," Aumavae said.

Christiansen said Western Washington, which already has three Alaskans on their 2004 roster, does not recruit the 49th state hard.

"They don't recruit many Alaskans, maybe the top two or three per year," Christiansen said.

Juneau-Douglas High School graduate Rick Carte is the Viking's starting tight end and Bryan Jones, a graduate of Service High School, is a sophomore linebacker.

Former Wasilla standout Abe Salmon is also a redshirt freshman with the Vikings.

Aumavae said it is appealing to have other Alaskans share his collegiate roster, and is looking forward to sharing the same school colors and his former foe with the Warriors.

"Me and Abe go way back," Aumavae said jokingly.

"I helped end his senior season," Aumavae said, citing Palmer's 21-0 win in the 2002 state playoffs, the final game in Salmon's prep career. "That's in the past and I look forward to getting to know Abe."

Aumavae, who earned All-Northern Railbelt Conference and All-State honors at both offensive line and defensive line in each of his last two seasons, will play on the defensive front for the Vikings. He said he is open to playing either at defensive end or in the interior.

"There are a lot of possibilities," Aumavae said. "Where ever they need me."

Hans Deemer, Aumavae's defensive line coach at Palmer, believes there is great potential for Aumavae to see success at the Division II level.

"If he believes in their program as much as he believed in ours," Deemer said. "If he doesn't make it, it's the coaching."

Deemer also said playing against greater competition will catapult Aumavae's game.

"The sky's the limit," Deemer said.

Deemer compared Aumavae to Cole Magner, another Valley football prospect he coached at Colony High School.

"He has the same mentality as Cole, the same work ethic," Deemer said. "When these kids get into a good program, the sky's the limit."

Magner is a starting wide receiver for the Division I Bowling Green State Falcons.

"They have no clue what he can really do, they have only seen him on tape," Deemer said. "They haven't watched him in practice."

Deemer said Aumave has a similar size and is faster than another Alaskan prospect, Mao Tosi, who had a very successful run as a collegiate defensive lineman.

Tosi, a former East High School standout, played collegiatly for the University of Idaho and professionally for the Arizona Cardinals.

"He's faster," Deemer said. "Tosi is a true 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, but Junior is almost as big."

It is still unknown whether or not Aumavae will redshirt his first year with the program. If he does don the Viking purple during the 2004 season, he will have a shot at playing on the professional turf. The 2004 schedule, released this week by Western Washington athletics, includes a contest with Central Washington at Seahawks Stadium on Sept. 25.

Western Washington is among the elite programs at the Division II level. In the last five seasons, the Vikings have won four Great Northwest Athletic Association titles.