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Finau to play for BYU

All-Star offensive lineman gives Cougars verbal commitment

Mango Finau of Baldwin High School was a first-team Maui Interscholastic League All-Star offensive lineman this year, and has been selected to play in next month’s Polynesian Bowl all-star game. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

WAILUKU — Mango Finau left what became a state-champion football team at Saint Louis School to return home for his senior season at Baldwin.

The decision certainly didn’t seem to hurt his college options.

Finau plans to play for Brigham Young next season, after verbally committing to the Cougars earlier this month.

A first-team Maui Interscholastic League All-Star offensive lineman this year, Finau missed blocking for Alabama-bound Tua Tagovailoa with the Crusaders, who won the first Open Division title in state history. The Bears reached the Division I tournament, losing in the quarterfinals to Mililani.

“I do not regret one day,” Finau said. “I just wanted to play with my boys.”

The 6-foot-5, 340-pound Finau attended a summer camp at BYU, where he received a scholarship offer — when that happened, “I felt like BYU was the place for me,” he said.

“Growing up as a kid, I’ve always watched BYU and I’ve always wanted to go to BYU,” said Finau, who was pursued by Oregon State late in the season. “It’s real cool. I’ve watched some of their games, seeing what I need to do at the next level. It doesn’t matter that it’s a scholarship, I still have to work hard on my part in order to go there and play.”

Finau, who is of Tongan heritage, said playing in a community where Polynesian ties are strong “is very important to me.”

Kalani Sitake — the first coach of Tongan descent in the Bowl Subdivision, according to the Cougars’ website — just finished his first season at BYU with a 9-4 record that includes a win over Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl last week.

Finau said he plans to take a two-year Mormon church mission after his freshman season.

“I’m really excited to serve a mission,” he said. “I’ve seen my older brother and older sister serve their missions and it has brought many blessings into my life. They just said there’s no greater experience than going on a mission.”

Finau plans to play volleyball for Baldwin in the spring after taking part in the Polynesian Bowl all-star game next month on Oahu.

“It helps me big time (for football), using your feet in volleyball,” he said. “It may not seem like you’re using your feet a lot, but you do.”

• Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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