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Bastrop High senior defensive lineman Sammy Vaai received an early graduation present, accepting an opportunity to continue his education and football career at Greenville (Ill.) College.
A Division III school, Greenville does not offer athletic scholarships, but Vaai qualified for an academic scholarship with a 3.8 grade point average and 20 ACT score.
Vaai had never heard of Greenville, a small college affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, until offensive coordinator Robbie Schomaker visited the BHS campus recently.
As luck would have it, the 5-10, 260-pound Vaai was not on campus at the time and did not get a chance to meet Schomaker. However, the Greenville coaching staff was sold on Vaai after viewing game film and receiving a glowing recommendation from the Bastrop coaches.
“Coach Yanez told me about them,” said Vaai, referring to Bastrop linebackers coach Marcus Yanez. “I wasn’t at the stadium when (coach Shomaker) came, but coach Yanez gave me their number.”
Although Vaai has never visited the Greenville campus, he is comfortable with his decision to commit to the Panthers.
“It’s a Christian school,” said Vaai, who has scheduled a visit to Greenville next week. “They have a good athletic department and a good science department.”
Vaai plans to major in environmental biology at Greenville and eventually enter the field of marine biology.
“I grew up around the ocean and that’s where I want to be,” said Vaai, who moved from Samoa to Texas at age 8.
As for football, Vaai hopes contribute immediately.
“The coach told me that I am probable one of their top defensive line recruits and that I might get a chance to play next year,” Vaai said.
Greenville has a solid program, going 7-3 en route to winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference last season.
Vaai, who taught the Haka, a Samoan war dance to his Bastrop High teammates, says he is looking forward to meeting fellow senior linebacker Kiso Faletufuga, a fellow Samoan, when he visits Greenville next week.
“It’ll be good to have a Samoan teammate,” Vaai said. “(Faletufuga) has started for the last two years.”
Vaai transferred to Bastrop from Keller (Texas) last February. In his only season with the Rams, Vaai logged 57 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a sack, while splitting time between nose guard and defensive end. Additionally, Vaai handled the kickoff duties while helping the Rams to an 11-2 mark and the state quarterfinals. He also competed in the throwing events for the Rams’ track team, placing third in the shot put and fourth in the discus and javelin at the District 3-4A Meet.
Bastrop High senior defensive lineman Sammy Vaai received an early graduation present, accepting an opportunity to continue his education and football career at Greenville (Ill.) College.
A Division III school, Greenville does not offer athletic scholarships, but Vaai qualified for an academic scholarship with a 3.8 grade point average and 20 ACT score.
Vaai had never heard of Greenville, a small college affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, until offensive coordinator Robbie Schomaker visited the BHS campus recently.
As luck would have it, the 5-10, 260-pound Vaai was not on campus at the time and did not get a chance to meet Schomaker. However, the Greenville coaching staff was sold on Vaai after viewing game film and receiving a glowing recommendation from the Bastrop coaches.
“Coach Yanez told me about them,” said Vaai, referring to Bastrop linebackers coach Marcus Yanez. “I wasn’t at the stadium when (coach Shomaker) came, but coach Yanez gave me their number.”
Although Vaai has never visited the Greenville campus, he is comfortable with his decision to commit to the Panthers.
“It’s a Christian school,” said Vaai, who has scheduled a visit to Greenville next week. “They have a good athletic department and a good science department.”
Vaai plans to major in environmental biology at Greenville and eventually enter the field of marine biology.
“I grew up around the ocean and that’s where I want to be,” said Vaai, who moved from Samoa to Texas at age 8.
As for football, Vaai hopes contribute immediately.
“The coach told me that I am probable one of their top defensive line recruits and that I might get a chance to play next year,” Vaai said.
Greenville has a solid program, going 7-3 en route to winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference last season.
Vaai, who taught the Haka, a Samoan war dance to his Bastrop High teammates, says he is looking forward to meeting fellow senior linebacker Kiso Faletufuga, a fellow Samoan, when he visits Greenville next week.
“It’ll be good to have a Samoan teammate,” Vaai said. “(Faletufuga) has started for the last two years.”
Vaai transferred to Bastrop from Keller (Texas) last February. In his only season with the Rams, Vaai logged 57 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a sack, while splitting time between nose guard and defensive end. Additionally, Vaai handled the kickoff duties while helping the Rams to an 11-2 mark and the state quarterfinals. He also competed in the throwing events for the Rams’ track team, placing third in the shot put and fourth in the discus and javelin at the District 3-4A Meet.
