Tonga had moved to Utah from San Francisco to live with his brother just a year before, and he never so much as had strapped on a helmet and pads. Thanks to his size and athletic ability, he picked up the sport quickly. Tonga was voted first team all-region last year and now is headed into the postseason of his senior year with interest from Division I college coaches, according to Erekson.
“I just kind of felt like our team was missing that swagger,” Erekson said. “… I can’t really define it, but whatever ‘it’ is, he has it and he brings it to our team.