Known by his teammates as an unselfish person, Nick Ulu has emerged into a major impact football player this season in the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

Ulu’s standout defensive presence has been a main factor in Kapolei’s climb up the ladder of the OIA Red West Division.  Behind a dominating effort by its defense, the Hurricanes managed to move up in the Division’s standings and secure a share of the regular season title with Waianae and Leilehua. Each has a 4-2 record in league play.

Now the Hurricanes are gunning to capture the league’s tournament crown with the intent of the continuous use of a pressing defense led by Ulu to stop opponents.  Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said he will depend strongly on his defensive front line to slow down Farrington’s stellar running attack this Saturday in a 5 p.m. quarterfinals game at Roosevelt’s Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium.  “We are hoping our defense plays great this weekend,” Hernandez said. “I know that Ulu and the rest of the guys will give everything they have to give us a chance to win.”

The 6-2, 285 pound nose tackle sees plenty of action on every defensive play and says he loves every moment he’s on the field.  “I love the competition,” Ulu said with a smile on his face. “You have to really love this sport to be good in it.”  The senior added, “When I first started playing football my freshman year I had no idea I would grow into the size I am now. And because of my size I’m able to play power football in the trenches which is what I love to do.”

Hernandez says Ulu’s style of play gives his team an advantage of being able to implore multi-defensive formations throughout a game.  “Ulu is a very unselfish player and his teammates love him for being a tower of strength in our middle. Because of Ulu’s abilities, he makes the other players on the team better. He may not get mention a lot on the stat sheet, but he’s a big, strong classic upfront player who creates for others to make tackles. Without him our defense would not be as good,” Hernandez said.

 Ulu, son of Chris and Frances Ulu, said he utilizes skills he acquired while participating in the sport of wrestling to outmaneuver opposing players. “During the winter months I stay in shape and practice how to tussle one-on-one with another person. This training (has) really helped me especially when I’m battling on short-yard situations,” he said.

No doubt Ulu and his fellow front line teammates will get plenty of opportunities this Saturday to tussle. The Hurricanes will be confronting the league’s number one statistical rusher in Harry Tuimaseve. The senior all-purpose player has compiled more than 1000 ground yards this season in seven games.  Farrington finished second in the OIA Red East Division with a 5-1 league record, losing only to number one ranked Kuhuku, 16-14, on October 2.

“Farrington will be challenging,” Ulu commented. “We just have to be ready to play the way we are taught in practice. And simply play hard.”