Feb. 29, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - A defensive end who played two seasons on bowl teams at NCAA Division I Fresno State University and two high school standouts are the latest National Letter of Intent signees to play football at Western Washington University. Making that announcement was Viking head coach Robin Ross.

Amitoelau Faalevao, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound transfer from Fresno City College (Calif.), will enroll at Western spring quarter and play his senior season for the Vikings. Last year he had 11 quarterback sacks for a FCC squad that reached the Silicon Valley Bowl Game.

Faalevao sat out the previous two seasons after being a redshirt and seeing action two years at Fresno State. He saw played in two games in 2004 and three contests in 2003, earning two letters.

Also signing with Western were two prep seniors - placekicker/punter Stephen Gilbert from Kamiakin High School in Kennewick and offensive lineman Henry Hagood from Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane.

Gilbert was a first-team Associated Press Class 3A all-State selection as a senior, setting a school career record with 22 field goals. He averaged 39.6 yards punting, while making 10-of-16 field goals and 31-of-32 point after kicks, on a Braves' team that finished 9-1 and reached the first round of the state playoffs.

Gilbert booted a 34-yard game-winning field goal with 20 seconds remaining to defeat Walla Walla. As a junior on a 10-2 team that reached the state semifinals, he tied a school record with 46-yard field goal versus Southridge and set school standards with four field goals in a game and 10 in a season.

The 6-4, 235-pound Hagood helped Lewis & Clark to an 11-2 record and the Class 4A state championship. He opened holes for Tigers' running back Alex Shaw, who finished with over 1,700 rushing yards.

AMITOELAU FAALEVAO (pronounced uh-MEE-toe-lau fah-LEI-vah-oh), Defensive End, Senior, 6-4, 250, 23, 6/13/84, Pago Pago, American Samoa

COLLEGE: Transfer from Fresno City College ... Had 11 quarterback sacks for Rams, who finished 7-5 and reached Silicon Valley Bowl Game ... Team co-captain ... Started and lettered ... Sat out previous two seasons ... Also played at NCAA Division I Fresno State University when Bulldogs made three straight bowl appearances ... Saw action in two games in 2004 and three contests in 2003 after being redshirt in 2002 ... Two-year letter winner.

HIGH SCHOOL: First-team all-league and team co-captain as senior at Samoana High School ... Did not play for Sharks as junior after playing on junior varsity as sophomore.

PERSONAL: Major is criminology.

STEPHEN GILBERT, Placekicker/Punter, Freshman, 6-0, 170, 18, 5/29/90, Kennewick, WA

HIGH SCHOOL: Set school career record for field goals with 22 ... First-team Associated Press Class 3A all-State, Tri-City Herald all-Area and all- Columbia Basin League selection as senior at Kamiakin High School ... Averaged 39.6 yards punting, while making 10-of-16 field goals and 31-of-32 point after kicks ... Helped Braves to 9-1 record, league title and first round of state playoffs ... Named squad's special teams MVP for second straight year ... Booted 34-yard game-winning field goal with 20 seconds remaining to defeat Walla Walla ... First-team all-area and all-league as junior on 10-2 team that won league title and reached state semifinals ... Tied school record with 46-yard field goal versus Southridge and set standards with four field goals in game and 10 in season ... Second-team all-league as sophomore and Coaches Award winner ... Started three years and lettered four ... Also earned four letters in soccer and one in basketball ... First-team all-area and all-league defender on league championship team in soccer as junior and played on team that got to state playoffs as sophomore.

PERSONAL: Plans to major in engineering or physical therapy.

HENRY HAGOOD, Offensive Lineman, Freshman, 6-3, 235, 17, 5/4/90, Spokane, WA

HIGH SCHOOL: Helped Lewis & Clark High School to 11-2 record and Class 4A state championship ... Opened holes for Tigers' running back Alex Shaw, who finished with over 1,700 rushing yards ... Started and lettered two years.

PERSONAL: Plans to major in biology or take program in pre-physical therapy.