By J.R. DeGROOTE
By J.R. DeGROOTE
West Hawaii Today
The Big Island’s top ranked football prospect is heading to Oahu for his senior season.
Konawaena standout defensive back Luca Vartic will play his final year for ILH powerhouse Saint Louis.
Vartic — a three-star prospect on scout.com — will relocate with his family to Honolulu and his paperwork has already been approved, according to a report from KHON2.
The former Wildcat already has D-I offers from the University of Hawaii, UNLV and Washington State on the table — and for good reason. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Vartic already has the size needed to play at the next level, and is still growing.
He also has the speed, which he displayed during the track season. Vartic ran a 10.98 100-meter dash on March 21 — only the second sub-11.00 in the BIIF since the mid-1990s. However, he was hampered by a reoccuring leg injury through most of the season. Vartic took silver at states in the 100 in 2013.
On the gridiron, Vartic recorded 26 tackles, two interceptions and 16 pass deflections with the Wildcats in 2014. He often covered the opposing team’s top receiving threat, with his best displays coming against 6-foot-5 Hawaii Preparatory TE/WR Nicky Palleschi. The pair matched up twice in 2014 — once in the regular season, and again in the BIIF semifinals — and both times were battles. Vartic showed off his length and coverage skills against a larger opposition, coming away with two picks and multiple pass deflections.
Under first-year head coach Brad Uemoto, the Wildcats will be looking to return to the top of the BIIF. After reeling off three straight titles, Konawaena lost to Kamehameha-Hawaii in the BIIF championship last season.
It might be a bit harder without Vartic, but the Wildcats still have a solid amount of returning and up-and-coming talent to contend for a championship.
Saint Louis is set to open its 2015 campaign Aug. 8 against defending state champion Mililani. Konawaena is scheduled to take on Saint Francis in preseason action Aug. 14.