Taiana Tolleson held her official signing day ceremony on Sunday in a place she is very familiar with, where she has built a legacy over the past few years. ADVERTISING Taiana Tolleson held her official signing day ceremony on Sunday
Taiana Tolleson held her official signing day ceremony on Sunday in a place she is very familiar with, where she has built a legacy over the past few years.
The standout Konawaena goalkeeper ceremoniously put ink to paper in front of friends and family inside the soccer goal at Julian R. Yates Field. Tolleson is believed to be the first keeper from the Big Island to sign an NCAA Division I college scholarship.
“It is super cool,” Tolleson said on being able to hold the ceremony inside the goal. “I’m emotional about it because this field has been my home and I have gone through so much on this field with so many teammates, friends and family. We have won BIIFs and we have had some of our worst losses, which have helped build me into the person I am now.”
Tolleson — who had previously signed on national signing day earlier this month — had other offers from schools all around the United States. She toured a few, but it quickly became apparent that Vanderbilt is where she wanted to go.
“As soon as I landed in Tennessee, before I even saw the school, I just fell in love with Nashville,” Tolleson said. “Vanderbilt’s facilities, the way the team took me in before I verbally committed, and the knowledge the coach showed made an impact on my decision.”
In her time at Konawaena, Tolleson helped lead the Wildcats to three BIIF championships. The team nearly reached the title match for the fourth straight year earlier this month, but were upset by Waiakea in the semifinals.
In her junior year, Tolleson helped lead the 2014-15 Wildcats to unprecedented success. The team became the first BIIF Division I girls soccer squad to win its opening game at states since the tournament was moved to eight teams in 2007. In that quarterfinal game against Kaiser, Tolleson held the Cougars scoreless in a 2-0 victory.
In the semifinal game that season, Tolleson went up against Mililani, a team that boasted the state’s leading scorer. The Wildcats played well, but would end up losing 2-1 at the Waipio Soccer Complex on Oahu.
For her play in the tournament, Tolleson was named to the All-State team. She also has been named All-BIIF in soccer, volleyball and water polo.
“I have gone to Konawaena since I was in kindergarten and this is definitely a place I am going to miss,” Tolleson said. “I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for everything that Konawaena provided me, from the teachers to the coaches, to the facilities.”
Vanderbilt is coming off a fall season in which the team went 9-8-4. The Commodores defeated Georgia in the opening round of the SEC tournament, but the No. 8 seeded team fell to top seeded Florida by one goal in the quarterfinals. Florida was ranked fifth in the nation and Vanderbilt did not give up the winning goal until the 75th minute.
“They made history by reaching the conference tournament for the first time in six years,” Tolleson said. “They have a very strong program and we have 10 girls coming in, in my class, and I know that we can continue being strong.”
Tolleson plans on majoring in criminal psychology at Vanderbilt.
