By Patrick Lujan
In an unprecedented series of college football recruiting events, North Park University in northern Chicago is taking in a host of Guam high school football stars.
Football practice started Friday night for the Division III Vikings. North Park is a private university with an enrollment of around 3100 and was established in 1891, according to the school’s website.
2017 IIAAG MVP Xavier Naputi leads the way along with fellow All-Island selectees Christopher Parker and Tyler Pangelinan. Evan Bejerana and Juan Parker are also newcomers to the squad.
Returnee Juan King, Jr. and transfer Jujuan King will help the freshmen with the transition. The King brothers were standouts for the FD Friars and Guam High Panthers throughout their career on Guam.
The Vikings are no strangers to recruiting from the islands, boasting a 2017 roster filled with players from Hawaii and American Samoa that finished at 3-7.
They play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and open the season on Sept 1.
Some of the Guam boys after their first practice of the season at North Park. (L-R): Juan King, Jr., Tyler Pangelinan, Xavier Naputi, Coach Denton DelGaldo, Evan Bejerana, Jujan King and Christopher Parker. (photo by Mike Pangelinan)
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QUICK HITS
The JFK Islanders won the first ever Memorial Weekend High School Basketball Tournament.
The All-Tournament selection were Zhion Macapinlac JFK, Darwin Ecijan JFK, Matthew Quinata Southern, and Malcom Fernandez Tiyan.
JFK’s Collin Rillamas was named tournament MVP.
