Tonight, Trinity High School of Euless will play against Pearland High School of Houston for the Texas 5A Division State Championship Title. Trinity is no newcomer to this State Championship game, as they’ve won the title in 2005, 2007, and 2009. They are one of the highest ranked high school football team in the country, and have been featured on many national news. They have even done national commercials.
As some of you religion practitioners and academics may want to associate the name Trinity to that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, unfortunately, the usage of Trinity here refers to the three cities, Hurst, Euless, and Bedford, which comprised the school district in which Trinity High School is located. It is often referred to as HEB or MidCities, and it sits right outside of DFW International Airport. It is also halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth. These three cities hold one of the highest concentrated area for Tongans in the U.S., estimated 7-8,000 people.
My interest in this story is sort of family, country, community, and religion related. It’s family related because I have nephews and other family members playing for Trinity. It’s country related because about half of the players are second generation migrants from my native country of Tonga. There’s also a couple of players from our neighborly sister island of Samoa. It’s community related because the entire Polynesian Community will be at this game, along with thousands of the residents of these three cities. It’s religion related because here in Texas, high school football is a civil religion. So perhaps the name Trinity does after all refer to a religion, just in a slightly different context. But then again, church and religion is of extreme importance to these island folks.
Moreover, in case you haven’t encountered too many Tongans or Polynesians in life, they are naturally big boned, overgrown, and many times overweight. They are naturally fit to play sports such as rugby and football. Statistics show that these overgrown island guys have a higher chance of getting into the NFL than any other ethnic group.
Below are a few links that also tell the story:
NFL highlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I6vb4XwV0o&feature=share
Haka-an ancient island warrior dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxB25H4yB2E&feature=related
With Katie Couric and the CBS Evening News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbHffGdbEpw
NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95295728
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/sports/09iht-TONGANS.1.16810356.html
As much as I would like to see these Tongan kids pursue an academic career, and take great passion with their academic studies, I realize that I must also show up to give them support for what their heart, spirit, and mind long for. While football is not the only way to succeed in life, for many of these kids, it is a way of hope to a future. It is a door of opportunity for them not only as individuals, but also for their many families. After all, an island story is never about an individual as much as it is about the families and community.
Whether Trinity wins or not is beside the point. From a far away south pacific island of Tonga to the lone star state of Texas, Trinity football is a way of life not only for these island folks but also for the thousands of local supporters. I am glad to be a part of this culture and excitement. As an alumni of Trinity High School and as a Tongan-American, I will be attending the game tonight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington at 8p.m.
Perhaps this brief story about Trinity High School football is not just a Trinity story, not just a football story, not just an island story, but it is also an American story.
T’S UP!!!
*originally written 12/18/2010 as a facebook note. 43,321 people in attendance.
*updated with photos. earlier game photos were borrowed from Kautai.
a journey in existence 
