The Big Island’s top ranked football prospect is heading to Oahu for his senior season.
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 of high school football with ILH powerhouse Saint Louis.
Vartic — a three-star prospect on scout.com — has relocated with his family to Oahu and his transfer paperwork has already been approved, according to a report from KHON2. With the paperwork cleared, he will be eligible to play in the fall.
The now 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 — even while hampered by a nagging leg injury — ran a 10.98 100-meter dash — just the second sub-11.00 in the BIIF since the mid-1990s. 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 opposition’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 Division II 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 league 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. 15.