Nika Paogofie-Buyten played just about every sport possible during her high school career at Kealakehe.
Nika Paogofie-Buyten played just about every sport possible during her high school career at Kealakehe.
Whether it was garnering first team All-BIIF honors on the volleyball court, setting school records in the shot put and discus, or competing in wrestling and soccer — Paogofie-Buyten found a variety of ways to wear out her Waverider blue.
However, it won’t be any of those sports that she will be participating in when she heads to college next fall.
Paogofie-Buyten signed a Letter of Intent this week to play rugby for Lindenwood University in Missouri on a scholarship that will cover the majority of her costs.
Paogofie-Buyten picked up rugby in the seventh grade, but estimates she only plays organized rugby once or twice a year in tournaments, if she’s lucky. However, her love for the sport has never wavered.
“I never thought joining a rugby club would take me this far,” Paogoife-Buyten said. “I loved the intensity and it was something new. I’m hoping it shows other kids to get out and try new things.”
In her handful of times on the field, Paogofie-Buyten made an impact. She received an invite to the USA Rugby Women’s 7’s national team camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center her sophomore year, and also caught the eye of Lindenwood head coach Billy Nicholas.
“I had the opportunity of seeing and coaching Nika two years ago at a high school 7s invitational tournament in Las Vegas and she performed really well against other top high schoolers across the nation,” Nicholas said. “I could really see a ton of potential in her for the sport.”
Paogofie-Buyten said she has known since early in her junior year that the scholarship from Lindenwood was available. With that opportunity on the table, she decided to take on as much as she could athletically.
“I thought if I was going to college to play rugby, why not try everything while in high school and have fun while staying in shape,” she said. “I think it has helped me physically and mentally going into college.”
Nicholas also liked the approach and sees a high-ceiling for his new Lion prospect.
“I think Nika has had an ideal pathway to rugby, she didn’t limit herself in high school,” he said. “Gaining experience in wrestling and track and field is going to give her even more crossover skills to apply for rugby. I expect big things from Nika in the next few years. It is going to be great to see her in a high performance rugby environment on a weekly basis. She also has a great worth ethic which is going to pay dividends at the college level.”
It will certainly be a learning curve for Paogofie-Buyten. She is stepping into a program that competes at the highest level of Division I rugby.
“We make it a goal to play the most competitive collegiate and women’s teams across the nation every year to grow as a team,” Nicholas said. “We currently have a few players from Hawaii on our team and we look forward to see this pathway continue to grow here for high school athletes coming to Lindenwood.”
It has been somewhat of a family affair for the Paogofie-Buyten’s at Lindenwood. Nika’s brother, Tama, is currently attending the school on a rugby scholarship. Tama is still deciding what he will do in the coming year, but Nika is set on blazing her own path.
“A lot of people say I’m following in the footsteps of my brother, but I don’t feel it’s like that,” she said. “We are going to the same college, but it’s definitely different.”
As for a major, Paogofie-Buyten is leaning — again — towards something new in the theater or entertainment field.
“I built a name in sports, but I want to try something new,” she said. “I love Jimmy Fallon and things like that, so I think it will be a lot of fun.”