RWU HQ – Chances are pretty good you haven’t heard of Psalm Wooching – yet.
Wooching is a sophomore on the University of Washington football team who is from Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i and also dabbles in rugby.
It wasn’t until five years ago when the outside linebacker first started playing football. Before that, Wooching had played rugby.
“He was known to be the train that nobody could bring down,” said his dad Luki Wooching, according to The Seattle Times.
Psalm was a highly regarded rugby player in high school at Kealakehe and the future Husky had the opportunity to play with the U.S.A Rugby junior national team. The 6-foot-4 outside linebacker also played for the Kona Bulls and “participated in a training camp in New Zealand in 2011,” according to his football biography.
As he turned his attention to football in his sophomore year at Kealakehe, Wooching never quite forgot about the sport that was his first “true love.” The blossoming football player was invited to another camp for the junior national team, but because of University of Washington football requirements, he had to decline. And according to The Seattle Times, Wooching has also had some interest from the Samoan national team.
While Division I football is an extremely time-consuming commitment, Wooching has had some time to play with his school’s club team and helped lead his team to a Division I-AA national championship. Washington beat Utah Valley 39-22 in the national championship game. Wooching scored a try in the match.
When Wooching got back to campus and told his football coach about the national championship, UW coach Chris Petersen responded, “Well, now we’ve got to get one.“
The Washington Huskies are expected to be very competitive in the Pac-12 this season.
