Nation Ford stars Petey Tuipulotu, Amaya Hush to continue athletic careers in college

Two Nation Ford Falcons signed to continue their athletic careers in college.

Petey Tuipulotu and Amaya Hush signed to play football and softball, respectively, earlier this month. Tuipulotu will continue his family’s tradition and go play football for Brigham Young University (BYU), while Hush singed to play softball at Francis Marion University.

Tuipulotu will be the fourth sibling from Nation Ford to go to BYU, following his brothers’ Hank and Ben footsteps when it comes to playing football. Older sister Sami also attends BYU and their parents all went to BYU as well. In fact, that is where the parents met as athletes at the school.

“I am most excited about playing with my brothers,” Tuipulotu said. “I have never had the opportunity to play with my older brother (Hank) so that will be exciting. I have been committed for over a year and I have been looking forward to this day for a long time.”

All three brothers will be freshman at the school. Petey will play his freshman season before going on his Mormon mission trip and, because of his brothers both coming off their mission trips, Hank and Ben will be listed as freshmen — which gives them the chance to play together.

Tuipulotu has been playing football since he was 6 years old.

“I love the physicality of the sport, and it takes a lot off your mind as well,” he said.

Tuipulotu plans on majoring in chemical engineering.

Nation Ford head football coach Michael Allen said he knows what it means for Tuipulotu to be heading to BYU to play with his brothers.

“This is something he has been looking forward to,” Allen said. “He is not just a great football player, but a great human. He does things he needs to do to be successful.”

Amaya Hush: ‘A proven leader’

Hush plans on majoring in graphic design and said that softball for her has been an outlet.

“I can play the game of softball and leave it all out there,” she said.

Hush has been playing for six years and said she was excited to start this next journey in her life. She said she will miss being at Nation Ford.

“Nation Ford is just one big family,” she said.

One person that will certainly miss Hush after her senior season is head softball coach Craig Brown.

“She is a class act,” he said. “She will run through a brick wall for you. She is a proven leader on and off the field.”

Mac Banks: mbanks@comporium.net, @MacBanksFM\u0009