Shanae Vaifanua

The following article was featured in "The Spectrum". The story was written by Tom Zulewski.
ST. GEORGE — Shanae Vaifanua has been involved with a lot in her young life. If it’s musically inclined, chances are pretty good she’s danced to it a time or two. As a freshman with the Dixie State basketball team, Vaifanua has been making some sweet music of her own on the court.
Vaifanua has started eight of 12 games for Dixie State and is averaging 10 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The graduate of Hurricane High has put up double figures in rebounding in the last three games (11, 11 and 10), a season-high of 24 points in a Dec. 5 win over Western New Mexico and a 23-point effort on Dec. 22 against Northwest Missouri State.
“I knew the game was going to be a little quicker (in college), but being able to stay home has made the transition a lot easier,” said Vaifanua, who is one of five Dixie State players to average 10 points a game and ranks second on the team behind Tanya Clark in rebounding.For her game preparation, Vaifanua is almost never without an IPod in her ears. She listens to a wide range of music, from Beyonce to Usher, and even country music stars like Taylor Swift and Toby Keith.It’s all part and parcel of the family Vaifanua was raised in. She moved with her family to Western Samoa at the age of 3 and returned to Utah by the time she reached fourth grade.Her younger sister, Taylor, who will be 17 on Monday and attends Hurricane, is trying to sing her way up the ladder on the new season of “American Idol” that starts Tuesday. She played with Shanae for the Tigers on the court last season.
While Vaifanua admits she sings “just about everywhere,” she is an accomplished dancer, having served as a backup on her sister’s Christian-themed album that was released four years ago.“Dancing is a big part of our (Samoan) cultural heritage, and our family was always doing that along with singing,” Vaifanua said.Vaifanua was also part of a girl group named “4 Real” that appeared on a KJZZ show called “Create The Group,” a cross between “Making the Band” and “Idol.” After several auditions for various record companies, the group disbanded last year to pursue their own individual opportunities; Taylor to the bright lights of the Fox reality music show, their two bandmates to solo singing careers, and Shanae to the hardwood at Dixie State.For DSC head coach Angie Kristensen, Vaifanua has been a pleasant surprise.
“You can tell she can change the game in a matter of seconds when she plays,” Kristensen said. “I’m excited to have her here and I’m excited to have her here for the next three years.“When we saw her (in high school), her potential was off the charts. I always thought ‘if that kid had committed herself to basketball, she’d probably be playing Division I.’
“Her skills are getting there. She’s got to become a better ball handler and better outside shooter. When that catches up to other parts of her game, she’s going to be unstoppable.”Although Vaifanua was pursued by bigger schools like Utah, she ended up at Dixie State with some motivation, courtesy of her former teammate at Hurricane, Brandi Barrett.“My senior year playing with her was a lot of fun,” said Barrett, a sophomore who is sitting out this season as a redshirt after suffering a foot injury before preseason workouts began. “We had a certain bond together when we played, so when I left, we would always talk like we wish we could play together again. When it was her turn to be recruited, I told her ‘if you can come here, you should.’”Vaifanua did. And the music came right along with her.Barrett didn’t mind a bit.“I don’t know if I want to just listen to her solo all the time, but at our house, we usually have radios going and we sing along, dance along,” Barrett said.With the opportunity to watch her at practice and in game situations, Barrett knows her friend and teammate has a personality that fits in like a veteran.“She does really well and gets along with everybody. She genuinely cares about people,” Barrett said. “You can do anything with her and have fun.”For her freshman year in high school, Vaifanua went to Keokuk High School in Iowa. One of the seniors on that roster was current Dixie State upperclassman Courtney Boyd.“She gives everyone an extra spark, and her intensity on the court carries to the bench, and for a freshman, that’s a big step,” Boyd said of Vaifanua. “If you can take that role as a freshman, good things are going to come in the future.”More than anyone else, freshmen are most likely to be on the receiving end of any practical jokes their teammates may come up with. Vaifanua has the personality and attitude to not only take what’s dished out, but give some of it back as well.“As a freshman, you’re always going to be ‘the freshman.’ She takes the role well and she’s always got a lot of energy off the court,” Boyd said. “She’s always making people laugh, and we make her laugh in return. It just so happens she’s the butt of some people’s jokes.”Vaifanua’s success at Dixie State brings a smile to her high school coach, Hurricane’s Clair Woodbury. Woodbury hasn’t had a chance to see her play, but he’s been kept in the loop with the help of his assistant coach and Vaifanua’s father, Bryan.“She’s doing exactly what I figured she’d do,” Woodbury said. “As good a high school player as she was, I knew she’d be a much better college player. Dixie is very, very fortunate to get her.“Shanae has a very special personality, so bubbly and happy, and she always has the wisecracks."