{"id":144,"date":"2026-05-18T11:34:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T11:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=144"},"modified":"2026-05-18T11:34:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T11:34:13","slug":"biif-football-gomes-fronda-sign-with-utah-islanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=144","title":{"rendered":"BIIF football: Gomes, Fronda sign with Utah Islanders"},"content":{"rendered":"
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KEA\u2018AU \u2014 Two Cougar superstars opened a new chapter last Wednesday in front of family, friends, teammates and coaches.<\/p>\n

Read more Odds of El Nino forming this summer increase<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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KEA\u2018AU \u2014 Two Cougar superstars opened a new chapter last Wednesday in front of family, friends, teammates and coaches.<\/p>\n

Kea\u2018au quarterback Trustin Gomes and defensive lineman Damien Fronda were two of 11 Hawaii athletes to ink their letters of intent to play at the collegiate level for the Utah Isanders next fall \u2014 joining a unique mainland program that is quickly rising up the ranks. 2025 Kea\u2018au graduate Laa Kekipi-Filoteo also plans to join Gomes and Fronda in Utah.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI was very relieved, and thankful to continue a dream that I\u2019ve had since I was a kid,\u201d Gomes said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got to meet the amazing coaches that gave me a chance to showcase my talent, and it felt like home,\u201d Fronda added.<\/p>\n

The Utah Islanders aren\u2019t just like any traditional college program, however. The team is run independently \u2014 giving overlooked and under-the-radar athletes a chance to showcase their talent against college-level competition and hopefully move on to other programs.<\/p>\n

Some of the teams the Islanders will be playing in the 2026 season are Tyler Junior College, Whitworth University, Air Force Academy, IMG\u2019s Prep Academy and Georgia Military Institute.<\/p>\n

Much of the Islanders\u2019 roster attends Salt Lake Community College nearby in Salt Lake City, where both Gomes and Fronda will attend classes. Both emphasized the importance of continuing their education while competing at the next level.<\/p>\n

The other Hawaii athletes that signed \u2014 or plan to sign \u2014 with the Islanders are Kealakehe\u2019s Gabriel Chong, Hilo\u2019s Legacy Leialoha and Apapa Liwis, Waimea\u2019s Kainoa Kinney, David-Moses Ka\u2018aumoana and Jayden Sablan, Campbell\u2019s Austin Filoteo and Leilehua\u2019s Kingston Kennedy.<\/p>\n

The independent program is now run by Big Island native David Murray, who was on Hilo High\u2019s staff and most recently the head coach of Kea\u2018au until the conclusion of the 2025 season. Led by Murray before, both Gomes and Fronda told the paper that the head coach was a big draw when it came to making their final decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to create a platform where they can still be competitive and attend school,\u201d Murray said. \u201cAnd also build some great tape and try to move on after they come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray also has plenty of coaches on his staff with Hawaii ties, such as Chevas Lamoya, Sergio Mamone and Kaleo Teriipaia. Kea\u2018au and the Islanders also have similar offensive and defensive concepts, which helps create a smoother transition for the athletes moving into that program.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, Gomes, Fronda and the rest of the Hawaii newcomers will feel a sense of home while playing for the Islanders.<\/p>\n

Read more Cavs, Donovan Mitchell dominate Pistons in Game 7, set up East showdown with Knicks<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201c(These players) are super competitive, and we\u2019re happy to have them,\u201d Murray said.<\/p>\n

Gomes just finished his first season as a starter for the Cougars, turning heads almost immediately as arguably the best quarterback on the island. He threw 2,293 yards and 25 touchdowns \u2014 including a state-record, nine-touchdown performance in a 70-0 rout of Hawaii Prep in Sept. 2025. Gomes\u2019 services helped Kea\u2018au finish second in BIIF Division I.<\/p>\n

Gomes put together such an impressive senior tape that Murray will even consider him as the starter for the Islanders\u2019 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has great leadership skills, both on and off the field,\u201d Murray said of Gomes. \u201cHe actually came up to compete in some of our spring ball recently, and he did really well for himself. He knows he has a lot of room to grow, and wants to come up and develop himself even more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having a phenomenal senior season gave Gomes the proper confidence to compete at the next level, but he also understands the work he has to put in to keep elevating.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Last season) definitely boosted some sort of confidence in me, but understanding that the work you put in is what you\u2019re going to get out\u2026 it keeps me motivated and hungry to keep working harder,\u201d Gomes added.<\/p>\n

Fronda, a former All-BIIF lineman, believes he brings a lot to his new program as a player and leader.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I bring hard work, discipline and heart,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m a team player, I\u2019m coachable and I\u2019m willing to do whatever it takes to help my team. I also bring leadership and a strong work ethic.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two newest Islanders had no shortage of people to thank for helping them get to this point in their football careers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to thank the Kea\u2018au staff and administrators for all their hard work this season \u2014 it never went unnoticed,\u201d Gomes said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank my mom, my family, my coaches, teammates and everyone who supported me along the way,\u201d Fronda said. \u201cI especially want to thank Coach Murray and Coach Nai and all the Kea\u2018au Coaches. Aunty Iris and the Kea\u2018au football program for pushing me and believing in me. Most of all, I thank God for this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray also noted that five or six more Hawaii kids could join the team. Needless to say, Hawaii talent will continue taking over mainland football for the foreseeable future.\n<\/p>\n

Read more Wildlife advocates say education efforts lacking after monk seal video<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BIIF football: Gomes, Fronda sign with Utah Islanders – Sports | Hawaii Tribune-Herald<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nBIIF football: Gomes, Fronda sign with Utah Islanders - Moving to Hawaii Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movingtohawaiiguide.com\/?p=144\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BIIF football: Gomes, Fronda sign with Utah Islanders - Moving to Hawaii Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BIIF football: Gomes, Fronda sign with Utah Islanders - 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