Utah football: Services set for Utah football player

By Lya Wodraska The Salt Lake Tribune

Published: August 1, 2013 2:59 pm
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Boosters from Trinity High School have established a memorial fund for the families of three people who were killed in a one-car accident Monday night in New Mexico.

Incoming Utah player Gaius "Keio" Vaenuku, Texas A&M player Polo Manukainiu, and Lolo Uhatafe, the 13-year-old brother of incoming Utah freshman Salesi Uhatafe, all died in the accident.

Salesi Uhatafe, who is Manukainiu's stepbrother, and his father, Salesi Sr., survived the crash.

Vaenuku, Manukainiu and Uhatafe all played for Trinity High School, located in Euless, Texas.

The memorial fund is called "The Polo, Gaius and Lolo Memorial Fund." Donations can be mailed to the First Bank Texas (4201 Airport Freeway, Bedford, Texas 76201) or by electronic deposit (routing number 111304912).

Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham and assistants Morgan Scalley, Kalani Sitake, Ilaisa Tuiaki and Sharrieff Shah are flying to Texas on Friday to attend Vaenuku's funeral services, scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Colleyville Stake Center.

Trinity High has been a popular recruiting stop for the Utes, who have signed offensive lineman Sam Tevi, offensive lineman Hiva Lutui and defensive lineman LT Tuipulotu from the school. —

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