Great Athlete. Even Better Person

SEATTLE - “Sometimes toughness is asking for help when you truly need it,” Styles Siva Tu’u said.

The world views toughness differently. Some see it as who is the last one to break, who can lift the heaviest, or who can hit the hardest. But for Tu'u, toughness is being able to show weakness.

Some of the biggest lessons taught at O’Dea weren’t about how to rack up the most tackles or how to get noticed by college coaches. They were about life.

“Looking back, a lot of O’Dea’s teachings have shown up in at least one aspect of my life. If I were to choose, it would be perseverance through hardship, that hard work without recognition will be rewarded in its own way, and to enjoy what makes you passionate,” Tu’u said.

For Tu’u, coming into O’Dea shaped him in many ways as an athlete and challenged him to take on a leadership role. People often see leadership as the loudest guy in the locker room, but to him, leadership meant being someone others could reach out to- an anchor that held the team together. Sometimes, to do that, you must follow before you lead.

“To lead, you have to be someone that people are willing to follow, and sometimes the best way to achieve that is by following a leader and learning how to be one,” Tu’u said.

But beyond the glory and recognition of sports, O’Dea is a place of faith, and for Tu’u, that meant a lot to him and his journey.

“O’Dea’s brotherhood and faith had the biggest impact on me, especially because I grew up in a religious family. It helped me grow closer to God and the brotherhood. There isn’t anything like it. It’s more of a family,” Tu’u said.

Tu’u eventually committed to playing football at the University of Washington. He played for a time before eventually stepping away from the sport.

“I’ve been playing football ever since I was seven, so over time I started to lose my love for the sport. When I went to college, I wasn’t happy. At O’Dea, yes, they want to help you get better and reach the next level, but they mainly want you to better yourself as a person. Ultimately, I felt that stepping away from football was the best thing for me and what makes me happy,” Tu’u said.

He eventually returned to rugby, having previously played in high school for the Eastside Lions. He enjoyed the welcoming community that rugby brings and felt he could connect with his teammates in a different way. In football, while there are strong bonds, many players are focused on earning a starting position. The welcoming aspect of rugby reminded Tu’u of O’Dea, and that’s what he connected with.

“Yeah, football has connections, but rugby connections are way different. Football is with all your bros around you, but for a lot of people who aren't very outgoing, it can be hard to make a connection. In rugby, even if you keep to yourself, people will say hi and interact with you,” Tu’u said.

Tu’u is now finishing school at the University of Washington while playing rugby. Most importantly, he is doing what makes him happy.

If you're interested in watching the interview, you can watch it here - https://youtu.be/lsg0vtfd9ds?si=JhKwpGx7i0Q-ey3W