On preps: Kiwi takes quickly to new scrum

The things you see at Minneapolis public high schools often are very interesting. The latest example came earlier this week at Minneapolis South, where pride and wonder were on full display.

A formal after-school event was held to celebrate the construction of a fieldhouse at the football/soccer field. It's a simple structure, housing restrooms, a storage area and a concession stand. Such things are taken for granted at most schools, but that's not always the case in the city.

Banners flying from the fieldhouse roof snapped in the wind. The South band played the school song. Dignitaries gathered to celebrate fundraising efforts that included years of work by the Friends of South High Foundation and big-time help from the Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Vikings and the NFL's Grass Roots program. LISC and the NFL contributed $50,000 toward the $100,000 cost of the fieldhouse.

Vikings rookies Asher Allen and Jasper Brinkley were there, as were Vikings cheerleaders and Viktor the Vikings mascot.

As the event ended, the South High football team was in full practice mode. One of the Tigers' best players is a kid who never had seen the game in person until this fall.

Like I said ... very interesting.

His name is Maanihera Kapa, but his coaches and teammates refer to him as "Rock." He's an 18-year-old exchange student from New Zealand, well-versed in rugby but familiar with football only through TV clips and video games.

He arrived in Minneapolis in August, shortly before football practice began.

"I knew I was going to try out," Kapa said. "I didn't know if I would make it. The first week I got here, we had tryouts. It was pretty new."

Kapa proved himself quickly. Since the season began he has been a two-way starter at fullback and defensive end.

The 5-11, 175-pound senior leads the team with 39 tackles, including nine sacks. He also is the Tigers' second-leading rusher with 29 carries for 143 yards. He had 10 carries for 83 yards in the season opener against Rochester John Marshall.

There were some things to learn, certainly. Such as putting on football pads.

"I had to get some lessons," Kapa said, smiling. "The straps and stuff, I didn't know which way to put it on. How to do your chinstrap? I didn't know how to do anything."

Running with a football was another adjustment. "I get more nervous on offense because of holding the ball," he said. "The worst thing that can happen on offense is fumbling, so that's the only thing I get nervous about."

Kapa is a hard-nosed athlete who loves contact, South coach Lenny Sedlock said.

"He's phenomenal," Sedlock said. "He runs the ball hard, he's a tough kid, he never complains about anything. He not only can play, he's such a good kid, he's such a leader."

Kapa's family and friends back in New Zealand have been able to see some of his video highlights on the Internet, and he calls home regularly. Even if football lingo doesn't translate easily.

"I tell my dad I got two sacks in a game and so many yards and he doesn't know what I'm talking about," Kapa said.

His football adventure will continue Saturday when the Tigers take a 2-2 record into a 2 p.m. game at Minneapolis Southwest.

"This is kind of like a dream," Kapa said, "to go to an American high school and play football."

Dreams -- in the form of a simple new building as well as having fun playing a new game -- do come true in Minneapolis.

John Millea • jmillea@startribune.com