April 02, 2008

Hana Taiji, whose family’s roots are in Lake Country is headed to Harvard on a soccer scholarship next fall.

Don Bodger photo

A granddaughter of long-time Lake Country residents Bea and Sus Taiji is on her way to Cambridge next year.

Hana Taiji, who lives on Vancouver Island with her Lake Country raised father, has staked her claim as one of the brightest young female soccer prospects in the country.

The big news concerning Taiji, 17, is her acceptance into the elite academic and athletic environment of Harvard University next fall.

After a crazy 2006 when she played soccer at major tournaments and competitions in Germany, Portland, San Diego, Pasadena and many more, Taiji’s schedule settled down considerably in 2007.

“I’ve been so busy trying to get my college sorted out,’’ she said.

Offers came in from several different U.S. colleges for her services next year, but Taiji eventually narrowed it down to Dartmouth and Harvard before deciding on the latter.

“It was a long process,’’ said Taiji. “I’ve looked at a lot of different schools.

“I decided last year I wanted to try and aim for an Ivy League school. It was very close between Dartmouth and Harvard.’’

She visited both campuses in the spring and then again in November to make her decision. Both offered Taiji conditional admission and really wanted her for their respective soccer teams.

The Harvard reputation was just too strong to ignore.

“I guess the atmosphere, it was just so exciting,’’ said Taiji of what made the difference during her second visit. “I could see myself going there.’’

She also had a chance to see the soccer team play that fueled her interest.

Taiji will take a general academic program to start before deciding on a specialty.

Soccer hasn’t exactly taken a back seat to studies, despite the emphasis on making plans for next August. Taiji played during the spring and summer for the Vancouver Whitecaps’ reserves, staying over to do homework between training and games depending on the schedule.

When school ended, she joined the U18 Whitecaps’ team for the Surf Cup in California.

As September rolled around, it was back to the Upper Island Gunners’ boys’ soccer team based in Nanaimo for the start of Under 18 Metro league play. Her brother Riley is also on the team.

“We’re doing really well this year,’’ said Taiji. “We’re first in the league.’’

Taiji, primarily a centre midfielder, has played on boys’ teams for many years.

“I’ve played on one girls’ club team - way back in my second year of playing soccer,’’ she pointed out.

“It’s just so much more challenging.’’

Taiji has been in boys’ Metro leagues so long that opposing players just take her presence in stride.

“When I first started playing in the leagues, it seemed a lot of them didn’t know what to think or how to treat me as a player,’’ she said. “Now, we’re the oldest age group, they’re used to it.’’

Taiji has been identified as one of the top female athletes in the province and has received a Premier’s Athletic Award for soccer.

Her photo and achievements will be displayed on a plaque and hung at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and Museum during the year.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=807631&forum_id=1#9720105)