“Michael Hoomanawanui Day” to be celebrated in August

Posted on June 19, 2015
Bloomington alderman Jim Fruin reads a proclamation delcaring Aug. 6 to be "Michael Hoomanawanui Day" in Bloomington-Normal with Hoomanawanui and Normal councilman Jeff Fritzen. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)
Bloomington alderman Jim Fruin reads a proclamation declaring Aug. 6 to be “Michael Hoomanawanui Day” in Bloomington-Normal with Hoomanawanui and Normal councilman Jeff Fritzen. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Aug. 6 is going to be a special day for one former Central Catholic football player. The city of Bloomington and the town of Normal have proclaimed that day as “Michael Hoomanawanui Day” since his jersey number at Central Catholic was 86.

Hoomanawanui has been in the NFL since 2010 and won the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots last season. He describes what it will take to get back to the Super Bowl next season.

“Hard work. There’s no secret to it. It’s what we do each and every day,” Hoomanawanui said. “We put long hours in and that’s the only thing that’s going to get us back to that point.”

Hoomanawanui was an All-State selection by several publications his senior year at Central Catholic, making 50 catches for 843 yards and 12 touchdowns. On defense, he led the team with 139 tackles and eight sacks.

Hoomanawanui played football and basketball at Central Catholic before moving on to the University of Illinois and the NFL, first with the St. Louis Rams and then with the New England Patriots.

Bloomington alderman Jim Fruin says Hoomanawanui is a great representative of the Bloomington-Normal area.

“Michael’s got outstanding character,” Fruin said. “As I’ve watched him grow up since he was six years old, probably, following in his dad’s footsteps as an assistant football coach at Central Catholic, Michael has always represented himself very well.”

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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