Before going separate ways, the Graham-Kapowsin band got together for one last tune - national signing day

SPANAWAY - Joshua Wood knew Wednesday would be a bittersweet day around Graham-Kapowsin High School.

Of course, it was a day to celebrate the most satisfying of times - the regular national-letter-of-intent signing period. A long row of tables that spanned the entire side of the gymnasium were filled with eight Eagles' recruits and their families.

It was also a reminder that many of the team's key contributors to Class 4A championship and victorious postseason bowl series runs were headed in vastly different directions for college.

A couple of seniors - center Josh Holder (PLU) and tight end Miles Burrell (UPS) announced they were staying near home. But, as expected, Wood - the SBLive WA and Gatorade state player of the year - signed as a quarterback to Fresno State. Defensive end Andrew Savaiinaea firmed up his SEC pledge to Florida. On the final day, offensive tackle Vega Ioane plunged into the Big Ten at Penn State. And the trio of twin linemen Curtis and Hunter Hill, and wide receiver Julian Mason wore their Idaho State gear.

"It is going to be weird," said Wood, the leader of the team. "Everyone worked so hard to be where they are. Seeing everyone go their separate ways ... I am happy to see the guys do what they want to do - play football and be at the college best for them."

Added longtime Eagles coach Eric Kurle: "That was a special, special group."

IOANE'S DECISION CAME AT LAST SECOND

Last summer, Ioane - a three-star recruit, and of the state's top class-of-2022 lineman prospects - was firmly committed to Washington.

But after the Huskies endured a disastrous season, including former coach Jimmy Lake being terminated, the Eagles' left tackle announced in mid-December that he was re-opening his recruiting.

It all came down to Penn State, Minnesota and UW - and Ioane chose the program that inspired him to play football in the first place.

"Penn State was one of the first teams that got me into football in eighth grade," Ioane said.

He visited the campus last week, and said he stood on the field at massive Beaver Stadium (106,000-plus capacity) and took a glance up at his potentially-new digs.

"I felt like somebody normal," said Ioane, who stands at 6-foot-4, 320 pounds. "Like a fan standing in the middle of the field."

He kept the decision close to the vest Wednesday, informing Kurle just minutes before he was going to announce it.

"Vega had a tough choice," Kurle said.

One that ended a stressful past seven weeks.

"I was getting pulled back and forth - and from everywhere," Ioane said.

SAVAIINAEA GOING 'GATOR' WRESTLING

For the band to fully get back together this fall, it needed its thumping percussionist - Savaiinaea - to return.

And he did, coming up from the Dalles, Oregon to finish his senior season with the group with which he grew up.

As much success Savaiinaea was having on the field - he quickly became Wood's favorite middle-of-the-field target - his recruiting cooled off.

"I felt hopeless at one point," he said.

But a week after Graham-Kapowsin's 40-36 bowl victory over then-No. 7 Collins Hills of Georgia, Savaiinaea got an unexpected message from Florida co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney, who viewed the teenager's film.

"We set up a visit, and he had me record some drill work," Savaiinaea said. "Him and the coaching staff loved it."

And on the final day of his official visit in late January, Savaiinaea gave the Gators a verbal commitment - as a standup defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid.

"At the end of the day, I know God's got a plan for me," Savaiinaea said.