By: Annaliese Gumboc
The 2021 season proved to be a challenging one for Punahou linebacker GianCarlo Rufo. At the time, Rufo was a backup with high aspirations who needed every opportunity he could get to fulfill his dreams of football success.
Rufo, then a junior, came off the bench to record a sack in the first game of the season, but broke his hand the following week. The Buff ‘n Blue finished the year 1-4 in their first losing season since 2001. “That’s embarrassing for our school, for ourselves, for our families,” said Rufo. “We knew that couldn’t happen again.”
In the face of adversity, Rufo showcased unwavering resilience, transforming his junior year into a testament of personal triumph. It was during a matchup against Saint Louis, when another Punahou linebacker succumbed to injury. Rufo seized the opportunity, stepping up and defying the odds – tallying an impressive six tackles, all while battling through the pain of a broken hand. “I think that’s when my coaches’ eyes opened a little bit,” Rufo said. “They trusted that they could start playing me more.”
The Puns entered the 2022 season determined to redeem themselves. But Rufo, now in his senior year, had more at stake.
Growing up, when he was just a kid on a Pop Warner team, Rufo couldn’t imagine playing college football. “I always just thought it was such a reach,” Rufo said. “And I never really thought it could actually be something that I would be able to accomplish. But these past couple years, just seeing other guys from Hawai’i make it and playing at Punahou…that’s when I started working really hard to accomplish that.”
As a junior, Rufo watched as others received college offers, while he remained overlooked. His senior year became his last chance to prove himself.
With his future on the line, Rufo dedicated himself to relentless hard work during the offseason and emerged a vital leader just in time for the next season. Part of his improvement came down to a new mindset. “I realized that just because I don’t have offers doesn’t mean I can’t step up and be a leader and even be the best player on this defense,” he said. And Rufo, by most metrics, became just that.
Over the 2022 regular season, the Puns went 7-1 with a 4-0 record against ILH opponents. Throughout this period, Rufo was credited with 6 sacks, 16 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown. Unfortunately, Rufo remained without any college offers despite his outstanding performance.
As his final season came to a close, Rufo did his best to ignore the pressure and focus on his team. “I just wanted to be the best leader I could for my team. And then trust that, if I can be patient, and if I can just do what I’m capable of doing, then I’ll get the looks that I deserve.”
Punahou went on to crush Saint Louis 24-8 in the ILH Championship, during which Rufo recorded 3 sacks. The next morning, Rufo received a call from Arizona.
“It just felt surreal,” said Rufo, who was at school when he received the offer. “All my boys were right outside, so I got to share that moment with them. And they were all proud whether they had offers or not…It was a happy moment for everyone because everyone knew I deserved and I worked so hard for those offers. So just to see it pay off, it was a great moment for all of my teammates and coaches and family.”
Punahou competed in the HHSAA Open Division Championship where they fell 20-0 to the Kahuku Red Raiders. The season hadn’t ended the way Rufo hoped it would, but his senior season was far from a failure.
In 2022, Rufo recorded an ILH-leading 11 sacks and was named the ILH Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-state linebacker. He received offers from four schools including the University of Hawai’i, but after careful consideration, made the decision to sign with Georgetown.
“My goal has always been to use football to get me a great education, one that I wouldn’t be able to get without football,” Rufo said. Now, he’ll be studying at Georgetown’s prestigious McDonough School of Business.
While Rufo harbors a deep desire to play in the NFL someday, he finds it difficult to fathom this dream becoming a reality. Yet, he vividly recalls a time when college football seemed equally unattainable. Reflecting upon his past accomplishments, Rufo is reminded that he has defied expectations before so why not again?