IFAF World Team star David Katina

The 2012 IFAF World Team includes three natives of American Samoa-an island that produces American Football players at an extraordinary rate. There are about 30 American Samoans presently in the NFL and more than 200 on rosters in NCAA Division 1 college football.

The American Samoan contingent in this year's International Bowl features future NCAA talent. It is led in experience by David Katina, who is presently a grey shirt at Hawaii. The 2012 International Bowl marks Katina's third consecutive year as a member of the IFAF World Team.

Destiny Vaeao and Rommel Mageo complete the Samoan squad. They have recently committed to Washington State and Oregon State, respectively.

For Vaeao and other Samoan boys like him, football is everything.

"Football in Samoa is something special," Vaeao said. It's crazy when there's no football in Samoa-the kids love to play it. Every day they work hard and they sacrifice their lives. It's all about football-when you go to bed you're still playing football."

There are subtle differences between the game of American football as it's played in American Samoa and North America. According to Vaeao, where Samoans value force and hard hitting action, the American game tends to emphasize precise skills.

"The difference is that back home, all we do is just hit. Over here, it's all about technique-a lot of skills. Back home, all we do is play with power," explained Vaeao.

Katina adds that the pace of the game varies greatly between the American-style of football and his native Samoan style.

"I think the only difference between American and Samoan [football] is just the speed. The US players are very fast," Katina said.

For these athletes, the opportunity to represent American Samoa, while competing against some of the US's top young talent, is not only an honor, but a chance to gain worthwhile experience in the American-style of play. This experience will aid them in preparing for the level of competition in the NCAA.

"This program will help me to gain more skills and get ready for college, which is another level to get ready for," said Vaeao.

But for Katina, the only player for the World Team who will be playing in the game for the third consecutive year, this game is also about winning-something the World Team has not yet accomplished.

"We came to win this year. Obviously, the past two years, we came up short. This year it's really different for me, being my last year. Hopefully, we're going to be able to go out with a win," Katina said.

Katina is especially optimistic about this year's International Bowl, given the close scoring margin in 2011. The US Team won by only a single touchdown: 21-14. He hopes he can help his team to come together during their time in Austin.

"I think we're coming into this game with very high momentum. I think we're just going to pick up from where we left off and take it from there," said Katina. "We've just got to know that we only have one week and we've got to do a better job at gelling together quicker. We need to build chemistry within the few days that we have."

In order to achieve these goals, Katina will utilize the lessons his Samoan parents have taught him.

"My parents always instil in me that I'm a student first, before an athlete. They've taught me about being an all-around person-being polite and just being a good example," Katina explained. "It translates to football. It teaches you good leadership skills and how to be a leader on and off the field."

Katina, Vaeao, Mageo and the rest of the World Team will take on Team USA at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Austin, Texas on Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT.