He’s the Reason
Ta’a Tuinei is a senior at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She is captain of the school’s varsity basketball team.
She is the mother to her infant son, Tereinga.
Her family, teammates and friends help her to raise her son so that Tuinei can play one last season. She hopes to attract scouts and land a college scholarship, for a better future.
Now she plays for him.
Ta'a Tuinei holds her infant son Tereinga Tuinei during practice.
Ta'a Tuinei lays on the floor with her son Tereinga Tuinei in her home in Murray, Utah. Before returning to school full time Ta'a spends every other day at her home doing school work and taking care of her infant son.
During basketball practice, Ta'a Tuinei takes a break from running drills to change Tereinga’s diaper.
Ta'a Tuinei holds her infant son Tereinga Tuinei who looks at her teammate, Macrea Orr, during a team meeting at basketball practice.
Ta'a spends an early morning with her son before heading to school.
Ta'a Tuinei laughs at a joke while sitting with friends during lunch at Skyline High School.
Nikki Tuinei, Ta'a Tuinei's younger sister, cheers with Ta'a's son, Tereinga, during overtime at a game against Westlake at Skyline High School in. "I need my son there. I love looking up into the stands and seeing him staring at me," says Ta’a.
Ta'a Tuinei hugs her teammates before a senior night game at Skyline High School.
