Sunungura Rusununguko

Sunungura Rusununguko
No. 32, 40, 34
Position:Defensive lineman
Personal information
Born: (1978-04-12) April 12, 1978 (age 46)
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:Indianapolis (IN) Franklin Central
College:Ball State
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Sunungura "Gogo" Rusununguko (born April 12, 1978) is a former American football player who played four seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Indiana Firebirds, Colorado Crush and New Orleans VooDoo. He played college football at Ball State University and attended Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] He was also a member of the Las Vegas Gladiators, New York Dragons and RiverCity Rage.

High school career

Rusununguko attended Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he played both as an offensive lineman and defensive lineman.[2]

Rusununguko also competed in wrestling. As a junior, he placed third at the state championships at 215 pounds.[2] As a senior, he posted a perfect 41–0 record and captured the state title at heavyweight.[3]

College career

Rusununguko played for the Ball State Cardinals from 1996 to 2000. He was the co-winner, along with Adrian Reese, of the John Hodge Award for Ball State Outstanding Freshman in 1996 as a defensive tackle. Rusununguko missed the entire 1998 season due to osteomyelitis, a rare bone infection.[4] He earned second team All-Mid-American Conference honors and was a team captain for the Cardinals in 2000.[5]

Professional career

Rusununguko was a member of the Indiana Firebirds of the AFL from 2001 to 2003.[6] He signed with the AFL's Colorado Crush on November 17, 2003. He was traded to the Las Vegas Gladiators on January 20, 2005[7] Rusununguko was signed by the New Orleans VooDoo of the AFL on January 27, 2005.[8] He signed with the AFL's New York Dragons on October 17, 2005. He was released by the Dragons on January 10, 2006.[9] Rusununguko was listed as a fullback/Linebacker while playing in the AFL.[10] He played for the RiverCity Rage of the Indoor Football League in 2009.

Shooting

Rusununguko, working as a security guard, was involved in a shooting following a disturbance at an Indianapolis, Indiana bar on January 1, 2008, that left security guard Ronnie Croom dead and four others injured.[11] As of 2011, the case remained unsolved and Rusununguko was arraigned on a gun charge.[12]

References

  1. ^ "IHSAA Wrestling". ihsaa.org. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Zaleski, Doug (February 6, 1996). "'Go-Go' tops BSU football recruits". Muncie Evening Press. p. 11. Retrieved September 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Hutchens, Terry (February 18, 1996). "Hull wins 112-pound title". The Indianapolis Star. p. 40. Retrieved September 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Zaleski, Doug (August 18, 1999). "BSU a-Go-Go". The Star Press. p. 13. Retrieved September 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Ball state's pro players" (PDF). ballstatesports.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  6. ^ "Crush trade Rusununguko, waive seven others". oursportscentral.com. January 21, 2005. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  10. ^ "'Gogo' Sunungura Rusununguko". arenafan.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  11. ^ "Guard, 29, arrested in shooting at". indystar.com. January 5, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  12. ^ "Murder investigation 'botched'". lawreport.org. May 22, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2014.