In wake of legal trouble, offensive lineman Christian Haangana no longer a member of Washington State football team

PULLMAN – Christian Haangana, a redshirt junior offensive linemen who would’ve been a primary backup for Washington State this fall, has been removed from the team roster and is no longer a member of the Cougars football team, a source confirmed Monday to The Spokesman-Review.

Haangana’s time at WSU ends 12 days after the Whitman County District Court issued a warrant for his arrest after the player missed multiple court hearings linked to a late-April felony vandalism arrest at the College Hill apartment complex in Pullman.

The fourth-year player didn’t report to any of the team’s fall practices and coach Mike Leach said the player was “working through some things” and anticiapted that Haangana would rejoin the team eventually.

But that happened prior to the player missing his second court hearing, which Pullman Radio News reported on Aug. 12, and a warrant was activated for Haangana’s arrest shortly thereafter. The arrest warrant included standard $1,000 bond and was only active in the state of Washington, according to Pullman Radio News.

Haangana was expected to appear in court after he was arrested in April on felony vandalism charges for stomping on and damaging multiple vehicles at the College Hill complex, Pullman Police Commander Chris Tennant told The Spokesman-Review.

Two other WSU student-athletes – football player Fa’avae Fa’avae and Makamae Gomera-Stevens – were also arrested, but both have been compliant and are still listed on their respective teams’ rosters. Fa’avae, a redshirt sophomore, is expected to play a key role for the Cougars’ defense this season as a backup “Rush” linebacker.

Haangana, a Milpitas, California, native, was a backup offensive guard for the Cougars who played in each of the last 26 games for the teams, primarily in a special teams role. He likely would’ve been the team’s top backup offensive guard in 2019.