Uknown side of Niño

Senior Niño Moksivong is known for having a big impact on the football field, being a starting cornerback on one of the top high school teams in the state, but no one really knows how big of an impact the football field has let on him.

A major part of football was influence by his father. "My dad loved it as a kid, and I would watch a lot of football with him growing up so I spent a lot of my time around football." Moksivong expressed that the time as a young kid being with his dad

sparked the love for the sport.

He tells us how involved his dad was to him as time went on. "I started playing peewee and my dad was the coach." His father's passion about the sport is what brought him here today. That is Moksivong's why.

It hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows in the journey with the sport, however. Moksivong expressed one of the challenges he faced during his career in his sophomore year. "I was in the rotation for running back and a couple guys went down in the first game, I would have had a lot more opportunities than I thought I would, but unfortunately I had an injury that halted that. When I came back, I didn't play to the potential or the minutes I had wanted to." Moksivong explained that his shoulder injury he experienced had held him back from his potential and was very difficult to overcome during the season, but it was the turning point of his work ethic and developed his character that has made him.

There has been lots of ups and downs in Moksivong's football journey, lots of memorable times and the most specific one for him would be significant for anyone. "Last year when we won the state championship with all those fans and it was very windy. I remember looking at the scoreboard and we were winning and the excitement I had seeing my teammates jumping up and down" Moksivong stated. It is very important that the most memorable time he had at O'Dea was with his teammates, not about himself or any he did as an individual. It shows that O'Dea is big on impacting young men through football.

Since O'Dea is big on improving players on and off the field, there are many coaches that have made a difference in Moksivong's life, but there is one specific coach that has helped him the most. "Coach me impacted me the most at O'Dea, he says the best ability is availability, and I feel like he is always there for everyone, he is always hear every day, and he puts his all into everyone and everything" Moksivong explained. Paxton Paynter (coach P) has made a big difference on Moksivong as a person through his actions, always showing up, never complaining, taking on challenges head on, while also having strength to be venerable and compassionate for others. This is what makes or breaks a high school athletes experience and Coach Paynter has gone above and beyond for everyone he works with.

In total, Moksivong's experience in football, through both the highs and lows, has taught him lots of important lessons he will take with him for the rest of his life, while also giving him relationships with people he would never have had without the sport.