Daily Inspiration: Meet Sonny Faraimo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonny Faraimo

Hi Sonny, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started playing America’s favorite sport when I was 5 years old. Football runs deep in my family & I come from a line of athletes. At 5 years old I played my first season of youth flag football in 2021 for our local city park at Arlington Heights Park in Riverside Ca which you’d be lucky to see if we ran the right way or pulled the right flags, it was a fun introduction to the sport I love. I then moved on to play my first year of Jr Micro tackle football with the Riverside Rams in 2022 where I played in the age bracket ranging from 6yrs-8yrs. With my first year of tackle football at 6years old where the oldest kid on the team is 8yrs old, I learned to take a hit & play with higher level athletes early on. My first year playing tackle, I was what you would call a “must play” player. During my time with the Riverside Rams, I played both Defensive & Offensive line. I would hustle onto the 50yard line & play my 5 mandatory plays then hustle back to the sideline. My first year playing tackle football I learned the fundmentals, conditioning, the meaning of teamwork, executing your job & gaining contact pad to pad experience. Within that year alone I made some core memories & friends. In the off season Winter of 2022, my dad enrolled me into my first year of Flag Rugby with Empire Rugby Youth Club. Rugby has sharpened my running, being a supportive team player, how to properly pass the ball & most importantly, how to safely tackle. Having football as my primary sport, Rugby works hand in hand to keep me in shape for football season along with proper tackling technique. Empire Rugby Youth Club has helped me develop my skills in being in a contact sport all year round & staying active. In 2023, I then started my 2nd year of tackle football with the Moreno Valley Falcons 7U in the King League. Coach Jackson gave me a shot to showcase my talents & I was able to play Defensive Tackle with a little bit of Running Back. With the Falcons I was no longer a “must play” player, I started on both sides of the ball. I began to connect the dots & make the plays. During my season with the Falcons I was introduced to Coach Jacob who is the founder of Platinum MoVal. During my off time or summer break, I would speed /athletic train with Coach Jacob to polish up my stamina & technique in order to perform my best during football season. What I have learned is that practicing when your sport is in season is NOT enough. This is what my day would look like during football season in the summer: 8am chores & light snack, 9am training with Coach Jacob, 10:30am back home to rest, 6pm-8pm football practice, 8:30pm back home to eat dinner, shower & repeat. You have to do & put in the extra work on your own time, when no one is looking & when everyone is sleeping. After my season with the falcons, I played in 2 Allstar invitational football games which was the PigSkin tournament with MoVal 8u & Big Dawg Bowl with Limitless Dawgs 7U. Now here I am in 2024, playing with Relentless Premier Athletes in Murrieta for the BadBoyz 8U Supreme Conference. I was recruited by Coach Bautista to be part of the BadBoyz & started training since January. This year with the BadBoyz I have played Defensive Tackle, Defensive End, Line Backer & Full Back. This year I am 1 of the team captains along side our Line Backer Nolan Ingram. My dad always says that football has saved him & taught him many life lessons. My dad received a partial football scholarship to West Liberty University & graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. My goal isn’t to follow in his footsteps, but to take the blueprint he has laid out for me, & to capitalize by paving my way to success. I am very thankful to first God, my mom & dad, baby sister & my family (Sonnyville) the village I have behind me. My village is unmatched & I am most grateful for their support. Seeing my journey from a “must play” player to a starter is just the beginning & I’m only scratching the surface of what I’ll become. For now, I will continue to work hard academically & on the field until I receive a full ride scholarship to play at a collegiate level.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Playing contact sports is not an easy journey as it comes with injuries that could take you out for the season. If not temporarily, permanently. Football can be very political especially with the new NIL deals. Sometimes the hard part is not wanting to put in the extra work outside of scheduled practices. You have to love what you do in order to continue to do it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a 9yr old athlete that has been playing football since 5yrs old. I stand out by my work ethic & relentless mindset. I practice Tues-Thursday from 6pm-8pm along with training everyday for 1hr with my dad before practice & on our days off from practice which is Monday & Fridays. I’m most proud of how far I have come from being a must play player to a starter playing on both sides of the ball & being 1 of the team captains. I train hard in all aspects & I remain humble with my accomplishments

What matters most to you?
God & family means the most to me. Without God I would not have my family or anything at all & without my family or my village, I wouldn’t be me. If you ever come to a game, it will be very clear where my family is and who they’re cheering for.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonnyfaraimo/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Image Credits
Angelina Faraimo