Ryce Palepoi: Fitting in my dads cleats

By Cosette Brockbank

Ryce Palepoi’s journey in football began long before he suited up for his high school team. Growing up in a family where football was more than a hobby but a legacy, Ryce found his inspiration from the man who paved the way before him. His father, a former NFL player, set the bar high. For Ryce, his dad's success was more than motivation but proof that hard work pays off. 

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From the age of seven, Ryce was immersed in the game. He wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps, not just to make his dad proud but to honor the family name and dedication that had brought his father to the NFL. He saw every touchdown he scored and every tackle he made as one step closer to achieving his dream of making it to the professional level. 

However, this year, Ryce faced a challenge that would test his resilience in ways he had never experienced. Injuries, something he had never seriously dealt with before, hit him hard. The road to recovery was long and tough, forcing Ryce to confront not only the physical pain but also the mental strain of being sidelined.

Instead of letting these injuries define him, Ryce took the opportunity to reflect on his approach to the game and life itself. He realized that his preparation for the season, and his focus on always being the strongest player on the field, needed to evolve. His body had shown him that strength wasn’t just about muscle it was about balance, recovery, and knowing when to push and when to rest. 

Ryce’s time on the bench became a valuable teacher. He used it to rethink how he trained, how he balanced football with other aspects of his life, and how he approached his dreams. It was a humbling experience, but it also made him wiser and more determined than ever. In his moments of recovery, he saw that even if he had a couple broken bones, that didn’t have to break him; they could shape him into a better, more focused athlete. 

When Ryce finally returned to the field, he was a different player, with a different outlook. His physical skills were sharp, but it was his mentality that had evolved the most. His injuries had shown him the importance of preparation, but also the necessity of endurance and perspective. The challenge he had overcome had not only made him a better player, but a stronger person, someone who understood that success wasn’t defined by a straight path but by the ability to refocus and reevaluate. 

Ryce’s dream of following in his father’s cleats remains as strong as ever, but now, it’s not just about reaching the NFL, it’s about using struggles to ground yourself and push forward, better than before. The road ahead is still long, but Ryce Palepoi knows that it has been done before and can be done again.