Joe Ferraro grew up on the gridiron, getting his start in Pop Warner Football at the age of 9, following in the footsteps of his older brothers who played before him.
“I’ve always been around the game,” says Ferraro, a varsity standout at Servite High School. “I just enjoy being on the field, playing with my teammates, contributing to the team and trying to help us get a victory.”
Ferraro considers his fellow Friar players to be his brothers, a bond he will miss as his high school football career concludes.
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“What I’m going to miss the most about Servite football is the brotherhood you have with your teammates,” says Ferraro. “It’s more than just a team; it’s a family.”
Ferraro serves as a member of the Curia, the team’s eight-member senior leadership group, a role that means a great deal to the 17-year-old.
“We try to lead the team,” says Ferraro, “and make sure that we’re always going in the right direction…so that we can be put in the best situation possible to win our game.”
In addition to serving his team on the Curia, Ferraro has been extremely versatile on the field this season, contributing on both offense and defense, as well as special teams. In his final year, Ferraro’s goals are to help lead his team to a state championship while playing his best each game.
“Joe embodies everything we stand for at Servite,” says the Friars varsity head football coach, A.J. Gass. “He is loyal, humble, incredibly unselfish and puts the needs of the team above any and all benefits to himself. When Joe leaves, we will struggle to find someone to fill his role in our program.”
Having two older brothers who played football for Servite has served Ferraro well when it comes to key role models in the game and the classroom.
But the top spot in that category Ferraro reserves for his mom, whose giving heart has made a lasting mark on her son.
“She’s always kept a great faith and she’s always so positive,” says Ferraro. “Just the love that she shows for everybody, just the guidance that she has shown me, leading me on the right path…growing up in a great home. She is definitely my biggest role model.”
With a future that may include studies in political science and law, the Fullerton resident would love the opportunity to play college football but knows that whatever team he’s on, he plays for a higher purpose.
“My faith has a large impact on my game,” says Ferraro. “I believe [God has] given me all the talents I need, so when I play for him, I’m giving him glory by playing my best.”