Athlete of the Week: Reese Vita

Cardinal Mooney sophomore Reese Vita has been playing football since he was 4 years old. Starting as varsity quarterback in only his sophomore year, he says he focuses on improving his game every day, and his favorite part of the game is the sense of family he finds among the team. After a 41-7 victory over Lake Placid, in which he earned four touchdowns and nearly 300 yards, Vita talks about his strengths, weaknesses and most memorable moments in football.

What is it like to play quarterback as a sophomore?
I never thought I’d be starting quarterback on a varsity team as a sophomore, and my team has been really supportive. The team and my family push me to be a better player.

Were you nervous?
I was a little nervous, but we’ve got great coaches that support us. It’s a lot different than playing junior varsity.

Have you always played quarterback?
Yeah, I’ve played that position my whole life. I played quarterback on junior varsity last year.

What drives you to be a better player?
I try to be better every day. I don’t just think about improving in the long term. I eventually want to play college football, so I tell myself that I need to be the hardest working person in the country each day. If I do that, I feel like I’ve succeeded.

What is your strongest point as a player?
I’ve been told it’s my ability to be coachable. I want to be the best player I can be to the coaches at all times, and I want to continue to do that.

What is something that you’re trying to improve?
My arm strength. I’ve been improving that with isolation workouts, and that helps.

How do you get pumped up for a game?
I listen to music, like a lot of players. I like all kinds of music — country, rock and rap. We always say a prayer before games, which gets me pumped. The prayer is about winning.

What has been your most memorable moment in football?
It was my last game with the Manatee Wildcats. We lost, and my dad was the coach, and I remember him telling me I did a good job. It was the last game, and it was moving on to new things.