Alfonso Mancilla | ESPN DigitalOct 13, 2023, 04:27 ETLreading: 6 min.
Carlo Confaloreni knew how to recover from difficult moments to become a star of Borregos CCM and the best receiver of ONEFA
When Carlo Confaloreni He felt ready to play football again, he did so convinced that, finally, he had emerged victorious from the most complicated battle: that of defeating himself.
Confaloreni Wallace, player Borregos Campus Mexico City (CCM)is currently the best receiver of the Major League Big 14 Conference, what he has achieved despite the fact that for two and a half years he decided to stay away from the gridirons.
Until week 6 of the regular schedule of the Big 14 Conference, Carlo Confaloreni is the leader in receiving yards and combined yards.Borregos CCM
The reason?
“I felt frustrated, uninterested in training and unwilling to commit to myself,” says Carlo, in an interview with ESPN Digital, prior to the game that they will play this Friday CCM sheep against Aztecas of the University of the Americas (UDLA) in week 6 of the calendar.
Today, Carlo leads the Conference in receiving yards (511) and combined yards (645) in just his second year of eligibility, a consequence of a renewed commitment.
Now, Carlo makes a family very close to American football proud with his performances, which includes his grandmother, Isabel Miranda de Wallacean activist winner of the 2010 National Human Rights Award.
From the successful children’s ones to the complicated youth ones
Carlo started playing American football at the age of seven in the league. Cuemanco fallow deersouth of Mexico City, like Mauricio Martínez, linebacker for Borregos Monterrey
His thin frame always created the expectation that sooner or later he would get hurt.
“I started playing football because of my dad, although in reality what I loved was going to train because I had fun there with my friends,” recalls Confaloreni.
“Many people told my parents that I was very small and that I was going to get hurt, but that never bothered me, it motivated me to show them what I could do on the field.”
In his first years, Carlo was a runner, and already in the Falcons category they made him a receiver: “One of the advantages I always had is that I am very fast.”
Carlo Confaloneri was part of a multi-champion generation in the children’s categories in Gamos de Cuemanco.Ricardo Cárdenas
They were also the seasons in which titles and smiles rained: Carlo was part of a generation in Gamos Ponies who was five-time champion of FADEMAC and who defeated the champion of ONEFAPumas, which included a group of boys that had six championships in children.
Then came the youth stage, a time in which things got complicated, to the point that Carlo suffered the bitter pill of losing two finals, one of them more painful for having failed in a definitive moment, although it also helped him to unite with his father, Agostino Confalonieri.
“When we lost the AA Youth final against Redskins, I dropped a pass in the extra series that could have given us the win. I came out devastated. I cried a lot. Fortunately, when I arrived with my dad it was like being in a safe place, he told me that everything was going to be fine and he made me feel his support.”
It was then that Confaloreni wanted to end his relationship with American football. He did not feel in the mood to continue playing it, to continue training or to go to the gym.
Despite having the physical conditions, sporting talent and family support, Carlo had lost the battle against himself.
He had lost trust.
The road to the Major League thanks to a Texas Tech coach
The months after the decision guided Carlo to continue his studies in Law and satisfy physical activity by practicing flag football.
Despite that, the concern about returning to American football worried him. Practicing it never completely left his mind. Much less from the heart.
Carlo Confaloreni received encouragement from coach Diego Ortiz, responsible for quality control of the running backs at Texas Tech University, to return to playing American football.Special
It was then that a definitive conversation came with the coach Diego Ortiz, currently responsible for quality control of the corridors of the university of Texas Tech, member of the Big 12, in the NCAA.
“I think the main reason for returning to play was a talk with coach Diego Ortiz. I told him my reasons and he made me realize that I was not really that person, quite the opposite, he told me that he saw in me what was necessary to play again based on regaining my self-esteem,” says Carlo.
At the same time, the Major League football program returned to the CCM. Confaloreni spoke with the head coach’s staff, Hugo Liraand had the opportunity to join the team, now with a renewed mentality and attitude.
“I had to bet on several things, like having to restart my law degree. Plus, I started going to the gym like never before. From one season to the next I gained nine kilos to be able to compete at this level,” says Carlo.
In 2022, he finished as the Big 14 Conference leader in kick return yards, despite suffering an injury in week three.
By 2023, Carlo is the number one receiver, not only on his team, but in the league, aspiring to remain that way in his remaining three years of eligibility.
Inspirations off the field
Before each game, Carlo takes time to watch the film Woodlawnbased on a true story about a college football team in the 1970s.
“I always see her before a game because I have learned from her that trust is essential. It is summarized in a phrase that stands out a lot: believe and do not fear.”
Carlo (#14) has had the support of his brother Lucca, his mother, Claudia Wallace; his sister; Renata, and his father, Agostino.Special
In addition to the great influence of his father, for Carlo The support that his mother gives him is also essential, Claudia Wallace; his sister, Renata And his brother, Lucca.
“I have a ritual with my mother: she always gives me her blessing before and after the games. After her, the second hug is for my sister, with whom I have a very close relationship. “We are like dirt and grime.”
Another pillar is Aranza Iriarte, his girlfriend, with whom he has been in a relationship for more than three years and who gives him constructive criticism after each game: “she always tells me the truth about how I performed on the field. She dedicated all my touchdowns to her.”
–Beyond sports, what life lesson did returning to American football teach you?– Confaloreni is asked.
Carlo takes two seconds to consider the answer. He nods with a firm voice:
“That I should believe and not fear. Trust that I am capable of overcoming all obstacles, even those that I set for myself.”
2023-10-13 08:27:00
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