Sports

Serra's Defensive Leader is Much More Than an Average Football Player

A profile of Serra High School defensive lineman Daniel Lavulo.

Written by Colton Seike

A Serra Padre, vocal-leader, three-year varsity football player, and Central Coast Section (CCS) champion.

All these titles describe star defensive lineman on the Serra High School football team, Daniel Lavulo. The 5 feet 11 inches, 215-pound lineman is much more than just a solid, strong, and powerful football player. 

Lavulo, who is Tongan, grew up in a big family and was influenced by them throughout his life. His family has become very supportive in every aspects of life including education and instruction in growing up, but they have supported him mainly in his sporting endeavors.

“They are always there for support and taught me life lessons and the importance of having family support. I do not know where I would be without them,” said Lavulo.

Lavulo started playing football when he was 6 years old for the West Bay Rams in San Bruno. Before starting Pop Warner football, Lavulo played soccer for two years. As he grew up, he saw many of his cousins and brothers playing football and he knew that it was meant to be for him. He knew he was born to play football and took that to heart.

Football was not the only aspect of life that Lavulo has taken to heart. Academics became a main ingredient to his success. He knows that without academics, he cannot play football. 

Being a student is the first priority in his life. 

“Football is important but I am a student-athlete, and being a student comes first. In order for me to keep on playing football after high school, which I plan on doing, I need to have the academics,” said Lavulo.

Coming into his eighth grade year, Lavulo was in a difficult situation on deciding where to go for high school. As his mother and other relatives went to Burlingame High School, he did not know where to go. Would he go with tradition or would he start something new at Serra? 

Growing up in Burlingame, he always had a connection with the school and he never wanted to leave his friends that were going to go there. He never knew about Serra and was interested in their successful football program that they had.

In the end, Lavulo surprised many of his friends and family and chose to go to Serra. He knew Serra was a place for him to play football and be competitive in the sport he does best. He enjoyed seeing the connection of brothers around at Serra. The lifestyle of brothers around him changed his perspective on going to school at Serra. 

“I had no idea what the brotherhood was all about going into Serra,” said Lavulo. “We are all there for each other no matter what. The whole brotherhood has changed me in a positive way and has made me a better person.”

Currently, Lavulo has a total of 30 tackles, 9.5 being for a loss, and three quarterback sacks. Stats are not what Lavulo focuses on, he only pays attention to winning football game and getting better. Football has influenced Lavulo very much at Serra, but it probably would not have been great without positive influence from his coaches and teachers. Over his past four years at Serra, Lavulo has met great people, mentors, and other people who are trying to guide him to his aspiration and dream of playing college football.

“(Head) Coach Walsh has definitely been one of the coaches to influence me the most,” said Lavulo. “He is the one who convinced me to come to Serra and be apart of his program and has always been there for me if I need help with something.”

Once Lavulo’s journey with Serra, he will have his eyes set forward on the future in front of him. He will have great memories from the last four years at Serra and he will never forget them. His brotherhood will continue to be with him and his work ethic, humility, and faith will keep moving forward. Lavulo still does not know where he will be attending college next year, but he is continuing to work hard and hopefully end up somewhere to play football. 

“When my journey comes to an end in May, it will be hard to say goodbye to some close friends I have made in high school,” said Lavulo. “It will be hard to leave a football program that was like a second home to me. I will be moving on to bigger things in my life.”


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