From Raiders Fan to Golden Valley Star

Damian Ozuna’s Football Journey

Angelina Guerrero, Editor in Chief • October 14, 2025

Golden Valley’s own Damian Ozuna has earned the spotlight as September’s Athlete of the Month 2025, and if you’ve seen him play, you know why. Wearing #72 at defensive tackle, with nine years in the game, Damian’s journey goes beyond tackles and wins, it’s about perseverance, balance, and passion.

Damian’s football story began with Sunday afternoons watching the Raiders with his dad, who eventually threw him into the game, but it wasn’t instant love. “At first I didn’t really like it” Damian admitted. “But I persevered through that, and over the years I learned that football saved my life.” That perseverance has become the trademark of his journey.

As a defensive tackle, Damian Ozuna isn’t always in the spotlight, but he takes pride in the game. “The teamwork between me and the other D-lineman is what matters,” he said. “We don’t really get the glory because a lot of people pay attention to the skill players.” For Damian, success comes from putting in the work when no one’s watching. “If I do good during practice, I feel like the game is gonna be easy.”

His routine goes beyond conditioning with miles and sprints; it also includes ice baths, stretching, and sauna sessions to stay ready for Friday nights under the lights. “I give 100% every day at practice,” he said. “If I’m getting better, my teammates are getting better too.”

Some of Damian’s proudest moments include earning varsity snaps as a freshman at Bishop Alemany High School and helping Golden Valley reach the playoffs last year. Still, the journey wasn’t always smooth. “There was a point where I was lower on the team, not really motivated,” he admitted. “But I kept going, trusting the process, and persevered through it.”

On game day, music helps him focus. “I lock in with my headphones, like I’m going to battle. It’s me versus me.” Off the field, he finds balance through playing guitar, which he says builds focus and discipline.

Looking ahead, Damian hopes to continue football at the next level whether at a JUCO program or Division I, and eventually become an EMT. “I want to save lives,” he shared. Being named Athlete of the Month, he added, was a blessing: “I give my glory to God. I’m grateful because there are a lot of people they could have picked, and they chose me.”

About the Contributor

Angelina Guerrero, Co-Editor in Chief

Angelina Guerrero, Co-Editor in Chief, is an 12th grader at Golden Valley High School! She is the President of DFY, involved in Mock Trial, and serves as the service chair for Key Club, and Secretary of Fashion Club. She also is in theater and the play. She is bilingual in English, Spanish, and ASL. Outside of school, she participates in boxing , going to the gym, and volunteers at homeless and animal shelters, working in their kitchens. In school, she has a strong interest in sports photography, spotlight articles, and movie reviews. Her passion for these topics stems from her love for photography, especially sports, which she finds exciting to capture, as well as her enthusiasm for movies and staying up-to-date on the latest releases. For Angelina, student journalism is a platform to express her creativity and speak about anything that sparks her interest, while meeting new people and attending events with friends to write articles afterward is one of her favorite experiences. She also loves the creative part of journalism as she is able to make and decorate all the sports articles for the printed newspaper. She has a deep love for music, knows a lot about different bands, and is always listening to music, as well as having an interest in playing electric guitar and learning piano. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and continues to read all of the Hunger Games books and watch the movies. Angelina is a passionate, driven individual who embraces every opportunity to learn, create, and connect with others, both in and out of school.