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Young Riverside Athlete Inspires on Football, Soccer Fields by Overcoming Disability

By Penny E. Schwartz, The Press-Enterprise, 10/14/19, 3:15PM PDT

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Dominic Ozeta, a 13-year-old student at St. Catherine of Alexandria School, is applauded for his skill, attitude

Playing soccer has been Dominic Ozeta’s passion since his uncle introduced him to the game when he was a little boy.

The fact that he doesn’t have a left forearm and hand has never stopped the Riverside resident — now a 13-year-old teenager — from playing the sports he loves, including flag football.

Dominic was born with a congenital birth defect, his father Jerry Ozeta said.

“At times it’s been a struggle, but he has been very independent from a young age,” Jerry Ozeta said.


Dominic Ozeta, 13, has inspired classmates and others at St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Riverside by playing numerous sports despite his disability. (Courtesy of Nina Ozeta)
Dominic often wears a prosthetic arm at school, but usually plays sports without it because of its weight.

“He is faster without it,” his father said.

Martin Serna, who coaches Dominic’s flag football team at St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Riverside, called Dominic “an incredible young man.”

Dominic has been a team captain for the past three years.

“I am impressed with him as a person and with his athletic ability,” Serna said. “He is a great teammate whose attitude and approach are inspiring to the other players.”