In 2009, Malachi Esdale moved from his native Delaware to Southwest Florida to ignite his football career. An all-around athlete, he wanted to play college football, and he thought coming to 239 would help with recruiting. There, he moved to his grandmother’s house for three years and played at Naples High School. “He had natural talent and could do almost anything he wanted to do,” said Paul Roquera, Esdale’s former coach. Esdale started as a quarterback before converting to wide receiver. In his junior year, he caught three touchdowns and gained over 200 yards. “It was amazing,” Esdale said. “Playing football changed the level a lot. As soon as I stepped on the field, I was like, ‘Oh my god.'” After three years with the Golden Eagles, Esdale is heading into his senior year. I returned to my hometown. After graduating from high school in Delaware, Esdale joined the New York Asahi School.He played football in college and then transferred to the University of Miami, where he lost his spot on the roster after a coaching change. Because he’s been playing for too long,” Esdale said. His increasing lack of interest coupled with a number of injuries led to Esdale being transferred again. This time he entered Central Florida, wanted to give up football and become an ordinary student, but after a while Esdale’s rival returned. He still had the desire to become an athlete. So Esdale traded the pigskin for a rugby ball and started playing rugby, eventually becoming an Olympic athlete. He first fell in love with rugby when he was living in Southwest Florida. He was very close to Paul Roquera and his children. Roquera is from New Zealand and has been involved in the sport his whole life. “We spent hours at the park,” Roquera said. “Now let’s have a real game.” That encouragement, and a further injury that ended his football season, led Esdale to join the local rugby team, the Naples Bears. “History is written there. ” Esdale said. He played only half a season with the Bears and then returned to Delaware. After that, he switched his focus to football again. That propelled him to ASA, then Miami, and then UCF. After his football days ended, Esdale returned to rugby and never looked back. Esdale is currently one of the best professional rugby players in the world. This summer, he will compete in his second consecutive Olympics as a member of Team USA in Paris. “He feels very happy to put on the jersey and represent these colors,” Esdale said. He was a reserve athlete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. So although he traveled and attended the Olympics, he never actually got on the pitch, but Esdale believes it was the best thing that could have happened because he learned a lot. I said it was one of the. The veteran leader of Team USA is taking his lessons learned in 2020 to bear in 2024. Esdale has represented the United States in numerous world championships, but this summer will be his first time playing as an Stars and Stripes athlete in the Olympics. His goal is to become the first American rugby player in Olympic history to win a medal. “I have high expectations,” Esdale said. “So I’m expecting a medal from us. If it happens, we’ll be celebrating for quite some time. If I’m on the podium at the end of the tournament, that’s the last time.” I’m going to go see him,” Esdale said with a laugh. From the soccer fields of Southwest Florida to laying the foundation for a rugby career in Naples to now pitching for Team USA on the Olympic stage, Esdale has worked hard enough. Journey.
In 2009, Malachi Esdale moved from his native Delaware to Southwest Florida to ignite his football career. An all-around athlete, he wanted to play college football, and he thought coming to 239 would help with recruiting. There he lived at his grandmother’s house for three years and played at Naples High School.
“He had natural talent and could do almost anything he wanted to do,” said Paul Roquera, Esdale’s former coach.
Esdale started as a quarterback before converting to wide receiver. In his junior year, he caught three touchdowns and gained over 200 yards.
“It was amazing,” Esdale said. “Playing soccer changed the level a lot. As soon as I stepped on the field, I was like, ‘Oh my god.'”
After three years with the Golden Eagles, Esdale returned to his hometown for his fourth year. He graduated from high school in Delaware and then played football at his ASA College in New York. Esdale then transferred to the University of Miami, but lost his roster spot after a coaching change.
“I’ve been playing soccer for so long that I don’t like the game anymore,” Esdale said.
A growing lack of interest coupled with a number of injuries led to Esdale being transferred again. This time, he enrolled in Central Florida, where he gave up on football and just wanted to be a normal student.
However, a short time later Esdale’s rival returned. He still wanted to be an athlete. So he traded his pigskin for a rugby ball and took up the sport that would eventually make him an Olympic athlete.
“I never thought I would end up playing rugby. It just came naturally,” Esdale said.
He first fell in love with rugby while living in Southwest Florida. He was very close to Paul Roquera and his children. Roquera is from New Zealand and has been involved in the sport his whole life. As a result, his children, and by extension Esdale, were deeply involved in rugby.
“We spent many hours at the park,” Roquera said. Now let’s play the real game. ”
With that encouragement and another injury that ended his football season, Esdale ended up joining the local rugby team, the Naples Bears.
“History was written there. I just fell in love with the sport,” Esdale said.
He played only half a season with the Bears and then returned to Delaware. After that, he switched his focus to football again. That propelled him to ASA, then Miami, and then UCF. After his football days were over, Esdale returned to rugby and never looked back.
Esdale is currently one of the best professional rugby players in the world. This summer, he will compete in his second consecutive Olympics as a member of Team USA in Paris.
“I’m so happy to be able to put on the jersey and represent these colors,” Esdale said.
He was a reserve player at the 2020 Tokyo Games. In other words, he traveled to the Olympics and attended, but never actually stepped on the pitch. But Esdale said it was one of the best things that could have happened because he learned a lot.
Malachi is now the veteran leader of Team USA. He’s taking the lessons he learned in 2020 and applying them to 2024. Esdale has represented the United States in numerous world championships, but this summer will be his first time playing in the Olympics with the Stars and Stripes team. His goal is to win the United States’ first rugby sevens medal in Olympic history.
“I have high expectations, so I’m hoping for a medal,” Esdale said.
If that happens, he said he will be celebrating for quite some time.
“If I stand on the podium at the end of the tournament, that’s the last time you’ll see me for a while,” Esdale said with a laugh.
Esdale has come a long way, from the soccer fields of Southwest Florida to laying the foundation for a rugby career in Naples to now pitching for Team USA on the Olympic stage.
