On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Northern Cambria Middle School soccer player Braden Moriconi gets ready to hit the field.

“I always want to do my best,” he told us.

His focus is on the game.

As it starts he hits the field running, defending his goal, making sure no one gets past him. He’s ready to win.

However, Braden has already won big. You’d never know that he’s an amputee, not letting anything get in his way.

“It was just a really good sport,” the soccer played said. “I wanted to play and it was using my legs so I could build up the strength on my leg.”

The tragic accident happened just before his 3rd birthday. He ran outside when grass was being cut, slipped, and went under the lawnmower. His foot and ankle had to be amputated.

“I don’t want anything to stop me or hold me back or else I wouldn’t be doing any of this right now,” Braden said.

The 12-year-old has already faced many obstacles in his life and even on the toughest days, he shows the world anything is possible.

“I know a lot of people could give up on something like that very easily and just sort of throw everything away and say this is too much for me to handle,” Braden’s soccer coach, Chris Rozinsky, said. “To see him out here playing soccer and seeing him play a physically demanding sport is quite phenomenal.”

Braden said if you give up, you’ll stay on the sidelines. When you persevere, that’s when you reach your goals.

“Just never give up,” he said. “Keep trying and if you don’t get it the first time just don’t give up. If you like what you’re doing keep doing it and try new things.”

Braden also plays trumpet in his school’s marching band.