Vol Club Confidential: Nico Iamaleava
All eyes inside Tennessee athletics are focused on a redshirt freshman quarterback from California. Nico Iamaleava joined Vol Club Confidential this week to discuss the upcoming season and more. One of eight kids, Iamaleava is all about family and is partial to his mom Marleinna after watching her strength and courage to overcome stage four breast cancer.
“(She means) everything,” Iamaleava said. “She made a lot of sacrifices for us to be here. I love my mom so much and I’m so glad she is still here with us. She had a hard fight with cancer so her being able to overcome that and be able to see me just her son play out his dreams. I love her and she means everything.”
Last year he and his mom unveiled the The Nico8 foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of breast cancer research and awareness, special needs families, under served youth and their communities as well as other charitable causes. Watching her go through the struggle gave him perspective.
“When she got it she told my dad and me to continue what we were doing and continue grinding,” Iamaleava said. “I was just glad she is still here with us today. I wouldn’t say it made me grow up fast but it made me realize life is short and you have to cherish your loved ones while they are still here and appreciate life for what it is.”
Iamaleava first visited Tennessee in November of 2021 for the Vanderbilt game. His mom wasn’t able to be here for that visit but heard how special Tennessee was on their trip. The next trip to Rocky Top took place in early March and that trip, she was present and saw the Big Orange faithful wrap their arms around her son.
“My mom broke down coming up here in Tennessee,” Iamaleava said. “She broke down in the basketball stadium and it was a cool moment for me to see her like that. When she told me this was the spot I was sold on it and we made a great decision.”
