For the first time since 1987 Wisdom High School (formerly Robert E. Lee High School) had a winning season. The team finished the season 5-3 only losing to Waltrip, Sterling and unbeaten Galveston Ball. Because of their historic performance, standout players were nominated to this year’s HISD All-Star game. One of those players was senior linebacker, Yohana Kariuki Kaniaru.
“I felt blessed and honored to represent my school and play in the HISD All-Star game. It was a great experience. I hope more kids from our school get selected next year,” said Kaniaru.
Kaniaru is remarkable on the field. His ability to fly to the ball and make tackles frustrates offenses. However, this defensive stalwart didn’t begin playing football until the seventh grade.
“I always wanted to play football when I was younger, but my mother wouldn’t allow me to because she felt it was too dangerous,” said Kaniaru.
Kaniaru was born in a house not too far from Wisdom High School. When he was three years old, he and his brother were sent to live with his grandparents in Kenya. When they came back to the United States, he attended Mission Bend Christian Academy for first grade and Emerson Elementary for second and third grade. His mother then moved to Sugar Land, and he attended Austin Parkway Elementary until fifth grade.
Kaniaru watched his first football game in 2017. It was the Super Bowl in Houston featuring the New England Patriots against the Atlanta Falcons.
“Watching this game made me want to play the sport even more,” said Kaniaru.
Yohana Kariuki Kaniaru
IG: @Dnd.kk_
Twitter: @k_kaniaru
Position: Linebacker/ Safety
Height & weight: 6-feet-3, 190 pounds
Players he studies: Harold Perkins (LSU), Jamal Adams (Seattle Seahawks)
Favorite artist: NBA YoungBoy
Status: Committed to the Blinn College
Favorite subject: History
Shout-outs: Khari Mayuex, Jaylon Thomas, Felix Tuyisaba, family and coaches at Wisdom High School
After countless hours of convincing his mother, Kaniaru got his first taste of the sport while attending First Colony Middle School in the seventh grade. He played at Elkins High School during his freshman and sophomore years before moving to Wisdom High School.
“My sophomore year I was on the varsity team at Elkins,” said Kaniaru. “When my mom’s lease was up, we looked for better housing but couldn’t find any, so we moved back to the house I grew up in which was closer to Wisdom High School.”
A move from Fort Bend Elkins where the football program had a rich history of greatness to Wisdom High School where the thought of a winning program was unthinkable was discouraging to say the least.
“When I found out we were moving back and I’d be attending Wisdom High School I was heartbroken,” said Kaniaru. “I looked at their football history and it made it 10 times worse. However, I didn’t have a choice and as the summer went on I had to accept my circumstances and make the best of them. I figured God had brought me there for a reason, I just had to trust him.”
While making the best of his situation, Kaniaru bought into the coaching and the message that a team is a unit, and if they move as a unit success will follow. The team also had a few other dedicated players move into the area like Khari Mayeux, who moved from New Orleans. He and his brother boosted the morale at the school and helped inspire the team to continue moving as one.
“My junior season gave us a glimpse of what we could accomplish next year if we bought into the program,” said Kaniaru. “Going 2-8 and winning the first district game in several years, helped us to buy into the program more. Once Coach Herrera became the head coach we began to work even harder during the off-season. We not only changed the stats, but we changed the mindset and culture that season.”
When speaking with Kaniaru, it’s apparent that football inspires him.
“It gives me something to focus on and goals to strive to achieve. Football has taught me to not only be a better player, but a better human as I’ve learned many valuable lessons while playing and working together with my team on the field,” said Kaniaru.
Next season Kaniaru will be playing at Blinn College while studying physical therapy.
“Blinn was an opportunity for me to continue chasing my dream of playing football. I felt a deep connection with the coaching staff and they expressed they saw high potential in me,” said Kaniaru.
When looking back to inspire the next group of athletes, Kaniaru recalls the advice given to him by his head football coach, Tony Herrerra.
“If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail,” said Kaniaru.
