William Yuknalis '16 Recruiting Profile

I have played football since I was eight years old and have always loved the game. When I was in my last year of junior high school my father sustained a life altering head injury while walking our dog in front of my school while he was waiting for my brother and myself to be dismissed. I arrived to the scene of the accident in time to see my father being placed in the ambulance. For the next two and half years we lived on my mother's salary which as a catholic school teacher isn't enough to support a family of six. 

After my father's accident and with all the stress and upset it caused, I reacted by acting out. I decided that since everyone around me was hurting so much that there wouldn't be room for football. My mother enrolled me in Marist High School where she works and introduced me to the athletic director. The AD immediately took me down to the football coach who handed me a helmet and shoulder pads and said your now a member of the Marist Royal Knights. The AD and my parents wouldn't let me quit or give up on myself. The school discovered that I had a learning disability my freshman year and since an IEP was put into place my grades have improved. I can honestly say that football is the one constant thing in my life that kept me from giving up on myself. 

Today, I am working hard to constantly improve my grades and my performance on the field. I have reached out and helped other students at Marist that have been through rough times. I also work part time to help my family financially. My goal is to play football on a college field and get my degree as an athletic trainer. I am one of the captain on this year's team and hoping to leave my leave Marist with everyone knowing who I am and that no matter what obstacles you may have you can over come them if you don't give up on yourself and what you love. If I can play college football I would continue doing what I love and continue to give my college team and my classmates my very best effort.