Jeremiah is a Golden Hawk
Jeremiah Nyambiya started to receive scholarship interest from Canadian schools when he created his first football highlight tape in Grade 10.
In Grade 12, the 19-year-old Niagara Falls resident, who moved to Canada in Grade 1 from Berrrien Springs, Mich., took his game to a whole new level with the A.N. Myer Marauders senior football team. The scholarship interest intensified and the 5-foot-7, 165-pound running back was looking forward to cementing his status as a top prospect by putting together a stellar 12B campaign.
But disaster struck in Myer’s first preseason game.
“We were running a 34 power on the right side, I hit the gap and I stumbled and used my left arm to brace my fall and try to bounce back,” he said. “I fell at a weird angle and all I heard was my arm snap. I was on the ground, I took a quick look at it and it was definitely deformed.”
Nyambiya knew right away his season was done.
“It literally killed me and I was in disbelieve,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it for the longest time and even during the season I couldn’t believe it.”
Having to be a spectator at all of Myer’s games was a bitter pill to swallow.
“It crushed me,” he said.
Thankfully, he was able to get through the year with the help of his team and friends.
“The support system was great. Guys on my team and my friends would come to my house to see if I was OK and give me gifts,” he said. “The sportsmanship was phenomenal and I couldn’t have asked for much more.”
Nyambiya, who started playing minor football in Grade 7 with the Niagara Falls Argos, was understandably worried the injury would derail his hopes for a post-secondary football career.
“Once the arm was broken, a lot of schools just kind of disappeared.”
Thankfully teammate Trent Hunter, the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association’s Tier 1 offensive MVP, signed with Laurier and made sure to tell Laurier head coach Michael Faulds not to forget about Nyambiya. While this was happening, Nyambiya was also in contact with Waterloo.
The discussions with Laurier intensified during March Break. There were plans for Laurier to come down for an official signing but that plan was stymied by the COVID 19 pandemic. Nyambiya ended up committing to Laurier online about a month ago. Signing his name on the dotted line was a memorable experience.
“It was the greatest thing ever,” he said. “It’s a new chapter in my life and it’s something I’ve wanted ever since I started playing football.”
Nyambiya admits he will head to Laurier with a chip on his shoulder, remembering all the schools who stopped contacting him after he was hurt.
“I am a huge competitor and I always want to win,” he said, adding he will do whatever it takes to reach his goals. “I want to touch the field in first year right away.
“I am going to make sure they notice me so I can get some reps.”
To play at the university level, the former Niagara Spear feels that he needs to get faster, stronger and more agile.
He has been working on his speed with Spears assistant coach Nathan Zavarella.
“During this time, I don’t know how many people are working and I am trying to work out as much as I can,” he said. “And I also want to get my size up as well.”
Nyambiya can’t wait to get started at Laurier.
“Football is the No. 1 thing on my mind and I want to become the best player I can possibly be,” he said. “I am trying to get drafted.”
He plans to study communications.
Myer will miss his dynamic play and Marauders head coach Dave Buchanan describes him as a pure running back.
“Whenever you put the ball in his hands, he can make something special happen. He has great burst through the hole and fantastic lateral movement and balance,” he said. “He also runs tougher than his size may indicate.”
Nyambiya’s graduation will be felt at Myer.
“He has an infectious personality that we will all miss at Myer,” Buchanan said. “I can’t wait to see what he can do at the next level.”
BPSN and the COVID-19 pandemic
Like all small businesses dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, BPSN is not sure what the business landscape will look like when things return to normal. Our website is financed primarily through advertising revenues and partnership agreements with many local sports and educational organizations in Niagara. Our goal is to continue providing our readers with the extensive local sports coverage you have come to expect from our site. Since our inception, we have written more than 2,800 stories on our local athletes and teams. Many of our readers have given us one-time donations or send us monthly contributions to help offset our costs. We would be eternally grateful if others would consider doing the same by using the Support Us button located on the right-hand side of our home page below the mosaic.
Thank you for your continued support.
Bill and Bernie.
