Today we’d like to introduce you to Mason.
Hi Mason, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been playing soccer for 16 years, starting when I was just 2 years old. Soccer has always been more than a sport to me it has been my escape, my motivation, and the thing that helped shape me into the person I am today.
Life was very rough when I was young. My mother struggled with addiction and alcohol, and at that age I didn’t fully understand what was happening. Eventually, she made the courageous decision to turn her life around and went to rehab for two years. During that time, when I was in 1st and 2nd grade, I went to live with my grandparents.
Living with my grandparents changed my life. They gave me stability, love, and support when I needed it most. I became happy, started doing well in school, and fully fell in love with soccer. I became known around school for how much I loved the game and how hard I worked at it.
My grandfather, Louis Henna, became one of my first coaches when I played academy soccer with Westlake FC. Those memories mean everything to me because he not only coached me in soccer, but taught me discipline, work ethic, and confidence.
Later, when I moved back with my mom in 3rd grade, life became challenging again emotionally. I was young when I left her, so I had confusion about family and identity. I also struggled with anger as I got older. During middle school and part of high school, I attended boarding schools and programs that helped me grow, mature, and become a better person. Honestly, without those experiences, I don’t know where I’d be today.
When I returned, I used soccer as my focus again. I played select soccer for Pflugerville FC and One World FC, where I continued to grow as a player and person. My coaches throughout the years have had a major impact on me not just on the field, but off it as well. They taught me leadership, accountability, and how to channel adversity into success.
Some of my biggest accomplishments in club soccer have been earning respect as a leader, competing at a high level, continuing to develop my game, and never giving up despite everything I faced growing up and also getting to play 4 years above my age group because how good of a player I was changing the way my team got results and how we played.
Soccer saved me in many ways. It gave me purpose when life was uncertain, and it continues to drive me every day. My story is about perseverance, growth, and proving that your past does not define your future.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape who I am today. I started playing soccer at 2 years old, and while I loved the game from the beginning, my personal life was difficult at a young age. My mother struggled with addiction and alcohol, which led to her going to rehab for two years while I was in elementary school. During that time, I lived with my grandparents, who gave me stability, love, and support when I needed it most.
Later, moving back created emotional challenges because I was trying to understand family changes at a young age. As I got older, I also dealt with anger and personal struggles that led me to attend boarding schools and programs that helped me grow, mature, and become a better person.
Through every obstacle, soccer was the one constant in my life. It gave me discipline, purpose, and something positive to focus on. Looking back, the road was not easy, but those struggles made me stronger on and off the field
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Soccer is what I specialize in, but more than that, I would say I specialize in perseverance, leadership, and growth through adversity. I’ve been playing soccer for 16 years, starting when I was just 2 years old, and over that time the game has shaped every part of who I am on and off the field.
I’ve played at multiple levels including academy, rec, and competitive select soccer with clubs such as Westlake FC, Pflugerville FC, and One World FC. Each environment challenged me in different ways, but also helped me grow as a player. I’ve primarily developed as a goalkeeper, where I’ve become known for my focus, shot-stopping ability, and ability to stay composed in high-pressure situations. More importantly, I’ve grown into a leader—someone who communicates, organizes, and helps elevate the players around me.
One of the experiences I’m most grateful for was being selected for the EXACT X1 program trip to Spain. That opportunity allowed me to train and compete in a completely different environment, surrounded by high-level players and coaches from different backgrounds. It pushed me both technically and mentally, and it gave me a deeper understanding of the game on a global level. Beyond the soccer itself, the experience taught me independence, adaptability, and how to represent myself and my game in a new culture. It was a turning point that made me realize how far soccer can take you when you fully commit to it.
One of the things I’m most proud of is not just the teams I’ve played for, but how I’ve continued to develop through every stage of my journey. I had the opportunity to be coached by my grandfather, Louis Henn, early in my development at Westlake FC, which made the game deeply personal for me and taught me discipline and love for the sport at the same time.
What sets me apart is not just my experience, but my mentality. I’ve faced real challenges in my life off the field, and instead of letting them hold me back, I used soccer as a foundation to stay focused and keep improving. That mindset helped me push through difficult periods, develop emotional control, and become a more mature and consistent player.
I’m also proud of the environments I’ve grown in—coaches at Pflugerville FC and One World FC have played a major role in my development, not only improving my technical ability but also teaching me accountability, leadership, and how to carry myself as a teammate and person. Those lessons have been just as important as anything I’ve learned on the field.
At the end of the day, what makes me different is my journey. I haven’t just played soccer—I’ve used it as a tool to grow through adversity, develop discipline, and build a strong identity both as a player and as a person.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a wide range of people who have played a major role in my development, both as a soccer player and as a person. I truly don’t think I would be where I am today without the support system I’ve had around me.
First, my family deserves the biggest credit. My mom, dad, brother, grandma, and grandpa have all shaped me in different ways. My grandparents, especially, gave me stability and love during important years of my childhood, and my grandfather also coached me early in my soccer journey. My mom and dad, despite challenges along the way, have always been part of my story, and my brother has been someone I’ve always looked up to and competed with in a positive way.
In soccer, I’ve been blessed with coaches and mentors who have believed in me and pushed me to grow. Coaches like Michael Bubloz, Brad Stuver, Jason Snider, Eric Manis, Roger Cyela, Steve Roy, Yossef Al-Mashouq, Coach Everton, and Sway from the EXACT X1 program have all played important roles in my development. Each of them taught me something different—whether it was technical goalkeeping skills, discipline, leadership, or mental toughness. Sway and the EXACT X1 staff especially helped me see the game at a higher level and pushed me outside of my comfort zone during the Spain experience.
I also want to recognize all of my teachers and the academic environments I’ve been part of. Education has played a huge role in shaping my mindset and helping me stay grounded. Schools and programs like Oxbow Academy, Waterfall Canyon Academy in Utah, Cherokee Creek Boys School in South Carolina, and my wilderness program experiences in North Carolina all helped me grow personally, build discipline, and develop emotional control during different stages of my life.
In addition, everyone I’ve met through soccer communities—whether at clubs, training environments, or teams like Hawks Landing in Bonners Ferry, Idaho—has contributed in some way to my journey. Being around so many different players and coaches taught me how to adapt, learn, and respect the game at every level.
At the end of the day, my success is not something I can take credit for alone. It has been built through a community of people who supported me, challenged me, and believed in me—even when I was still learning to believe in myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.masonhenna-kaniriesoccercareer.com/
- Instagram: @masonhkgk13
