Student Athlete-Randolph
The ups and downs of being a Student Athlete
What it takes to become a collegiate level soccer player
EVANSVILLE- Growing up children take many steps towards what they will one day become. Well, William David Reid has been playing soccer since he started taking those first important steps.
Ever since then, soccer has become a part of Will’s life and has helped shape him into the man that he is today. He started playing on local recreation teams and as he progressively became better he joined travel soccer teams where he mastered his skills even more. Once in middle school he ran track as well as cross country which helped his quickness and endurance for soccer.
As a freshman at Plainfield High School, he was placed on the varsity soccer team which advanced to the second round in semi state. During Will’s sophomore year his team pushed it a step further as they won state. The following year the Plainfield men’s soccer team advanced to semi state again, but failed to win another state championship.
After graduating high school Will was off to college. He was accepted to Indiana University as well as Boston University with scholarships to play soccer. Instead of choosing these universities he picked the University of Southern Indiana.
“I just felt I wouldn’t get the opportunity to walk onto the soccer team and start as a freshman at the bigger universities like I did here at USI,” says Will, “I wanted to play so I choose the smaller college.”
As a freshman, Will played off and on throughout the season as he was still trying to prove to the coaches that he was worthy to be a starter. Working hard throughout the off season, Will had convinced them that he was valuable enough to be a started on the USI men’s soccer team.
“Will was a good asset to the team here at USI,” says coach Mat Santoro, “his good communication skills and on field play really benefited the other players and helped the team be successful.”
He started as center midfielder, which is the position between the defense and the offense that sets other players up for goals and collects assists.
“Think of me as the point guard of the soccer field,” Will says with a laugh.
Sophomore year Will Reid displayed an impressive season for the USI soccer team. He played in 18 of the 19 games that season and started in 16. He scored his first goal as a college athlete in USI's win over Harris-Stowe State University.
“Will was a great teammate who knew how to play his position,” says former teammate Simon Rawnsley, “he was a team player who meshed well with our team and got the job done.”
Following his junior season Will was injured in an indoor soccer game in the spring. He broke his left foot during the game and didn’t realize it until he was walking off the field at the end of the game.
Then, playing in the under 23-year-old state finals he tore his MCL on his right knee five minutes into the game. Dedicated and stubborn he continued to play despite a torn MCL.
This injury sidelined Will during the beginning of his senior season, but once his knee was healed he was back on the turf ready for action.
“One thing I regret not doing is red shirting after my knee injury, I could have red shirted my senior year and then played the year after when my knee was 100 percent healed,” says Will reluctantly, “but I figured I would be graduating so the thought never crossed my mind.”
Competing at the collegiate level can be quiet a struggle for many student athletes. Trying to balance practices and games with all the school work can take a toll on many students.
“Will could have applied himself more towards school,” says friend Zac Hendren, “but being so involved with soccer it was understandable.”
“I have to admit, being a student athlete during college was extremely time consuming, especially during the season when we had 6 a.m. practices and games after class,” says Will “but if I had to do it all over, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
Will Reid will be graduating from USI this December with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Spanish. He plans on using his knowledge of soccer as well as what he has learned throughout his years of college to find a job.
He recently had a phone interview with a company in North Carolina called, Euro Sport. With this job he would potentially be a Sales Associate doing things such as marketing, traveling and attending promotional events for the company.
“I would ultimately like to move to Panama City, Panama,” says Will eagerly, “find a job down there as a marketing director of some sort and further my experiences in another country.”
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