Williams stresses the importance of his role as a captain, and shares what he's learned from his years on the team. "Being captain has taught me a couple things but a big thing is that you are a role model for younger players,” Williams said. “The younger players look up to you and see what to do and how to do it and you teach them a lot even without directly teaching them." Photo by Libby Howell.
By Libby Howell
Even as a young child, Brant Williams knew that soccer was the sport for him.
“I started playing soccer when I could first kick the soccer ball,” Williams said. “The first team I played for was the Dallas Texans.”
After the Texans, Williams played for various teams until he eventually tried out for the high school soccer team. This past year, Williams has been named a captain.
“I wanted to be captain because I have been on varsity since freshman year and because I feel I can lead the team well,” Williams said.
Williams believes that the current process, although tedious, is the best way to determine the captains.
“[The team] decides who's captain which I think is good because they get to choose who will lead the team and who they trust,” Williams said.
The team element of soccer is very important to Williams. In fact the main captain responsibility that he values most is the ability to lead the team as a whole.
“I think that being captain helps people look up to me so I can be a role model for the younger players,” Williams said.
“Being captain has taught me a couple things but a big thing is that you are a role model for younger players."
To Williams, being a role model means inspiring the next generation of players.
“The younger players look up to you and [learn] what to do and how to do it,” Williams said. “You teach them a lot even without directly telling them,” Williams said.
Another role of the captain position that Williams appreciates is that there are multiple team captains.
“I like it because of the other captains around me and how they make leading the team more fun,” Williams said.
One of these captains is senior Reid Valentine who Williams met when he first started playing soccer.
“I moved to Andromeda and met my friend Reid and I have loved playing it ever since,” Williams said.
Williams will not continue the sport at a collegiate level. However, in his time on the team, he has learned many life lessons that he will take with him on his journey.
“Being captain has taught me a couple things but a big thing is that you are a role model for younger players,” Williams said.