Will Umscheid ’25 has been an integral part of the Belmont Hill Varsity Soccer team as captain, both serving as a role model to younger players and motivating the team with his leadership. Will started playing soccer when he was five years old in a local program for kindergarteners, coached by his dad. He joined his first club team in 4th grade. This season, his teammates elected him as captain due to his exemplary leadership, work ethic, and devotion to the team.
Will’s greatest personal achievement was qualifying for the national tournament over the summer with his club team. On a personal level, he noted that it was the recognition he received last year after the Belmont Hill fall season. When asked about his favorite moment on the soccer team, Will stated, “It’s really hard to single out my favorite moment from the past few years. I really enjoy all the team dinners and just spending time with the guys after practice.” Though for soccer games, his favorite moments were Belmont Hill’s win over Andover this year and the opening win over Bridgton last year.
Will’s contributions to the team have certainly been recognized by his teammates. Fellow captain and teammate Blake DaCosta ’26 stated, “He brings a sense of calmness into the locker room. It really gets the guys dialed in and calm before a game. Leadership– sometimes it’s not always what you’re saying, it’s how you do it– it’s leading by example.” Will’s ability to lead by example has also had a tremendous impact on the rest of the team, especially the younger players who look up to him. Max Christiano ’28 described the example that Will sets for the team: “He has a very good work ethic, he tries really hard at every play. His effort is always really high, and he’s always really pumped up. Especially for the younger guys, we’re going at it full speed for every play, so I think he really helps us with that.” Whether it be for practice or games, Will helps set the tone for the team. Blake added, “He brings a good mindset to every single thing that we do… Being around him I strive to better myself, just because you can see how hard he works.”
Will has put his 100% into the Belmont Hill varsity soccer team as a senior, captain, and valued teammate, and his contributions cannot be understated– when asked about the future, Will responded, “Right now I’m focused on enjoying the rest of my senior season and helping the team achieve as much success as possible. I know I’ll keep finding opportunities to keep playing soccer in my future.” The Panel congratulates Will Umscheid on his tremendous success at Belmont Hill over the last few years and wishes him luck for the rest of the season and future pursuits.
