Sean Williams (’23) is a fresh face on the men’s soccer team, sporting the number six and playing mid-field for the Tigers. Williams earned the honor of NCAC Player of the Week after his performance against Mount St. Joseph University and Bluffton University, scoring twice against the Lions and once against the Beavers. He hails from Fisher, Indiana and has been playing soccer for as long as he can remember.
Reflecting on his start with soccer, Williams grew nostalgic thinking back to his first picture, and quite possibly his favorite picture of himself standing in his front yard with a soccer ball. Williams said that he began playing because his two older brothers played soccer and he grew up going to their practices and games.
Going through school, Williams played soccer and basketball, but he referred to himself as an “intermural basketball player.” Soccer is part of what landed Williams at Wittenberg, along with being close to family.
At the moment, Williams is busy with soccer, but is looking forward to exploring other ways to get involved on campus in the spring. He’s contemplating rushing fraternities but is open to anything moving forward. He’s a double-major in marketing and management. After college, Williams is thinking about being a salesman or running his own company that would “plan events, big events.”
When talking about the men’s soccer team, Williams said that he feels the team “is really starting to get it,” and that they “have each other’s backs.” It’s obvious on the field that the team is meshing well and they’re getting better with each game. The addition of coach John Bluem has given the team a new look at “tactical teamwork,” and how they are defending Williams said.
When talking about coach Bluem, Williams said, “to add him in with Burgess and Andy, we have the most distinguished staff in D3 sports.” He also added “it’s going to be seen coming up very soon [the benefits of having the distinguished staff].”
When asked about what being named NCAC Player of the Week meant to him, Williams admitted to not knowing what it was at first. He had teammates congratulating him, but he wasn’t entirely sure what for. Knowing now what the title means Williams said it’s a “really cool feeling as a freshman.” But he said that it also means he needs to step his game up, but he can’t take all the credit for his performance on the field because it’s a team game.
“None of that happens without people passing me the ball, people working together as a whole,” Williams said.
When asked about the new sports complex, The Steemer, Williams said that it “changes the game,” adding, “it’s something no other D3 school has.” He continued on saying that the opening of the complex is something that he’s looking forward to the facility opening.
Currently, Williams has five goals under his belt with 11 shots. He has now scored in four out of seven of the Tiger’s match-ups and has plenty of more opportunities as the season continues.
