In the transition between school and soccer practice, one varsity soccer player in particular turns all of his attention to the field. Stephen Wilson, a senior at Reynolds High School, has been a driving force on the Reynolds soccer team, being an upbeat, courageous player, as well as a good teammate.

    For the first three games, Wilson was forced to sit out due to injuries last year which included a torn ACL and a partially torn meniscus, both in his right leg. After coming back from his injuries, he discovered he had a slight bone bruise and minimal meniscus damage as well as a patellar subluxation, a temporary dislocation of the kneecap from its normal position, all in his left knee. Despite these setbacks, Wilson was still able to wear a brace and play as if he was never injured at all.

    “Stephen is a really nice guy who works really hard so it was good to see him come back from injury and play the way he did,” junior Andrew Petersen, center back for the Demons said.

    “Whenever I am playing with Stephen, I know he is going to try his hardest and have my back,” said junior Alex Brooker, a left back for Reynolds.

    His teammates enjoy watching and learning how Wilson plays.

    “When I’m in practice, I try to focus on myself, but I also observe other people and how they play, and I like to learn from Stephen’s play style,” Brooker said.

    By playing one of the toughest positions, center back, he provides stability not only to the defensive line but the whole team.

    “I have played [center back] for only 3 years because the Reynolds team needed one and I felt up to the challenge,” says Wilson.

    Wilson’s soccer career started when he was only two years old and since, he has been focusing his athletic ability on soccer, striving to get better every day.

    “I go to play soccer knowing that I have to get everything I can out of practices and games,” said Wilson.

    On senior night for RJR, the Demons played Davie. Other than mercy ruling them in only one half, Reynolds varsity coach, Tony Sabio started Wilson on attack, in hopes he would get his first goal of the season.

    “When my coach put me in at attack, I knew I had a moral duty to score a goal,” said temporary attackman Wilson.

    After a lot of encouragement from the student section and his team, and after one great shot that hit the left post, he hit one in towards the end of the half, making the score nine to zero. His team and the student section anxiously anticipating the moment for the whole season.

    “As I saw my shot hit the back of the net, I knew that my determination had paid off, when I was greeted with love and support by my whole team, fans, the student section, and my parents,” said Wilson.

    At the end of the half, the game was over, and Wilson along with the rest of the seniors were celebrating their victory as their last year playing for RJR soccer.