University of North Carolina Athletics
Will's Positive Impact Has Helped Tar Heels Through Some Frustrating Times
April 17, 2003 | Men's Lacrosse
April 17, 2003
By Meg Schiffman
Carolina Athletic Communications
Considering the fact that neither Steven Will's mother nor his father knew a thing about lacrosse before they bought him a stick for Christmas when he was in first grade, it's amazing how thick the sport now runs in their children's blood.
Will is a senior captain at Carolina, a team currently ranked 12th in the nation which recently tied for the ACC regular season title. Will's younger brother, sophomore midfielder Bryant Will, has nine goals and 10 assists for Carolina, and his older sister Dawn received player of the year accolades for her accomplishments at Virginia Tech.
"I find it ironic that when I was a kid, I used to beat up on my sister and my brother - I used to dominate them," he laughed. "Now, my brother's better than me, and my sister ruled at Virginia Tech while she was there. I hope I've rubbed off on my brother and sister, that I've made them better players and better people.
"Having my brother here has made me more responsible," he admitted. "I take pride in what he does. I would rather him be better than me any day...and he is better than me now. It's just hard to admit. I couldn't be happier for him."
The mutual respect and motivation flowing between the siblings is so strong, in fact, that Steve's greatest sports moment to date was when his brother led his high school team to win the state championship - a year after Steve had graduated.
Although he was also an outstanding basketball and soccer player while at Dulaney High School in Baltimore, Md., Will has played lacrosse ever since he received that first stick years ago, and his heart truly belongs to the sport.
"I'm better at it than any other sport," he said. "It also really encompasses everything that I like in an athletic sport: speed, agility, you can hit people and you're given a weapon. It's pretty exciting."
Will's father may not have known that his own high school offered lacrosse, or that it was the one of the few public high schools at that time that offered the sport in Baltimore, or even that a few of his good friends were on the team his senior year when they won the state championship, but he did play catch with Will every day.
"I think he is the greatest person to walk this earth, " Steve said. "He's everything that I would like to be as far as his attitude toward life. He's my biggest motivator, and I never want to disappoint him - that's what it comes down to."
The End is in Sight
Will has only a few weeks left as a varsity athlete at Carolina, and as his time as an active lacrosse player dwindles to an end, a number of goals still remain his focus.
"I will be sad if we lose and I don't accomplish what I want to," he said. "There are three different levels. The first step is to make it to the NCAA tournament. The second step is to make it to the NCAA Final Four, and the third tier would be to win the national championship."
Does he think his team, with a 5-5 record going up against Virginia in the ACC Tournament on Friday, can do it?
"I think we are one of the best teams in the country this year, even though we have played in some tough luck and our record may not reflect how good we can be," he said without hesitation. "I can say that with confidence for the first time in my life.
"As for myself, I don't think I've been playing the best that I've ever played," said Will, who, with six points, is the ninth-leading scorer on the team. "I always think I can do better. But when It comes down to it, I can hopefully contribute to the team in a positive way."
Will's time at Carolina, his commitment to the lacrosse program and the subsequent arrival of his brother have sparked a surge of Carolina Blue blood through his veins. As a student-athlete for such a prestigious school, he learned the benefits of both being a teammate and the opportunities being a Carolina graduate can offer.
"When lacrosse ends, I know I probably won't ever play lacrosse or wear my Carolina uniform again, but I'll be happy with what I did," he said. "I think by coming here, it opens your eyes to so many different things. I'll miss playing lacrosse, but on the same token, I have created so many other interests. The friendships I've made playing lacrosse will never ever end, and I think that's half the fun of playing."
In effect, Will has two families: his siblings and his parents, and his lacrosse team.
And once he has kids of his own, he says there's little doubt what sport they'll play or which school they'll attend.
"Lacrosse and Carolina," he said. "No question."
