Whether it?s on the soccer or football field, Seymour knows how to score for North Lincoln
by Aaron Burns
North Lincoln senior Billy Seymour has been a vital player on the Knights? soccer and football teams this fall. (Aaron Burns/DW photo)
When he?s in the middle of a game or practice, Billy Seymour says he?s in his element. That?s a good thing for the North Lincoln senior, since when he isn?t in a classroom, he?s almost always on the field of competition. Because he?s a member of North Lincoln?s football and soccer teams, Seymour is always moving, and he likes it that way.
As a standout for the Knights in soccer, as well as the punter and kicker in football, Seymour said he has plenty of responsibilities to both teams. But he said the rewards far outweigh the negatives ? not that there really are any. According to Seymour, who grew up in New Jersey before his family moved to North Carolina when he was in fourth grade, the only way to enjoy life is to be doing something fun.
Whether it?s playing soccer ? the sport he took up when he was 3 years old ? football, swimming or track and field (Seymour runs the 400 and 800 meters), chances are you won?t ever see Seymour without something to do. Just a walk to a coach?s office might take a few minutes, because Seymour gets stopped by friends for a quick chat. He?s gained some popularity at the school, but then again it?s hard to keep a low profile when your name graces the roster of more than one sports team. Plus, Seymour admitted, he?s not the quietest person in the world.
Seymour proudly said that at some point, he?s played soccer, football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, and track and field. He?s looking at joining the Knights? swim and tennis teams as well. Is there any sport he hasn?t given a try yet?
?Water polo!? Seymour said. ?I would honestly love to try and play every sport in the world, like cricket.
?I hate sitting still,? he added. ?I can?t do it. I?ve got to be out doing something. I figured I?d just go all-out as a senior and play every sport I could.?
And so the list continues to grow.
This fall marks just the second year Seymour has ever played football, and the first time since his freshman year when he learned how to play the sport. When current Knights football coach Zach Bevilacqua, then an assistant, asked Seymour if he was interested in trying out at kicker three years ago, Seymour jumped at the chance. He sought out Knights kicker Peter Amico, his teammate on the soccer team, for advice on how to kick and punt a football. Seymour learned right away that it wasn?t easy.
?It?s really different than kicking a soccer ball,? Seymour said. ?Keep the nose up, keep the ball at a 45-degree angle, and just drop and connect with your foot and have power while you do it. Not easy.?
Once he got the hang of it, Seymour found punting enjoyable. But with the amount of time it took to learn the craft, he decided to forgo playing football as a sophomore and junior. When Bevilacqua was named the Knights? head coach this past summer, Seymour figured it was a good time to get back to the gridiron. Since he?s made his return, Seymour has changed his style of punting from ?rugby style,? where the player rolls out to his right and kicks on the run, to taking the snap and straight-punting the ball.
And while North Lincoln has struggled to an 0-5 mark, Seymour said that playing football again has been a positive experience. He?s connected on three extra points and is anxious to show off the leg strength that allowed him to make a 53-yard field goal in practice.
?I really enjoy playing football and I?m glad I went back to it,? Seymour said. ?It?s kind of like now I?ve got three families: the soccer team, the football team and my family at home.?
But Seymour said he?s not above being picked on by teammates from time to time.
?It?s all in fun,? Seymour said. ?Those guys know what I can do on a field, and they?ve got my back.?
So does Knights soccer coach Tim Harris, who entrusts a solid portion of his team?s offense to Seymour. Thus far, he?s delivered. Seymour ranks second on the Knights in goals scored. But sometimes, Seymour can get a little too hyped up; he?s gotten a pair of yellow cards this season.
But the field of play is his refuge, even though balancing everything going on in his life can sometimes be a grind.
?I?ve got to find time to do schoolwork and sleep, too,? Seymour said. ?I play three games a week usually ? two soccer, one football. So I?ll do homework on the bus or before a game, just whenever I get a chance to.?
School plays the biggest role in Seymour?s life. With such a sports-heavy schedule, Seymour said he doesn?t mind spending time in the classroom or doing homework, especially because he knows it will pay off once he leaves North ?Lincoln.
Seymour hasn?t decided where he?ll go to college, but he lists Western Carolina and Appalachian State as options.
Not surprisingly, Seymour also plans on playing college sports as a walk-on wherever he goes. Does he have any sports in mind yet?
?Not really,? Seymour said. ?Whatever sports they?ll let me play in college, I?ll play. No different than here.
?I?ll play any sport.?
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Source: http://denverncweekly.com/sports/2011/09/on-the-goal/
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