Coach Will Sheetz a Huge Help and Support for the Walkersville Community In a Variety of Ways

by Taylor Seabolt for Walkersville High School Lion’s Pride

The Unified Tennis team recently worked for two state titles, but who is the man who trained our athletes to attain such great accomplishments?

Will Scheetz is an incredible coach and role model at WHS. He inspires many kids to do their best everyday even when they aren’t motivated. Scheetz has an awfully amazing way of listening as well as giving great advice.

“He’s the only staff member that I can actually talk to and I think he’s a really nice guy,” said freshman Xavier Poinsette.

In his earlier years, he wanted to be a police officer and was inspired to follow the path when he was introduced to the TV show called Chips. The show featured two motorcycle cops who loved to fight crime. Although he isn’t a police officer yet, he still helps the young adults at WHS to fight other battles.

When Scheetz was a freshman in high school he found a group of people he just clicked with and now he helps to make the transition a little easier for incoming newbies. “When I was a freshman he helped to guide me through everything; he’s like a best friend to me. He’s also really smart and funny,” said senior Jesse Maher.

He was all about sports in high school and remembers the glory days passionately. Scheetz wrestled all four years in high school and played baseball for a few years as well. “One of the reasons I began wrestling was to be around my friends more, but it also helped me academically because I began to get better grades than I did before so I would be eligible to wrestle. It was nice that you and your opponent were the only ones on the mat; you had to help yourself. No one could really help you,” said Scheetz.

When school let out for summer, his focus pointed to a girl across the street. “I remember riding on this scooter and crashing into a tree when I saw her but I laughed then she laughed and that was how we met,” commented Scheetz. Every summer after that Scheetz would hang out with the girl across the street and when the summer was done he would return to school looking forward to the next summer to come. “Her sister rented the house from my grandfather and when I went to my grandfather’s every summer we would always hang out,” said Scheetz in reference to how he knew the girl.

Scheetz kept in touch with the girl across the street throughout the toughest and easiest years of his life. He then later married the girl who knocked him off of his scooter, named Kinder Scheetz. He now has two children with Kinder: his son Austin, 15, and his other son Tyler, 7.

“My wife is the best thing that ever happened to me; she’s a wonderful person and an even better mother. I really don’t know where I would be without her,” said Scheetz.

During his senior year something completely amazing happened. His high school wrestling team won the state championship. The hard work and dedication of his team members as well as his own paid off to earn the state title. “It was so exciting and that definitely stood out in my career,” said Scheetz.

He continued his education at Kaplan University for three years majoring in criminal justice, homeland security, and also earning a criminal justice degree. He went to college and worked a full time job all at the same time. But Scheetz did not go to college directly after his high school graduation. “I would have liked to go to college directly after high school for a sport. It was different going to college being a little older, but it was still fun,” said Scheetz.

Besides being a caring husband and father, he has been a coach for a total of 19 years for wrestling, softball, and even youth league football. Apart from those sports, he has also been a fantastic unified sports coach winning a total of four county titles and four state titles.

“He’s always pushed me to do my best in track but wanted me to have fun more; he knows how to make you laugh and I like talking to him,” said junior Katie Summers.

Scheetz joked, “If we are going to win we should have fun while we are doing it right? I’m kidding, but they are all winners in my eyes. I love coaching and when we do win something the excitement on the kid’s face is absolutely priceless although I try to focus more on the kids having fun than winning. It’s nice to see them so happy.”

His hard work and commitment does not go unnoticed; the kids he coaches see it and even a few of his friends see it.

“I think he’s very passionate and he wants every individual to do their best. I see a lot of the things he does behind the scenes like making sure the kids can afford the uniform and tons of fundraising; he’s as really hard worker,” said coach Chris Walters.

His student athletes also appreciate all of his commitment and hard work throughout the entire season. Although he remains modest, he truly does an amazing job working with our Lions.

“He always makes really funny jokes and he makes me laugh. He’s fun,” said sophomore Eva Lopez.

“He made us strong. He’s just great and I think he’s really funny, cool and awesome,” said senior unified tennis player Jane Patterson.

Often people don’t realize how much they can make an impact in somebody’s life, Scheetz has had such a positive impact on so many kids. “He’s really kind and he’s good with jokes. He’s strict sometimes but I know he means well,” said junior Jenna Sedler.

Scheetz spends the majority of his time working, but when he is not working he loves to spend quality time with his family.

“I first got into hunting to be closer with my family and now I take both of my sons hunting,” explained Scheetz.

Wrestling has always been a huge part of Scheetz’s life from being a wrestler in high school to coaching the sport from the sidelines. He also enjoys to watch college wrestling, but also likes Olympic style wrestling as well. “Wrestling changed my life and I loved coaching it. With any sport I coach, I want the kids to have something to look forward to. I want to help them learn to compete but have fun as well. Some kids don’t have the best home life and sometimes just giving them the opportunity [to be successful] has a tremendous effect in their lives,” said Scheetz.

His secretary worked beside him for a very good amount of time observing his character in the process. “He’s a great role model and all of the dedication he gives the kids is incredible, most of the kids really look up to him I hope he keeps up the good work,” said special education teacher Carol Desimone.

“Without coach Scheetz we wouldn’t be a team. He’s an awesome role model. He’s made me a really happy person I also like how he jokes around and isn’t always serious,” said freshman Jameson Hahn.

“He’s seriously amazing. He’s a cool guy [and] crazy in a good way. He’s kind, honest, [and] he is always ready to help whenever I need help,” said sophomore Nina Matthews.

“He truly is a great coach and encourages every student to give it their all. He treats everyone equal so it doesn’t matter if it’s your first year or your third year,” said junior Linsey Winpigler.

Scheetz loves the small town of Walkersville and how active the community is. In the future, Scheetz plans to help with wrestling and unified bocce. He has coached unified track and field in the spring and encourages any athletes not participating in a winter sport to join unified bocce this year.

If Scheetz could give his younger self any advice he would say “Don’t overthink the small things. Live life — don’t spend all of your time losing precious moments, listen to your coaches and your teachers.”

“I have a great family, [and] a good job. I get to coach wonderful kids, I get to help them with their academics and with [their] life; I couldn’t be happier” said Scheetz. He then added, “I hope to continue to influence the students at Walkersville High to do their best no matter how hard it is. Go Lions!”

The community of Walkersville High school thanks Coach Will Scheetz for his commitment and kindness as a coach. Hahn said it best, “It wouldn’t be the same without Coach Scheetz.”