Joseph Wickson aims to score his goal for great teamwork this semester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Hunter McIntyre

Sports Editor

Soccer is a way of life for Hudson Valley Viking, Joseph Wickson.

“I’ve played soccer ever since I was a kid, as long as I can remember,” Wickson said. He said that he grew up in Hati  where everyone he knew played it.

“Playing soccer from a young age wasn’t really a choice. [Everyone] that I knew were always playing soccer so it kind of grew into me,” Wickson said.

He moved to Hudson New York when he was sixteen. He mentioned that his education is very important to him and his family and “As long as I’m alive and in a good situation I’m gonna keep [playing soccer,]” Wickson said.

Wickson  still visits his family as often as he can. “[My family] always made me believe in myself. They always tell me if you wanna be something you focus on it and there is no reason you can’t be that person you want to be in the future so I always keep that in the back of my head, everything I do that’s how I look at it,” Wickson said.

Wickson is a starter and second year player for the Men’s Soccer team. He is a Criminal Justice Major.

Last season Wickson often played in the outside or inside midfield positions but also plays as a striker on occasion. He said he regardless of what position he plays he takes pride in what he does.

“I’’m not the type of player to sit back when I see my teammates need help and you’ll see me in the mix trying to make it happen,” Wickson said.

“It’s not about me it’s about the team and so far we have a really good team and everybody gets along. I really like that about us and we have a lot of young talented players they just need to realize it,” Wickson continued.

He said his personal goal for the season was, “to help the younger guys and realize it’s not about us and that it is about the team. The more you focus on the team the better results you’ll have.”

Wickson is constantly focused on improving.” I tend to dribble a little too much but that is something I’m trying to work on as a player,” he said.

Besides listening to what his coach has to say, Wickson looks to great players who have made it to the pros to help him improve his game. He often watches youtube videos to try their drills and exercises and apply it to whatever situation he’s in.

Brazilian soccer player, Ronaldinho, was Wickson’s role model growing up because not only his skill, but also how much he gives to charity.

Wickson hopes to mirror that charity in his own life. He said, “I want to  finish school to get a good education. [I want to] hopefully make enough money so that I can help those that dont like have it the way we do, you can always help people that dont have it like that.”