From starting in local youth soccer leagues at age five to joining Westwood varsity soccer, Charles Walker ‘27 worked his way up from the bottom. His journey in soccer has been rewarding and has helped him to become a better person and a stronger leader, shaping his day-to-day playbook.
“I wanted to play soccer because of the competitiveness and it was fun,” Charles said. “I started out playing for Town & Country Soccer (T&C), and then I moved to Lonestar Soccer Club. I worked my way [to] the top team.”
By the time he started high school, Charles knew he wanted to join the Westwood soccer team, and made varsity his sophomore year.
“I continued [soccer] because I enjoyed it, and nothing else really stood out as much,” Charles said.
After playing on varsity for a year, Charles decided his next step was to become a team captain, so he applied for the position.
“I wanted to lead people, and [because] it was going to be a very competitive year, this year I wanted a chance to try and help us go even further,” Charles said.
After willing candidates applied, everyone on the varsity team voted to decide who would become their captains. Charles became the only junior captain, alongside seniors Jack Cox and Rodrigo Garcia. Together, the three worked to help the team always perform at their best level.
“My main job [as captain is] holding people accountable,” Charles said. “Making sure everyone’s doing what they should be, [like] helping with cleanup.”
Nevertheless, rain or shine, Charles continually showed up for his team and Westwood as a whole.
“I want to be there for all my teammates, [and] I don’t want to let them down,” Charles said. “I always want to show that we can do this, and [that] this is a chance to get better. My favorite part of the Westwood team would be the community of it. Everyone is in it together, [and] wants to do their best.”
As the year has gone on, Charles has learned what it means to be a captain and has grown his leadership skills to model such a role.
“This season [has] made me realize that to be a captain, you can’t just be telling people what to do,” Charles said. “You actually have to lead by example, and show them what the correct thing to do is.”
Not only did becoming captain allow Charles to support and improve the team, it also helped him grow personally and become a more confident individual.
“[Being a captain has] made me more outgoing, because, as a captain, you can’t just hide,” Charles said. “It forced me to step up. You have to lead everyone, so I’ve become more sociable.”
As the 2025-2026 soccer season came to an end, Charles looked to the future for himself and his team.
“[My goal] for the team is [to] make playoffs again,” Charles said. “It’ll be difficult, but definitely manageable. And personally, [my goal] is to be even more of [a] leader because I’m gonna be the only returning captain.”
