William Stimmel '26 has endured not one, not two, but three ACL knee injuries since 2020, the most recent occurring on October 12 during the Hampden-Sydney football game at Washington and Lee in Lexington—his second such injury in college. He has also dealt with the adversity of a meniscus knee injury since arriving on the Hill in 2022—William has been forced to miss 17 games throughout his first three years with the Tigers. Each time, however, he perseveres and earns his way back to a starting role on the offensive line. William has started 12 of the 13 games he has played for the Garnet & Grey. That personal dedication and commitment to continued recovery and rehabilitation is most-likely behind his teammates voting him a 2024 team captain.

"It was unbelievable, I was just really at a loss for words with how my teammates elected me to lead them among these other guys who are great," explained William. "It's one of the biggest accomplishments in my football career."

William's football career began at an early age, and he discovered that football offered a place where he could not only express himself but also develop the discipline and mentality to be successful. Though football was always his favorite sport, William participated in other sports, including baseball, basketball, lacrosse, and swimming. He actually suffered his first ACL injury during his junior year of high school wrestling and knew it would be difficult to recover in time for his senior season of football.

"I made a decision that I was just going to do whatever I could to get back on the field and complete my senior season, which I did," said William. "It was great. I didn't have many, if any, problems with my knee, and I knew that I wanted to play football in college."

As he began looking at colleges, William thought that he would probably attend Southern Methodist in Dallas along with his twin brother, Henry. But football was still on his mind, and he decided to speak with Director of Regional Recruitment Connor Rund '13 during a visit at The Lovett School that spring. Ironically, Assistant Football Coach Zach Zullinger '07 showed up at the school a few weeks later, and William made the decision to visit campus and ultimately attend Hampden-Sydney and play for the Tigers.

"William was a great player at Lovett on both offense and defense," said Zullinger. "I thought he could have played on either side of the ball for us, but I was the O-Line coach at the time, and I knew he would make an immediate impact for us there."

"Coach Z told me at our first conditioning test after our first practice 'you have the ability to play on this team and be the player that I know you want to be'," added William. "That was one of the reasons why my freshman year was a lot easier than it probably should have been."

William started the first three games of his collegiate career before suffering a meniscus injury in the weight room, forcing him to miss the final seven games of the season. He eventually needed surgery late in the summer, but worked hard at his rehabilitation and earned his way back onto the field last season as a sophomore, starting four of five games, before his second ACL injury on October 14, 2023, at Averett in Danville, missing the final five games.

"There's one moment I remember after that Averett game," explained William. "It was actually during halftime, and I was sitting on a golf cart outside the locker room while the coaches were talking to the team. Every single person on the team said some words of encouragement and patted me on my shoulder, literally every single person. I still remember that to this day. I thought to myself, 'wow, that's very cool.' It's something that has not really happened to me before, and it was awesome. Right then and there, I decided that I would continue playing."

Following last season, H-SC appointed Vince Luvara as its new football head coach, and Coach Luvara almost immediately added Richard Ramirez as the director of sports performance for the program.

"ACL rehab is always tough," said William. "Coach Goo came in, and I was so excited to have a strength and conditioning coach who could really focus on more specific knee recovery. He was really helpful in the weight room as I was recovering, just knowing what to do, what not to do, what's safe, and what I should be continuing to work on during my own time."

William made it back on the field once again and started the first five games this fall at right tackle. Unfortunately, and for the third time, William suffered his third ACL injury at W&L in mid-October, almost a year to the day after his injury at AU last season. True to his personal dedication and commitment, expect him to be back on the field and starting again next season.

"I want to keep playing football because of what it means to be part of this team and the people on this team," explained William. "I don't want to let anyone down. It's being a part of this team and playing with these guys who are my brothers now. There's really no other way around it. They're my brothers, and they always will be. You don't abandon family when times get tough."

That family support starts at home with William's parents, Carl and Claudia, along with his brothers Cmac and Henry.

"Obviously, my parents have been the most supportive they can be," said William. "They've done a great job helping me through everything, and they always have as I was growing up and throughout my injuries. I'm very fortunate for that reason."

It's helpful to have a fellow Atlantan around, too, as classmate, roommate, linebacker and fellow team captain Robert Clarke '26 also hails from the capital of Georgia. The two attended different high schools, but ironically, William and Robert were little league baseball teammates in third grade and recreation league football teammates in sixth grade before playing against each other in high school football. The two reconnected after making their college decisions unbeknownst to each other and have been roommates since their arrival on campus while becoming best friends, as well.

"It's definitely a decision that we have never looked back on and wanted to change our mind about anything," William said.

Having completed a season under Coach Luvara, albeit abbreviated due to the injury, has William excited for the future, as well.

"Coach Luvara brings a new energy to practice and the games," explained William. "Our practices are a lot different than they used to be—they're faster, more intense. He's really just brought a new culture of what it means to be a Hampden-Sydney football player. He's done a great job with the way he coaches and the way he interacts with the team. He has good relationships, and that definitely helps."

"Will is the ultimate warrior," said Luvara. "To be able to battle back from three ACL injuries with the attitude and approach he has is truly special. Will is so respected by his teammates that he was voted a captain by his peers despite not participating at all last spring due to his rehab process. Will's work ethic is impressive, and his teammates witness it on a daily basis. No one works harder than Will does, and we are expecting big things from him as he continues to prepare for his senior year."

That work ethic will lead to success in whatever the economics and business major decides to pursue following graduation, whether in world of finance or something else.

"I'm looking for an internship this summer, and whatever I get will hopefully push me in the direction I want to go after senior year," he said.

For now, William plans to continue his recovery and rehab from his most recent surgery on November 8 toward next fall as he enjoys the life on the Hill.

"I also love the outdoors," he explained. "I love hunting and fishing. I'm an Eagle Scout. I played the saxophone in a jazz band in high school. It's a different experience than being on the football field. It's been a little bit since I've played, but I've always liked jazz and just find it very relaxing. I'm definitely going to look into that maybe next year, probably spring semester."

Jazz band or not, expect to see William on the field next season for the Tigers, who open the 2025 campaign with a non-conference road game at Delaware Valley University on Saturday, September 6, at 1 p.m. in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The first home game is against non-conference opponent Washington & Jefferson College (PA) on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium.

Special Thanks to Hampden-Sydney Editorial Content Manager Alexandra Evans