Williams’ efforts apparent at South Elgin

Updated: May 16, 2011 7:47PM

Regardless of how far South Elgin’s girls soccer team is able to advance in the postseason, the end of a remarkable high school career is at hand.

Be it soccer, music, volleyball, academics, service or volunteer work, Erica Williams is the quintessential student-athlete. Everyone who has worked or played alongside the Storm senior has to marvel at the contrast between her continued success and her humility.

Although she’s earned achievements in every aspect of her life, there isn’t an accolade to honor what she does best, namely balance it all with a ready smile and a seemingly endless amount of energy. Answering that question reveals yet another trait in her sense of humor.

“I set aside time to write down everything I have to set aside time for,” Williams said. “Seriously, staying organized means staying focused on the task at hand, but making certain you allow time for every task.”

In terms of soccer, the next task is for South Elgin — seeded No. 10 within the St. Charles East Sectional — to find a way to beat No. 6-seeded West Chicago in Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal of the Schaumburg Regional. While Williams doesn’t have a goal or an assist to her credit this season, the anchor of the Storm’s defensive back line may be as underrated as the team’s 10-9-0 record.

“Erica is like another goalkeeper in the back who probably leads the team with saves by headers,” said Storm coach Tiffany Disher. “I have never had to worry about her in a game; she has always been a solid player.

“The team will truly feel a loss without Erica’s leadership in the back. She has been a crucial part to our backbone for years and is the most dedicated player I have ever coached.”

As a freshman, Williams was that squad’s MVP at the same time that she began the first of four straight years as a letter winner and starter for the varsity unit. As a sophomore, she earned Honorable Mention All-Upstate Eight and Academic All-Conference as well as the SEHS Coaches Award. As a junior, she was her team’s defensive MVP, All-UEC and Academic All-Conference as well as Honorable Mention All-Area.

Earning acclaim is one thing, earning on defense is something else since it’s a position which generally gets noticed only when a mistake is made.

“That’s part of the challenge I like, being a good defender means you can’t be worried about stats, but you have to understand the importance of what you do for the team,” Williams said. “And the less our goalkeeper has to do the better. That’s why a shutout is important to all of us.”

Not surprisingly for someone with three soccer-playing brothers, Williams also has a lengthy trophy-filled club resume, having played initially for the Bartlett Travel Soccer Club, Stars SC, as well as the Fox Valley Warriors.

Of course those spring achievements followed fall seasons spent on the volleyball court starting at the sophomore level when she was a freshman, a junior varsity player as a sophomore, and the past two campaigns with the varsity. A senior year co-captain, Williams was disappointed the Storm came up short in defending their 2009 regional crown.

All of this pales by comparison to her academic record where she’s been on the High Honor Roll for four years. Not only has she never received a B grade for any class, her 4.00 grade-point-average actually translates to a 4.75 GPI, the scale which considers weighted grades for AP and Honors Classes. A National Honor Society member since 2009, Williams garnered Illinois State Scholar acclaim for 2010 as well as being named South Elgin’s recipient of the Wendy’s Heisman Award, recognizing combined excellence in academics and athletics.

Named to her respective class councils every year, Williams has been a participant in local Relay for Life and Feed My Starving Children events along with volunteer work with senior centers and the regional library. That’s in addition to having been a student tutor and certified AYSO referee along with working for the Illinois State Youth Soccer Organization.

While Williams hasn’t decided on a university to attend, she wants to pursue the profession of both parents — certified public accountant. She’s quick to credit them, coach Disher and her grandmother (Charlotte Turnbull) as the major influences in her life and for instilling in her those characteristics that have South Elgin officials insisting she personifies the best definition of a student-athlete.

But believe it or not, there’s yet another major aspect to her high school career. She’s still found time to develop her musical talent either with the South Elgin Marching Band, the Symphonic Band, or the Pep Band — all since her freshman year. That includes performing with the Marching Band at Disney World (2008 and 2010), the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago (2008), plus at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio (2009 and 2010) along with the Storm’s Homecoming parades and various local Fourth of July events. The Symphonic Band has three major concerts plus several school assemblies and regular elementary school performances every year while everyone knows the Pep Band’s role at basketball games.

“She’s not only earned letters with all three bands, she’s been the French horn section leader (since 2008) which goes to the best player, who is expected to help others in that section,” said South Elgin Director of Bands Kurt Dobbeck. “Our program has enjoyed a lot of success and the key to that is motivation. Erica’s the type of person who displays excellence and humility but isn’t afraid to take risks and that motivates others.”

While Dobbeck agrees it takes a major commitment to excel in any form of music, the marching band also required participation in a band camp that encompasses almost two weeks of practices beginning at seven or eight in the morning in the two weeks prior to the start of school.

“Erica has brought along a number of students with various bands thanks to the way she’s encouraged them,” said Dobbeck.

“She will leave South Elgin High a better place,” he said.

Undoubtedly that’s the best endorsement for why the end of Erica Williams’ high school career shouldn’t go unnoticed.

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