For Jacob Stephenson, Latrobe soccer has always been bigger than one player or one season. It has meant growing up in the program, sharing the experience with both of his brothers and becoming the kind of leader his teammates can turn to.
The Person People Look To
After 13 years of playing soccer, Jacob enters his final Greater Latrobe season carrying both the captain’s band and a clear understanding of what leadership should look like.
“Be the person people look to for guidance.” Jacob Stephenson on what soccer has taught him
That lesson reflects the kind of senior Jacob hopes to be. Being selected as one of the Wildcats’ captains is, in his words, “a big honor.” It is also a responsibility he takes seriously: setting the tone, supporting his teammates and helping guide a group determined to make the most of this season.
Jacob’s personal goal is to earn All-Section recognition, but his biggest goal is shared with the entire team—to reach the playoffs and make their final season together count.
A Family of Wildcats
Jacob’s connection to Latrobe soccer reaches well beyond his own years on the field. In middle school, he wore #13 while being coached by his older brother Dylan, a Greater Latrobe alumnus who once represented the same program himself.
Years later, Jacob has been given another rare opportunity: sharing the field in a Latrobe uniform with his younger brother Ryan, #2. For the Stephenson family, soccer has never belonged to only one season—or only one brother. It has been passed between them through practices, games, advice, laughter and years of shared Wildcat memories.
One Last Season With “The Fellas”
What is Jacob most excited about as a senior? His answer is simple: one last season with “the fellas.”
That answer says a lot about him. The accomplishments matter. The goals matter. But so do the people beside him—the teammates who have grown together, challenged one another and created the moments they will remember long after the final whistle.
A Night That Became History
Of all the games Jacob has played, one stands above the rest: beating Franklin Regional at home to secure the first section title in program history.
It was the kind of night that captured everything players work toward—the pressure, the preparation, the teammates beside them and the chance to accomplish something that would always belong to that group. For Jacob, it remains his favorite Wildcat soccer memory.
Leading With Faith
One of the people who has most inspired Jacob is Coach Kevin, who has coached him through BVB/Pittsburgh Independence Football Club (PIFC). After undergoing heart surgery, Coach Kevin still returned to pray with the team and watch them play.
That example of faith, commitment and showing up for others left a lasting impression on Jacob—a player who hopes to be remembered not only as a leader and a great soccer player, but also as a Christian and a good friend.
Follow Your Plan, Not Your Mood
That is Jacob’s motto, and it fits the discipline behind the player his teammates see on the field. He is involved with PIFC, FCA, National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society, and when he is not playing soccer, he enjoys lifting and spending time with friends.
His pregame routine has developed its own personality over the years: music from BigXthaPlug, a few team traditions with Nolan Thomas and a prayer before stepping onto the field.
As for the teammate who makes him laugh the most? Nolan Dempsey—because, according to Jacob, the two of them cannot take anything seriously.
Beyond the Final Whistle
Jacob is considering Robert Morris, Duquesne, Penn State and Slippery Rock, with plans to study finance or accounting. Ten years from now, he pictures himself working in private equity—and owning a jet ski.
He also has a few talents that may surprise even his teammates: he can finish a 42-gram Fairlife protein shake in under 10 seconds and solve a 2×2 Rubik’s Cube in under a minute.
When asked what he would bequeath to the players coming behind him, Jacob chose two highly specific pieces of team tradition: the home-game bathroom ritual and the bagpipes playlist. Some legacies are inspirational. Others are unmistakably high-school soccer. Jacob’s manages to be both.
Make Every Moment Count
Jacob’s advice to younger players is to enjoy it because the time goes quickly. Make every moment count.
As he begins his last season, he is especially thankful for his parents, Jessica and Jason; his siblings Dylan, Deanna and Ryan; Nolan Dempsey and Nolan Thomas; Coach Kevin; and all of the teammates who have shared the journey with him.
One Final Wildcat Run
From the middle-school player coached by his older brother, to the teammate sharing the field with his younger brother, to the senior captain wearing #3, Jacob’s Wildcat journey has always been about more than himself.
Now he has one final season to lead, compete and create the memories that this team will carry with them.
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