A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Deer Lakes’ Waylon Schiller

By: Ted Sarneso
Monday, November 18, 2024 | 11:39 AM

Deer Lakes senior Waylon Schiller came into the 2024 season in a competition for an outside back position.

“I came ready to go, came to every practice in the prep week before the season,” Schiller said. “Even though I was battling younger players, the competition was still tough. The coaching staff thought I was the better player, and I got the spot.”

Added coach Aaron Smith: “He’s been around the team all four years and been through the program for quite a while. Coming into camp, he was probably the best in shape. He had a great attitude all year and was a solid outside back.”

Schiller credits his being in shape to the offseason training he put in as well as the stringent requirement Smith has for any player who wants to make varsity.

“I love to ride my bike in the offseason,” Schiller said. “There’s a bunch of land around my house, and I just ride all day. Coach Smith requires all of us to run a sub-6-minute mile. We had three chances in a week to make it. I ran it first chance.”

One of Schiller’s major assets is his height. When he started playing at Deer Lakes, he was 5-foot-6, and he is leaving at 6-foot.

“It was fun because coach Smith and I came in at the same time,” Schiller ssaid. “When I started, I was looking up at him, and now I’m looking down at him.”

Added Smith: “I think he grew another 3 inches coming into this season. The size was there and he filled out, so his body type definitely changed.”

Schiller was part of a back line that allowed three or more goals just twice this season. The Lancer defense was one of the main reasons the team went 18-4-1 overall and 13-1 in Section 1-2A.

Deer Lakes entered the WPIAL playoffs as the No. 3 seed. The Lancers won their first-round game 4-0 over Hopewell and won 3-0 over North Catholic in the quarterfinals.

They lost 3-1 to No. 2 seed Avonworth in the semifinals, won the consolation game and made it to the PIAA playoffs, where they lost to Fairview, 6-0, to close their season.

Schiller finished his career with seven goals and eight assists.

He took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q-and-A:

You were the lone senior on the defense. What made you guys so difficult to face?

We all have a great connection. Noah Shurina and I are solid friends outside of school, so we have a good bond back there. Then you throw in Zane Spence and what he can do physically. We don’t let the opposition or the game get to our heads. We just go out there and play our game.

How did it feel to beat Hopewell and North Catholic in the playoffs?

Coming into the game against Hopewell, we were really focused. We didn’t want to lose to them again. We always came out strong to face North Catholic. Shutting them out three times this season was a great feeling.

How tough was the loss to Avonworth?

We knew they were going to be tough. They had a tough front three. We knew we had to mark them and deny them the ball and make sure they aren’t able to turn. They were a really fast team.

What went wrong in the loss against Fairview?

They rolled the ball very well, had some very good players, and I think we let the game get into our heads. We had a couple of opportunities we could have put away, and we didn’t and 6-0 was not the result we were looking for.

What part of your game were you looking to improve on this season?

I needed to improve my touch, and I wanted to shoot the ball more and learn how to ping balls to the strikers.

Favorite high school memory so far?

Winning WPIALs in 2022. We got escorted back to the high school by fire trucks, so that was an awesome experience.

Any hobbies?

I love to fish, riding bikes, working on my car and just being outside in general.

Post high school plans?

I’m still undecided on if I want to go to college or a trade school.

What do you plan on studying?

I’m still looking around. I went up to visit Slippery Rock, and I was intrigued by their majors in security. If it’s a trade school, I’m thinking plumbing.

What’s one piece of advice you’d want to leave your teammates?

Don’t let the game get to you. It’s just a game. You’re out there with your friends. Just have fun.

Tags: Deer Lakes