By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Cleveland High School head football coach Robert Richmond recently announced the addition of two new team captains to help guide the squad through its rebuilding phase. Sophomore defensive end Ezra Levias and freshman left guard Theo Bryc have embraced the challenge and are stepping into leadership roles midseason, despite their youth.
“Honestly, I was really surprised to be chosen as one of the team captains,” said Bryc. “I am a freshman, so I wasn’t really expecting to be a captain right off the bat. But I am really excited to be a captain, and I am glad to have a slightly older guy with me.”
Levias also embraced the honor, though he admitted he was equally surprised by the recognition.
“I felt kind of overwhelmed because I am not used to being in a leadership position, because I was just a freshman last year,” said Levias. “But I am excited to try and be a leader for this team.”
Both Bryc and Levias agreed that their commitment and dedication to the football program likely played a key role in their selection as team captains.
“I went to every practice since I joined football, and I think that is a big part of the reason why I was chosen,” said Bryc. “I embody what Coach Richmond wants to see in the program, and I believe that I also just work really hard.”
Levias echoed the sentiment, saying that it’s important to lead by example, especially when it comes to doing all that you can to get better and help your team.
“I try to give it my all every practice, and I don’t let myself quit on anyone or anything,” said Levias. “There is just something inside me that doesn’t want or allow myself to quit.”
As many know, the Cleveland High School football program is currently in a rebuilding phase, and Coach Richmond, along with captains Bryc and Levias, share a common goal — encouraging more students to come out and join the team.
“Our main collective goal is definitely getting some more guys on the team,” said Bryc. “We are a little shorthanded right now, so we could really use more people. I would also like to play some games and continue to get more practice in. But we really just need more people to be able to do that.”
With a roster of only about 18 players, the Cleveland High School football program hasn’t been able to field a varsity schedule this season. Still, the team they’ve built so far continues to motivate Bryc and Levias to work hard and stay committed, even without the opportunity to compete at the varsity level.
“I continue to work hard even though we are not on a varsity schedule because this team means a lot to me,” said Levias. “I want us to do good, and I want to play hard for the rest of our players.”
“I automatically feel like I kind of have to work hard because I am a freshman, even though our team has mostly freshmen. But we do have some upperclassmen on the team, and I feel like I have to still compete a bit with that,” said Bryc. “And now that I am captain, I have to work twice as hard to make sure I keep myself captain.”
Leading upperclassmen as a freshman can be an intimidating task for some, but for Bryc, he embraces the challenge and feels the relationships he has built with his teammates have made it easier to do so.
“I would say there is a little bit of hesitancy for sure with me being a young captain,” said Bryc. “There are a good number of upperclassmen on the team. I got to know everyone throughout the first couple of weeks of training, so I feel like the relationship I have built is pretty good with everyone and makes it easier to connect.”
As a returning player who experienced last year’s rebuilding phase under the previous coaching staff, Levias said he’s noticed a clear difference with the current coaches — a key reason why he’s chosen to stay with the program.
“The way they teach us, it is a lot easier to understand, and I am liking football a lot more this year compared to last year,” said Levias. “I saw how Coach Richmond was as a coach, and how we are able to come to him with anything, and since I saw that, that is what made me stay here.”
At the heart of this team is a growing sense of brotherhood. Whether it’s pushing each other to get better on the field or simply checking in around the hallways, the bond among these players is strong and welcoming. Both Bryc and Levias are focused on building not just a competitive team, but a lasting culture where future players feel encouraged to join.
“I want everyone to feel welcomed here and want to come out and play for the football team. If anyone has any interest, they should 100% come out,” said Bryc. “We definitely do all push each other hard because we all have the same goal of getting better, and I am hopeful that we will get in a couple of games this season and start playing varsity next season with 30 to 40 guys.”
“We have a really strong bond on this team, and that is another reason why I stayed with the team,” said Levias. “The people that I met, and the strong brotherhood we have, are great.”
