Adobe Stock / Mariusz Blach
Wappingers Falls native Tyler Adams is causing a sensation on the soccer field—and making his Hudson Valley hometown proud.
By Francesca Furey and Matt Moment
A native of Wappingers Falls, Adams attended Roy C. Ketcham High School where he wowed coaches, teammates, and recruiters. “Everyone knows Tyler as a standout athlete, but we remember him as an excellent student, a quiet leader with an infectious smile—who was also an unbelievable athlete,” recalls Principal David Seipp. In 2015, at just 16 years old, the midfielder joined the New York Red Bulls reserve team and rose to the main roster a year later.
Two years after that, Adams made his debut with the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team. Following his three-year stint with the Red Bulls, he signed with RB Leipzig—one of the best teams in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top soccer league. In July, Adams transitioned to Premier League club Leeds United, signing a five-year contract. And in November, the Hudson Valley native was named captain of the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team, making him the youngest player to hold that title since 1950.
As Wappingers Falls residents already know well, Principal Seipp isn’t the only one offering words of support to the soccer star. Across the street from Adams’ former high school is a sign bearing a missive from Ted Lasso, the fictional American football coach who, in the eponymous Apple TV series, is enlisted to lead a British soccer team. Such messages have been left in the hometown of each player on the United States men’s national soccer team as they battle it out at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar. His message to Adams reads:
You may hail from Wappingers Falls, but in my mind you’re from Wappingers Falls-but-always-gets-the-heck-back-up-again because no matter what gets thrown at you on that pitch, you get back up and go for it. Kinda like that cousin at a family BBQ going for fourths. Never lose that indomitable spirit even when 90 minutes are up. Always stay hungry for more.
View this post on Instagram
Team USA looks ahead to their match against the Netherlands tomorrow, December 3, after this week’s hard-fought victory against Iran. Thanks to a goal in the first half by Christian Pulisic, the team has graduated to the World Cup’s knockout round. Tune in at 10 a.m. EST to see if Adams and his teammates can cinch another victory for the United States.
Interested in seeing the sign for yourself? Click below for directions to the site.
