Football Co-Captain Ollie Velez ’26 has been playing football for five years, starting in middle school. Velez came to Andover as a new Lower when his brother, Diego Velez ’24, was a Co-Captain. Right away, Velez found community within the team.
Having played basketball growing up, Velez was fairly new to football when he first arrived at Andover. When describing his experience on the team, Velez noted how his brother and the team welcomed him from the moment he stepped onto the field.
“I was mainly a basketball player growing up, so once I came to Andover, it was a little bit new to me. Then, I came in as a [Lower], played football that year as well [as basketball]. My brother was on the team. We had a great group of guys,” said Velez.
Velez works to motivate and inspire the team. Hoping to act as a role model for younger players to look up to, he shared that he strives to demonstrate to the team what it takes to be a leader.
“I want to be somebody that the younger guys look up to, and some of those guys who want to be a leader on this team can model their leadership after. That’s how I present myself, [as someone who doesn’t get] frustrated when things are tough, and then on the field, [as someone who tries] to play my best and show guys that this is what it takes. This is the work I put into practice to demonstrate how to be a leader to some of those younger guys and the rest of the team, even if they’re Seniors,” said Velez.
Velez’s idea of leading throughout practice and being someone people look up to has been instilled within the players, as the team relies on him and looks to him for leadership. Jake Santos ’28 described Velez as having a quiet yet impactful leadership style.
“I would describe him as a silent leader, he leads by example. I know, as a player, I can always rely on him. He’s always there when the team needs him, he’s always doing his job. He’s a great leader by setting a great example,” said Santos.
According to his teammates, Velez is extremely versatile both on and off the field, as he holds various qualities that benefit the team in many ways. Peter Silvernail ’26 commented on the attributes Velez has as a Co-Captain.
“He’s a good mix of leading by example with his play and his character, and also leading by being the first guy out of the tunnel. He’s a good leader in many different ways, not this one stagnant way. He’s like a warrior. He’s the guy who’s always gonna be there to pull everybody up, put somebody on his back, and keep going,” said Silvernail.
Every leader has their strengths that set them apart uniquely as a captain. Santos noted that Velez’s strengths lie in his physicality on the field and how he motivates the team.
“He’s always positive. When he does get everyone’s attention and talks to the team, he’s always saying something positive. He’s trying to get everyone in the right headspace. He’s a great leader, and he definitely tries. In the middle of games, he’s always talking to the team, saying ‘game’s not over, game’s not over,’” said Santos.
