Noah Lopez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Willow Canyon High School for AZPreps.365.com

For nearly two decades, Willow Canyon High School has produced many talented football players including senior quarterback Roman Thuyns. The moment he stepped onto his high school gridiron, Thuyns began to develop into a leader who would set the standard for Willow Canyon’s slogan: “winning culture.”

Thuyns began his high school career as a freshman starting quarterback for Willow Canyon. Despite putting up good numbers and leading the Wildcats to a 7-3 season, he would lose his starting job in his sophomore year to senior quarterback Drew Church. Thuyns kept his faith in his work and hoped to receive another chance coming off the bench. That chance eventually came, but in a way no one desired.

"I remember when we were facing Agua Fria in his sophomore year, our starting quarterback [Church] went down with an injury, which forced him [Thuyns] into the game," head coach Justin Stangler said. "When he came into the game, he managed the game with enthusiasm, and in that moment, I saw the potential that he had to become a leader."

After that game, Thuyns would become a key contributor to Willow Canyon winning its first regional championship.

Thuyns regained the starting quarterback role for his junior year, but it would be a season of nightmares. Injuries plagued the team, which led to the Wildcats going 2-8 and 1-2 in regional play. Hard times often are what define players, and Thuyns' take was to simply stay positive.

"Working through adversity is always a tough task, especially when injuries start becoming a factor," Thuyns said. "But for me, it's always important to keep that winning mentality no matter what happens."

One of his teammates, junior wide receiver Quinn Nichols, has played with Thuyns for his entire high school career. Nichols would find success through Thuyns and said his presence was needed in the team's dark times.

"It was easier with everybody because we were a team, but it [would be] very hard to go through it without a leader like Roman," Nichols said. "When we did seven-by-sevens in the summer, we got to know him well, and sticking with him helped our game."

Through all these experiences and hard work, Thuyns would earn the position of captain on Willow Canyon's varsity team. His enthusiastic nature changed the vibe on and off the field.

"Roman is one of those guys that put the team on his shoulder," Stangler said. "He has this glass-half-full mentality and ensured that everyone on the team kept a positive attitude."

Stangler's takeaway is that Thuyns' adaptability contributed significantly to his success throughout high school.

"He's shown that your physical makeup doesn't matter, it's your mentality that makes or breaks your play," Stangler said. "He has shown that understanding your strengths and weaknesses will help you find success in football."

As the season comes to an end, whether Willow Canyon makes the playoffs through a regional championship or a wild-card bid remains uncertain. Thuyns looked back on what he did, how he impacted the team, and how these experiences will live on with him after high school.

"I am thankful that I could be the leader of this football team, and that is something not many people could say," Thuyns said. "My freshman and sophomore years were fun, but my senior year will always be special because I led this football team."

His teammates at Willow Canyon will have to find a new captain after he graduates, and they know that there might not be another one like Thuyns.

"This team will need a leader, and someone will have to eventually step up, but it will be hard to find someone who changed dynamics and built chemistry as Thuyns did," Nichols said.

For all that he did in his time at Willow Canyon, Thuyns set a standard for future players, and what it means to keep up the "winning culture".