Tackling athletics and academics

X-Men football center Will Chapman interns with cutting-edge company
By Corey LeBlanc

Will Chapman is the consummate student-athlete; he tackles athletics and academics with equal ferocity, which has helped make him a highly-regarded member of the StFX X-Men football program.

Although he is only a sophomore, the Bedford, Nova Scotia native has already left an indelible mark on the White and Blue – on and off the field.

"Will is such a great kid – I think a lot of him," X-Men offensive coordinator Dave Van Den Heuvel says.

"He is going to be special no matter what he does in life."

StFX head coach Gary Waterman agrees.

"He is a super guy and becoming a great leader," he says of the C.P. Allen Cheetah product.

Waterman adds Chapman not only displays great dedication in the classroom and on the field, but also in helping others, noting he finds time to tutor teammates.

"Will is doing a lot of different things, but he is balancing everything extremely well," he says.

One of the most recent elements of that deft juggling act has been his work with an up-and-coming and innovative Canadian medical technology company.

"I wanted to be challenged mentally and be able to think critically," Chapman says of his 2020 summer internship with Picomole.

As a student in StFX's Gerald Schwartz School of Business, he notes his focus had been on working in the world of finance – not in the medical field – but his time with the company turned out to be "an unbelievable experience."

As described on its website - picomole.com – Picomole's mission is "to empower people with a simple breath test that provides early detection of cancer and other diseases," while fulfilling its vision to create "a non-invasive screening test to save lives."

"It is really amazing," Chapman says of the work the company is doing.

In 2005, as a spin-out from the University of Alberta, Picomole was founded in Edmonton. Three years later – in 2008 – the company completed its first gas analyzer prototype.

In 2011, the same year Picomole relocated to Moncton, they created their first breath sampler prototype.

After incorporating nationally in 2013, Picomole suspended operations at the start of a refinancing process.

Under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Graham, who the company hired as CEO in 2018, Picomole completed a preliminary study for a lung cancer screening model. They have also completed a proof of concept (POC) study for lung cancer, and are in the process of doing the same for breast cancer.

"I have been able to dabble in so many different areas," Chapman says, crediting Graham for providing him with myriad opportunities.

He has worked on a capital raise to help bring in investors and participated in creating marketing projects; not to mention playing a key role in the re-development of the company's website, which included drafting copy and fashioning new pages. He also spent time in human resources.

"I am just scratching the surface," Chapman says, with a laugh, while providing a thumbnail sketch of his duties.

He notes developing the ability to "learn on the fly" was crucial – a skill that Chapman says will benefit him in any career path and, at this point – academically and athletically – during his time at StFX.

'Focused young man'

Chapman – an Academic All-Canadian – is a recipient of the prestigious Business Order of Merit Entrance Award, which provides $7,500 annually over a four-year period.

"School has always been important to me," he says, noting that dedication to academics is something his parents always instilled in him.

Chapman remembers meeting with Dean of Business Tim Hynes during his recruiting process, a get-together where the long-time academic stoked his interest for the StFX business program.

 "It felt like such a good fit – both academically and athletically," the second-year Xaverian adds.

Van Den Heuvel says his student-athlete takes academics "very seriously."

'Only scratching the surface'

The X coaching duo says Chapman brings the same level of dedication to the football field.

"He is able to take charge, when it is appropriate, and he is continuing to grow," Van Den Heuvel says of the second-year center.

He agreed Chapman "enjoys and appreciates" the intricacies of the game.

"Will really gets it," Van Den Heuvel says.

Chapman says he has "always enjoyed" the mental components of the sport, including developing an understanding of plays and concepts.

"And getting to hit people," he notes – with a laugh – of how the game appeals to him.

While crediting his offensive coordinator for his part in that progress, Waterman says Chapman is "developing pretty quickly."

"Will is getting more and more comfortable with the speed, pace and technique – we are really excited about his potential," he adds.

Chapman remembers watching football on TV with his father, while his grandfather played the game.

"I took it and ran with it," he says in remembering how football caught his attention more than the other sports that he participated in growing up, such as baseball and hockey.

"And, it was the sport that I played the best."

As he started to have more and more success, Chapman's desire to play – and succeed – deepened.

"I have always been one of the bigger guys," he says of what contributed to his decision to play on the offensive and defensive lines.

Describing it as "more cerebral," Chapman quips, "and I was better at it," in reflecting on the choice to narrow his focus to the 'O' line.

He says there is an "unknown complexity" involved with playing that position, one that is not easily understood by most fans.

"I am only scratching the surface," Chapman adds of developing an understanding of its nuances.

'Natural fit'

Along with minor play – and high school action with his hometown Cheetahs – the student of the game has represented his province on the gridiron, including stints with Football Nova Scotia squads at the U-17 and U-18 levels.

Chapman played for Van Den Heuvel for the first time at the 2017 Football Canada Cup in Wolfville, where the offensive coordinator and line coach positioned him at center.

"It was a natural fit," the coach says of the move.

Chapman notes they "bonded quite a lot" during that tournament, which influenced his choice to attend StFX.

"It was a huge piece of my decision – we see the game in the same way," he says.

'Getting back at it'

When it comes to returning to Atlantic University Sport (AUS) action, Chapman says he is "looking forward to getting back at it."

"I think everyone can't wait to play again," he adds.

Chapman notes he wants to be a contributor to the X-Men's return to the top of the conference.

"I want to continue to get faster and stronger," he says, when asked about what he is doing to prepare for the 2021 season, along with continuing to develop a "deeper understanding" of his position.

Van Den Heuvel is confident that he will reach those goals, considering he has "achieved so much" – both on and off the field – in less than two years at the university.

As for his decision to make StFX his post-secondary home, Chapman says it was the right one – not only because of the athletic and academic opportunities he has received, but also the chance to become part of its rich tradition, something he has developed a "much deeper" understanding of since arriving on the campus.

He praises the "community feel" at X, including the unwavering support shown for varsity athletics.

"It is really neat," Chapman says.

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