Continuing a Legacy of Soccer and Faith: Mason Louth ’26

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Mason Louth ’26

Mason Louth ’26 is the person he is today because of soccer. After playing since the age of four, continuing in college was a no-brainer for him.

After hearing glowing remarks about Wheaton College during high school from people in his life, including coaches, Louth connected with the then-assistant men’s soccer coach at Wheaton through a high school soccer coach. Texts and calls eventually led to a campus visit, where the men’s soccer coach offered Louth a spot on the team. “I couldn’t say no,” said Louth. “Wheaton was the best balance of what I wanted academically and athletically.” 

Louth was struck by the rich history of Wheaton’s soccer program. Learning about the late head men’s soccer coach Joe Bean particularly impacted him. “He made such an impact not only on Division III soccer but also on soccer as a whole,” Louth said. “I was inspired by the idea of being part of a program with that kind of legacy.”

When he joined the team, Louth and his teammates immediately began developing a rich community. Shared values, hours spent at practice and games, and opportunities to worship and pray together have cultivated a group of friends Louth regards as fundamental to his Wheaton experience. 

Friendships with athletes from other sports have also shaped his time on campus. As a junior, Louth was part of a group that organized small prayer gatherings open to all athletes, aiming to establish more unity between teams and provide space for them to wrestle with spiritual questions from their perspectives as athletes. “Those times of worship and prayer have fostered growth within me, not only as a soccer player but also as a person,” Louth said. “Without my faith, I don’t know if I’d play soccer to be honest,” he said. “Soccer and my faith are intercorrelated for me.” 

Playing the sport has taught him many things, including discipline, commitment, and leadership skills. Ultimately, through soccer, Louth says he has learned about “all of life.” “Thanks to soccer, in college and throughout my entire life, I’ve learned how to be a good friend, respect authority, and be coachable and adaptable,” said Louth.

As a student athlete at Wheaton, Louth has also taken advantage of leadership opportunities. Since joining the leadership team during the spring semester of his sophomore year, Louth has led warm-ups and cool downs, organized team meetings, and prayed over fellow athletes. The leadership team recently began developing a curriculum outlining the team’s values for younger players and incoming freshmen. “In my role, I aim to encourage my younger teammates and help them stay accountable and on track,” said Louth. “One of my goals is to leave my jersey better than I found it. So, I want to help prepare and guide the younger players toward success, whether on the field or in life.”

Yet Louth is not only a giver. He is also the recipient of rich spiritual leadership from team captains and coaches. During pre-practice and pre-game meetings, athletes read Scripture together and share words of encouragement. Louth says these gatherings center his and his teammates’s minds on how they can commit their pursuits—on and off the field—to God. 

The training room and the classroom have both been a blessing to Louth amid the challenge of balancing his academic and athletic responsibilities. From providing deadline extensions to assistance outside of class, his professors have demonstrated flexibility and understanding. Louth’s athletic trainers have tended to his physical and mental health, while also giving him tools to better take care of himself. 

Louth’s desire to improve his self-care ties back to the reason he plays soccer in the first place. “My body is a temple, and I want to honor it,” Louth said. “I think the best way I can do that is to use the gifts and abilities God has given me for a greater purpose.” 

Mason is a student ambassador for the Wheaton Fund. To learn more about our student ambassadors, visit the Wheaton Fund webpage.