WPHS senior William McDermott overcomes severe injury that redefined his life

For White Plains High School senior William McDermott, running is an integral part of his identity, so a serious injury in his junior year tested his resolve and proved to be a transformative event that changed his outlook on life.

While running a relay at the Armory in New York City in January 2025, William felt two sudden pops in his hips just 100 meters into the race. He tried to continue but soon collapsed to the dismay of people around him.

What he initially thought was a muscle strain turned out to be something far more serious: fractures in both hips, caused when tight ligaments tore pieces of bone away.

“It’s a rare injury — and even rarer that it happens on both sides at the same time,” he said during a recent interview.

The diagnosis put him in a wheelchair for a month, followed by crutches, months of grueling physical therapy and a long road back to running. Simple daily tasks he had never thought twice about suddenly became huge challenges.

“That experience really gave me a new perspective on daily life,” William said. “Things like standing up, clearing your place at the table, taking out the trash — I couldn’t do those things.”

He returned to school just three days after the devastating injury, navigating elevators, long hallways and a new routine with the help of school nurses, teachers and classmates. One teacher even rearranged classroom furniture so his wheelchair would fit comfortably.

“Everyone showed up for me. My family, my friends, my teachers … I don’t think I could have gotten through it without that support,” said William, who deftly balances academic rigor, leadership roles and athletics.

His injury forced him to confront vulnerability, patience and gratitude in ways he never had before. Being in a wheelchair also changed how he interacted with others.

“I tried to wear my track sweatshirt as much as possible so people knew there was more to me than the wheelchair,” he said. “Now I make a conscious effort to look past the first thing you notice about someone. A lot of people live with challenges you don’t immediately see.”

With patience and guidance from his coaches and physical therapists, William resisted the urge to rush back. Four months to the day after the injury, he returned to competition — and ran a personal record in the 800 meters.

“Letting myself heal properly ended up paying off,” said William, a captain on the cross-country team.

William is now a year-round runner, covering up to about 30 miles a week. He competes in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, and many of his closest friendships grew from those teams.

William’s journey to WPHS began well before ninth grade. After spending much of his childhood in small Catholic schools, he entered the White Plains City School District during the COVID-19 pandemic, enrolling at Highlands Middle School in seventh grade.

While the transition was daunting — moving from classes of about 20 students to a school community numbering in the hundreds — familiar faces from his baseball team helped ease the shift.

“I love the school,” he said. “What’s great about White Plains is the flexibility. There are so many opportunities — academically, socially and athletically — and you can really find what fits you.”

That openness allowed him to explore beyond baseball, which he played for years alongside his younger brother, James. As a conditioning step, he joined the cross-country team and unexpectedly found a new passion.

At school, McDermott is known not only as an athlete but as a scholar and leader. He takes AP Literature and AP Statistics, participates in a government course focused on food systems, and was named a National Merit Commended Scholar. He is a co-president of the National Honor Society and a copy editor for the school newspaper, The Orange.

Teachers and mentors have played a significant role in his growth, particularly longtime cross-country coach Fred Singleton and English teacher Dennis Polanco.

“They’re people I could talk to about sports, school and life,” William said. “They really cared.”

He developed a keen interest in journalism and broadcasting that began in middle school, when he performed in “The Lion King.” A coach who saw the show invited him to serve as a public-address announcer at a baseball game — a moment that sparked a long-term goal.

William has since attended the Bruce Beck Broadcasting Camp for three consecutive years and hopes to pursue sports broadcasting in college. He hopes to one day become an announcer for a professional team.

He has already been accepted to Quinnipiac University and is awaiting responses from several others, including Northwestern, which holds special meaning for his Chicago-rooted family.

Outside the classroom and athletic fields, William volunteers regularly, including at the George Washington School food pantry and through religious education programs. He also serves as a school tour guide, welcoming incoming students and families.

“Being new so many times made me want to help others feel comfortable,” he said.

As graduation approaches, William said WPHS has prepared him well, both academically and personally.

“This place really is a microcosm of the real world. The diversity, the opportunities, the people. It’s shaped who I am,” said William, who is ready to pursue his dreams after moving past his injury with grit and gratitude.