The Traverse City Central boys soccer team stepped onto the field this week carrying more than a season opener. They were missing a teammate, but they made sure Wilder Seeburger was still part of the night.
Seeburger, 17, died after a car crash Sunday night, according to a broadcast report by UpNorthLive.com. He was preparing to start his junior year.
UpNorthLive previously reported that the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash and believes alcohol was involved. According to the sheriff's office, a Ford F-250 driven by a 22-year-old man crossed the center line near Center Road and Mapleton Lane and struck a Honda CR-V driven by Seeburger.
The other driver was taken to a local hospital with what were reported to be non-life-threatening injuries.
His death was confirmed in an obituary posted by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
On the field, Seeburger’s teammates found a simple but powerful way to honor him. Before the varsity team’s first game since his death, they hung his jersey from a goal post. The gesture came from the players themselves as they tried to pay tribute to a friend and teammate in the middle of a heartbreaking week.
“It was really emotional. It was really special,” Traverse City Central coach Gavin Richmond told UpNorthLive.
“It was kind of surreal, to be honest, to be part of something like that. Something bigger than football.”
The Trojans backed up the tribute with a win, beating Forest Hills Northern 6-4. Traverse City Central dug out of a 3-1 halftime hole and outscored the host Wildcats 5-1 after the break. Traverse City North is scheduled for its home opener Friday evening against Oxford.
The team also voted to retire Seeburger’s No. 33 jersey.
Richmond said he was proud of the maturity his players showed while facing such a painful moment, and the tribute helped keep Seeburger present for the Trojans’ season opener.
According to his obituary, soccer was one of Seeburger’s biggest passions, and he had played since he was 3 years old. He was also an avid gamer and enjoyed working on Hypercars.
The obituary described him as “spunky, fun-loving, thoughtful, and full of life,” someone who was almost always smiling and made sure the people around him knew how much he cared about them.
A visitation is set for Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, Michigan.
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