Featured Senior Athlete: Ethan Maier, Greencastle

A senior at Greencastle High School, Ethan Maier is the son of Andy and Annette Maier. He has participated in basketball and baseball for four years.

Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them?

Ethan Maier: “Sports are pretty much my whole life. I learned every character aspect, like perseverance and being humble from sports. Every life lesson has come from sports and it’s the main thing in my life.”

BG: Talk about each of your sports.

EM: “Basketball was really fun. We had a core group of seven seniors that played together since the second grade on up. It was really fun to win tournaments. Coach Rector was important in keeping us sane because we are a crazy bunch of kids. I couldn’t ask for anything better. Baseball has been great. We have eight core seniors who’ve started out not being very good as freshmen to now, where we’re looking really good. We won a lot of big games as sophomores while we didn’t play as juniors. We’ve really been able to build up a program that hadn’t been seen in a while. I can’t thank coach Wells enough for working us and helping us to change the culture.”

BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in sports?

EM: “Freshman year, in baseball, I hit a triple in the county championship game. It was on TV, so a bunch of people were watching, and as I rounded second, I tripped and face planted. I got heat from all the seniors and juniors for falling over. I got up and finished at third but it didn’t look pretty on camera.”

BG: Do you have any certain rituals or superstitions you follow in sports?

EM: “Before each game, I only take 13 cuts. I only need six to warm up and seven to make sure my swing is good.”

BG: Do you have any favorite college or pro sports teams you follow?

EM: “My favorite team is the St. Louis Cardinals and Purdue basketball and football.”

BG: What else do you do at school besides things involving sports?

EM: “I play in pep band, on drums, and National Honor Society.”

BG: What do you like to do outside of school and sports?

EM: “I’m a part of 4-H, showing swine and dairy cows, part of 4-H Junior Leaders and play travel baseball for Indy Nitro.”

BG: What are your favorites in movies, TV and music?

EM: “I like any movie with Adam Sandler in it, so movies like ‘Grownups’ or ‘The Waterboy.’ On Travel Channel, there is a show called ‘Ghost Adventures’ that I like. I don’t know why, I just do. As far as music, I like rock, pop, hip hop and country.”

BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?

EM: “Skydiving, just because it’s a rush of energy and I want to experience the world from above.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

EM: “Probably ghosts. I hate being in uncomfortable situations and don’t know my surroundings. I don’t like haunted houses and things like that.”

BG: What are your favorite and least favorite foods?

EM: “I like steak and boneless wings; hate beets and tomatoes.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

EM: “I have an Australian Shepherd, Nala, and a cat, Franklin. I live on a farm, so we have cows and pigs as well.”

BG: If your house were on fire, and all living things were already out, what is one thing you would go back and get?

EM: “Probably my PS4 and monitor seeing as they’re connected.”

BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be and why?

EM: “Energetic. On both my teams, everyone says I’m the hype man. I’m 100 percent into whatever I’m involved in and devoted to the activity. I bring a ton of energy to each thing.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

EM: “South Dakota. I went out there and it was a good getaway from people. It’s a place to see the world for what it is with not a lot of distractions. It’s the coolest place I’ve been to get away.”

BG: How important is support from your family and classmates to your success?

EM: “It’s been huge, especially because of my ACL injury. My family has always had my back while my teammates and coaches have helped me through struggles like my injury or not getting the position I wanted. They’re a huge aspect of my high school career.”

BG: Describe your overall school experience, both academically and athletically.

EM: “School has been great. I love Greencastle and it’s one of the better places I could have gone, even despite COVID. I have had a lot of great teachers, learned a lot from them and made connections with them. Athletics has been great as I’ve had great coaches who I’ve been able to connect with and talk through things with. It’s a great place to be overall.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school, and what career are you headed toward?

EM: “I will be attending Indiana Wesleyan University to study biology with pre-med requisites. I plan to study to be a sports medicine physician.”

BG: Is it difficult to keep up with your school work being an athlete?

EM: “Not really. I manage my time really well, so it hasn’t been a big struggle overall. I also thank my teachers as, if I do need help, they’ve been willing to stay after school to do so.”

BG: Which particular classes and teachers have helped you the most in high school?

EM: “Probably freshman English with Mrs. Hile. She pushed me to meet higher expectations as a writer and was a big help for me. Mr. Bryan, who was my US History and now my government teacher, has pushed me to be the best person I could be outside and inside school.”

BG: After college, do you have plans to live somewhere in the mountains or on the beach, or do you want to live around here?

EM: “Probably on the beach. Every time we go there, I always say I want to live in Florida. I love the beach, the water, the warmth and it’s the mecca of baseball, so there’s a lot to love.”

BG: Do you think high school has gone fast, and are you going to miss it?

EM: “High school has gone extremely fast, especially with COVID meaning we missed half a year, which puts things in perspective. I’ve made connections between teachers, coaches, students and friends; it’s those interactions I’ll miss the most.”