Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Ethan Potts

Oswego IL

19 November, 2021

12:09 PM

Description

As a member of last year's bowling team, senior Ethan Potts and his teammates grew through obstacles. In addition to the season being shortened and moved from the winter to the beginning of spring, bowling alleys everywhere were closed, making practicing skills virtually impossible. The team struggled to find consistency, as did Ethan. The easing of restrictions meant bowlers could get back to the lanes this summer, and Ethan and his teammates took advantage of that, preparing harder for this season than any in their high school career. Ethan's character, leadership, and play have made him a vital part of the early success of this year's team, which is why he is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week. Ethan's interest in bowling did not start until he reached high school. "As a freshman, I tried soccer and track camps in the summer, and nothing interested me," says Ethan. "A few friends and I decided to try out for the bowling team, and we were all fortunate enough to make the team." To his admission, Ethan was not a high-scoring bowler as a freshman. "My average as a freshman was low, but my first coach, Coach Frank, took me under his wing and helped me with my mechanics and understanding bowling," says Ethan. In addition to working on his mechanics, Ethan and some friends go into weight training. "I had a friend introduce me, then more of our friends joined, and now I can always count on at least one of my friends being at the gym when I go," says Ethan. Kendra Potts, Ethan's mom, credits Ethan's social circle with helping him be a better athlete and all-around person. "Ethan has a good group of friends who motivate each other to exercise and be healthy," says Kendra. She goes on to add, "Exercising with friends makes him go more often and they hold each other accountable. When he first started bowling, he was not exercising and would lose stamina quickly and dealt with physical sore aches. After strength training, Ethan's health feels better overall." Ethan's rise to a 192 average this season, good for third-highest on the team, did not come without its obstacles. The pandemic robbed Ethan and his teammates of the opportunity to work on their craft. Ethan is not one to be deterred by roadblocks and has the personality to push through. "Ethan is an honest, kindhearted person who I can always trust to do the right thing," says Kendra. A few years ago, Ethan earned his Eagle Scout award from Troop 889, which requires a high level of character and willingness to give back. "Ethan has a ton of character," says Steven. He goes on to add, "becoming an Eagle Scout requires a lot of work and dedication." That dedication led Ethan to put in extra work once restrictions on indoor seating were lifted. "I was inconsistent last year because of the lack of practice," says Ethan. He adds, "This season, most of us joined outside leagues on Saturday or Tuesdays. In addition, you see a lot of guys sticking around after practice to bowl a few extra games, which has made a difference." The Wolves have seen a dramatic turnaround from last season, averaging 2841 pins to their opponents 2827, with the varsity amassing a 22-18 record in a competitive SPC conference. "With some good luck and additional hard work, Ethan and his teammates should have a solid rest of the season in the SPC and could be trouble in Regionals with a possibility of going to state." As a young man with high character and a close circle of friends, Ethan found his possible future calling in Psychology. "Ethan was recently able to help a friend who is going through a difficult situation," says Kendra. "I was so impressed with how kind, caring, and supportive of her he was and how he reached out to others to help as well. He called me one night while driving home from work to let me know he was thinking of Psychology as a career because he likes helping people and making them feel better." Ethan's current plan is to attend Waubonsee Community College next fall to fulfill his general education requirements before transferring to a four-year college and majoring in Psychology. Before leaving, Ethan hopes to do as much as he can to help his team advance in the playoffs and score enough points in conference meets to make the all-conference team. Wherever life takes him, Ethan has the mental make-up and physical tools to excel in several areas. Assistant girls bowling coach and Physical Education Excel teacher, Jeremy Hillman, has watched Ethan grow and knows he will be successful. "I had Ethan in my first ever bowling camp, and the amount of improvement he has made is simply amazing," says Jeremy. He goes on to say, "Ethan is an athlete that continues to work hard to make himself successful. Ethan also possesses the type of attitude that makes him fun to be around." Although not a bowler coming into high school, Ethan's leap of faith to try a new sport has rewarded him with a new skill and the experience of being a top competitor in a high school sport. He advises future Wolves to follow in his footsteps to some degree by saying, "Don't hesitate to try something new, because you would rather find out you don't like something than miss that opportunity." Ethan has taken full advantage of his opportunity and is hopeful those opportunities will turn into wins and hardware for himself and his teammates