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03/09/2023 10:36 AMSenior captain and shot-putter Ethan Anderson has always had a competitive nature. Since middle school, he was drawn to the skills and intensity that come with being on a track, which has helped him be a powerful force for the North Haven boys’ indoor track team this winter.
“I was looking for something to do, and my guidance counselor suggested that I join the track and field team,” says Ethan. “First, I started out as a long-distance runner, but the coach came over to me and suggested that I try throwing the shot put. It went pretty well.”
As a well-versed talent and athlete who likes to be on the track as much as he can, Ethan also throws the discus and the shot put during the outdoor season in the spring while also participating in the school band.
On Feb. 4, Ethan competed at the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) Championships, throwing 49-05.00 feet. This result helped Ethan to claim first in the shot put out of 24 participants.
Nighthawks Head Coach Marc Celmer recognized Ethan’s talent from the get-go and has enjoyed seeing him develop into a strong leader for his fellow teammates this season.
“Ethan leads not so much by word, but by deed—he leads by example. He just keeps going out there and doing what needs to be done, whether it be when we are practicing shot putting or working on our form,” says Celmer. “He just goes out there and makes the room go quiet when he throws in the gym when we are practicing in the gym. Everyone is just stunned when they see what has just happened. There is a saying, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’ When it comes to Ethan you have to revise that because he is a master of all,” says Celmer. “He is the type of individual where you do not have to pump him up and give him a ‘rah rah’ speech. All you need to tell him is that ‘this is what you need to do’ and just leave it at that.”
Ethan echoes that same sentiment of leading by example, as he likes to be someone his teammates can look up to and rely on for help or words of wisdom.
“My mindset was, lead by example, which meant showing up on time, putting in effort during practice and in the weight room,” says Ethan. “It was also giving advice to younger classmen that might not know that much about the sport, like some of the upperclassmen do.”
On Feb. 11, Ethan threw the shot put at the Class M State Championship. He finished third overall, throwing 49-08.75 feet. Maintaining consistency and regularly putting up competitive numbers like that can be a challenge, but it is one that Ethan has embraced.
“Part of that was keeping a determined mindset, but the other part of that was also being part of this team,” says Ethan. “A lot of my drive came from having to compete against other teams, but my own team as well. They pushed me further every time they set a personal record (PR), which made me want to PR.”
On Feb. 18, Ethan set a PR at the State Open meet, throwing the shot put 51-03.75 feet. This meet was so special for Ethan because he finally reached a goal he had been trying for so long to achieve.
“The entire season, my goal was to hit 50 feet and I just kept building up to that every single meet,” says Ethan. “I got closer and closer, and soon it was inches off. I went up for my last throw and gave it everything I got, and I hit 50 and passed it. It made me really happy.”
Celmer alludes to the fact that Ethan really gave it his all at State Open, and he had the support of so many athletes and spectators when he finished his event.
“That meet, we could see it, we saw it at practice constantly—that throw that he threw at State Opens. Again, we told him that he needed to break the 50-foot barrier to advance,” says Celmer. “That is exactly what he did. The whole place erupted because he is such a good soul—everyone sees that. He does a lot of work outside and has a lot of friends that he works with in the offseason. Everyone in Hillhouse that Saturday all watched it, and we all celebrated.”
As he looks ahead to his final campaign on the outdoor circuit this spring, Ethan looks forward to spending one last season on the track with his team and coaches, as well as having a fun time. He is also looking to throw the shot put in college after he graduates.