Ethan Potter: A Threat to the Offense - By Brenden Stolworthy

     Ethan Potter is a senior who plays on varsity for the RHS lacrosse team. Not only is Ethan Potter a defenseman, but he is also a very influential captain on the team after being deemed worthy of this status by coach Chad Mitchell. By playing for this team for 4 years throughout high school, he has worked up a reputation. He is a symbol of leadership among his fellow teammates. 

    A testament to Ethan’s leadership is the fact that he has recently received his “Wings” from last year’s captain, who had received them from a captain before him. These two little wings go on each of the chosen players’ shoes. These wings represent the amount of hard work and dedication throughout the season and the off-season. They are presented to the player that embodies the meaning of commitment, someone who wants it more than the rest, and someone who can lead a firm team to the end of the line. It is a very special moment in the preseason and at practice. The whole team gets down on a knee, and the previous year’s captain explains to all of the younger players and reiterates the importance of these wings to the rest of the players. After a bit of a speech, the previous captain calls the player that he thinks earned it. And that player was Ethan Potter. No one was really surprised. We all agreed and believed that Ethan had earned these wings because of his leadership and how he led the team. Ethan will continue to lead alongside his fellow captains in this upcoming lacrosse season.

    The wings present to the underclassmen a teammate they can look to for help, a mentor, and someone who wants the best for them in every aspect. Ethan Potter has his own mentor as well. When Ethan was a sophomore playing lacrosse, Luke Henry supported Ethan as much as he could. He gave positive feedback and criticism where it was needed. Not only did Luke Henry display his athleticism and skill set on the field, but he was also a good friend. You could have these friendly conversations with Luke and he would support you on and off the field. Ethan wants to be as much like him as possible, a mentor to other players, someone who will support you through anything. Ethan, since then, has grown. He is a fantastic ball player and a beacon to the other defensive players, showing them what it means to be a Bomber lacrosse captain. Ethan talked about how Luke had given him this sort of drive that no other person could impose on him, he wanted to become as close to Luke Henry as possible, in his athleticism, his people skills and his kindness. And it shows. Ethan has given me my own bit of drive. He has mentored me in ways that he doesn’t realize. He has given me my own drive to try and compete with him, the drive to progress and get better and improve myself as much as I can. I’ve seen him be a mentor to our other teammates as well. When he’s on the field, he’s a steam train, hop on or get run over. And the whole team punched their ticket. 

    And as we all know, everyone who plays sports has a pregame ritual/prep they go through before a game. Ethan likes to listen to some Pearl Jam, and then as time closes in, he says a prayer, asking that we all be safe and that no harm or accidents will threaten the players. 

    A big part of Bomber lacrosse is our culture. Ethan Potter believes that our lacrosse culture is a culmination of some of the best cultures that Richland High School has to offer. Our lacrosse culture is composed of many different categories. Ranging from brotherhood to the accountability we hold each other too. As Ethan said, “We are a brotherhood that holds each other accountable to be the best we can be on and off the field.”. We have expectations as a team and from our culture, in general, to be constantly improving and working to the best of our abilities to improve. And this isn’t something that we just talk about to sound good. Ethan introduced himself to as many of the incoming freshmen and new players as he could, getting to know them and their position and their duty to this team and this culture we have built as the Bomber Lacrosse program. 

    It’s an honor to be able to play alongside a teammate, a mentor, and a friend. And I hope I can continue to play and compete with him. Ethan Potter.