Up at mound, hand gripping the white ball with red stitching, Ethan is up to pitch. Bases are loaded and his teammates in the dugout are watching with suspense. Ethan stands up at the mound with a look of composure and confidence. He stares down the player up to bat. Already with two strikes he just needs one more to win the game. His catcher at home signals a fastball. He lifts his right leg to his chest, reeling his left arm back. He lunges forward, releasing the fastball to the batter. The ball spirals through the air at such high speeds, landing directly in the catcher’s mitt. The umpire raises his arms in the air signaling a strike. The Royals in the dugout rush the field and the ones in the outfield sprint to the middle. With cheers and smiles all over the Royals faces, Ethan Lund finished the game, leading them to win their conference schedule. 

Ethan Lund is a junior that plays on the varsity baseball team. He is a pitcher and is committed to Purdue University in West Lafayette to continue his academic and athletic career in baseball. He will continue to play baseball through his junior and senior year while also doing travel baseball with Nitro in the summer and Blue Jays Scout in the fall. 

Many kids when they are little are pushed into trying to find something that they enjoy and gets them out in the world. When asked about how he got into baseball, Ethan shares how, “when I was younger, my parents tried to get me out of the house [and] involved in lots of sports, and baseball was one of those sports. I really liked it, so as I got older and the sports, I played narrowed down, I was still playing baseball.” Baseball has been an influential part of Ethan’s life and is something he has made lifelong friends through. “I have played traveled since I was nine,” Ethan says. “I started by playing with all the boys on the HSE baseball team, and I stayed with that group for most of my life.” Baseball for Ethan has become a full commitment and something he partakes in year-round with high school and travel ball taking up a substantial chunk of his schedule. 

When asked about the work he must put in, in the off season to prepare for his future season in high school, travel, and college, Ethan shares that, “the off season is the biggest time of the year for pitchers. It is when you get in the weight room, work on your mechanics, and try to throw harder and develop pitches.” The off-season training for any high-level athlete is extensive, but in the end, it only makes you better. Ethan went on to share how he does off-season training with a company that works specifically with baseball to make athletes better. “My last two off seasons I have trained with PRP at Finch Creek,” Ethan says. “They have guys coming in from all around the Midwest and the knowledge and equipment they have in my opinion is unmatched, so they are a big reason I am here I am now with all my development.” 

Ethan is not just any regular player; he is one of the top pitchers in the state, having committed to play at Purdue University to continue his academic and athletic career.  

When asking Coach Self, the athletic director, he shares the top traits seen in competitive athletes at HSE. He shares how athletes are, “humble, tough, competitive, show passion, and are students first.” These are all traits seen in Ethan, and traits he continues to show case as a top athlete.  

When asked about his recruiting process, Ethan shares how it was quick and stressful. Having majorly starting his recruiting process his sophomore year and beginning to communicate more with coaches having his “first phone calls the school season of [his] sophomore year.” He only continued to be exposed to more coaches following in the summer when colleges became more interested while also attending camps of his own choosing. 

When reflecting on his decision to commit to Purdue, Ethan shares that he, “chose Purdue because they were the school that [he] felt the most connection with.” Committing to a school for athletics is a process in of itself as you must make sure you can see yourself representing and being at the school for 4 or more years while also having a strong relationship you will be surrounded with the most as you are there. “I called with their pitching coach and really developed a relationship with him,” Ethan says. “I could tell I would enjoy having him as a coach.” Ethan goes on to share how, “they came to my games and really made an effort to show they were interested.” Ethan even got to attend camps and get a feel for the campus, helping him determine his choice to commit to the school. “I got to see all their really nice facilities and their field and campus and meet all the coaches,” Ethan says. “I felt like that was where I wanted to be and really helped me solidify my decision.” 

Ethan is a one-of-a-kind athlete and person. The sky is the limit for his future whether that is baseball or his future career. He will be graduating in May of 2024 and will be continuing his academic and athletic career in his hometown state at Purdue University.