It was a crisp October evening under the lights when freshman Ethan Schramm’s season took an unexpected turn. Towards the beginning of the game, a sudden movement left him on the ground, clutching his knee. What looked like a routine play quickly became a moment his teammates and coaches won’t forget.
“The coaches put Parker Careaga into the game and took me out. Parker accidentally tripped into Ethan’s knee.” said Asa Wright, a teammate who witnessed the injury up close. “Everyone was super worried for him, because everyone knew it was bad.”
Ethan had torn his ACL, MCL, PCL, and Meniscus, an injury that would sideline him for the rest of his freshman season, and the foreseeable future.
“I kind of knew when it happened. I was like ‘Oh, this is something bad.’ I felt really numb and tingly.”
Carter Fuss, another player on the field, recalled what he remembered happening. “It was scary and also sad, because a lot of people were crying, like his family, and that’s when you knew something bad happened.”
Ethan’s official diagnosis came later: a torn ACL, PCL, MCL, and Meniscus, an extremely serious injury that would require surgery, months of physical therapy and rehab, and a long road back to football.
For any athlete, especially a freshman just starting high school sports, the news was devastating. But Ethan’s support system such as friends, teammates, and coaches helped him through.
His coach, Mr. Chandler, knew this would be tough. Ethan was a crucial part of their team. “Ethan was a good player, a leader for us, worked hard for us; he was a critical part of our defense.” he said. “It was tough, but you see him now, and he’s working through his rehab on it. He’s been great, and we’re excited to have him back when he gets 100 percent.”
That work ethic carried Ethan through his surgery and months of recovery and rehab. Through the past six months, he has worked hard to make a full recovery by next year. “He’s gotten a lot better and stronger,” said Parker Careaga, a close friend of Ethan’s. “And he has grown from where he was six months ago.”
The injury didn’t just affect Ethan—it had an impact on the team’s morale too. “I was kind of more concerned about who we’re gonna have the rest of the game. How serious is it? But I got a little concerned and was like ‘oh one of our best players going down, next man up,” says Ethan’s coach, Mr. Chandler. “Luckily we have a lot of guys, and the next man stepped up and did a great job.”
Now, let’s go a little farther back in time. From a young age, Ethan has always loved football. “I’ve played football since I was like three or four years old, and I’ve always just enjoyed the environment.” he explained. “I’ve made a lot of friends and a lot of relationships with different coaches, and I’ve just kind of enjoyed playing it my whole life.”
Even though Ethan’s relationship with football is tainted now due to his injury, he has always had a love for the game and his favorite team, the Seahawks. “I just enjoyed watching it with my dad. I remember one time my dad put football on, and I didn’t really know what it was, but I liked all the contact and just like all the different players. I just kind of stuck with it, and from there I knew I liked football.”
Now more than six months post injury, Ethan is getting farther in his recovery. He’s training, working, and continuing to get better. While he isn’t cleared for football yet, his progress has been nothing short of inspiring.
“I learned to not take things for granted, because when I got hurt, I realized there was a lot I couldn’t do.” Ethan’s goal is to be ready by the next school season. For now, Ethan is focusing on rehab, recovery, and physical therapy. His comeback isn’t just about returning to the game—it’s about overcoming difficulties in life and learning to never give up.
