Senior Athlete Spotlight: Ethan Vanzant

On Friday afternoons watching the Palmer Trinity Varsity Football team compete, you would never know that Ethan Vanzant only started playing football four years ago and missed a majority of his junior season due to an injury. Vanzant is both a vocal and physical leader for the Falcons, who opened their season with a 43-0 win over SmartEn Academy last week. “Ethan has improved tremendously throughout his time here at PTS. His IQ of the game is second to none,” describes Head Coach Mark Reese.

Vanzant’s impact goes well beyond the field. Vanzant mentions that he originally started playing football due to the brotherhood of a football team. As a senior, Vanzant is an irreplaceable part of creating the team unity seen by the Falcons Football team. Reese describes his leadership skills as everything you ask for from a senior leader. “He leads the younger guys and teaches them everything about the culture,” says Reese. Vanzant says that his favorite memories at Palmer Trinity are the talks in the locker room and the time spent together off the field. His goal is to treat everyone, but especially the underclassmen, like brothers. The team gels off of this culture and can be seen together everywhere from having team breakfast and lunch together, creating vibrant student sections at other Palmer Trinity athletic events, and spending time off campus bonding.

After returning from his injury, Vanzant says his mindset has changed. “I’m humbler and more understanding of others’ situations,” Vanzant reflects. He has also been training year  long attending college camps and showcases, competing against the nation’s best in front of coaches from all over the country. His efforts have earned him a Division I offer from Bethune-Cookman as well as sparked interest from many other coaches that he hopes will lead to offers during his senior season.

Outside of school, Vanzant continues to be a leader around the football field as he serves as a volunteer coach for a local 12U football team. He also is up for any challenge at Spikeball – claiming he will “destroy anyone.” Vanzant’s favorite movie is Lion King, favorite artist is Lil Tecca, and favorite food is sushi.

Be sure to come out and support Ethan and the rest of the Varsity Football team as they host Coral Shores on Friday, September 1st at 4:00pm before traveling to Archbishop Coleman Carroll and Ransom Everglades over the next two weeks.

 

Go Falcons!