How many different ways can a person count to 3 when it comes to Rising Junior Ethan Richardson ? Let’s get the easy one out of the way first – Ethan is one of 3 children belonging to Kris & Paula Richardson ( this also makes him Paul’s Grandson – a fact that will make sense to long time readers). His older Sister Ashton just completed an Amazing 👏 run with the Carroll County Ladies Basketball 🏀 program and collected two State Championship Rings 💍 along the way. Younger Sister Gracie will do her part to keep the Family 👪 Business (Basketball) up and running when she gets her opportunity but that’s a few years away.
Teammate Isiah Easter and Ethan Richardson during Travel Ball season.
Back to the 3’s – Ethan just completed his Sophomore season in which the earned a Varsity letter in you guessed it, 3 sports. High School Student Athletes have been lettering in multiple sports for a long time, usually in the Big 3 Sports (Football, Basketball and Baseball). Ethan’s 3 sports are a little different, so much so that he actually doubles up during the Winter months before finishing up with Tennis 🎾 in the Springtime. The part of the story that is the most impressive is that Ethan doesn’t just compete in 3 Sports, he excells in all 3.
Most High School Athletes that double or triple up on Sports activities have one sport that is clearly their Top Sport. Here in Carroll County we have a few terrific examples – Alyssa Ervin is a Basketball player that plays Volleyball 🏐 as well. Jabin Talley is our Tennis 🎾 prodigy that can hold his own on the Basketball 🏀 court. Corrie Delp is a Track Star 🌟 in the making who loves to play Hoops too. The thing that sticks out with Ethan is that he shows such a high skill level in all 3 sports that one would be hard pressed to point to one and say that’s his main Sport.
The placement of the picture 📷 of Ethan and Davis here isn’t by chance. Davis will hopefully be the next story that I can write ✍ as the Rising Senior will run Cross Country, play Hoops and Soccer ⚽️ this coming season.
Playing 3 Varsity Sports every year means you have 3 Coaching staffs to adjust to in addition to having 3 sets of teammates. Ethan plays Basketball 🏀 for the Duo of Anthony Barnes and Kris Richardson so there’s just a little added pressure playing for your Dad 👨 anyway but the unique relationship between Kris and Ethan is a HUGE part of what drives the younger Richardson. Ethan strives to compete with Dad at any and all things. Jabin is his Basketball teammate and the pair flip spots when it comes to Tennis 🎾 as its Jabin’s Dad (Mr.T) that coaches up the Duo.
The Basketball team captured a Home victory in the Regional tournament before falling on the road at Tunstall. Richardson started on the team and naturally his best shot was his 3 Ball. The second most noticeable thing you see when watching Ethan on the Court is his Basketball IQ. The level that the Guard understands the game is remarkable.
Mom (Paula) describes just how far back his Love 💘 for Swimming 🏊♂️ goes as her face lights up when she talks about how Ethan longed to be in the water 💧 at an early age where the waves would knock him down and he would just laugh it off, stand up and do it all over again.
The Boys 👦 swim team made it to the State Tournament in Richmond at seasons end and the commitment to both sets of teammates displayed that day was a Story all to itself. In fact I wrote about it at length back then as the Richardson family 👪 started the day at the Swim meet in Richmond and finished up playing a post season Basketball 🏀 game back in Hillsville.
On the Tennis 🎾 courts Ethan plays Robin to Jabin’s Batman. Playing as the Top Two seeds and Doubles partners the pair racked up wins as quickly as Emma Leath collects strike outs. The duo reached the Elite Eight of the State Finals and in most every other Sport that counts as qualifying for State but in Tennis 🎾 they only acknowledge the Final Four. Greg Talley just finished up his first season of Coaching the Cavaliers program and does his job with a great deal of flair. Just another note on the adjustment that an Athlete faces when playing for 3 different Coaching staffs.
Whether he’s in a Swimming 🏊♂️ Pool, on Basketball 🏀 court or Tennis 🎾 court Ethan Richardson brings his best everyday that he wears the CCHS colors. He could probably master Golf ⛳ well enough to do that as well, especially if someone tells him his Dad 👨 was good at it !
Ethan Richardson will be 1 to watch this year and fortunately we will have 3 opportunities to do so!
A.S.P.N on The Hill 