The jump from eighth-grade football to varsity competition requires, for most players, a minimum of two to three years.
Ethan Myers proved a faster study.
A starter on Whiteland’s offensive line since the third game of the 2017 season, Myers looks forward to his final prep campaign. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound senior is a fixture at guard, and the lone starter back in the trenches for the Warriors’ offense.
Myers is the fourth player at Whiteland to be a four-year starter since Darrin Fisher took over as coach in 2005, others being running back Drew Smyth (2007-10), defensive lineman Skylar Hall (2011-14) and running back Anthony Schantz (2013-16).
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Myers has started 28 of the Warriors’ last 31 games, starting with his team’s 55-28 home loss to Decatur Central when he was a freshman.
“I found out the day before the game that I would be starting. I just remembered being scared to death because I was 14 years old and I was playing against 18-year-olds,” said Myers, laughing. “But at halftime, the seniors were telling me the coaches wouldn’t be putting me in there if I wasn’t ready.”
Fisher, who has watched Myers’ progression as a player since the latter was in early elementary school, concurs. Myers goes above and beyond when preparing for each season, including being part of Whiteland’s annual summer camp and others where he could improve.
“It was a combination of things, including his skill set and physical maturity,” Fisher said. “Ethan had spent a lot of time around the program growing up, even being a ball boy in middle school, so he was ready.”
Myers will need to be ready again if Whiteland is going to continue building on its tradition.
“I honestly don’t feel a lot of pressure because I have a lot of confidence in those around me,” Myers said. “I think our team is pretty solid all around.”
The Warriors have finished with a winning record in 11 of the 15 seasons with Fisher in charge, including all but one of the past eight. The coach feels he has the ingredients necessary to keep the momentum going, particularly with a stable of ball carriers led by Dalton Murray, Desmen Singleton and Chase Valentine, all seniors.
The Warriors historically play their best football late in the season under Fisher, going 26-9 in October games since 2010. The coach hopes for similar success this fall in the hope that it leads to Whiteland’s first regional berth since 2014.
“We played a lot of guys last year, but I would say the skill position players on offense are the strength of our team,” Fisher said. “Another strength is our defensive continuity. They’ve all been in those positions for a couple of years. We return a pretty good core that’s used to playing together and having success.”
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Coach: Darrin Fisher
Last season: 6-4, lost to New Palestine in first round of Class 5A sectional
Key returnees: WR Dalton DeBaun, DL Lenario Greer, LB Ardeth Maldonado, WB Dalton Murray, OL Ethan Myers, DB Ewan Niccum, DL Donnaven Plummer, RB Desmen Singleton, RB Chase Valentine and LB Kayden Welling, seniors; LB Daniel Adams, QB Brant Kunz and TE/DL Max Sullivan, juniors
Top newcomers: OL Jaxon Bolton, DB Jalon Futrell, OL Jacob McCarthy, TE James Mangan, DB Quincy Monge, DL Ethan Pope, OL Ernie Powell, OL Ryan Pyles and LB Brian Ulloa, seniors; DB/P Chris Dawalt, OL Aidan Mann, DB Grason Milam, OL Blake Miller, RB Tywan Minton, DB Ethan Tanner, WR Canton Valentine, DL Jonathan Wallen, DB Quinn Warweg and LB Landen Wood, juniors; DL Mason Darlington, OL Caleb Hall, LB Dalton Hughes, OL Dylan Kidwell, DL Jakarrey Oliver, DL Tayton Schakel, K/P Elliot Spangler and LB Brady Stanifer, sophomores
Outlook: The Warriors return seven starters on both sides of the ball, including numerous skill-position players offensively, which could point the program in the direction of its seventh Mid-State Conference title and sixth since Fisher took over as coach in 2005.
Four-year starting guard Myers anchors an otherwise relatively inexperienced offensive line, though the coach is confident players who previously rotated in are now ready for full-time status. This unit will be responsible for creating openings for Murray, Singleton and Chase Valentine, near statistical equals a year ago who combined for 1,532 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Kunz and DeBaun are proven ball carriers as well. Top returning tacklers Adams and Welling, both linebackers, and lineman Plummer lead a defense that last season limited seven opponents to 16 or fewer points. Niccum, who has 19 career pass breakups, starts for a third season in the secondary.
Whiteland’s schedule sets up differently, with the Warriors playing their first three games on the road for the first time since 1994 and only the third time in school history. Games at Columbus East and Decatur Central in Weeks 1 and 3, respectively, will show Fisher where his team is early on. The sectional again offers no shortcuts, with rival Franklin and defending 5A state champion New Palestine part of the four-team field.
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1. How do you feel like the team has progressed this offseason despite all of the hurdles in your way?
This year it’s gone better than I thought it would. When we came to practice, everyone was moving fast and seemed in shape.
2. How concerned are you about the threat of outbreaks leading to cancellations or cutting the season short?
As long as everyone is doing what they need to do, I think we’ll have a season. At times, it’s hard to (social) distance, but you figure it out because we’ve been doing it so long.
3. What one word best describes your team’s mentality going into the season?
Fast. When we get to the ball, everyone is on it. Everyone is keyed in.
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Date;Opponent;Time
Friday;at Columbus East;7 p.m.
Aug. 28;at Greenfield-Central;7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4;at Decatur Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 11;Franklin;7 p.m.
Sept. 18;Perry Meridian;7 p.m.
Sept. 25;at Martinsville;7 p.m.
Oct. 2;Mooresville;7 p.m.
Oct. 9;at Plainfield;7 p.m.
Oct. 16;Greenwood;7 p.m.
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