FA ATHLETICS Ethan St. Pierre:

Scholar, Athlete, and Musician

BY CHARLIE TRYDER

When describing Ethan St. Pierre, class dean, Sue Thurston, paints a picture of a carefree spirit. According to Thurston, if you meet Ethan walking down the hall you are likely to be greeted by a guy wearing a “smirky, almost guilty smile.” Thurston’s description suggests Ethan might be looking to cause some chaos, but she quickly follows up her description with a heartfelt compliment, “Ethan is just a wonderful young man! He’s a good athlete, good musician, and good person overall.”

Like many outstanding student-athletes at Fryeburg Academy, Ethan has explored a number of areas of student life. Along with playing soccer and skiing for four years, Ethan engaged himself in the music department along the way. Mike Sakash, the FA music director, describes Ethan’s involvement in the music program enthusiastically, “Ethan has been an integral part of the music program since his freshman year. As part of the band, rock band, pit orchestra for FA’s musicals, jazz combos, and big band he has performed with FA’s groups in honors festivals, campus concerts, performances at the Fryeburg Fair, and jazz festivals throughout Maine. Ethan is not afraid of taking on challenges and works methodically to achieve his musical goals. In recent years, as Fryeburg Academy’s groups travel to jazz festivals, his work with the rhythm section of FA’s Big Band and jazz combos has received many commendations and awards. What makes his work in the music program so notable is the fact that he strives to make the group sound better as a whole, and does not seek the spotlight. This is a trait that I’m sure he brings to the soccer and skiing program.”

Jim St. Pierre, Ethan’s dad and youth soccer coach, also highlights the methodical and determined approach to improvement that Sakash mentions, “I coached Ethan for nine years in soccer, from kindergarten through 8th grade. He is so coachable, maybe the most coachable kid I’ve ever worked with. He will practice relentlessly at something until he gets it. Even as a four year old, he learned how to ride a bike because he wouldn’t give up. From sun-up to supper, he was on that bike until he could balance. He is always trying to improve.”

According to dad, Ethan was only occasionally annoying, “Besides the aggravating habit of always trying to hit a ball through my legs whenever I spoke to his teams, he was agreeable, enthusiastic and has always been a positive, encouraging leader on the field.”

Ethan recalls his soccer experience with dad positively while he speaks of his love for the game, “I’ve played sports since I can remember with my dad coaching until high school. Soccer has always been my favorite because my dad taught it when I was younger and it always gave me sort of immediate friends on the team.”

The extensive experiences with soccer at the youth and middle school levels paid off for Ethan with a varsity position as a ninth grader. Raider soccer coach Bob Hodgman-Burns saw something special to keep him on the varsity team his first year at FA. When discussing Ethan’s high school soccer career, Hodgman-Burns emphasizes Ethan’s willingness to take on a role that is best for the team even if it doesn’t serve his own self interest. Hodgman-Burns explains, “Ethan has been a varsity player since his freshman year. He is a captain this year and has anchored our defense all season. He was slated to play in the midfield this year, but I’ve had to use him in the defense because of our lack of experience back there. He has accepted this defensive role with enthusiasm and has never shown any disappointment in my decision. He is a good leader and player.

He manages his academic work along with his athletic and musical commitments very well. Ethan is an all around fine young man that I enjoy coaching.”

Ethan’s willingness to play defense when he hoped to step into a midfield position as a senior reflects a humility that is core to his make up. Ethan’s description of his biggest takeaway from his athletic experience reflects this humility, “I am not sure what the right word is, but I learned how to commit to something even if you’re not the best on the field.”

Another takeaway from his varied student life ventures is the theme of friendship. When asked what he values most from his experience playing athletics at FA, he points to the number of friends both local and from around the world that soccer brought into his life. For Ethan, the value of the athletic experience lies in large part with the camaraderie and bonds formed with teammates, “The best memories were running over to the keeper and ringing the bell after a win.”

Ethan is not sure where he will be next year, but he definitely plans to attend college. He would like to play soccer and music, but he is not sure what he will major in or what he wants to do professionally in the future. He does, interestingly enough, know that he wants to minor in philosophy.

Academically, Ethan focuses on the humanities and more specifically history, so it would not be surprising if he majors in