Just two years ago, Ethan Burke was sitting in the stands, watching as the South Windsor High School football team finished with a 1-9 record. Now, Burke is one of the star players of the team and helped lead the ‘Cats to a playoff appearance during the previous season, and hopes to play football in college.
Burke was a basketball and baseball player during his freshman year of high school but dropped baseball to focus on basketball. He had begun to think basketball would be his future but noticed a shift in his sophomore year. “I really started to become a more physical basketball player,” Burke said.
Having many friends urging him to join the football team, he eventually gave in. Burke assumed a starting receiver and safety role for the team. After a successful season that ended the Bobcat’s seven-year playoff drought, Burke told The Prowl “I never thought I’d develop a love for the game like I have now.”
Unbeknownst to Burke at the time, football would provide him with an unexpected reward. “You get to make connections between teammates and other players, people I thought I’d never be friends with,” Burke told The Prowl.
During the off-season following Burke’s junior campaign, he received attention from college coaches. “So far, Saint Anselm and Endicott College have offered me [a scholarship], but more to come. I’m not sure where I’ll go yet, I still have my whole senior season ahead of me,” Burke said.
Last season’s playoff appearance was a rare feat for the ‘Cats. The team has only made two playoff appearances in the past 20 years, and players like Burke were a huge part of that. “It was awesome being a part of a team that made the playoffs for the first time since 2017, but there’s still more work to do,” Burke stated.
Burke and the Bobcats have a long season ahead of them, and if they want to replicate and possibly surpass their success from a season ago, they have to be on top of their game.
The South Windsor High School football team will kick off the year at Bristol Central on Friday, September 13, trying to get off on a good foot against the Rams.
