The official word came down five weeks ago, but it’s still difficult for Fruitport senior Ethan Flores to accept the empty feeling of a lost opportunity.
What was supposed to be the crescendo of his historic high school sprinting career, was gone in a flash. On April 3, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced that it was canceling spring sports amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
That meant Flores could not defend his individual state title in track, nor could he pursue additional championships and records, nor would he get the chance to lead the Trojans to their first state championship in school history for a boys sport.
This was supposed to be Flores’ year. Fruitport expected to have a serious shot at the big trophy.
“It just sucks that we can’t get Fruitport another state championship,” he said in a phone interview with MLive this week.
If there is a bright side for Flores, it’s that he has an immediate outlet for his frustrations and boredom. All he has to do it step outdoors, where plenty of chores await. That might not sound like an appealing trade-off, but he said the work helps keep him in shape. Furthermore, at least he has a college sports future ahead of him.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Flores has signed with Davenport University, where he will play football and run track.
“I’ve been doing a lot of yard work. That’s keeping me in shape, I think, because it’s moving a lot of logs and moving trees and stuff – been doing a lot of stuff. I’m trying to get thicker for football,” he said.
Flores was a three-sport athlete at Fruitport. He excelled in football as a return man and receiver, and he played the lock-down defender role for a Trojans basketball squad that had earned a winning record and first district finals appearance in 15 years before the state tournament was canceled.
But, make no mistake, Flores’ ultimate athletic gift is his ability on the track, especially in the hurdle events. He seems to glide over the hurdles, exhibiting a combination of speed, athleticism, timing and grace.
In the Division 2 state meet last June at Zeeland Stadium, he raced to the title in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal-record time of 14.53 seconds. He missed winning the 300 hurdles by the narrowest of margins with a runner-up, PR effort of 39.39. He also ran legs on Fruitport’s second-place 4x200 relay team and seventh-place 4x400 quartet.
That’s four all-state performances by Flores in as many events for the Trojans, who finished third for their highest team finish in school history.
“He’s one of a kind – the best the school has ever had, if you ask me,” longtime Fruitport track coach Chad Brandow said.
The school record in the 110 high hurdles is 14.5 seconds, established by Aaron Westcomb in the 1990s. Flores was right there by the end of last season despite the fact that he did not train in advance of the 2019 campaign.
After a productive offseason this year, Flores was setting the bar high. He was aiming for the 13.9 range in the 110 hurdles, which would be just off the all-time Muskegon-area record of 13.7 set by Muskegon’s Derick Stinson in 1982. In the 300 intermediate hurdles, Flores was shooting for the high-37s, which would have been enough to eclipse the area record (38.89) set by Grand Haven’s James DeWitt in 2012.
“Me and coach Brandow talked about it last season and I was shooting for like a 13.9 (in the 110s) and I really think I could have done it,” Flores said. “And then my 300 hurdles, I was shooting for a high 37 – I know it sounds crazy, but I think I could have done that with the training I was putting in before the season got canceled.”
Flores, who was all-state in seven events during his three seasons of track, had an opportunity to run for Michigan State University. He considered MSU his “dream school,” but he was not ready to give up football. He fell in love with Davenport, where he’s getting the opportunity to dual-sport and receive what amounts to a free education.
The 3.3 student, who is a nominee for the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Student-Athlete Award, plans to study business and finance at Davenport. He intends on becoming a loan originator like his father, Mario Flores, who is branch manager/loan originator for VanDyk Mortgage Corporation in Muskegon.
No matter what Ethan Flores pursues, Brandow is a firm believer he will achieve it.
“Mentally, he was at his best when the chips were on the line,” Brandow said. “Just the type of kid, when the competition steps up, he is there.”
Fruitport second-grader Chase Anspach sits on senior Ethan Flores' shoulders after the Trojans defeated Mona Shores, 70-64 in overtime, at Mona Shores High School in Norton Shores, Michigan, on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020.Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com
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