All-State Athletes Weigh In On Playing More Than One Sport
December 20, 2021
Dylan Hefflinger and Bruce Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout and Senior Writer
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All-State Athletes Weigh In On Playing More Than One Sport
Should you play multiple sports in high school or focus on just one sport?
There is no right answer to that question. What works for one might not be best for another. Circumstances dictate what is best for everyone.
How big is your high school?
Is a past injury a concern?
What are the sports programs like at your school?
Any concerns with coaching?
Is there a personality or philosophical conflict with the coach?
Do you even like other sports?
If committed, what does your college coach recommend?
Even in weighing what questions one might have, it does not mean everyone does what is right for them.
So what do multi-sports athletes think about it?
There are many that consider baseball number one, yet are outstanding in others. Others excel at say football, but still love competing on the ball diamond.
A large group of multi-sport athletes just finished excelling on the gridiron, earning all-state honors. In more cases than not, most played quarterback.
So what do these excellent athletes have to say about it?
“It exposes you to a lot of adversity and prepares you for life,” Michael Mauro, a senior at Warren JFK, said about playing football as well as baseball. “It helps with different aspects as a person and makes you perform in multiple different scenarios.”
Christian Ramos, a Bowling Green baseball commit who led Lakewood St. Edward to the Division I state football title this year, pointed to more than just the enjoyment on the field.
“Along with the physical benefits of being a dual-sport athlete, it has brought out many positive characteristics within myself which has helped me to keep my focus straight and excel in the classroom which then forms me into a better person away from any field.” the St. Ed’s senior said.
Still, it does bring some difficulties.
“The hardest part is the late start into the season,” noted Aaron Conley of Mechanicsburg, who not only plays football in the fall and baseball in the spring, but also wrestles in the winter. “When I played football we would always make a deep run into the playoffs, so it would delay the start of my next season. However, I wouldn’t trade anything for those memories I made making those deep runs in the playoffs in football.”
No rest for the mind and body is another concern.
“The hardest part is it just is physically demanding with no breaks because it’s constant,” related Gabe Tingle, a three-sport athlete at West Lafayette Ridgewood. “The most difficult thing is just staying healthy and taking care of your body.”
Yet, benefits come by doing more than one as Kaden Saunders pointed out.
“Football helps me out as a baseball player, especially being a receiver you have to have hand-eye coordination which is a must have when you’re in the batter's box,” explained the Westerville South senior, who will begin college at Penn State in January as a football commit to the Big 10 university. “You also need a lot of short-term memory in football. Say you drop a pass, you have to let that go instantly and move onto the next play. Baseball is kind of the same because it is such a mental game, you have to let things go.”
As a whole, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages according to the 20 multi-sport athletes in this story.
“I think playing one sport doesn’t give you the high school sport experience,” Eastwood senior Lake Boos said. “Being competitive is the most important attribute when it comes to playing sports and there’s no better way of developing it than playing multiple sports.”
Connor Walendzak, a junior at Perrysburg, sees both sides to it.
“I would tell an athlete that wants to specialize in one sport to do what makes them happy,” the Purdue baseball commit said. “Playing multiple sports is not a disadvantage, it helps you as an athlete tremendously. I think it is very beneficial to play multiple sports because you get to carry over things that you learn from one sport to another.”
Pierce Taylor, a quarterback in football and catcher in baseball at Cincinnati McNicholas, summed it up well.
“I think each sport benefits one another in their own, unique ways,” the uncommitted senior said. “I wouldn’t be the same person I am today if I had just narrowed down to one sport. The bonds and memories I have made will last me a lifetime and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Read on to find out what these multi-sport athletes have to say about their high school experiences in athletics.
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Lake Boos RHP / OF / Eastwood, OH / 2022
Football: D-V second-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: RHP/OF, 242nd-rated senior, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: A three-sport athlete, Boos, who plays basketball in the winter, was second-team all-state in baseball as a two-way standout his junior year, winning seven games on the mound while driving in 20 runs and stealing 26 bases for the fifth-ranked D-III team in Ohio.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Being a multi-sport athlete is beneficial to me because being able to compete helps with every sport I play. Developing competitiveness helps a ton and it translates to anything I do.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Playing football helps me as a baseball player by strengthening my arm. Throwing a football definitely builds arm strength and I never really knew that until over the summer when I went back and forth with the two sports.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
There are disadvantages to playing more than one sport, especially football and baseball, because of the different mechanics they have. I also fall behind on things but that isn’t much of a big deal.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
I think playing one sport doesn’t give you the high school sport experience. Being competitive is the most important attribute when it comes to playing sports and there’s no better way of developing it than playing multiple sports.
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Aaron Conley C / Mechanicsburg, OH / 2022
Football: D-VI second-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Catcher, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: A wrestler during the winter sports season, Conley earned D-III second-team all-state recognition in baseball as a junior, batting .440 with five home runs and 54 RBIs while not allowing an earned run in 15 innings on the mound for a team that won its first 27 games before losing in the districts.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I feel that being a multi-sport athlete has benefited me in many ways. The biggest thing is that it kept me in shape for my other sports.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
I feel like the attitude that I play with and developed while I played football carried over to baseball which has helped me push to be the best player I can be.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hardest part is the late start into the season. When I played football we would always make a deep run into the playoffs, so it would delay the start of my next season. However, I wouldn’t trade anything for those memories I made making those deep runs in the playoffs in football.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
Something I would tell them is that you are only young one time in your life. You can only play high school sports one time in your life. You don’t want to be living with regrets.
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Alex DeSalvo OF / Warren JFK, OH / 2022
Football: D-VII honorable mention defensive back
Baseball: Center fielder, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: DeSalvo, who scored a run and had a pair of defensive gems in center field in a 3-2 win over top-ranked Fort Loramie in last year's D-IV state semifinals, is uncommitted and “waiting to see how this season goes” when it comes to his baseball future after high school.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Being a multi-sport athlete is beneficial to me for a few reasons. First, it gives me the ability to be a versatile athlete. While football is more of a raw athleticism sport, baseball is more fine tuning hand-eye coordination and patience. They also give me an excuse to spend a lot of time in the gym.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football helps me with explosion and having healthy hips and legs. All power comes from the hips in a lot of sports. Baseball swings and throws come from the lower half. From a psychological standpoint, since football is such a fast-paced sport, it allows me to learn how to deal with adversity. When something goes wrong in baseball it can be so easy to hang your head, but football forces you to keep going or you’re going to fail.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hardest part of playing two sports is time and staying healthy. I had torn my labrum after baseball my freshmen year and was forced to miss my sophomore football season due to surgery. Then as a junior I hurt my shoulder again in football and was lucky enough to make a quick recovery. My favorite part of the two sports would be the training because they are more similar than one would think.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
Being a multi-sport athlete is a key to being a successful athlete. As the old saying goes, “don’t put all your eggs in the same basket” … playing multiple sports allows for versatile athletes and the ability to be productive with all aspects of your body.
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Football: D-V first-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: LHP, 19th-rated senior, Michigan State commit
At-A-Glance: Dzierwa played basketball up until this year in addition to being a baseball and football star for the Knights. The southpaw won seven games while fanning 115 in 66.1 innings as a junior, earning second-team all-state honors.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I think playing multiple sports gave me different aspects of each sport. It was beneficial to me because I used different body parts in each sport which made me an overall better athlete. It also helped me stay on a schedule out of school which made me focus on school after practice.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Playing football helped me in baseball because it made me tougher mentally. Being a quarterback taught me that I was able to control the game at my pace and on the mound and field.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hardest part about playing more than one sport is the amount of time you put in each year, but I loved playing each sport so I wouldn’t call it a grind.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
One piece of advice I would give a future high school athlete is that you should try two or three sports for at least two years. I didn’t necessarily like football my first year of playing it in high school but now that I look back on my football career I made many great memories, met new people, and learned about who I am which helps me on the mound and field to this day. I chose not to play basketball this year because I wanted to concentrate on my future opportunities that I have in baseball.
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Colt Emerson SS / C / John Glenn, OH / 2023
Football: D-IV first-team all-state wide receiver
Baseball: Shortstop, top-rated junior, Auburn commit
At-A-Glance: The 15th-ranked junior shortstop in the country is headed to play in the SEC after high school at a university that has been in the NCAA Tournament 10 times this century, with a pair of regional appearances and one berth in the College World Series.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I feel like it has helped me in many ways. It’s helped me better my toughness, athleticism, and gave me a lot more character than if I played one sport.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
As far as football. I feel like it has made me have an edge to the game and made me grittier and tougher.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The only disadvantage I see is that it is a dangerous sport. Anything could happen, but you can’t think about those things when you’re playing.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
I would say that sticking to your main sport is good but two sports is better and makes you a better athlete and person all around. It gives you an edge on people who only play one sport.
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Michael Mauro OF / Warren JFK, OH / 2022
Football: D-VII honorable mention all-state LB
Baseball: Left fielder, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: Mauro, had two hits and drove in a run in a 4-0 win over Lincolnview in the D-IV state championship game last year, The JFK senior has been accepted into the Ohio State engineering program and is not planning on playing sports at the next level.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
It exposes you to a lot of adversity and prepares you for life. It helps with different aspects as a person and makes you perform in multiple different scenarios.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
It helps me utilize lessons I learned in football and put them in play in baseball.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The different training regiments and also the different ways you play the game. I can’t play baseball the same way I play football. You have to be more collected to play baseball.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
Soak up all the knowledge that you can and get experience. If you don’t like a sport then don’t do it, but at least try.
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Simon Monnin OF / RHP / Upper Arlington, OH / 2022
Football: D-I third-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Outfielder, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: Monnin quarterbacked Upper Arlington to the state championship game in Division I in the fall and now hopes to be part of the first baseball team at the school to reach state since 1990.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I think that being a multiple-sport athlete is really beneficial. I think that in baseball and football there is a ton of carry over and you use a lot of the same skills in both sports.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
I think that playing baseball helps performance more than the other way around. In baseball there are a bunch of cross platform throws that have to be made and throws on the run are very common, too. Being a quarterback, I think that the amount of times I have thrown on the run or across my body in baseball have carried over to football, and I think that is a reason why that’s a strength of mine.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
I think the hardest part of playing more than one sport is finding the balance between them and trying to give equal effort. I think the only disadvantages are that it can be time consuming, but other than that I think it’s good.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
I would say not to specialize. Being on multiple teams with different people is a good experience, and things you learn in one sport carries over to other ones.
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DJ Newman SS / RHP / Archbold, OH / 2022
Football: D-VI first-team all-state quarterback, D-VI Offensive Player of the Year
Baseball: Shortstop/Pitcher/Outfielder, 48th-rated senior, Bowling Green commit
At-A-Glance: A member of the PBR Elite 25 baseball team a year ago, the three-sport athlete, who plays basketball in the winter and was quarterback of the top-rated D-VI football team in the final poll, led Archbold to the Division III state baseball finals as a junior.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Being a three sport athlete has been super beneficial for me. A big reason for that is I never really have days off so I’m constantly working on getting better, and the biggest reason is I’m always competing no matter what sport it is.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football makes me a lot tougher so that for sure helps me out if I would get a little banged up in baseball. Adding to that, being a quarterback helps out my arm strength.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The biggest disadvantage to being a three-sport athlete is missing out on some of the opportunities that people that only play one sport have. I can’t go to baseball camps during football like other kids can, so I know I need to work harder during baseball season.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
Everyone you talk to says to play all of them while you can and I totally agree with that. All the memories I have made and will never forget is all because of playing three sports. Never take your time for granted either.
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Ben Nichols SS / 2B / Zane Trace, OH / 2022
Football: D-V third-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Shortstop, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: Nichols, who plays basketball as well as football and baseball, was honorable mention D-III as the top player on the Zane Trace baseball team a year ago, winning seven games while hitting .441 with 21 stolen bases.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I feel like being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for me in many ways. In each sport you’ve got to be in a different kind of shape. In basketball you have to be well conditioned, in football you have to be strong, in baseball you have to have good hand-and-eye coordination. However, having all three helps in all sports.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football helps me in baseball in many ways as well. One of those is strength. Also, me being a quarterback I’m always thinking so that helps me in baseball when I’m pitching and fielding. I’m always thinking about how I could set up pitches and make the right plays.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
I would say the hardest part is trying to make time for all three sports, especially during the summer when you have summer baseball going on, football lifting, and basketball open gyms and camps. Some disadvantages would be not getting to really put all my energy into one sport all the time so you don’t always get the time to really perfect your craft at one sport, but you also get advantages with playing multiple sports so just have to make the most of the time you get.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
I would say if that’s what you really wanna do and are really passionate about that sport and that sport only then go for it. However, you might miss out on countless memories and bonds made through playing other sports. It’s ultimately your decision, but you never know if you could play another sport that you haven’t played and really fall in love with it and get really good at it. For example, when I was younger I didn’t really like football, I just wanted to play basketball and baseball. But by the time high school came around, especially junior and senior year, football was probably my favorite sport. There really is nothing like playing on Friday nights with your best friends.
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Kyle Ransom SS / 2B / Firelands, OH / 2022
Football: D-IV third-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Shortstop, 125th-rated senior, Lake Erie College commit
At-A-Glance: Ransom, who earned third-team all-state honors in football playing a schedule against six playoff teams, had a big year in baseball as a junior hitting .485 with a .570 on-base percentage for the seventh-rated team in D-II.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I feel being a multi-sport athlete helps me in pretty much every aspect of the game. Football gets me stronger with the workouts we do, baseball helps with reaction skills, and both sports just make you smarter by how you need to think mid-play.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football helps me get stronger for baseball and reacting to the play and just staying calm through a play.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
I’d say missing some baseball workouts/practice/games because of me needing to be at football practice.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
Being a multi-sport athlete and playing multiple sports will not hurt you, it will only help you out in the long run. I have never regretted once being a multi-sport athlete and neither will you.
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Christian Ramos 2B / SS / St. Edward, OH / 2022
Football: D-I first-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Second base/Shortstop, 52nd-rated senior, Bowling Green commit
At-A-Glance: Ramos threw for one TD in leading Lakewood St. Edward to the Division I state football title this month and now the middle infielder hopes to be part of the first trip to the baseball state tourney for St. Ed’s since winning a championship in 2010.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I believe being a multi-sport athlete has benefited me in high school because I was constantly staying active keeping myself in shape and never taking myself away from the physical aspect of either game. Along with the physical benefits of being a dual-sport athlete, it has brought out many positive characteristics within myself which has helped me to keep my focus straight and excel in the classroom which then forms me into a better person away from any field.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
One of the things that I can take away from football to help myself on the baseball field is being able to perform when all eyes are on you. Coming from the stage my team and I competed on, there was always that pressure on us. But I think being able to just slow everything down and play the game can flow perfectly into the same mindset for baseball. Another thing I believe that can help me is just being able to have that physical and mental toughness. You need to be tough on those two aspects in order to compete in football, and controlling your mind in baseball is something that I’ve come to realize is a huge part of the game.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
For myself, the hardest part about playing more than one sport would be keeping muscle memory and mechanics apart from the other sport. So in my case, making sure whatever I may do in my football throwing mechanics does not sneak into my game while playing baseball. It's a challenge to come back into the new season with a different sport and to knock the rust off, but that’s part of the process and grind that you need to have love for.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
The advice I would give to a high school athlete who is considering focusing on one sport would be that if you have love for a second sport, compete in both and enjoy it. It’s going to help in little different ways for both sports that you may not even realize, especially at the high school level. You may never know what can come across the table for the next level. It’s going to be a challenge but you will come out a better athlete and also a better individual.
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Kaden Saunders OF / 2B / Westerville South, OH / 2022
Football: D-II first-team all-state wide receiver, Penn State commit
Baseball: Outfielder, 39th-rated senior
At-A-Glance: One of the top athletes in Ohio will not be playing baseball this spring, instead heading to Penn State on Jan. 8 to begin college while preparing for the rigors of football in the Big 10.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Being a multi-sport athlete was beneficial for me because you learn stuff in whatever sports you play that you can implement into other things. You also stay in shape pretty much year ’round and meet new people and new teammates.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football helps me out as a baseball player especially being a receiver you have to have hand-eye coordination which is a must have when you’re in the batter's box. You also need a lot of short-term memory in football. Say you drop a pass, you have to let that go instantly and move onto the next play. Baseball is kind of the same because it is such a mental game, you have to let things go.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hardest thing about playing more than one sport is staying ready for the next season while you're in the season you’re in. You have to stay sharp in all of the sports you play pretty much at all times so you don’t fall behind your competition.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
I would advise all of the younger athletes to continue to play multiple sports in high school just because you learn so much stuff that can apply to all of the sports you play and a lot of the stuff carries over into other sports. It’s not like you are just learning everything from scratch. Not to mention, college coaches love when kids are multi-sport athletes in high school.
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Brady Shannon OF / 3B / Youngstown Ursuline, OH / 2022
Football: D-IV second-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Outfielder, ninth-rated senior, Central Florida commit
At-A-Glance: The 64th-rated 2022 outfielder in the nation, who is a basketball standout as well at Ursuline, selected baseball over football at the next level and will play at Central Florida in the American Athletic Conference.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Playing three sports throughout the year helps me stay in shape year ’round. Baseball, basketball and football all correlate with each other in some sort of way and I feel like they help me become a better athlete overall. It also helps me mentally that I am constantly with a team, and continuously being a leader and it translates to each sport, especially with football being a quarterback.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
From a physical standpoint, football makes me a better baseball player from a strength aspect. I gain lots of strength through lifting at football and being at practice everyday hitting each other. It gives me a great mindset going into the spring, and I can translate a lot of the stuff I learn in football being in many situations, and use it to my advantage on the baseball field. Being a quarterback is very beneficial for me in baseball because I am used to pressure and actually enjoy being the player everybody looks at when things aren’t going well for the team.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
Obviously playing three sports is a lot, especially on top of school and other things outside of sports. But I don’t really see any disadvantages with playing multiple sports. I think if you are a three-sport athlete, making sure you're taking care of your body the right way is extremely important. You don’t want to be burnt out for the next sport coming up, so rest, good eating habits, and being mentally strong are definitely critical to have and to do when playing sports year ’round.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
If I was talking to an upcoming high schooler, I’d tell them to play as many sports as you want. Obviously, some people can play three sports and some people can’t. But the way I look at it is if I have the ability to play a sport, I’m not gonna pass up the opportunity to go out and compete in that sport. Specializing in one sport, I’m not sure what that is like yet, but a lot of kids tend to get burnt out, or not love the game at a certain point since that’s the only thing you do all year. Playing a variety of sports makes you a great athlete, and also makes you an extreme competitor if you play the right way.
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Football: D-IV first-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: RHP, 105th-rated senior, Walsh commit
At-A-Glance: A three-sport athlete who plays basketball in the winter, was first-team all-state in baseball as a junior, hitting .447 with 36 RBIs while going 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA as the staff ace for the 24th-ranked Whippets.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Being a multi-sport athlete has benefited me in many ways because it helps my body stay in shape by doing many different workouts. I’m constantly training which helps all parts of my body stay stronger, plus I don’t get worn out doing the same thing.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football helps me be a better baseball player in many ways. Since I’m a quarterback I am constantly throwing everyday which keeps my arm in shape for baseball. Then constantly being in the weight room for football keeps my body strong.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hardest part about playing more than one sport is being able to critique small things that need work. With there being basically no off season with playing three sports, it is hard to fix things. I really just have to get the hang of it and continue forward.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
To someone who wants to play only one sport, I would say to try to at least play two. Playing two sports rather than one is so much more beneficial because not only is your body staying in shape from doing various workouts, but you won’t get burnt out from just playing the same one sport over and over.
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Billy Skripac RHP / SS / South Range, OH / 2023
Football: D-V first-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: RHP, 110th-rated junior, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: Skripac, an uncommitted hard-throwing junior right-hander whose fastball has touched 89, is expected to be one of the main pitchers in 2022 for a program that is becoming a state power, advancing to the regional finals a year ago.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Playing multiple sports in high school is good for a few reasons. For me, it’s a great break from baseball for a few months to clear my mind of things. Oftentimes athletes that only play one sport can get tired of that sport. Another thing is you’re constantly working different muscles throughout the year. Different workouts and strengths are required for each of the sports and it’s good to be working different muscle groups. You also get more cardio during football compared to baseball.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Playing football can help baseball players as you can lose weight easier during football season to get faster, you still workout during football to get stronger for baseball, and you are really conditioned compared to athletes that don’t play football and just baseball.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hardest part about playing more than one sport is the overlap between the seasons for baseball and football. I would be missing football practices to go to various places because of baseball, and I fell behind at first. Also, I would get no downtime for my arm between baseball and football, so by the end of football I would be using my arm for seven months straight without a break. There are some disadvantages as you could get injured and lose parts of your game during football, but the advantages outweigh them by a lot.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
To an athlete thinking about going the singular sport way, I would tell them to think about a few things before they make that decision. One, you have to remember that high school sports is a once in a lifetime experience and something that you could miss if you only play one sport. Also, think about how much you like the sport you are going to quit. For me, I played basketball but quit because I didn't love it. I didn’t quit football because I love it. Making decisions like that can be hard, but as an athlete you will know what’s right for you. Also remember that playing one sport instead of a down season doesn’t mean you stop improving. For me, I’ve gotten faster and more flexible during this football season, which improves me on the diamond as well. In the end, I advocate playing multiple sports.
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Pierce Taylor C / SS / Archbishop Mcnicholas, OH / 2022
Football: D-IV third-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Catcher/Shortstop, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: Taylor, who quarterbacked McNicholas to the regional finals in football, is hoping to lead the Rockets to their first baseball state appearance since 1998 after advancing to regionals a year ago.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I think each sport benefits one another in their own, unique ways. I wouldn’t be the same person I am today if I had just narrowed down to one sport. The bonds and memories I have made will last me a lifetime and I couldn’t be more grateful. I am also very grateful for the amount of opportunities each sport has presented me.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football has helped my craft as a ballplayer in more ways than just physical. Sure it has helped with my arm strength, speed, and hand-eye, but it has also helped my mindset. I’ve learned how to lead, never quit, and most importantly, how to be a great teammate, even through adversity.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
I think the hardest part is letting your body adjust to the new season and managing your time wisely. It’s easy to look ahead and get overwhelmed, but it’s important to take one day at a time so you can get the most out of every single day.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
Just have fun with whatever you want to do and believe in yourself. Oftentimes you will hear that you can’t play multiple sports in high school if you want to be successful at the next level, but that’s simply not true. If you love the sports you play, continue to play them until you can’t anymore. It may be hard, but that’s where personal growth comes from, and you will be happy you never gave up on them.
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Gabe Tingle OF / Ridgewood, OH / 2022
Football: D-V first-team all-state quarterback, D-V Offensive Player of the Year
Baseball: Outfielder, uncommitted
At-A-Glance: A baseball, football and basketball standout at Ridgewood, Tingle had two hits, a walk and scored two runs in a 6-5 D-III state semifinal win as a freshman and looks to lead the Generals back to state in his final year of high school.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
Being a multi-sport athlete helps because it allows me to stay in shape all year around and keeps me busy.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Playing football helps me keep my strength up and keep muscle for football. It also has helped me to stay disciplined at the plate to be patient.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hardest part is it just is physically demanding with no breaks because it’s constant. The most difficult thing is just staying healthy and taking care of your body.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
I would say it would be the worst idea they could think of. I believe the best athletes are multi-sport athletes. You really have to love the sport if you want to focus on one sport. Also, you never know what doors will open in other sports you play.
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Football: D-III first-team all-state quarterback
Baseball: Shortstop/Outfielder/RHP, 21st-rated senior, Cincinnati commit
At-A-Glance: The versatile Vidourek, who led Badin to the state finals in football, helped the Rams reach D-II state a year ago in baseball and has since committed to Cincinnati as a two-way prospect on the ball diamond.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I feel like being a multi-sport athlete, especially in high school, definitely helps improve your skills. I feel like if you focus on one sport all year around you’re gonna be burnt out by the time college comes. Playing two to three sports all through high school has helped me become a better player because each sport focuses on different skills.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Playing football I feel like is one of the most important things that you can do in high school, especially if you play baseball. Football helps me with my mental game more than anything, especially being a quarterback. If you make a bad read or bad throw you have less than 30 seconds to forget about it and move onto the next play.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
There's only one downside to playing more than one sport and that is time.You won’t have as much time to relax and have a calm time. It may be super time-consuming, but to get your mind off of one sport and move onto the next and take a break I believe has helped me in all of my sports
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
If I could talk to a future high school athlete who plans on focusing on just one sport, I would say to play as many as you possibly can while you can for two reasons. Reason one being you’re only gonna be able to play the sports one time in your life because in college you can rarely ever play two. The second reason being I feel like college coaches nowadays are looking for kids who don’t just play one sport. They know the other sports will help your baseball skills as well.
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Football: D-I second-team all-state running back
Baseball: OF/INF, 13th-rated junior, Purdue commit
At-A-Glance: The 75th-ranked 2023 outfielder in the nation, an all-state running back as both a sophomore and junior with more than 1,000 yards rushing each season, impressed at the 2020 Future Games in baseball and his next stop after high school is the Big 10.
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I feel that being a multi-sport athlete brings many advantages to both of my sports. Football has helped me grow in my mental toughness and my grittiness, while baseball has trained my mental game. Playing multiple sports allows you to increase your athleticism as well.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football helps me bring a toughness and hard-nosed mentality to baseball, which helps me be a competitor. I am able to grind away in my game, which I have been able to learn from football.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
Playing multiple sports has its benefits, but there are some challenges. While in another season, it is hard to put work in another sport because you are occupied all the time.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
I would tell an athlete that wants to specialize in one sport to do what makes them happy. Playing multiple sports is not a disadvantage, it helps you as an athlete tremendously. I think it is very beneficial to play multiple sports because you get to carry over things that you learn from one sport to another.
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Ryan Yingst LHP / OF / Lima Perry, OH / 2022
Football: D-VII honorable mention all-state quarterback
Baseball: LHP/OF, 128th-rated senior, Tiffin commit
At-A-Glance: Three-sport athlete that also excels at basketball, Yingst was first-team all-state in baseball a season ago after posting a 0.95 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 44.1 innings
How do you feel being a high school multi-sport athlete is beneficial for you?
I feel being a multi-sport athlete in high school benefited me by letting my body do different movements and keeping me athletic through the entire year.
In what ways does playing football help you out as a baseball player?
Football helped me build arm strength by playing quarterback. Being at the quarterback position helps me deal with high-pressure situations that I feel translates to the game of baseball.
What is the hardest part about playing more than one sport and any disadvantages that you see?
The hard part about being a multi-sport athlete is you do not get to truly focus on baseball, it gives you the disadvantage to the player who has the practice all year. But the advantages of playing two or more sports outweighs that in my opinion.
What would you say to a future high school athlete who is thinking about specializing/focusing on one sport instead of being a multi-sport athlete?
If you are thinking about specializing in one sport I would advise you not to do it. If you play other sports it trains muscles you might not train outside of baseball. I feel you become a better all-around athlete by playing multiple sports. I would also say the experience of Friday night lights is something you will never get again. I do not regret being a three-sport athlete in high school. I got a scholarship still and stayed injury-free through high school.
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