As captain of both his swim and soccer teams, and a swim coach for the Loomis Basin Dolphins, Ethan has always been intrigued by how the body works, which helped shape his approach to fitness, teamwork and leadership roles.  In August 2025, he sustained a C5 spinal cord injury in a beach accident, resulting in paralysis from the chest down and requiring dependence on assistive devices and caregiving support. The injury brought significant medical challenges, including nerve pain, blood pressure issues, and respiratory complications.

He committed himself to intensive rehabilitation, participating in more than 30 hours of physical and occupational therapy and adaptive sports each week. His dedication has allowed him to surpass early medical expectations, and he remains determined to continue progressing towards more independence. His experiences as both an athlete and a patient strengthened his desire to pursue a Kinesiology major at SDSU and focus on a career in physical therapy, fitness, or wellness. He says, “coaching, encouraging, and caring for people have always been a passion of mine because I value sharing the importance of health and fitness.”