by Declan O’Malley

Sounder contributor

Ethan Patrick, a multisport athlete at Lopez Island High School, has committed to playing basketball at the next level with a semi-professional team in Rome, Italy.

Patrick will join a semi-pro basketball program and be assigned to a team based on the results of tryouts upon arrival. For the Lopez senior, the opportunity offers a chance to grow both on and off the court.

“I am focusing on becoming a better teammate, playmaker, and shooter. I’m looking forward to the new environment and growing with people who love the sport as much as I do,” Patrick said.

He’s also excited about the cultural experience and personal development that comes with living abroad.

“My Italian could use some work. I’ve been taking lessons and will be taking Italian classes while studying abroad. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, traveling, and playing the sport I grew up playing,” he said.

Growing up on Lopez Island, Patrick said, came with both benefits and limitations. He had the freedom to compete in multiple sports — including soccer, basketball and track — which helped build his endurance, competitiveness and overall appreciation for athletics. However, the island’s size limited his exposure to higher levels of competition.

Despite that, Patrick had an accomplished athletic career at Lopez. This past season, he helped lead the school to a soccer championship and earned first-team all-league honors in both soccer and basketball.

“We are incredibly proud of Ethan as he pursues this opportunity to play basketball and study abroad. He is an incredible young man, and while his athletic contributions as a Lobo will be greatly missed, we look forward to watching him thrive on this next adventure,” said Lopez Athletic Director Ginger Plum.

Now, he’ll take his talents to the international stage, representing his school and island community as he pursues his basketball dreams in Italy.