2024 Interview with Caden Estep two-sport athlete from Wheelersburg

 

Caden Estep

Wheelersburg High School

OL/DL

Class of 2026

Last year, when we spoke, you said that one of your goals was to get on the field. Did you achieve that goal, along with how you felt you played once you were in the game?

No, I didn’t achieve that goal. The linemen that I had in front of me were good linemen, and I knew my role, but I was a starter on our juniorvarsity team with a record of 5-2, with the two losses coming from two good JV teams, the Ironton Tigers and the Raceland Rams. But I am still working toward that goal. I am excited for this year. I already have the countdown for Ironton,Jackson,and harvest prep.

Wheelersburg had another successful year, going 9-4 with two losses to a very stout Harvest Prep team. What do you think it will take to not only better the record but also get past Harvest Prep in the playoffs?

It will definitely be a dogfight of a game. We got to play our best and definitely work on keeping our best players from breaking out big plays like their QB/MLB Dezomd Porter. He was definitely a threat on both sides of the ball and probably their best player coming back, and if we just hustle more and work better, we definitely have a shot at beating the Warriors of Harvest Prep.

Just looking at all of the road games you have played, which has been your least favorite to play in, along with the reason or reason why?

There definitely isn’t a road game I don’t want to play. But Harvest Prep and Archbishop McNicholas are the two big away games for this year. We will have to have a long bus ride and a great week of practice, but we can’t forget about the senators of the West Side. We travel to their place to stay on the throne of SOC 2. We will still have a stout team this year, like we did last year. And this will be a good game, like last year.

Staying with the road game theme. Which has been your favorite to have played in, along with the reason or reasons why?

The favorite I had was definitely going up to Barnesville. The atmosphere was very cool. It was in the middle of the town, and it was a packed house. Then, playing at iron, it was always fun playing there.

If you could choose any stadium to play a game in, where are you playing, along with the reason?

Definitely, playing at Ed Miller is my favorite, but I am definitely wanting to play at Tom Benson Stadium before I graduate.

What are you going to miss the most from the 2024 class?

I am definitely going to miss this class in 2024. Playing with my older brother and his grade, I will definitely miss playing with. I looked up to all of them, and we will have to fill in a lot of players shoes.
Creed Warren RB/DB
Cole Estep, OL/DL
Cody Risner TE/OL/DL
Jake Darling RB/LB
Landon Hutchinson, QB/OLB
Brayden Maxie RB/TE/DE
Nate May, OL/DL
Kolton Salyers, TE/LB
Jackson Willoughby, DL
Devon Lattimore, WR/DB
Connor Estep, PK/P
Rowdy Watkins, WR/CB
All these players will be missed, and we need to fill their shoes. We have many receivers to fill the roles of Devon Lattimore, like Junior Xander Mowery, Soph Hunter Bivens, and Brian Longfellow, and we have many backs to fill the roles of Jake, Maxie, and Warren, like Junior Riley Cunningham, Soph Elijah Brown, and Ison Emmnet. From the lineman perspective, we will have many to fill in the spots of Cody, Cole, and Nate. On the offensive side, we have juniors Sawyer Singiner and Nathan Lanning coming off of injury and Landon Evans coming back, and we have Holt Christian and Logan Evans. Sophomores: we have Caden Estep and Alex Richey to fill those spots, and Ryan Meeker is coming back from a stellar sophomore year on the offensive line. On the defensive line, we have to fill major shoes to fill Brayden Maxie and Cody Risner off the edge and Cole Estep in the interior. We have Parker Cantrell and Luke Willis as juniors, and Ison Emmnet and many other sophomores that can play Dline. Overall, we will reload again and have another stellar season.

Who is the best player you have faced in a game, along with the team he played for?

The best player I’ve definitely played against there was many.
Dezomd Porter of Harvest Prep
Ty Perkins of Ironton
Tyler Snyder of Archbishop McNicholas
We’re definitely a few of the best players I’ve played with.

You play both basketball and football; which one is the hardest to prepare for?

Basketball is the sport I prep the most for.
My routine for basketball on a Saturday game
2:30: Get to the school.
2:45: Get on the court.
2:50-Prayer
3:00-Form Shooting
3:45: Break one (eat food).
4:00: Moves to the basket
4:30: Break two (ice knees).
4:45: Stretches and rest
5:00: Try to do 5 dunks.
5:15: Rest until game time.

Of the two sports you play, basketball and football, which one do you believe you are better at?

I definitely play basketball because of the time and effort I put in to make myself better.

What has been your most embarrassing moment as an athlete?

Probably getting pancakes or getting my ankles broken.

Do you feel that you and your teammates are role models for the young kids who come and root for you?

We're definitely our cause, kids. After some games, we’re getting our autographs.

What advice are you giving to that first-year starter?

Don’t think; just understand your assignment, and don’t dwell on your mistakes.

Other than sports, what do you enjoy doing?

Fishing, hunting, and hanging with girlfriends and friends. Probably watching movies

Play Station or X-Box?

PS4

Have you ever been to a pro-football game?

No, I haven't.