66 screws. 13 plates. 

For most, the brain remains untouched by medical professionals and metal; however, freshman Swim & Dive team member Ethan Baker is the exception. 

In 2019, Baker suffered a severe biking accident that led to an emergency hospital visit.  He went through an eight-hour reconstructive surgery that resulted in medical professionals putting 66 screws and 13 plates on the right side of his head. 

The aftermath of the surgery presents challenges, including frequent headaches. “Once a month I’ll get bad headaches that I just don’t want to do anything,” Baker shared. 

These headaches impact not only on his daily life, but his role as a college swimmer.  He often experiences them after intense workouts or practices.   

One of the biggest adjustments Baker had to make was giving up contact sports.  According to OhioHealth playing contact sports like football or ice hockey can alter the brain’s structure and function.  Research from post-doctoral fellow Nathan Churchill at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto supports this claim, showing that contact sports can cause brain changes compared to non-contact sports. 

To protect himself, Baker gave up football; however, he was able to continue with swimming – a sport both his parents and older sisters participated in.  As previously stated, there’s still some challenges presented for Baker despite swimming being a non-contact sport. 

“That was a big part of where I chose if the coaches were understanding with it,” Baker said in regard to his injury. 

He finds that when going through recruiting Head Swim & Dive Coach Hueston Holder understood his circumstances. 

Baker is now in his second semester with the university and concluded his first season with the team.  He’s found closeness with teammates, such as fellow freshman Kaleb Pena who finds Bakers is not only a good teammate, but even better friend. 

“He was the first person on the team that I met when I got to campus in the fall, and we became very close soon after,” Pena said.  

He finds that Baker is one of the most passionate people he knows when it comes to swimming, and he’s even better at boosting the team’s morale no matter what the situation. 

Some people could be curious about Baker’s condition and if this is temporary or life-long. 

Studies show that there is a chance that patients with plates and screws in their head can have them removed; however, it’s very risky and not often done. 

Even after his accident Baker is living his life at Ashland University alongside his teammates and friends, the biggest advice he gives to aspiring college athletes is to put in the time and have fun.  His injury hasn’t, and will continue to not, put a hold on his life. 

To follow his collegiate athlete journey supporters can visit Ethan’s profile on goashlandeagles.com.