Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

Category: Courage | Alma Mater: South Fayette, 2025 | Sport: Basketball, Baseball

Ethan Keener’s high school journey is defined by extraordinary resilience, perseverance, and strength in the face of overwhelming adversity. He was diagnosed on December 28, 2020, with severe aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder, after being admitted to St. Clair Hospital and later transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital for extensive testing and treatment. Ethan underwent immunosuppressive therapy, frequent blood and platelet transfusions, and ultimately a bone marrow transplant after initial treatments proved unsuccessful, with the transplant process beginning on August 15, 2022. Due to his compromised immune system, he missed extended time from school between January and June of 2021 and again during his transplant recovery, returning to in-person classes on March 27, 2023. A three-sport athlete entering high school, Ethan’s athletic participation was limited for multiple seasons due to medical treatment, followed by consecutive ACL injuries that prematurely ended two basketball and baseball seasons. Granted an additional year of eligibility by the WPIAL, he returned to competition during his senior season before undergoing surgery that ultimately concluded his high school athletic career. Throughout his setbacks, Ethan remained a committed teammate, continuing to support his programs from the sidelines and serving as a positive influence within his school community. In recognition of his perseverance and character, he was named a Western Pennsylvania Positive Athlete Scholarship recipient and a UPMC Sports Medicine Comeback Player Award winner in 2025. Now healthy, Ethan is currently attending Kent State University, carrying forward the same determination that defined his high school career