Community Christian’s Austin Eshelman
By Elizabeth Contreras
VYPE: Austin, what grade are you in and what position do you play?
Austin Eshelman: I am a freshman at CCS, and I play both wide receiver and free safety.
VYPE: What does playing football at Community Christian mean to you?
AE: Playing football at CCS has given me the opportunity to play competitive varsity football as a freshman.
VYPE: What’s something about your position that most fans don’t notice from the stands?
AE: On defense the need to read run or pass, read the quarterback, see the throw, and then attack the ball in a matter of seconds is something most fans just can’t see from the stands.
VYPE: Do you have a favorite part of practice?
AE: In practice we often play some 7-on-7, which gives us a chance to fly around and be aggressive with room for mistakes.
VYPE: Who on your team inspires you?
AE: Jayden Bowers. He reminds me that high school football is a grind. He says it won’t come easy, so I’ve got to be willing to put in the work.
VYPE: What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a coach?
AE: “Respect is not given it is earned.” This is a great reminder that I can’t walk into the world expecting everyone to think highly of me. I have to work to earn the reputation I want.
VYPE: Do you have any pregame rituals or routines?
AE: I always text my older brother, Owen Eshelman, about the game and what I need to be ready for. He responds with encouragement and advice that gets me ready to take the field and play my best. I also always pray with two other freshmen, as well as sophomore running back Carson Rehkop.
VYPE: Outside of school and football, what else keeps you busy?
AE: Mowing lawns. I run a small business with six lawns that I have taken over from my older brother.
VYPE: What’s a football memory you know you’ll carry with you forever?
AE: I won’t ever forget the times in practice when it felt like the challenges were impossible, yet I knew there were 30 guys in the same position going through the same thing. That experience creates a bond between teammates, and that brotherhood is something I will cherish for a long time.
