2014 Border Classic All Stars – Team Michigan
Ian Eriksen
Running Back
5’10″ 195 lbs
Eastern Michigan University
High School: Clarkston
High School Coach: Kurt Richardson
Ian’s parents are Lauryn and Mark. His brother Nolan (16) plays football, wrestles and runs track. Ian and Nolan played together this past season in football, and they are both sprinters on the track team. His sister, Emma, is a freshman at Michigan State University. She played soccer at Clarkston and was a part of the National Honor Society. His younger sister, Allie, is in seventh grade and plays volleyball and runs track.
Ian’s football experience started in 2004 with the little league Clarkston Chiefs. He started playing defense, mostly at safety, and then running back and corner as he got older. In middle school he was a running back and outside linebacker and played those positions all through high school. In his junior year he had 2,167 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. The team finished 11-1, winning League and District Championships. As a senior he had several injuries early in the season, but returned for the end of the regular season and the playoffs. After losing the opener, they won every game, finishing with a State Championship against Catholic Central. Ian had 1,700 rushing yards, and 28 touchdowns.
Ian competed in three sports, football and baseball or lacrosse in the spring. He broke the school record for the 200m dash and was on the record-breaking 4×400 team, was also All State in the 200m. He ran for Elite Performance last summer and competed in USATF events including the Junior Olympics in North Carolina in the 200m and 4x400m.
Ian said, “There have been many people who have helped me accomplish my goals and find success. My dad has always supported me in every activity and challenged me to set goals for myself and make the sacrifices necessary to accomplish them. My mom has gone to every game or race of mine since I started playing sports, and is my and my siblings’ biggest fan. I wouldn’t have my competitive spirit and drive without them. The biggest thing I’ve learned from them is that every day is an opportunity to get better, and that being humble is the most important quality of a good man, and an athlete. I thank my entire coaching staff at Clarkston for their relentless pursuit of greatness, which we achieved this year by winning the State Championship. I thank my trainer Jim Browne who has helped me since sophomore year. I also thank my Grandma and Grandpa Eriksen for cheering me on, my aunts, uncles, and cousins who came to watch me play throughout the season.” He thanked his offensive line, “I owe my success to the offensive line. They were great all year long, especially in the last game.”
Awards
All State 1st Team, 2012 & 2013
All State Dream Team, Detroit Free Press, 2013