Camden Peters admits the sport he most prefers involves jump shots, backdoor cuts and eight-minute quarters.
Turns out the Greenwood Christian Academy senior is a good fall guy, too.
Peters, a starting midfielder for the Cougars’ boys soccer program, has scored a team-high five goals and assisted on two others entering tonight’s home game against Whiteland.
Greenwood Christian is 4-1. The lone setback came in a 2-0 decision at International in the Cougars’ third match of the season.
In the team’s victories, Greenwood Christian has outscored its opponents 20-3.
Looking to implement a slightly altered offensive and defensive system this season, Cougars coach Dan Carmichael benefited from the return of Peters.
“I’m going to call Camden a utility player,” Carmichael said. “We lost nine seniors from last year, and he’s pretty much the foundation of the middle that controls our offense and our defense.
“We’ve only given up five goals in five games, and we’ve scored 20. A lot of that is attributed to Camden with his knowledge and leadership. He is a great leader for us.”
Peters is one of three seniors on this year’s team, the others being forward Ethan Chupp and defender Jeremy Miller. The Cougars’ captains are Peters, Chupp and junior midfielder Gerrit Huizinga.
A 3.7 grade-point average student in the classroom, Peters participated in three sports during the 2015-16 school year.
Not only did he play for a soccer program that advanced to the Class A regional at Knightstown, Peters averaged 7.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists for the Cougars’ boys basketball squad.
Wanting to take part in a spring sport, he played baseball for the first time in his high school career.
Utilized as a right fielder, Peters participated in 10 of Greenwood Christian’s 23 games. He finished the spring with a .385 batting average to go along with eight runs scored and three stolen bases for a program that advanced to the Morristown Regional.
Peters hasn’t decided if he’ll play baseball again.
Hoops is a certainty.
“I would say basketball is my best sport. I just really enjoy it,” said Peters, a 6-foot guard who last season led the Cougars in 3-pointers made (34) and attempted (81).
“Going from soccer to basketball is a big transition because soccer is so strategic. Just knowing when to make cuts. Knowing when to pass it over to another person.”
Peters said he believes the momentum achieved through soccer sectional titles two of the past three seasons could lead to a deeper postseason run this time around.
“I really do feel like we can win regional,” he said. “We’ve got great coaches who know what they’re doing, and I’ve been playing with these seniors since we were freshmen. It’s a team with good chemistry.”
Carmichael marvels at his midfielder’s willingness to improve himself no matter the season or sport.
“Camden has a great work ethic,” he said. “He’s in the gym or in the weight room or on the field every day.”
More often than not, it’s all three.
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THE PETERS FILE
Name: Camden Peters
Age: 17
Born: Greenwood
Family: Parents, Bruce and Dena; sisters, Hannah, 18, and Grace, 15; brother, Griffin, 14
Favorite TV show: “Psych”
Favorite food: Chinese
Favorite movie: “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol”
Favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant
Favorite team: University of Nebraska football
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