Bark River-Harris senior Ethan Ives (center) signs his letter of intent to play football at UW-Stevens Point on April 9, 2024 at Bark River-Harris High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

HARRIS — After three years as starting quarterback for Bark River-Harris football team, senior Ethan Ives signed his letter of intent to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and will begin classes in the fall of 2024.

Ives will be studying business administration in the financial field at UW-Stevens Point.

“There is so much opportunity in this field of study,” Ives said. “I’m looking to grow and excel in the field no matter which direction I go in the field.

Ives chose UW-Stevens Point because of its location.

“The community there kind of feels like home,” Ives said. “I have lots of family in Wisconsin and not to far from home so it kind of feels like a second home.”

In his three years at starting quarterback he completed 93-of-186 passes for 1,265 yards and 16 touchdowns. On the ground he accumulated 453 yards and eight touchdowns off 139 carries. He was All-Conference quarterback his junior season as well as honorable mention for All-U.P. He also received All-Conference honors as a punter his sophomore and senior seasons. Ives posted 19 wins as quarterback of the Broncos and led them to winning records all three seasons.

“I coached Ethan from fifth grade to eighth grade. He was the smartest player on the field even at that young age,” Steve Kwarciany said. “He studied playbooks and knew what was expected of him. He’s not the biggest, toughest or fastest athlete on the field but I would take 11 kids like him on both sides of the ball because anything can happen, and championships are won that way.”

Ives best season came during his junior year where the Broncos posted an 8-3 record with a 48-0 home win over West Iron County and a 60-7 home win over Gwinn.

“He is a great competitor,” former Broncos coach Al Stenberg said. “He gives it 100% on every play. He’s the kind of kid you want leading your team.”

The Broncos beat St. Ignace 44-20 in the district semifinals before falling to Iron Mountain 32-16 in the district final in 2022.

“He is an all around great kid and athlete,” Broncos coach Caleb Adams said. “All the time he puts in on the field and in the weight room and the character in which he displays shows why he was our senior captain last season. His teammates trust him and he will go above and beyond to help his teammates he is truly what an athlete should be.”