A man of many hats: Schrader shines year-round for Eastside sports

Peyton Schrader is Eastside’s star quarterback, star third-baseman/shortstop, and multi-time state champion wrestler.

Peyton Schrader is a man of many hats. 

Eastside’s three-sport star finds his schedule filled year-round.

In the fall, he’s the star quarterback of Eastside’s football team. When winter sports season rolls around, Schrader ditches the helmet and pads for the singlet and mat. Schrader is a multi-year state champion wrestler for the Eagles.

In the spring, Schrader picks up a bat and trots to third base/shortstop for Eastside baseball. He’s one of the team’s most consistent fielders and hitters.

It’s one thing to play multiple sports. Plenty of athletes do. 

But Schrader doesn’t just play. He excels at every game he touches.

It’s in his blood.

“It’s something I’ve been doing since I was little,” said Schrader. “It’s always just been normal to me. My older brothers played multiple sports. My younger brother does it… I think it’s just a part of me at this point. We’re all just so competitive.

“Whenever I have a day off and I’m not playing on some field doing some sport, I hate it. I get so bored. It eats me up, just wanting to go out there and do something.”

Toward the end of this past wrestling season, Schrader suffered a broken femur during a match against Byrnes. When attempting to slam an opponent to the mat, Schrader accidentally dropped his foe onto his leg. 

Schrader’s junior wrestling season was cut short after suffering a broken femur in a match vs. Byrnes. (PHOTO | LEIGH CLEMENT)

Schrader missed the remainder of his junior wrestling season. His baseball season appeared to be in jeopardy, too.

But after grinding through his recovery process, Schrader returned to the diamond last week in Eastside’s three-game sweep over Spartanburg.

In Wednesday night’s win over Byrnes, Schrader went 2-4 with two RBIs and a solo home run in the second inning — the first home run of his high-school baseball career.

“It didn’t feel like the best swing, but the wind carried it over the fence,” said Schrader. “I felt like I’d kind of just poked it a little bit.”

Eastside baseball coach Scott Erwin was thankful for Schrader’s contributions at the plate on Wednesday. His home run and two RBIs helped the Eagles even up a crucial region finale series. 

More than anything, however, Erwin is just thankful to see Schrader on the field at all.

“I really didn’t think he was going to play baseball this year,” said Erwin. “I saw a picture of his MRI after he broke his femur. I thought there was no way. But Peyton, he kept telling me, ‘I’ll play, coach, I’ll play.’ And sure enough, he was completely cleared by his doctor.

“One of my coaches asked me the other day if [Schrader] was made of stem cells that regenerate and heal automatically. It’s crazy.”

Schrader launched a solo home run in the second inning of Eastside’s 8-5 win over Byrnes on Wednesday night. It was the first home run of his high school career. (PHOTO | CRAIG EDWARDS)

Erwin isn’t the only one of Schrader’s coaches who sings the junior’s praises.

“Peyton is the heartbeat of our program,” said Eastside head coach Andre Woolcock. “He brings tremendous leadership to our team. I wish I had more kids like him. 

“Him being a multi-sport athlete is great. It helps with the morale of the school when kids are big-time contributors in multiple athletic programs.”

Now fully healed from his broken femur, Schrader hopes to stay healthy and finish out this baseball season — and potentially lead Eastside to a third state title in six years. He’ll be a senior next year and doesn’t want to miss any more time for his teams.

Whether that’s on the gridiron, mat, or diamond.

“I’ll miss this a lot,” said Schrader. “I’m not looking forward to possibly having to cut out one or two of these sports when I go to college. That’s going to be really tough.

“I know I’ve still got some time left until then, but it’s on my mind. I know it’s coming.”