Matt Fourman has been all over the football field for Seymour this fall.
Fourman has played in all three phases of the game.
On defense, he has played inside linebacker and in the line.
“The defense has been playing as a team all season, but I feel like we’ve become more together, tighter,” Fourman said. “I think we’ve become a closer group and we’re playing more as a unit.”
When the Owls play a tight formation on offense, Fourman goes in at left end to block.
“We have a couple different formations out of that, but mainly I’m blocking,” Fourman said. “We haven’t had (tight formation) all year, but we’ve had it for most of the year.”
Fourman has played on special teams (PAT) in the tight formation, and he caught a 2-point conversion at Bedford North Lawrence.
The Owls take an eight-game winning streak into the sectional final against East Central.
Getting that first win against Floyd Central turned the season around, according to Fourman.
“I feel that first win put us on a roll,” he said. “That first win made us feel like we’re not going to be stopped. We’ve had the attitude that we can beat anybody that lines up across from us.”
Fourman, who attended Trinity Lutheran for two years, began playing football at Immanuel Lutheran School and started playing baseball in Seymour Youth Leagues.
He has caught for most of his career on the diamond.
“It has felt like the right fit for me,” Fourman said of catching. “Its been my most comfortable position. I like being in charge of the field. I see everything; I know what’s going on. Sometimes the coaches call the pitches, but mainly it’s what I feel is the right pitch.”
Fourman said you continually have to make adjustments in pitch selection.
“I may call an off-speed pitch to see how they react on first pitches,” Fourman said. “Or, I see how they react to certain things, keeping in mind all game they don’t like a curve ball, keeping in mind when they come up ‘ok, let’s go with a curve ball.’
“One of the main emphasis’ for our catchers is to know what could happen next, think of the next play like ‘they could steal, they could bunt, they could to a hit-and-run,’ You call a play for what you think might be next.”
In the offseason he is going to work on being able to stop low pitches in the dirt and making better decisions on certain types of plays.
“My baseball IQ is not as high as I’d like it to be, but it’s pretty good,” Fourman said. “I’d like to make myself achieve more and know more about the games I play.”
The senior said he believes that the weight room can make a big difference in games.
“It’s important because not only does it make you stronger, it makes you more able to resist injury,” Fourman said. “It helps keep you healthy because you’re active.”
He said he has enjoyed attending Seymour High School.
“They give you a lot of opportunities,” Fourman said. “Trinity is a nice school, but I feel this is where I fit in more. I’ll remember the friends, victories and memories I’ve made here for the short time.”
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Name: Matt Fourman
School: Seymour High School
Parents: Steve and Cheryl Fourman
Siblings: Steph, Maria, Brandon
Sports: Football, four years; baseball, four years; basketball, two years
Athletic honors: Baseball-Cougar Award
Organizations: Student Ambassador
Plans after high school: Attend college, study law enforcement
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: “NCIS”
Favorite movie: “Unbroken”
Favorite teams: University of Michigan, New England Patriots
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