A family tragedy led to Tyson Grove moving to La Center, and he is grateful for the community and his teammates for welcoming him, and inspiring him to become a better person

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It was a horrific event.

A family lost their grandfather in a house fire in Vancouver in June of 2023.

In Montana, Tyson Grove was working a summer job when he got the call. His grandfather had died, and his home back home was destroyed.

That event set off a chain of events that led Grove to changing schools, changing football teams, and changing his life.

“It taught me I have a lot more than what I thought I did,” Grove said. “It has brought out the best in me. It’s taught me that I can push myself more than I thought I could and to just never quit.”

Tyson Grove is thriving now as a senior at La Center High School. He credits his new city, his new school, and his new family members.

Yes, he considers his teammates on the football team as family members.

That new family is coming to terms with the end of its football season. Saturday afternoon, the Wildcats lost in the Class 1A state quarterfinals. It was a shocking loss in the sense that La Center was the 3-seed in the tournament. The Wildcats were hoping for a trip to the semifinals, for a second shot this season at league rival Seton Catholic.

Instead, the Wildcats were wondering what went wrong Saturday.

Grove, though, is also proof of all that can go right with high school sports, with how a community can open its arms to a newcomer.

The football season, at most, was going to last until the first week of December for the Wildcats.

The impact of the past two football seasons will last forever for Grove.

He was living with his mom, Shannon, attending Hudson’s Bay High School. The tragedy brought on a residency change, as well. Grove moved in with his dad, Steve, in La Center.

“I didn’t know anyone,” Tyson Grove said. “Full fresh start.”

He played football, though. Which means he would have a head start on meeting new friends.

“I started talking to the coaches, meeting the players,” Grove recalled. “Got my registration figured out. Started working out. Started practicing with the team. I hit the weight room, and just being there next to them. They brought me in and made me a part of their family.”

His junior year, just after moving to La Center, he was part of the Trico League championship season.

And now, in about a year-and-a-half living in La Center, Grove said he believes he has improved as a person.

“I’m definitely around a lot better influences. Everywhere here, students, friends … they all push me to be the best that I can, and I push them to be the best that they can.”

Grove’s relationship with his father is strong, too.

“We get along, for the most part,” Tyson said with a smile. “He pushes me. He doesn’t let me slack around or be lazy.”

No laziness detected by La Center coaches.

“Tyson fit in so well with our program,” La Center coach John Lambert said. “He brought with him a toughness and work ethic that his teammates respected. On top of that, Tyson has a good nature and friendliness that endeared him to the Wildcat family.”

There is that word again, family.

“They are a huge part of me. I think I’ve impacted them some way or another,” Grove said. “I consider them all my brothers. They’ll stand right by my side, and I’ll stand right by theirs no matter what.”

Next for Tyson Grove is wrestling season with the Wildcats. After high school, Grove said he is looking into joining the United States Marine Corps.

His future is bright because his present has been so stable.

A year-and-a-half ago, Grove just wasn’t sure about things. Now, with the help of his new community and his new football team, Grove is ready to take on all challenges.

“We fight together. We win together. We lose together,” Grove said after Saturday’s loss.

“Every game, we gave it our hardest and laid it all out on the field. Even the games we lost, including today and to Seton Catholic, we laid it all out on the field and gave it our all.”