Tanner Beaman made most of spring season to catapult him into a leader going into his senior year with Skyview
For years, he looked up to Skyview football players.
“I grew up coming to these games,” Tanner Beaman said. “I grew up wanting to be a Skyview football player.”
He has grown, alright, into a 6-foot-3 linebacker with speed, intelligence, and ability.
“Now I’m a senior, I’m leading these guys, and it’s just amazing,” Beaman said. “It means the world to me.”
It also means a great deal to Beaman that he and his teammates were able to have that abbreviated spring season. So many Skyview players performed well, as the Storm went 6-1. Beaman made “The Leap” from just another sophomore in 2019 to big-time defensive playmaker as a junior in the spring of 2021.
“We knew he was a good athlete,” Skyview coach Steve Kizer said of Beaman when he was younger. “Then he just outlifted everyone.”
Beaman made his presence known in that spring campaign, proving that work in the weight room does transfer to excellence on the field.
Beaman also is one of three returning linebackers for the Storm. In all, Skyview has six returning starters on offense and defense.
As a senior, Beaman said his job is not only to get himself prepared for battle, and not only get his team ready for this season, but to provide the blueprint for future success. After all, that’s what got him to where he is today.
“It’s just a great culture here at Skyview,” Beaman said. “I learned from a lot of older guys about that work ethic. Against all odds, you’re always in the weight room, you’re always on the field pushing yourself, and bringing your teammates with you just to get better every day.”
Against all odds took on a different vibe in the past 18 months. Beaman had committed to the Skyview way right after his sophomore football season. He attacked the weight room that winter. By spring, though, COVID hit.
No matter. He and many of his teammates adapted to the situation and made sure they remained focused on the job at hand.
“I was always working pretty much,” he said. “A few guys had weights in their house. We’d get in when we could. We were blessed … to get in there to lift weights.”
Those who did make such a commitment shined during the spring. Like Beaman.
“Even though there were no playoffs, we still got to play some of those big games we look forward to every year, so it was cool,” Beaman said.
That included a victory over Union. Skyview’s lone loss? A double-overtime game against Camas.
Yes, those annual big games were still big.
“It definitely meant something for us,” Beaman said.
Individually speaking, it also gave opportunities for players to impress college recruiters. That’s what happened to Beaman, who has an offer from the University of Idaho and is on the radar screens of several other programs.
At one camp this season, in a series of 50 snaps going against slot receivers or running backs out of the backfield, the offense completed one pass against Beaman.
“I’m really happy for him,” Kizer said. “That seven-game deal (in the spring), he was as good as anyone in the league. He’s become such a good leader, too.”
Now, the plan is for the traditional regular season in the fall, with playoffs. Beaman and the Skyview Storm are ready.
“We’ve got a lot of returning starters, and our defense is looking really good, really solid,” Beaman said. “I believe we have the best coaching staff in the state. They’re getting us ready the best that they can for us to have a great season.”
