Keegan Tanner’s big impact on Wesley Chapel sports
By Kyle LoJacono
The best high school athletes spend years developing leadership skills needed to guide one team on and off the field. Wesley Chapel High’s Keegan Tanner does it for two.
The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Tanner has been a major factor, both with his play and leadership, on the Wildcats’ football and baseball teams the last four years. The big difference between the baseball diamond and the football gridiron is what draws the senior to both.
“I’ve done both since I can remember, and I like them both a lot,” Tanner said. He then added, “Football has the intensity of hitting and scoring touchdowns in front of all the fans on Friday nights. With baseball it’s more relaxing. They’re both different, so I like having two sports that are so different.”
The mentality is different, but Tanner said what it takes to guide a team doesn’t change regardless of the sport or season.
“Basically being a leader takes the same kind of things no matter what the sport is, or even outside of sports,” Tanner said. “Make sure everyone is focused and make sure you’re doing the right things too. With football it’s a little harder because there are a lot more guys, but it’s pretty much the same thing.”
Junior Hunter Robinson has seen Tanner’s leadership style on both teams.
“He’s always consistent no matter what’s going on around him,” said Robinson, a pitcher and defensive end. “He’s just a great all-around athlete. When I was a freshman coming in playing football with him I had no idea he was such a good third baseman. He puts everything he’s got onto the field. He’s just got the right mindset, and it’s good to see how to do things as a younger player.”
Tanner played all over the field in football last year, seeing time at quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and punt returner.
“He did whatever we asked without complaining once,” said Wesley Chapel football coach Ben Alford. “Whatever we asked him to do he did because he’s athletic enough, and because he wants to do what’s best for the team.”
The versatile Tanner, who has signed to play football at Stetson University, went 26-of-56 passing for 488 yards and five touchdowns to two interceptions while adding 322 yards on 52 rushes. He also hauled in 13 catches for 205 yards and three more TDs, in addition to recording 19 tackles and 176 yards returning punts.
Alford said Tanner’s work in the classroom, which has earned him a 4.02 weighted grade point average, also sets the right tone for the rest of the players.
“The coaches can talk about how important grades are, but when they see a kid like Keegan go out and get all A’s and be at the top of his class it really makes them pay attention,” Alford said. “When he signed to go to Stetson my wife made a comment that she hopes our two boys grow up to be like Keegan. His parents have done a great job raising him.”
He has played multiple positions in football, but when the season turns to spring Tanner finds his home at third base. He hit .333 with 27 runs scored, 20 RBI and 10 steals last season.
“We tried to play him a little at shortstop his sophomore year, and he wasn’t comfortable there, so we moved him to just third and he’s the real deal there,” said Wildcats baseball coach Chuck Yingling. “He’s very talented and a good example.”
Tanner’s leadership will be needed this baseball season, as the Wildcats lost eight seniors and two other players who transferred from last year’s squad. Wesley Chapel has only five seniors, three who started most of the 2011 campaign.
“We all have to step up, not just any one of us,” Tanner said. “We know the younger guys are looking up to us, and we all have to really be a good role model because there are a lot less seniors than a year ago. If they look at us and we’re messing around then they’re going to think it’s OK. It’s not OK.”
The Wildcats open up their baseball season at Pasco on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. They play their first home game against Ridgewood on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
