Charles Hahn says senior Tanner Koford embodies what it means to be a Hudson’s Bay Eagle.
Sometimes, literally.
A baseball player most of the year, Koford had never played tennis prior to joining Bay’s boys tennis team as a sophomore. Two years later, Koford has become the Eagles’ No. 1 singles player, winning his first eight matches of the season.
Hahn, Bay’s tennis coach, believes Koford could even qualify for the state tournament this year.
“He has pure athleticism, sheer grit and determination,” Hahn said. “He’s a throwback athlete. I get goosebumps talking about him, and it’s pretty warm out here. He just has that grit and perseverance that we don’t see a lot of anymore. That’s why he’s a total throwback. It’s inspiring, and he’s inspiring others.”
Koford said he first took up tennis his sophomore year at the suggestion of a baseball teammate. Playing tennis offers him a break from playing baseball.
“Baseball, for me, starts up right after the tennis season ends” in the fall, Koford said. “Then it keeps going right up until the start of school the next year. So you can get burnt out pretty quickly. I like to change it up every now and then, give my body a break from baseball. So let’s get some tennis going and have some fun with it.”
But as he does with everything, when Koford plays tennis, he wants to be good at it.
Tennis is a sport that many players work year-round at. And while Koford only spends a couple of months a year playing tennis, he dedicates himself to watching, learning and getting better at it. That’s just the way he approaches most everything.
Now, in his third season playing tennis, Koford looks every bit the part of a tennis player on the court.
“You can see what we’re talking about,” Hahn said. “You can see the veteran experience. You can see he’s got some skills, especially for a kid who didn’t grow up taking lessons.”
Most players on the Hudson’s Bay program don’t come with year-round tennis experience. Koford said he tries to use himself as an example for his teammates to follow.
“I try to share as much as I can with them,” Koford said. “I’ve always found myself to be a natural leader. I like to take charge and show my leadership to younger people, show them how things work over here at Bay, and how we show ‘The Bay Way’ as we like to say.”
Koford is involved in student leadership at Hudson’s Bay and his voice is often heard over the morning announcements at school.
“With ASB (Associated Student Body), we’re the voice of the student body,” Koford said. “And we try to share that voice at school activities like homecoming or prom or even the pep rallies. And when I’m representing ASB, I’ve got to make sure my attitude and effort is out there. I want to show that I can do the best I can anywhere I go, whether it’s in or out of the classroom, or on or off the courts.”
Koford even has been known to put on the Eagle mascot costume.
“I do put on the Eddie the Eagle suit every now and then,” he said. “That’s always fun. It gets real hot and sweaty in there. That can be the miserable part. … There’s supposed to be a fan going on in the headpiece, but that does not work.”
Koford’s 8-0 start to the season ended with a straight-set loss to Columbia River’s Lucas Walburn on Sept. 24. Walburn is a contender for a state singles title, so a loss to him is nothing to be ashamed of.
Yet, you can tell that when Koford steps onto the court, he wants to compete — no matter who is on the other side.
“There’s tough opponents out there,” he said. “Sometimes, you’re on; sometimes, you’re off. One thing I’ve got to say is one match does not define you as a person. It’s how you bounce back, move one and compete for the other ones.”
Hahn said he’ll miss Koford after he graduates, not just for his ability on the tennis court, but for the example he sets for others.
“I love the community here,” Koford said. “It’s so welcoming. I feel like I can go into a random classroom where I don’t know anyone, sit down next to anybody and make a friend or two. The sports programs at Bay are the same way. … Even here at the tennis courts, when I started playing, I was welcomed immediately.
“That’s what I’m trying to pass to the younger players, because they’re the ones running the show after I’m gone next year.”
