Tanner Moala

Athletic, intelligent, enthusiastic, a leader, and generally a good kid, are some words people used to describe, Tanner Moala senior varsity football player.

Starting his high school football career just last year, the beginning of his junior year Tanner’s come a long way, being described as a fast learner on the field. He’s having to learn a lot of things quickly, for example, the offensive technique.

Moala thinks some people don’t have a passion for the game, only playing for the chance they could get a scholarship. Some just like the physical aspect, playing the sport and getting physical. Thinking the part that allows him to hit someone, and not get in trouble for it, is Moala’s favorite.

“In football it’s a lot different than any other sport, because you’re out there every play getting beat up; so you just kind of form a bond, it’s kind of like a family.”

One of his favorite games that he played last year is at Fort Scott last year, “I forced a fumble, right before halftime, and we ran it back for a touchdown.”

A second favorite is the game they played against Louisburg, last year, beating them by one point right down to the end. Thirdly is a game against Ottawa, a home game, winning right down to the last play as well.

“If it’s good win Smitty will come in, and we’ll all get in a circle and he’ll just start doing some crazy dances, and we’ll all get hype and start screaming, that’s fun.”

Staying positive after losing a game is a challenge, “you get beat up every play and have nothing to show for it,” Moala admits.

When Moala is not playing football you can either catch him playing basketball, socializing with friends, playing video games, and watching Netflix. If he had to play a sport, that wasn’t basketball or football, he would choose soccer, because he thinks it’s fun when they play in recreational sports.

While he isn’t the only one in his family to play football, one of his uncles played at San Diego State Mercy, his other uncles having played in high school, and his younger brother also plays; he has scholarship opportunities he’s decided to wait out. Offers from K-State, Missouri State, Emporia State, and Benedict Team.

Sprained ankles are the only injury he’s sustained from football so far, “it’s really my thing,” he says.

His most challenging thing on the field so far is the fact he’s had to learn many things quickly, because of his late start. Oshel, a coach, said what makes Moala a good football athlete is his size, speed, and ability to jump on the field.