PILOT ROCK — When the Oregon School Athletics Association first announced its plans to postpone the fall sports season until the spring, Tanner Corwin breathed a sigh of relief.

“I was just worried that we wouldn’t play at all,” he said.

Instead of strapping on the pads and helmet to take up his position as the quarterback for the Pilot Rock/Nixyaawii football team this fall, now Corwin has shifted his plans back to the weight room. The senior Rocket still has one more season of basketball to focus on, after all.

“I will be spending the fall working out for basketball,” said Corwin, 17. “I’ll miss hanging out with my friends (in football this fall).”

A leader on the field, Corwin knows that his hard work will pay off when he finally gets the chance to put it to the test. Last season, the Rockets completed a 5-0 sweep of their 1A Special District 3-West slate claiming the west division crown. Corwin alone put 1,727 yards in the air with a total of 24 touchdowns on the season.

“He’s a hardworking student of the game,” Pilot Rock head football coach Mike Baleztena said. “He doesn’t like being second best. He’s always striving to be the best player that he can be. I expect it will be a good year with Tanner and this group of seniors, because they have been in the program for four years now and completely understand it. With the return of Ian Gambill (after suffering a broken leg last preseason), you’ll see a team with very good chemistry. I’ll also be counting on Tanner to pass down his knowledge at the quarterback position to one of our younger players.”

Corwin’s drive to be the best he can be has earned him two trips to state with the Rockets and two all-conference honors. He also has two years of state basketball experience under his belt after the Rockets earned berths in 2017 and 2019.

For his senior seasons, he wants to do it again.

“My goals (for this year) are to make state playoffs for both (football and basketball), he said. “I’ve made it to state two years for football and made all-conference for those two years. For basketball, I’ve won two district championships and went to state twice. My experiences (on both teams) have been positive ones.”

Corwin’s love and knowledge of the game first began at an early age. He first picked up a basketball when he was in the first grade, and football soon followed two years later. His football team’s recent success, he said, is important to him beyond another opportunity to go to state.

“We’re finally making football relevant in my town again,” he said. “That’s my favorite thing about football. Basketball is my favorite sport, so I guess I love everything about it the most.”

Corwin is set to have a particularly busy winter season. Basketball practices are slated to begin on Dec. 28, with the state culminating week wrapping up on March 6, 2021. Football practices start on Feb. 15, and culminating week conclude on May 8.

And to top it all off, he also has his senior baseball season to prepare for, which will hold its first practice on April 19.

“That’s the only challenge I see,” he said of his new athletics schedule, “is playing (football) in the early spring and interfering with baseball.”

Corwin won’t let the extra free time go to waste — aside from hanging out with his friends, he’s already spent his summer vacation playing sports and practicing for the final year of his high school career.

“Tanner is a great role model for our younger athletes,” Pilot Rock head boys basketball coach Tyler Zyph said. “He was voted as a team captain by his teammates and did a great job of leading by example all season. Tanner is a great athlete, student, and leader for us. He represents Pilot Rock in a great way. The sky’s the limit for Tanner this season.”

Favorite sport to play and why?

My favorite sport is basketball because all my friends play it and everyone watches it.

Favorite sport to watch and why?

My favorite sport to watch is football. I’ve been watching it with my family forever.

Favorite activity when not playing sports?

Hanging out with friends and family.

What is your favorite moment in high school athletics so far?

Going to the state championship in baseball (in 2018).

A fun fact about you that few people know?

I kind of don’t like football but I play for my friends.