Double Danger Star Athlete Winning on the Field and In Life
Star Students: Tyler Konold
By Ty Walker, Contributing Writer | Photos Courtesy of Canby HS & Tyler Konold
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Whether he’s breaking tackles on the football field or making moves on the wrestling mat, you’re going to notice him. This athletic, 6-foot 195-pound Canby High School senior stands out in both sports.
But football is where this star shines brightest. Meet Tyler Konold, Canby’s athlete for November.
Last year, in just his first year wrestling, he advanced all the way to the state finals and finished runner-up in his 195-pound weight class. “He gave wrestling a chance as a junior and had success right away,” Cougar wrestling coach Brandon Harms said. “He’s the first kid I’ve seen to come in his rookie year and end up in the state finals.”
With Konold and a core group of wrestlers returning to the mats, the two-time district champion Cougars look to defend their title this winter, Harms said.
But Friday nights under the lights, football is the main attraction and Konold is taking center stage this fall. The star running back rushed for 209 yards on 10 carries as the Cougars clinched a state playoff berth with a 40-6 rout over Hood River Oct. 13 to improve their record to 6-2.
The Cougar captain showcased his prowess on both sides of the ball in the lopsided victory over their league rival. From his outside linebacker position, he made tackles all over the field.
No. 24 has played a major role in leading Canby to the 5A Special District 1 league championship game against powerhouse Wilsonville. (The winner was unknown at the time of this edition of Canby Community Advantage, which went to press before the title game was played.)
“Everywhere he plays he’s an impact player,” Canby head football coach Jimmy Joyce said. “In almost 20 years of coaching, I’ve never seen a running back with his ability, his blend of speed and power, and his sense of vision is just incredible.”
“He gave wrestling a chance as a junior and had success right away. He’s the
first kid I’ve seen to come in his rookie year and end up in the state finals.”—Brandon Harms, CHS Wrestling Coach
Konold was a highly touted athlete before his arrival at Canby freshman year. He impressed the coaches, and by sophomore year was named to the all-state team for both offense and defense.
The following year, despite being limited to playing only four and a half games due to an ankle injury, he managed to rush for more than 1,000 yards as a junior. During a remarkable two-game stretch, he ran for over 500 yards.
Konold is healthy this year and on his way to his third 1,000-plus yard season and second all-state selection. Through the first seven games of the season, he had 934 yards rushing on 79 carries with 12 touchdowns rushes and one touchdown reception.
In order to lighten his workload, the Cougars have tried to reduce the number of carries he gets from about 30 to 10 per game to reduce wear and tear on their star tailback. After all, it’s a long season and they want him at his best for the playoff run.
Konold is still one of the most formidable impact players in the league, averaging almost 10 yards a carry. He has the ability to dominate the game and take it to a different level at will.
This leader on and off the field has high aspirations after graduation. Chief among the goals is getting a college football scholarship. “He’s a great kid, great student and a good leader,” Joyce said. “He’s the real deal. He’ll be playing somewhere next season.”
Joyce said a number of colleges are looking at him and he expects Konold to receive offers at the end of the season. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he has an impressive statistic in the classroom as well, with a 3.5 grade-point average.
The Canby wrestling coach had nothing but positive things to say about Konold’s work ethic. “He’s pretty impressive, coachable, hard working, everything good you could say about a kid,” Harms said.
