It’s the final playoff round of the varsity boys volleyball Division 3 Central Coast Section (CCS) tournament. Zhang Gymnasium carries an air of anticipation and nervousness, with only the squeaks of players’ shoes echoing throughout. Suddenly, a blue-uniformed opponent hits the ball over the net. It soars out of a teammate’s hands, directly toward Tyler Beede (12). With striking accuracy, Tyler receives the pass and sets it to his left, where the outside hitter is ready. And just like that… Wham! The team’s explosive cheering erupts as they all huddle together, pumping their fists and jumping up and down in celebration of the victory.

Tyler recalls this game from sophomore year in vivid detail, specifically the winning play.

“Throughout the game, I built this anticipation and then after I won it, it was just like this relief that my team could completely pull through together,” Tyler said.  

For Tyler, sports serve as destressors, allowing him to alleviate his worries and focus solely on his playing. Initially, Tyler chose to pursue baseball because he wanted to spend more time with his friends. But when he was first introduced to volleyball in seventh grade, he found that its teamwork aspect really appealed to him. Ever since, he hasn’t been able to imagine what his life would be like without it.

Whether he’s playing the position of setter or libero, Tyler cherishes the opportunity to support his teammates and be a reliable presence on the court.

“Everyone has to do their job and everything needs to work together for the team to be successful,” Tyler said. “On and off the court, it’s always fun to be around the team. Off the court, we’re making jokes and having fun, and on the court, we know how to be serious and play.”

Outside of sports, Tyler feels that volleyball has left a lasting impact on his everyday life as well. Being part of a team that must work as a collective whole has honed his ability to empathize with others.

“I’m [now] able to understand and look into other people’s shoes more,” Tyler said. “When one of your teammates isn’t doing well and isn’t feeling their best, you have to be able to step in and help them out. Volleyball helped me do that.”

While Tyler holds a deep love for volleyball, he also acknowledges that it comes with its own challenges. Over the years, he has learned how to effectively manage and overcome these setbacks.

“Volleyball’s a very mental game, especially my position,” Tyler said. “Just being able to calm yourself down after making mistakes, resetting your mindset and going back at it with a fresh point of view [is difficult].” 

Despite these obstacles, Tyler remains cheerful and confident, not allowing difficulties to dampen his spirit. His optimistic demeanor and constant smile are defining traits of his that others admire.

In addition to volleyball, Tyler’s friends convinced him to join the football team for his senior year. He has since taken up the positions of receiver and corner, playing alongside friends Sukrit Kalsi (12), Nicholas “Nick” Delfino (12) and Chris Tonev (12).

“Tyler always has a smile on his face,” Sukrit said. “You can tell that he’s joyful and happy and is always having fun. You barely ever see him sad or upset about anything, because he always tries to brighten up the mood.”

Nick observed a similar quality in Tyler, noting how his selflessness applies to both sports and his daily interactions.

“Tyler’s biggest strength is his ability to bring others up,” Nick said. “If you make a play or if you do something really well, he will let you know, he’ll always be celebrating with you. Even as a person too, that’s his best trait: his ability to make other people feel special.” 

When Chris first joined Harker in middle school, he met Tyler through Nick. This year, he and Tyler joined the football team together as newcomers and formed a strong bond as teammates.

“In sports, [Tyler is] very good at motivating other people,” Chris said. “He knows it’s really difficult mentally as well as physically. He understands that playing sports is much more than just being the best player ever on your team — you have to actually work with other people. He really values making sure other people are happy and having fun when they play.”

The demanding nature of participating in sports also helped Tyler sharpen his time management skills. Because of his time commitment to sports, he has learned to prioritize and complete his schoolwork efficiently.

“It’s important to get a schedule, and sports has helped with that,” Tyler said. “It helps with procrastination. Instead of not knowing how much time you’re going to miss, you’re going to know it’s a set two hours [of practice].”

When Tyler isn’t on the volleyball court or football field, he spends his time walking his dog, hanging out with his family and playing video games with his friends. Above all, he values accountability, whether it be as a teammate, friend or student.

“My biggest takeaway is, no matter what you do, you get however much you put into it,” Tyler said. “By putting extra time [into sports], I’ll get more out of it.”