Athlete of the Week: Tanner Dougherty SLUH ‘22

Congratulations to our SAU Athlete of the Week, Tanner Dougherty!

Over the past four years, Tanner Dougherty has been a dominant force as a member of the SLUH volleyball team. Tanner led his team to a state championship in 2021 before signing to play at St. Francis College in New York starting in the Fall of 2022.

When we spoke to Tanner, he stated that:

“Being able to play the sport I love with nothing else other than my athletic abilities to be judged is something I’ve worked so hard to achieve and I’ve finally gotten there through the wonderful coaches and teammates I’ve played with in recent years. Being able to dismantle the notions of what a queer person should be in both the LGBTQIA+ community as well as the whole of society is my driving motivation as I continue my volleyball career in college.” -Tanner Dougherty. He/Him.

Tanner plans to major in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice while he plays on the Division 1 volleyball team at St. Francis this coming Fall.

We asked Tanner how is sexuality has helped him throughout his athletic career. He stated that:

“My sexuality is what I’m defined as by those around me. Simply because I am more feminine than the men around me I stick out and can easily be targeted. This has made me work harder within the sport in order to only be labeled as an athlete on the court, and not, “the gay kid.” My coming out also brought about a lot of loneliness.”

“It taught me how to take care of myself mentally and because of that, I am very mentally strong. Volleyball is entirely a mental game, so having those experiences in order to know how to control my emotions and focus on the court has always been very beneficial for my own play and how I am able to contribute as a teammate.” - Tanner Dougherty. He/Him.

We wish you the best of luck at St. Francis College, Tanner!🏅🏐