Tanner Johnson '24
Major: AYA Integrated Social Studies (Patton College of Education)
Hometown: Newark, OH
Sport:Basketball, Jersey Number: 33

Why did you choose OHIO Lancaster?
Tanner: “To me, it seemed like they had people surrounding the sports programs that cared and wanted the best for student athletes. Plus, OHIO Lancaster has a great teaching program that led me there. I would commute 40 minutes everyday just to go to class and to practice.”

What are your post-graduation career interests?
“After graduation, my plans are to become a 10th-grade history teacher and a basketball coach. I have played basketball since the 4th grade and it is something that has taken me to many places such as Atlanta, Cleveland, and OHIO Lancaster.”

How has the OHIO Lancaster community (teachers, staff, students, families) supported you as a student athlete?
“The people in the OHIO Lancaster community have supported the return of sports through donations, showing up to games, and getting the word out about the program. This has allowed many students who never would have gone to college in the first place to get their degree. Besides one other player and I, no one from the 2020 team returned after the pandemic derailed sports programming. 90 percent of those students dropped out of college. This stat shows just how important athletics are to some students. It helps them go to class and get a degree so that they can play.”

Can you share how playing a sport at OUL has made a positive impact on your life?
“One major issue that is found on regional campuses is making friends and getting the real college experience. Most students go to class and return home. They never have the opportunity to build bonds with other people that last lifetimes. Sports allows students to form close bonds. The only people I talk to are from OHIO Lancaster that are fellow athletes and my fellow teammates. These friendships are what make sports so important to campuses like OHIO Lancaster. Students deserve to have the option to make lasting memories and friendships. This happens when they get to play a sport they love while obtaining a degree to secure their future.”

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