JTV Sports Quick Focus: Carpenter Built for Speed at Concord

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(May 2, 2022 3:52 PM) Concord High School student-athlete Tyler Carpenter is built for speed.

This spring he really needs it.

Carpenter is the starting shortstop, pitcher, and center fielder for the Yellow Jackets.

When he isn’t playing with the round ball, he is running with the CHS track team.

Carpenter is third in Jackson County on the Selby Track and Field listing so far with an 11.79 seconds time in the 100-meter dash and seventh in the 200-meter at 24.53 seconds.

The Yellow Jackets have the fastest 400-meter relay team (45.36) and the second fastest 800-meter relay team (1:35) so far this season.

And Carpenter only has a chance to practice with his track buddies once a week on Monday. 

“Baseball is my main sport,” Carpenter said of juggling the two sports. “If there is a conflict, it just depends on how big the meet or baseball game is.”

The senior is batting over .400 with 20 steals so far this baseball season.

Carpenter said the bond created on the football field helps the communication on the track.

“We got really close in football and that helps,” Carpenter said. 

Concord switched from 11-man football to 8-man football this season due to low numbers. Carpenter started at quarterback and used his speed – and the speed around him – to compete in football.

He threw four touchdown and ran for three scores in a 72-64 loss to Vandercook Lake in football. He had more that 500 yards of offense in the contest.

“We had to adapt to the 8-man format,” Carpenter said. “All of the plays were pretty much the same, but we had to get the football out wide to use our speed.”

Carpenter expects to attend Grand Valley State University next fall to study computer science. He would like to try out for the GVSU baseball team.

He will use the lessons learned on the football and baseball fields, gymnasiums, and track at college.

“Sports teaches you how to be a better person and get along with others,” Carpenter said. “At Concord I had a chance to get closer to everyone in my community.”