French to play soccer at Oregon State

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint soccer coach Randy Thoreson said all year that there were numerous Bulldogs with the talent to play Division 1 soccer, and his message rang true recently when senior defender Tanner French was offered a roster spot at Oregon State University in the Pac 10.

French will follow in the footsteps of former Sandpoint soccer standout Brian Farber, who played two seasons at Oregon State and was instrumental in opening the Beaver coaches' eyes to the athletic French.

"Just to be given a roster spot is huge, they have so many kids they look at," said Farber of  French. "He deserves it, it's all him. He needed that connection and I happened to have it."

The scholarship particulars have yet to be worked out, but being guaranteed a roster spot, especially at a Pac 10 soccer program, is extremely coveted. French, whose explosive vertical leap made him a force on balls in the air, hopes to continue playing defense for the Beavers next fall.

It wasn't until this year, when he was able to watch Gonzaga and Oregon State play in person, that French finally began to realize what Thoreson had been preaching to him for years.

"Coach has been telling me I can play Division 1, but I didn't take it seriously until my senior year," French explained. "He kept telling me I can play with these guys, no problem."

French also received interest from San Diego State, but admitted the choice was an easy one once the Beavers offered him a spot. He wished to thank Farber for helping open the door for the unique opportunity to play college soccer, and if all goes well, perhaps even after college.

"That's a ways off," said French with a laugh. "If I put my mind to it, maybe."

Farber had effusive praise for French's game, and for the Bulldogs team in general. Having played on some Sandpoint state champions, as well as professionally, Farber certainly knows whereof he speaks. He ranks the 2008 state championship squad, of which French was a key player, as one of the best prep teams he's ever seen.

"That might be the best team in Idaho history," praised Farber, who also believes a few of next year's returning players might follow French to the college game. "Every kid had talent and you put them all out there on the field together."