Tanner’s inspiration

When Tyler Rice steps onto the soccer field, he still looks for number 15 – the player he could always count on to take the pass and give his all.

That number 15 was Tanner Homminga, an energetic East Valley Middle School student who had a passion for soccer, basketball and life – a life cut way short when he died in April, leaving behind many friends and family who desperately miss him.

“Tanner was like family to all of us. We’ve watched him grow, went to practices, games and traveled together,” said Tyler’s mom, Stacey Rice, who adds that being a soccer mom means you become a mom to all the players.

Tanner was playing for his team, the River City Steelers, in a soccer tournament at Plantes Ferry last March when he collapsed after a game.

An undetected birth defect, known as arteriovenous malformation – which is a tangle of blood vessels either on or near the brain that bypass the brain tissue and divert blood from the arteries to the veins – had caused Tanner to lose consciousness. When his blood pressure rose, the medical team put him into a medically induced coma. But he never regained consciousness, and after suffering a series of strokes, the 14-year-old died April 24.

His death has had a profound effect on those he left behind.

“Tanner taught me to always try my hardest and never give up no matter how hard something is,” Tyler said. “If I could tell Tanner one more thing it would be that we miss him and all love him very much.”

A few weeks before Tanner collapsed, his mom Kala Homminga and Stacey Rice were talking about how their sons and teammates will always remain friends. They had known each other since they were young and were looking forward to playing together for the East Valley High School soccer team next spring.

“I’ve learned (from Tanner’s death) to not take anything for granted,” said Stacey Rice.

Kala Homminga said there are so many things about her son she misses. “Tanner was the most focused, dedicated, passionate 14-year-old I’ve come across,” she said. “He was the kid who never had a bad attitude. Coaches say he was the easiest kid to coach, all you had to do was tell him his job and he got it done.”

Tyler agrees.

“Tanner was quick,” said Tyler. “I could kick the ball anywhere up front, and he would get it almost every time. No matter how big the defender, he would never give up.”

In the days following Tanner’s death, Stacey Rice said it was easier for her son and his teammates to go to school rather than stay home. They all found comfort among one another and had time to grieve and talk to the counselors.

In addition to soccer, Tanner was passionate about basketball. Last summer six teams played Hoopfest in his memory. They raised money to sponsor a backboard with his picture and a quote which read, “In the end, it’s not the days in your life that count, it’s the life in your days.”

Although Tyler will never be able to pass the ball to Tanner again, the short time he had with his friend will never be forgotten.

“Tyler said he is going to work harder because of Tanner. He said he is here and he can do it, and Tanner is not,” said Stacy Rice. “He said he is going to stop playing video games now that school is starting because Tanner was an honor roll student and good grades count.”

It is statements like those and knowing Tanner lived his life to the fullest that give his mother comfort.

“Through the many years of sporting events, Tanner made some of the best friends a mom could ask for her son,” she said. But she adds that his biggest fan was his sister Krystal. “From a very young age she never missed a game or a tournament.”

At a soccer tournament at Plantes Ferry in August, several members of the community gathered to remember Tanner and all he meant to them. Although his team from last year has split and gone to different clubs, they all came together in unity for this young man.

“It was very healing for the boys. It was nice to have all the kids who could come over (to the memorial),” said Stacey Rice who helped organize the event.

It also provided a time for Kala, Krystal and Tanner’s dad Bobby Homminga to reflect on the blessings Tanner gave them during his short life.

“There are many days I wonder how I’m going to get through the next day. Then I just sit back and think of all the wonderful memories Tanner has given us all,” said Kala Homminga.

During the memorial she and other family members watched as former teammates of Tanner’s stepped forward and released 15 balloons sending their love up to heaven. They listened as Jeff Orwick, president of the River City Soccer Club for which Tanner played, spoke about what a great soccer player and person he was.