The right arm, chiseled and thick as Mississippi mud, is tattooed.
The design features a barbell, heavy weights on both ends, and the word “F;ght,’’ highlighting a semicolon replacing the “I ” in the text.
Its significance?
Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Tyler Beauchamp LAT, ATC, PTA, FMT, lives in a semicolon kind of world.
To the upbeat and ultra-positive Beauchamp, a champion of bettering the lives of young people, semicolons signify there is only a pause in all that life brings our way; and that we must do our best to move forward.
“A period signals the end,’’ said Beauchamp, the athletic trainer at Davenport (Iowa) Central High School. A Muscatine, Iowa, native, Beauchamp swam competitively at the collegiate level for Dubuque, Iowa-based Loras College.
A dedicated strength training program Beauchamp began three years ago, led to the barbell and weights being part of his tattoo.
“A semicolon allows you – no matter what you are dealing with – to go on, move ahead, to continue,’’ Beauchamp added. “To know there is help and it is not the end.’’
The end should come only after a long and happy life.
For some, saying they found the perfect job in life rings hollow. Beauchamp, however, truly lives that mantra.
He is forever passionate about his calling as the trainer at one Davenport-based school but is forever willing to lend a hand at various schools about the Quad Cities.
Just a job? Not a chance. More like a life’s mission.
The physical well-being of all Beauchamp’s athletes is vital, but the 31-year-old says there is much more to his work. He says it is important to understand that compassion and understanding go a long way to bettering the lives of young people.
“I love that I work for/with amazing people associated with Rock Valley,’’ he said. “And Central is this phenomenal, diverse place that allows me a chance to connect with so many great people, especially the kids I get to help. You see kids who have and kids who do not have, but it is such a caring and helpful community that it works. I do not do what I do for money but to impact kids. They are my motivation.’’
Beauchamp notes that Central parents, coaches, and administrators have made a concerted effort to be mindful of the mental side of student life.
“They (administration) get it,’’ he said. “It began a few years back when an expert from the (Davenport) schools had a Zoom meeting with our ATs on the mental health side of things. They care.’’
In addition to his tattoo, Beauchamp can be sporting his favorite sweatshirt that reads: “Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it.’’
The front of that royal blue hoodie says: “You are enough.’’
“We all have work to do, but we are getting better in being mindful of the mental health of our young people,’’ said Beauchamp. “Old school mentality that everything is not that bad, and we just need to push through does not always work. We are getting better at recognizing how traumatic things can be. Kids need help and it is OK to get help. The more people getting help makes others more comfortable in reaching out.’’
Beauchamp’s overall impact became known recently with him being selected as the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society’s Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year. He was honored recently at the IATS Honors Banquet in West Des Moines, Iowa, April 12.
IATS Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year is bestowed upon an athletic trainer working primarily in the secondary-school setting, who demonstrates quality work and positively promotes the profession with student-athletes and coaches.
“Tyler has been serving the athletes and families of Davenport Central since 2018, ingraining himself to his athletes through great care and concern on and off the field,’’ said Jason Viel, MS LAT, ATC, Director of Athletic Training Services/Rock Valley Physical Therapy/Head Athletic Trainer Pleasant Valley High School. “He takes the time to listen to his athletes and communicates with them, their coaches, and parents about what is ailing them and how they are going to work on getting back to their sports. Tyler continues to show Rock Valley’s commitment to “Making Better Lives” at Davenport Central and for all the Davenport Community School District high schools.’’
Ever-humble, Beauchamp is grateful to be recognized.
“Of course it’s not why we do what we do,’’ he said of the honor. “You think that day might come when something like this happens, but you never count on it.’’
The honor is not lost on those from the school so dear to him.
“Central is extremely proud of Tyler for his accomplishment,’’ Central Activities Director Kevin Petersen said. “It is very deserved as he has done an excellent job here at Central taking care of our athletes and building relationships with coaches and students.’’
Beauchamp is excited for the future. He loves – honestly – what he does, where he does it and cannot see himself in another role.
“I am the only trainer at Davenport Central since (Hall of Famer) Steve Knoche, who was amazing and here for decades,’’ Beauchamp said. “I would love to be here as long as he was and have the kind of impact he had. I love it that much. I know I am respected, and I am appreciated by Rock Valley and by (Davenport) Central.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller