Liberty lacrosse’s Tanner Wallen spends time on Taiwan’s U-20 national team

Across the globe on the island of Taiwan, Liberty University men’s lacrosse player Tanner Wallen was born. Wallen spent his formative years in Taiwan’s foster system, but in 2010, his life was changed forever when he was adopted by Americans, moving him thousands of miles away from his homeland.

Wallen was 7 years old when he and two of his siblings were adopted by a Christian family from Wisconsin. This was not the first time the Wallens had opened their home to adoptive children, as Tanner grew up with seven siblings. Wallen’s adoptive father felt the call to adopt him and his siblings in the midst of financial hardship, with his business on the brink of bankruptcy.

“That’s a really cool story because he had so much faith to answer God’s call and take us in even though it could have gone terribly,” Wallen said. “After following God’s call to adopt us, his business just started booming and became really successful; it was such a God thing.”

Wallen’s adoptive family was full of athletes, allowing him to try his hand at an array of sports. He discovered an interest in football and golf and stuck with those sports for a good portion of his adolescence. It was not until his sophomore year of high school that Wallen discovered his love for lacrosse. After only a few months of playing, Wallen realized that he wanted to take the sport to the next level.

“Lacrosse has done a lot for me,” Wallen said. “I feel like God put lacrosse in my life for a reason, and at the end of the day, it is God who gave me the ability to play lacrosse.”

While in the foster system in Taiwan, Wallen was introduced to Buddhism. It was not until he came to the United States that Wallen learned about Christianity and eventually became a believer. This journey of finding his identity in Christ would shape the person and athlete he is now.

“Coming here has really helped a lot with my growth in my faith and has even opened my eyes to see how much God has done for me,” Wallen said. “In middle school and some of high school, I was kind of angry at God for not having my own family and not being with my (biological) sisters, but looking back, I feel like God has been there with me the whole time.” 

After playing his freshman season at Liberty, Wallen sought to connect his love for the game with his Taiwanese roots. In the spring of 2023, he reached out to Taiwan’s U-20 national team, which accepted him with open arms. This experience allowed for him to build relationships with fellow Taiwanese players and represent his birth country by playing for them in the summer. 

“I feel like God put lacrosse in my life to reconnect with my family in Taiwan. I am on the journey of trying to (be) able to go back to Taiwan and meet my mom again and my sisters,” Wallen said. “But I also want to represent my country on the team. It would kind of be like a full circle moment for me.”

Despite playing for various programs in his career, Wallen feels that Liberty’s lacrosse team has a culture unlike any he has experienced before. 

“Throughout all my athletics, I have never been a part of a Christian team until now. It’s a different scene. Obviously, the team is not perfect, but I’ve never had a team where we all pray together and talk about the Bible,” Wallen said. “I’ve never been in that environment before, so I think that sets us apart in a way. Here, it’s not just a game; it’s all for the Lord. I think I forget that when I’m playing on other teams. I focus so much on lacrosse and not remembering that it’s all for God and that he gave me this game.”

Wallen’s aspirations go beyond his years at Liberty, as he plans to continue his lacrosse career in Taiwan upon graduation. He hopes to use lacrosse to reconnect with his biological siblings who remain in Taiwan, as well as to keep him tied to his cultural roots. He even plans on eventually returning to train his brother in the sport.

“After Liberty, I definitely want to keep playing lacrosse,” Wallen said. “I would like to keep playing in Taiwan and to continue growing that connection, and I would love to help train my brother so that we can both play together.”

Unfortunately, during his time playing over the summer, Wallen sustained a shoulder injury as he dislocated his AC and underwent surgery. He has also been trying to overcome arthritis and tendonitis from the toll the sport has taken on his body. Though this setback wrinkled some of his plans for playing this semester, he is trusting the process as he heals.

“It is very frustrating not being able to play, knowing what I had planned for this summer and the training I was going to do,” Wallen said. “But God put me in this position for a reason, so I’m just trusting him and waiting it out until the pain goes away.”

He is not letting his injuries define him, and he plans on continuing to train after he is healed, aspiring to play on an even larger scale than ever before.

“I would like to play in the Summer Olympics in 2028; that is my goal,” Wallen said. “But of course, we’ll see how the arthritis is by then.”

In his spare time, you can usually find Wallen fishing. This helps him to remember his biological father, who was a fisherman. As a graphic design major with a photography minor, he plans on using his degree to start a fishing charter.

“My biological dad passed away when I was younger, and I didn’t really know him, but one thing I do know is that he worked on a fishing dock in Taiwan,” Wallen said. “Fishing helps me to connect with my dad. Not knowing him but being able to connect with him in that way is very special.” 

Wallen credits his athletic success to his family’s faith and their continuous support of his journey. His faith in God has allowed him to flourish on and off the field, whether it be in Lynchburg, Virginia, or across the world in Taiwan.

“Just trust God and trust the process. Even though things are hard, know that he is there,” Wallen said. “Don’t fill yourself with anger. Open your heart up to God and let him in and see how your life is turned around.” 

White is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion