The Ladue Rams football team did not have the season they expected this past fall as they finished 6-4, but one of the biggest bright spots for the Rams was three-year starting quarterback Beau Dolan.
Dolan led the Ladue passing attack with 1,739 yards through the air and had 132 completions with 24 touchdown strikes. Dolan also scored a touchdown on the ground for the Rams who fell to Parkway West in the opening round of the Class 5, District 2 tournament.
This past season was not the year that the Rams wanted, but with Dolan starting his third year under center and with a new head coach, he knew going in that after they lost a lot of seniors from last season, his teammates would be looking at him to lead.
“Coming into this year with a brand-new head coach since Coach Tarpey retired after many years and we graduated 17 seniors from last year, there were a lot of question marks”, stated Dolan. “We were not sure if we were going to be a .500 team or like last year’s team that finished 9-2. So, coming into this year and filling the role of being the new leader with all of the seniors from last year graduating, we had to do what we had to do. Going 6-4 was not what we wanted but having a winning record with all of the freshmen and sophomores that we had playing, was a good learning experience and I am excited for my senior year.”
Since he has been a three-year starter for the Rams, his leadership has gone from being the type of guy that led by example and followed what the upperclassmen had set out to do to becoming more of a vocal guy both on the field and in the locker room.
“My first two years, especially my freshman year when it was a COVID year, I stepped into kind of a random role not knowing what to expect,” said Dolan. “After finishing my sophomore season with a 9-2 record and having a great junior year, this coming year, I feel as if I am the main leader, and it is my team with the others that will be seniors with me. I am excited for the off-season workouts and very excited for my senior year.”
Talking about his leadership qualities, now that this is his team, Dolan knows that he needs to take more command of the huddle and on the sidelines for the Rams to be successful next season.
“My first two years were a little awkward for me because I did not want to overstep what the upperclassmen were saying,” stated Dolan. “So, I feel that my first two years, I was more of a quiet leader and just wanted to do everything the right way. When you are a quarterback, you still have to lead by example no matter how old you are. This past year since we did not have a big senior class, I helped them by again leading by example and I also started to be a little more vocal. This coming year, I will be a lot more vocal along with the others in my senior class.”
Dolan wanted to be a quarterback at a very young age, and it shows due to how he has become such a student of the game in how he approaches the position.
“Growing up, I fell in love with being a quarterback and being a student of the game,” said Dolan. “You have to have the smarts to be able to do it plus you have to have the athletic and leadership ability to do it and I like doing that. Things went from there once I was named the starter in my freshman year. Things can get very stressful at times both mentally and physically, but it is a lot of fun, and I can’t imagine not being a quarterback.”
What a lot of people do not know is that being a quarterback, let alone a high school student-athlete, there are so many “unseen hours” that go into being successful. That also includes getting things done in the classroom where he holds an outstanding 3.8 GPA.
“No matter if you are having a good or bad day, you still have to get to those workouts and be there for your team”, stated Dolan. “People have no idea how many hours you have to put in whether it is watching a film or even during my freshman year, learning all of the plays because just because we are a high school team, the playbook is massive. The classroom always comes first as you have to maintain good grades. Then, you have to make sure that you know all of the plays and also in knowing your teammates. Forming a bond with them is huge especially during offseason workouts because that is how we can be successful.”
Dolan is a multisport athlete as well. He has played on the basketball team the past few years, but this spring, he is going to play on the Rams golf team. This is something that is new and exciting for Dolan.
“I have played basketball in the past and I thought that it was a lot going from football straight into hoops season,” said Dolan. “I fell in love with golf this past year, and I think that it is going to be a lot of fun to play this spring. I love golf!”
Every student-athlete has a great support system at home and Dolan is no different. His parents support and push him to be the best that he can be, both on the field and in the classroom.
“My parents are always there for me,” stated Dolan. “Whether I wanted to play at the next level or I did not, they are always supportive of my decisions. They supported me when I decided to not play basketball and to start playing golf. They are always there when I needed to get a ride to practices, and they would always pick me up. They are always there for me.”
Dolan is getting many looks to continue his play at the next level, and he is just now starting the recruiting process.
“I am still trying to get the hang of the recruiting process because it is a little bit confusing and complicated all at the same time,” said Dolan. “I will be grateful for anyone that wants to look at me or offer me a chance to play. I am not looking at any specific schools right now, but I just want to make sure that I have a great senior season so that I can get more chances and opportunities. I want to be able to choose where I go instead of only having one or two offers, so any school that gives me a chance, I will be grateful for.”
Congratulations to junior Beau Dolan on being named our Triad Bank/High School Sports Caravan Student-Athlete of the Week and we wish him nothing but the best this spring on the links and next season on the gridiron.
Jim Powers has been covering prep sports in the St. Louis area for 15+ years and a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship Broadcasts for the past 11 years. Powers is also a part of the Fox 2 Verlo Mattress Prep Zone Friday nights at 10:10 during the football and basketball seasons. If you have a prep sports story, please contact Jim at japowers2421@yahoo.com. Follow Jim at @hssportscaravan
