The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Murrieta Valley receiver Bachmeier eager for his ‘special’ senior season
Murrieta Valley senior wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier might be the most interesting high school player around.
Bachmeier’s production on the football field is well known; he has hauled in 113 passes for 2,026 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in the 16 games he has suited up for the Nighthawks. His skills as a receiver and a returner along with his academic achievements are among the reasons Bachmeier has been accepted to Stanford.
However, that only scratches the surface when it comes to Bachmeier. He is also a track and field standout, having qualified for the CIF State meet in the pole vault while also competing in sprints and relay events.
Bachmeier sings in the choir and started the a cappella group Hawkapella on campus and is working toward a pilot’s license. He is studying Chinese as his foreign language in school and is not shy about striking up conversations. And he plays guitar.
“Tiger is a great athlete with a wonderful and eclectic personality,” Murrieta Valley coach George Wilson said. “There is never a dull moment when he’s around. He is a great influence to everyone he comes in contact with.”
The Bachmeier name is well known around the Inland area. Tiger’s older brother, Hank, was a four-year starting quarterback at Murrieta Valley who set several school records and led the Nighthawks to a CIF Southern Section Division 2 runner-up finish in 2016. Hank Bachmeier currently is the starting quarterback at Boise State.
Tiger Bachmeier decided to attend Orange Lutheran as a freshman, following one of his youth football teammates who was to play quarterback. He had a solid year, catching 28 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns. But the commute from Murrieta to Orange proved a bit taxing, so Bachmeier chose to transfer to Murrieta Valley.
“I knew most of the coaches because of Hank, so it ended up being an easy transition to make,” Bachmeier said.
The move was beneficial for all parties involved. Bachmeier finished the pandemic-shortened 2021 spring season with 33 receptions, 600 yards and six touchdowns in five games.
He continued to shred opposing defenses during his junior season, catching 80 balls for 1,426 yards and 16 touchdowns and returning two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Wilson praised Bachmeier’s route running and hands but said Bachmeier’s toughness and determination stands out.
“He is one of the toughest receivers to bring down. He is going to fight for each and every yard,” Wilson said. “He is such an explosive and dynamic player on the field, and he’s a little bit bigger and stronger this year.”
Bachmeier caught passes from Brandon Rose during those first two seasons at Murrieta Valley. Rose was among the Inland area’s most prolific and efficient quarterbacks in recent history and currently is a freshman at Utah.
A change at quarterback could affect a receiver’s production level, but it shouldn’t be an issue for Bachmeier.
Tiger will catch passes from his brother Bear, who is widely considered one of the best sophomore quarterbacks in the nation and likely to follow in Hank’s footsteps as a top Division I recruit. The brothers have a strong connection when it comes to football, but this marks the first time they will start together on the same team.
“Sometimes I just have to step back, take a deep breath and just think how special this season will be for us,” Tiger said. “Opportunities like this don’t happen too often, and that makes my senior year even more exciting.”
Bachmeier is an outstanding student in the classroom and also brings a learning mentality to football field.
“I spend a lot of time watching film, almost obsessively,” Bachmeier said. “I look for every little advantage that I can get because those things can make a difference . ... I believe luck happens because of preparation.”
10 more receivers to watch this season
ALIJAH APPLETON, GRAND TERRACE » Finished his junior season with 772 yards receiving and 13 touchdown catches.
MADDOX BERNARDINO, DIAMOND BAR » Caught 61 passes for 1,044 yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season.
JONAH DAWSON, RANCHO CUCAMONGA » Had a breakout sophomore campaign with 1,020 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns.
SIRE GAINES, ORANGE VISTA » Tallied 1,268 yards from scrimmage and had 14 touchdowns as a sophomore.
GRANT GIVENS, TEMESCAL CANYON » Hauled in 70 passes for 1,030 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
GRANT GRAY, NORCO » The Uclabound senior had 61 receptions for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
DILLON GRESHAM, SAN JACINTO » The junior averaged 19.2 yards per reception and scored eight touchdowns.
JORDAN NAPIER, JURUPA HILLS » The San Diego State-bound senior also is one of the area’s best safeties.
MALACHI RILEY, CENTENNIAL » The senior has nearly two dozen offers from top college programs.
JEYQUAN SMITH, CAJON » The senior has been one of the area’s top track sprinters in recent years.