Wyatt Lytton named two-time National Champion Student Athlete
Daniel Martynowicz
Wyatt Lytton, left, rides with his father, Lee. Wyatt says if he keeps his grades up, he can rope every night — but academics come first.
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RONAN — The National High School Rodeo Association boasts 12,500 competing student athletes each year in more than 1,100 sanctioned rodeos. Each month, the organization awards one male and one female athlete the title of student athlete of the month. This title carries with it a Professional’s Choice air ride saddle pad, a feature in the NHSRA Times National Magazine and the possibility of winning a $1,000 college scholarship.
Only one male athlete and one female athlete win the title of National Champion Student Athlete and the scholarship money per year. This makes the odds of one individual winning by pure luck alone a 1 in 12,500 shot.
Wyatt Lytton of Polson High School was announced the National Champion Boy Student Athlete for the 2012 NHSFR for the second year, and as any former champion is sure to tell you, luck had very little to do with it.
“I can’t be more honored that I won it again,” Lytton said. “It feels amazing.”
Going into his junior year of high school, Lytton said it’s difficult, but academics always come first and as long as he keeps his grades up, he is allowed to practice roping every night after school.
When asked if that was a deal he made with his parents, Lytton laughed and replied, “No, sir. That’s the deal my folks made with me. That’s the one thing I have to brag about in this; having my parents there to help me out.”
Wyatt father, Lee Lytton, said Wyatt excelled in both wrestling and basketball in high school, so it was a hard decision to concentrate on roping and rodeo. Even so, they stuck with it and Lee couldn’t be more proud.
“When you get older, all you have is your kids. There’s no luggage rack on a coffin; you can’t take any money with you,” Lee said with a laugh. “I work him like a man in the summer, and I can tell you he’s pretty tough. We have a lot of fun together.”
As the two-time National Champion Student Athlete heads back into the classroom arena, he’s still not sure what college he’ll attend or what area of study. Even so, “college is in my future,” he said. “I can’t thank my parents enough for helping me put my mind to my goals.”
