BARTLESVILLE BRUIN SENIOR WYATT MATHIS NAMED BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Bartlesville High School running back Wyatt Mathis (10) carries the ball during a game this season. Mathis was chosen as the inaugural Bartlesville Area Sports Student-Athlete of the Week.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Becky Burch
Sept. 28, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
High school football fields are filled with athletes who lead by example, but few embody the dual-threat, hard-nosed mentality of Bartlesville High School senior Wyatt Mathis.
Mathis, who anchors the Bruins on both sides of the ball as a running back and middle linebacker, has been selected as the inaugural Bartlesville Area Sports Student-Athlete of the Week.
This new weekly feature does not simply focus on the players with the flashiest stats; instead, it shines a spotlight on those who outwork everyone in practice, lift up their teammates, and do whatever it takes to truly embody the spirit of the team they play for. Whether he is plowing through defenders on offense or tracking down ball-carriers on defense, Mathis brings that exact relentless attitude to the gridiron.
"Every time I run the ball, I try to make it look like his run against the Saints in the NFC wildcard game," Mathis said of his favorite NFL player, Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch.
That aggressive playing style has been years in the making. For Mathis, his favorite football memory dates back to his sophomore season, when he first got a taste of the varsity speed.
"One play I will never forget is my first play on varsity my sophomore year, in which I made my first tackle," Mathis said.
While the hits on the field define his Friday nights, Mathis attributes the true strength of the Bruins program to its shared values. Before the opening kickoff and long after the stadium lights fade, the team centers itself through a meaningful pregame and postgame ritual.
"My favorite tradition we have started is our Bruin prayer," Mathis said. "It’s what we start the game with and what we finish it with. I think it helps all of us remember who and what we’re playing for, and helps us to glorify God in everything we do."
That grounded perspective extends into the classroom, where the senior excels in academics. Mathis names mathematics as his favorite subject, noting that the discipline required for equations mirrors the discipline needed to navigate life.
"I think it helps me learn basic problem-solving skills that don't just apply to math, but in every aspect of life," Mathis said
When the autumn air cools and football season concludes, Mathis will transition to the baseball diamond, where he patrols the outfield for the Bruins. His ultimate goal is to extend his athletic career long after he walks across the graduation stage.
"My biggest goal is to play college athletics," Mathis said. "Whether it be football or baseball, I would want to play either."
As he navigates his final season in a Bruins uniform, Mathis has a simple message for the underclassmen who will one day fill his shoes as leaders of the program:
"Leave no doubt."