TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: WYATT STEIGERWALD (NOWATA)
By Mike Tupa
Jan. 20, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.
This is an ongoing series highlighting, each few days, one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.
Today's Spotlight
WYATT STEIGERWALD (Nowata)
Football (Class of 2015)
Serendipity is when everything comes together all at once to create something wonderful.
It was the perfect term for a near-perfect Nowata football team in 2014.
Wyatt Steigerwald was there for the whole journey — he helped to lead it.
The odyssey from worst to burst started during Steigerwald’s freshman year in 2011. It was a season of turmoil for the Ironmen program following the resignation of ultra-successful head coach Eric Walkingstick.
The Ironmen would go through multiple head coaches and a preseason player revolt, the result which was partly was Steigerwald taking the reins as starting quarterback.
The Ironmen stumbled to a 0-10 record — this by a program that had played for the state title in 1999 and had been to the playoffs most the years following.
But then Nowata made a match forged in grid heaven when it hired Matt Hagebusch as the new head coach.
A fast-track turnaround began immediately.
In 2012, the Ironmen rocketed from 0-10 to 9-3.
The next season, the Ironmen surged to a 10-2 mark.
That was a preview for an unforgettable 2014 campaign.
With Steigerwald as the offensive triggerman, the Ironmen bolted to a 10-0 regular season record. Their closest regular season win was a 34-13 victory against rival Dewey.
They won five regular season games by more than 40 points.
Meanwhile, Steigerwald put up some elite numbers.
— In the win against Dewey, he connected on touchdown passes to Scott Pruett and Cory Hobbs and also peeled off a 75-yard scoring run. He passed for 123 yards, rushed for 115 and kicked the extra points.
— Steigerwald was nearly flawless in a 45-0 win against Oklahoma Union, completing 16-of-17 passes for 273 yards and five touchdowns — to five different receivers, Hobbs, Will Luster, Wyatt Sanders, Bryce Bell and Michael Ritchie.
— Wyandotte also felt the power of Steigerwald’s arm — 12-of-19, 312 yards and four touchdowns.
After finishing perfect in the 2014 regular season, the Ironmen plowed to four playoff wins.
Against Vian, Steigerwald started out 7-for-7 passing, including a touchdown toss to Bell. He also put the ball in Bell’s hands for the final score, Nowata 33, Vian 27.
Steigerwald made another show of force in the 42-35 win against Washington. He hooked up with Sanders, Billy Davis and Bell for touchdowns and also scrambled eight yards for the winning touchdown.
The semifinals witnessed Steigerwald complete 11-of-15 passes for 220 yards, including touchdowns of 72 and 26 yards, as Nowata blanked Oklahoma Christian School, 20-0.
In the 2014 state final, Nowata fell to Davis, 20-13.
For the 2014 season Steigerwald amassed more than 3,000 total yards — 2,674 passing and 445 rushing. He directly accounted for 44 touchdowns.
Following his high school years, Steigerwald excelled in college.
At Northeastern Oklahoma A&M he set four team records, threw for 2,744 yards and 32 touchdowns leading Region XIV in junior college), helped guide the team to a conference championship and made the All Conference First Team.
From there, Steigerwald finished his career at Western Missouri State.
After seeing limited time his junior season, he blossomed as a senior — 11 games, 166-286 passing, 2,382 yards and 28 touchdowns (including five in Central Oklahoma). He also ran for two scores.
Steigerwald brought a winning touch and strength of leadership to his teams. He helped fire up an amazing run at Nowata and the flames of accomplishment illuminate him as one of the area elite athletes produced by the area.
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Wyatt Steigerwald
This series has featured the following athletes, listed in no particular order.
-Jena’ Williams, Bartlesville
-Eric Rolfs, Bartlesville
-Chris Smith, Caney Valley
-Jill Bryan, Copan
-Barron Tanner Jr, Bartlesville
-Hailey Tucker, Bartlesville
-Jeremy Dunkle, Dewey
-Whitney Metcalf, Bartlesville
-Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville
-Danielle Koster, Bartlesville
-Carson LaRue, Dewey
-John Hamman, Wesleyan Christian
-Jamie Elam, Caney Valley
-Sam Mitchell, Bartlesville
-Karissa Jones, Dewey
-Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville
-Tiffany Paper, Copan
-AJ Parker, Bartlesville
-Tiffany Eden, Caney Valley
-Henry Williams, Bartlesville
-Markell Carter, Bartlesville
-Rebecca Schluter, Wesleyan Christian
-Adam Hibdon, Barnsdall
-Tishuana Hunter, Nowata
-Nate Alleman, Bartlesville
-Jessie Burch, Dewey
-Joey McNair, Caney Valley/Bartlesville
-Michael Thompson, Bartlesville
-Kate Steward, Bartlesville
-Jarrett Rouse, Community
-Amanda Warehime, Bartlesville
-Trey Osborne, Dewey
-Heather Lanphear, Barnsdall
-Erin Epperson, Bartlesville
-Levi Wyrick, Caney Valley (Kan.)
-Spencer Magana, Dewey
-Jackie Jo Chaney, Copan
-Haley Downey, Bartlesville
-Cooper Fogle, Caney Valley
-Amanda Brown, Copan
-Rachel Smith, Pawhuska
-Casey Cassity, Barnsdall
-Stacy Cornforth, Bartlesville
-Gabby Higbee, Dewey
-Kirby Schoenthaler, Bartlesville
-Tyler Kay, Barnsdall
-Colton Penrod, Bartlesville
-Erin Herchock, Dewey
-Lindsey Collins, Caney Valley
-Nathan Hughes, Bartlesville
-Aaron Hunt, Copan
-Calan Crowder, Bartlesville
-Colby Kohlmeyer, Caney Valley
-Allison Hunt, Copan
-Stephen Garrett, Dewey
-Brett Turowski, Bartlesville
-Hayley Bryan, Copan
-Kaitlyn Ritchie, Bartlesville
-Caroline Courtney, Bartlesville
-Preston Bartley, Copan
-Chris Turner, Bartlesville
-Michael Wolfe, Bartlesville
-Caleb Hawes, Barnsdall
-Austin Beck, Nowata
-Kortney Bridges, Dewey
-Brandi Schueler, Bartlesville
-Trey Cloud, Wesleyan Christian