TOP ATHLETE FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS: LEVI WYRICK (CANEY VALLLEY, KAN.)

By Mike Tupa

Oct. 13, 2025

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

LEVI WYRICK (Caney, Kan.)

Multiple sports: Early 2010s

Perhaps one word best summarizes this former Caney Valley (Kan.) warrior.

Remarkable.

Standing at 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5 — and weighing in excess of 220 pounds — during his prep years, Wyrick brought a compelling combination of athletic grace and toughness to competition.

He would go on to star in multiple sports for Pittsburg (Kan.) State.

During his golden autumn performances on the gridiron for the Caney Bullpups, Wyrick earned All-State recognition three times at defensive end and twice at quarterback.

Wyrick also won the Class 3A state championship in the discus in the state of Kansas.

At college he recorded a super span of 65-feet-11-inches in the weight throw and 210-6 in the hammer throw. Both distances rank No. 2 in Pittsburg State history.

Wyrick also placed sixth-place nationally in the hammer throw at the 2019 NCAA Division Outdoor National Championships.

During his four years in high school (2011-15) on the varsity, Caney Valley’s football team compiled a 37-6 record, played in the state quarterfinals in two different seasons (2011, 2012) and won a first-round playoff game in another.

(By comparison, Caney Valley’s record in the four seasons prior to Wyrick’s arrival was 27-12 and 0-4 in the playoffs.)

During Wyrick’s senior campaign (2014) he accounted for 162 of the Pups’ 313 offense in a 42-7 win against Humboldt (Kan.).  Wyrick opened the scoring on a 32-yard scoop-and-score. He also flung touchdown passes to Baylor Melchiori and Jake Matthews.

As a sophomore (2012), Wyrick was on the receiving end of a 70-yard aerial touchdown in a 56-27 win against Humboldt.

Wyrick also cast a big shadow on the hardwood for Caney Valley.

In a 49-39 win against Fredonia he poured in 10 points to tie for high point honors.

After cooling his heels for two seasons (2015, 2016), Wyrick started 23-of-23 games (12 starts) as a redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior in 2017 and 2018. During those seasons, he recorded 47 tackles (8.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks.

Meanwhile in track he earned All-MIAA and NCAA-II All-America status for Pittsburg State.

During his senior football season (2019) at Pittsburg State Wyrick forced a fumble and recorded three sacks in a 42-41 loss to Fort Hays (Kan.).

During a 47-23 victory against Emporia State he racked up three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

His cumulative numbers as a senior included 23 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a force fumble.

As a thrower in college track and field he achieved national prominence.

In the 2021 MIAA Conference Outdoor Championships, Wyrick grabbed the men's hammer throw championship (221-7) by a distance of 13 feet. He also finished eighth in the discus (165-9) to qualify for the final.

At the 2011 NCAA-II Outdoor Championships, Wyrick powered to sixth in the nation (220-9).

Wyrick remains one of the most powerful and talented big-bodied athletes in area history.
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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