TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: MICHAEL WOLFE (BARTLESVILLE)

By Mike Tupa

Dec. 19, 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

MICHAEL WOLFE (Bartlesville)

Swimming (early 2000s)

Looking like a 6-foot-3 torpedo constructed out of flesh, muscles and bone chiseled to aerodynamic precision, Michael Wolfe sliced through the pool with sleek explosiveness for the Bartlesville High and Splash Club swim teams.

He would qualify twice for the U.S. Olympic trials (2004, 2008) — the first time right out of high school, the second time as a top-flight college competitor for the University of Tennessee.

Wolfe seemed to have been born to be an elite swimmer.

In the 2008 Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., Wolfe turned in the fastest time in his heat (:56.49) in the men’s 100m breaststroke and came in third in his heat in the 200m butterfly (2:03.53).

He would also swim in the 100m butterfly heats and achieved his most significant achievement in the men’s 200m backstroke, advancing to the semifinals to finish 7th (2:00.66).

Four years earlier, as a high school graduate, Wolfe traveled to the Olympic trials in California, where he competed in both the men’s 100m backstroke and 200m breaststroke.

Wolfe established himself in high school as perhaps the top competitor in the state in multiple events. During the 2003 state meet, he earned the boys 500 freestyle gold medal (4:36.15) and brought home silver in the boys 100 breaststroke (:51.02).

Wolfe also rang up state gold medals in the boys 500 freestyle (2003) and in the boys 100 butterfly (2004). He set several Bartlesville High or Splash Club records.

He also earned a spot on the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American team.

Wolfe’s personality seemed to be defined by serene seriousness. He displayed a gentle approach and a quick smile and ingratiating grin — but the fire to succeed, to be the best he could, to conquer his challenges burned deeply beneath, or at least that’s how this observer saw it.

He was never too busy to work with teammates and always humble to accept coaching.

Wolfe chose to attend the University of Tennessee, where he would excel in his studies and in the pool — becoming one of the nation’s top collegiate talents.

As a senior (2007-08), he earned All-America honors in three men’s events at the NCAA Championships — the 200 butterfly, the 800 freestyle relay, and the 400 medley relay.

That same season, Wolfe captured the SEC championships in the men’s 100 backstroke. The NCAA also named him National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week in November 2007 after he won two events (200 backstroke and 200 butterfly) against Louisville.

His junior year (2006-07) Wolfe surged to the championship of the men’s 200 individual medley and men’s 100 backstroke in a dual meet against Virginia. His team also voted him captain.

During the 2005-06 campaign, Wolfe seized the men’s 200 backstroke championship at the Speedo Champion Series Eastern Section of the Southern Zone. 

Even as a freshman (2004-05), Wolfe swam to a looming level, finishing sixth at the men’s SEC championships in the 200 backstroke and seventh in the 100 backstroke. He even won gold this season in the men’s 150-yard backstroke at Georgia Tech.

As mentioned, Wolfe qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials both in 2004 and 2008. In the latter, he made the grade in four events — the 100m and 200m backstrokes and the 100m and 200m butterflies.

Whenever anyone mentions the elite swimmers to have come through Bartlesville High and the Splash Club, Wolfe’s name should be prominently mentioned.

Michael Wolfe

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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, 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