by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Coaches at all levels in high schools recruit their own students for teams in their schools. Most coaches inform head coaches when they see the talent. Another strategy is to directly notify a student he should report to a team. This strategy often works out for both the team and the athlete.
Tyler Hiatt is a 6’3”, senior, multi-sport athlete at Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, SD. He plays football, basketball, and is a weight thrower in track and field. Tyler is from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Jon Hiatt and Stephanie Hiatt (Seminole Tribe of Florida) are his parents and they live in Sioux Falls, SD.
Lincoln High School has won four straight state championships in Track and Field. The team will soon be working toward making it five in a row.
“The Seminole have a word they use a lot: Unconquered,” said Tyler. “They are the only Native American tribe to never sign a peace treaty with the U.S. government. I use the word unconquered to fuel me to work hard everyday and better myself to represent the tribe well.”
“My head track coach is James Jarovski who forced me to do track as a freshman,” said Tyler. “It turns out that was one of the best decisions of my high school career.”
“Tyler has been a valuable leader on our track and field and football teams for the past four years,” said Coach James Jarovski.
“Personally I have seen this by how he has consistently led by example. Tyler is always the first one to practice and is willing to stay late to work on his technique. While at practice, Tyler has taken on a leadership role by helping his peers and younger throwers each day by giving advice and providing feedback on how his teammates can get better. Our Track team has gone undefeated the past four seasons and a big reason for that is the success our Thrower group has provided to the team. Tyler has been the team leader of this group both in performance and in providing a leadership role. Others look to him as an example of how to carry oneself at practice. Our throw group has over 50 throwers in the training group and with two coaches coaching that group we need leaders to step up and Tyler has done that. Tyler’s passion, love for track, work ethic, and positive attitude is evident each day and has had a positive impact on the rest of the throwers in the program,” added Coach James.
“Off the track Tyler has been equally impressive,” said Coach James. “His character, integrity, and personality are even more impressive than his State Championship throws in the shot and disc. Tyler cares about others, is respected by his peers, and is someone who consistently makes the right choices. His classroom performance has been impressive as well, and he works as hard if not harder than others in the classroom.”
“My throwing coach, Brian Bechard, always invested his time and energy in to making me the best athlete he possibly can,” said Tyler.
“Tyler is the best overall thrower in the history of Lincoln High School, but if you met him you would never know it,” said Coach Brian Bechard. “He is very humble and fits in as well with the choir as he does with the track team. Tyler is encouraging to his teammates and as he has gotten more experienced will try to help the younger kids. Tyler has turned into a ‘track nerd’ due in no small part to teammate Sam Engebretson, a very good thrower himself and will talk with competitors at meets about what is going on in the international throwing world. He doesn’t boast about personal distances but will talk endlessly about technique. Tyler is currently 2nd all time in both shot and disc and will likely graduate as the record holder in both events.”
“Tyler seems to love watching others do their best and I think relishes the competition. Personally, it has been extremely enjoyable for me to have a hand in the growth of a young man of his character and talent experience the success he has had so far,” added Coach Brian.
“Another one of my throwing coaches, Trey Naasz is the core motivator of my success in throwing and also a comforter when I don’t perform well,” said Tyler.
“Tyler is a great leader and friend on the field, in the hallways, and in the community,” said Coach Trey Naasz. “He goes above and beyond with his teammates to help them be the absolute best they can be. Tyler is always one of the first ones to show up and one of the last to leave. He is determined to the best he can be and will do whatever it takes to get there. Kids like Tyler do not come along very often and we are very fortunate to have him and his family on our side the last four years here at LHS.”
“Coming into high school, I thought I was going to go play college football and track and field wasn’t even on my radar,” said Tyler. “At the end of my freshmen football season, the head freshmen coach, who also happened to be the head track coach, James Jarovski, told me I ‘didn’t have a choice’ whether I was doing track and field or not. Within one week, Coach Jarovski and Coach Bechard told me I had the potential to be the best thrower in Lincoln High School history. I qualified for the state meet as a freshman in the discus. My sophomore year I scored points in the shot put and discus in the state meet. My junior year, I won both shot put and discus.”
Tyler’s academic career in high school includes being in the National Honor Society, named to Academic Honor Roll, honored with the Scholar Athlete Award seven out of eight semesters. His athletic credentials include being named the 2018-2019 Gatorade SD Track and Field Athlete of the Year, one of three finalists for SD Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, won the Howard Wood Relays shot put title, 2019 State Shot Put and Discus Champion, and Member of Captain’s Council.
Tyler has advice for other up-and-coming student-athletes. “Choose a sport that you’re really passionate about and then work really hard at it if you want to see results,” said Tyler. “It’s the un-required work that is going to separate you from the competition. In other words, it’s the little details that you are willing to spend time working on to gain every little advantage.”
Photo Credit: Michael G. Brown Photography
