Walter Wywadis

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 3, 2024
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INDUCTEE

How many athletes out there can say that they only lost one football game during their high school career? Walt Wywadis can! As a member of the Red Tornado football team from 1972 through 1974, Walt’s teams were 33-1-1. They were 24-0 in 1972 and 1973 when they won 2 consecutive Eastern Conference crowns and 9-1-1 during Walt’s senior season when they lost out on points to OLOL. Walt was a devastating blocker from his offensive tackle position and was rewarded following the season with All Conference and All Anthracite Honors and was named honorable mention by the Big 33. He was nominated to and played in the 1975 All Stars vs. MS Football game.

During the winter Walter took his talents to the mats as the heavyweight wrestler for the Tornado grapplers and won the coveted D’Angelo Award as the outstanding senior wrestler, and was voted the most improved wrestler and won the Juniata Holiday Wrestling Tournament Championship. In the spring “Bear” set a new indoor shot put record at MCA and went on to win both the shot and discus at the District IV Track and Field meet. For his accomplishments Wywadis was named MCA Male Athlete of the Year and won the Babe Ruth Memorial Award as the outstanding senior athlete at MCA.

Walter won a scholarship to Kansas State University after being recruited by Jim Bates – current Dallas Cowboys defensive coach. As a freshman, Walt won the red Raider Award for outstanding JV player at K State. He then lettered for 3 years at offensive right tackle and won game balls for outstanding play against Nebraska, University of Missouri and the University of Tulsa. After graduation Walter had tryouts with the Houston Oilers of the NFL and Montreal Allouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Walt has remained active in sports, coaching the Highland Park PAL Queens 19 and under fast pitch softball team to a second place finish at the Kansas State ASA Tournament in 1996 and a first place in 1997.

Today Bear remains active in AAU track and in 1996, he and his three daughters all won the shot put and discus in their respective age groups in an AAU competition.

Walter now resides in Topeka, Kansas with his wife Reva Jo and three daughters. He is presently a Lieutenant with the Topeka Police Department.