Keeping the Tradition

OLATHE — It may be Kyle Piatt's first season on the Olathe High wrestling team, but the freshman grappler is already living up to the Pirates' stately tradition.

Piatt doesn't only have to wrestle in one of the toughest wrestling rooms in the state — he also is filling in some big shoes in his own family.

With two older brothers, Kirk and Travis, who both went on to wrestle collegiately, and his father, David, who also wrestled at Olathe — Piatt has had some big expectations to live up too on the mat.

"They all are great (wrestlers) and have helped me out a lot," Kyle said. "There is a little pressure, but it has definitely made me better."

Growing up within a big wrestling family has helped Piatt not only make Olathe's varsity team as freshman, it has also helped him become one of the best wrestlers in the state in his first season. Piatt is ranked seventh in Class 3A at 130 pounds.

"He was good coming into the season and just worked really hard to improve himself," OHS head coach Harvey Starbuck said. "He gets a lot of advice and most of it is free. As a younger brother, he was inspired by what they did and they pass things to him and that is always a plus."

One thing that inspired Kyle was when Kirk and the Pirates’ wrestling team won the state title in 2005.

"It was great to see the excitement they all had," Kyle said. "I want to win a state title."

While Kirk never won an individual state title during his four years at Olathe, he did make four trips to the state tournament and finished third during his senior year to help the Pirates take home the state title.

He is also currently in his second year wrestling at Mesa State College, where he wrestles at 149 pounds and went 11-14 his freshman year.  

Kyle's oldest brother, Travis was a state champion at 135 pounds in 2002 and went on to wrestle at Northwest College in Wyoming.

"Both of them have helped Kyle improve," David said. "Just their experience has been great for him. When they come home they teach things they’ve learned."

While Kyle still has two duals left until the regional tournament, he said he feels his first season has been successful.

"Just making the varsity team was the best moment so far," he said. "But I've felt it has been a good season."

It has been a highlight-filled season for the freshman. During the second week of the season he went undefeated at the Olathe home tournament and won top honors.

He also finished sixth at the Indian Classic and had an impressive outing at the Centauri tournament, where he went 4-1 and beat Monte Vista's Adam Garcia, who was ranked second in Class 3A at the time.   

"It has been a great experience for him," David said. "It is a tough wrestling room and working with Coach Starbuck has been really helpful."

His season won't get any easier in these final two duals. On Thursday, he'll face Grand Valley's Ryan Gallegos — who is ranked third in Class 2A. Then on Friday he faces Class 3A 11th-ranked Jacob Cadwell of Gunnison.