By Ken Hansard
Tyler Ostmeyer has built a reputation as a versatile athlete and dedicated leader at Decatur Community High School. A senior competing in the Northwest Kansas League (NWKL), Ostmeyer has participated in football, basketball, track, baseball, and golf during his high school career, leaving an impact across multiple programs.
Despite suffering a broken tibia during the summer that kept him from playing football his senior season, Ostmeyer remained deeply involved with the team. “Football this year was when I really focused on my leadership skills because I was not able to play,” he said. Even from the sideline, he helped support a team that finished 7-3 and captured the school’s first playoff victory in five years before falling to eventual state champion South Central in the second round.
Basketball has been Ostmeyer’s primary focus throughout high school, and his accomplishments on the court have been significant. He finished his career with 1,298 points and nearly 800 rebounds while helping transform the program. “Before my freshman year, we had not won a game for two years,” he said. “One of my biggest goals was to help turn around the boys’ basketball program.” During his senior season, the team posted a 16-8 record and finished second in both the NWKL regular season standings and league tournament.
Ostmeyer’s individual honors include being a four-time All-NWKL selection, highlighted by first-team honors as a senior. He has also earned honorable mention All-State recognition from Sports in Kansas in both football and basketball, and he qualified for the state track meet last year. Another unique milestone came in baseball, where he helped launch the school’s program and scored the first run in Decatur Community High School history. “I’m very proud of how far this program has come since my freshman year.”
With a 3.91 GPA and an ACT score of 22, Ostmeyer plans to attend college, study biochemistry, and continue his basketball career. He currently is weighing his choices between several offers. As for the present, he says, “I’m super pumped to start baseball and golf. I’m just looking forward to competing and having fun with my teammates one last time.”
