Payson High's Wyatt Johnson receives H.S. Athlete of Month award

Payson High's Wyatt Johnson was named SI’s April H.S. Athlete of the Month

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Apr 28, 2015

Wyatt Johnson, a junior from Payson (Utah) High School who competes in bareback and bull riding, received his award for being named Sports Illustrated’s High School Athlete of the Month for April.

Johnson was presented with the award during a ceremony at the Spanish Fork High School rodeo. Four-time bareback rodeo world champion Kaycee Feild and a representative from the U.S. Marines presented him with the award.

"Being named High School Athlete of the Month is probably the craziest thing that's happened to me." Johnson said. "To win this award, it just means the world to me because it means rodeo is being noticed."

• FENWICK: Wyatt Johnson named SI's H.S. Athlete of the Month

Only 5'3'' and 130 pounds, Johnson holds his own against bareback and bull riding competitors a decade older and a foot taller. He has won a Utah High School Rodeo Association bareback state title and 30 high school rodeo event first-place buckles.

His earnings place him at fifth overall in the professional Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association’s Winter Rodeo Series standings last year. He recently finished third bareback at the RMPRA Winter Rodeo Series in Ogden, Utah.

For SI's complete story and video feature on Johnson, click here.

SI High School Athlete of the Month: Wyatt Johnson

Wyatt Johnson, a junior at Payson High in Utah is the reigning state bareback champion.

Wyatt was featured in the pages of SI as April's High School Athlete of the Month.

Sports Illustrated traveled to Spanish Fork Fairgrounds in Spanish Fork, Utah, to honor Wyatt before the South Utah County High School Rodeo, sponsored by his high school team.

Four-time bareback world champion Kaycee Feild shared his six steps for success to Wyatt in presenting his official award.

Sports Illustrated reporter Ali Fenwick and Staff Sgt. Wesley Johnson join four-time bareback world champion Kaycee Feild (far right) in honoring Wyatt Johnson (center), the Sports Illustrated High School Athlete of the Month for April.

Wyatt poses with (from left), his grandfather Doug Hopes, rodeo star Kaycee Feild, stepdad Boedee Hopes and mother PattiJo Hopes.

Kaycee Feild and Staff Sgt. Wesley Johnson of the U.S. Marine Corps share a laugh.

Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association bareback rider Kaycee Feild and SI High School Athlete of the Month Wyatt Johnson bond over their respective injuries. Feild had hip surgery three weeks ago and Wyatt was recovering from a deep bruise suffered last Sunday when a bucking horse fell on him.

High school rodeo athletes take off their cowboy hats for the national anthem at the South Utah County High School Rodeo at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds.