Athlete of the Week: Wyatt Foster

As Exeter’s opponents attempt to charge up the field toward the end zone, they are blocked by Big Red’s last line of defense, safety Wyatt Foster, who tackles the players and prevents them from scoring.

Foster, a senior, plays for Big Red’s varsity football team, a position he acquired after years of hard work. He began playing football in first grade, and played for the Nor-Rock Vikings. Even at this young age, Foster chose to play full-contact football over flag football.

He kept his commitment to the sport throughout elementary and middle school, and said, “When I came to Exeter, just like any athlete, I decided to continue playing my childhood sport through high school.”

However, Foster faced challenges in his high school career, and has had to persevere through a great number of injuries. He has suffered from a hurt back, shoulder, several broken fingers and injuries to his knees and groin. In his prep year, he had an avulsion fracture in his right hip that kept him on the sideline for a portion of the season, so that he could recover.

He was able to heal from this injury and become an important asset to the team by his lower year. Foster said, “Sophomore year was my first year of really playing football at Exeter.” After gaining practice and experience in lower year, in his upper year Foster was able to lead the team through a challenging season by getting the most tackles on the team.

Foster cites one of the challenges in leading the team in tackles as the difference in size between him and players he is pitted against. “Being that I am not built like a stereotypical football player, I have had to make up for the size differential in other ways like just flat out out-working my opponents,” Foster said.

Lower Josh Riddick praised Foster for the skill he demonstrates on the football field. “Wyatt flies all over the field at safety and is one of our key veteran returners on varsity,” he said. “He’s aggressive and doesn’t back down from any opponent.” Lower Brett Pullman also applauded Foster for “always giving 110%”. “He’s willing to throw his body full speed into an opponent who’s running right at him,” Pullman added.

Despite having to overcome challenges in his path to playing at Exeter, Foster has fond memories of his years playing football. His favorite memory is from fifth grade, when he played both middle linebacker and safety. Foster’s team was in the semi-finals of the state championship when their adversary was a team that had not lost a game in three years. In spite of Foster and his team’s hard fight to win, his team lost with eight points to its opponent’s thirteen. Foster said about the game, “I was crushed, but that was the best memory of football [from my] childhood.”

Although his favorite memory was from his team in middle school, Foster also values playing football at Exeter. He said, “[The] best part is by far the culture of the team; we are so close as a team, and it is not cliquey at all, which is awesome.” Foster added that the team stood out to him as special because of the camaraderie between members. “I’ve never been on a team where I have felt as close to kids before; it’s true brotherhood,” Foster said.

Riddick recalled a fond memory of Foster being a supportive teammate. Riddick explained that during his freshman year, he felt extremely nervous for his first varsity game. However, Riddick recalled talking to Foster who helped calm his nerves. “His positivity and demeanor draws everyone towards him. He’s a tremendous leader and great guy,” Riddick added.

Known for his infectious smile, his teammates praise Foster for his upbeat and friendly personality. Pullman described Foster as the “cool older brother” especially for the younger members of the team. “If we had a couple more Wyatts on campus, this place would be the happiest place ever,” Pullman said.

As the captain of this large team, Foster holds a lot of responsibility and duties. Riddick applauded the senior for the attitude he brings to the team. “[Foster] leads with positivity, energy and holds players of all ages accountable,” Riddick said. “He pushes everyone to be at their best on and off the field which makes us all better.” Senior Hans Fotta added that Foster masters the balance of having fun and being focused for the team. “Wyatt brings a light-hearted atmosphere to the team, but also commands respect during times when focus is highly necessary,” Fotta said.

After leaving this team, Foster hopes to continue his athletic career in college. He would like to play for the California Polytechnic State University where he awarded the opportunity. Foster said that even if he could not be a starting player for the university, he still would like to play there in order to continue to be around the sport he has played since childhood.

Start playing football

Foster began playing football in First Grade for the Nor-Rock Vikings

Path to Exeter

Challenges he has faced

Favorite memory

Best part of being on Exeter’s team

Continue playing football after Exeter

Rose

Wyatt Foster-contacted, followed up

Jared

People on whatever team he plays for

Coach of that team

Seth Bowman

Hans Fota

How does Wyatt embrace the role of captain?

Wyatt throughout preseason as well as during the offseason has been consistently checking in with each and every player on the team to make sure they are working hard and preparing for a successful season. Holding players accountable with a sign in sheet in the fitness center, Wyatt was a leader in the weight room during the off season, often lifting multiple times per day (even working through a back injury).

Describe his personality and what he brings to the team.

Wyatt brings a light-hearted atmosphere to the team, but also commands respect during times when focus is highly necessary.

How does he perform during games?

Over the past few years, he has been one of our hardest working players and a huge performer on the field. Playing at safety on defense, he has had some huge touchdown-saving tackles as well as keeping a lockdown defense in the air.

Do you have a fond memory with Wyatt involving football?

Every football memory with Wyatt is a fond one, he’s just a great guy to be around and he inspires everyone around him to work hard.

How has Wyatt changed throughout the years you’ve known him?

He has always been a great athlete, but he has grown into a real leader over the course of his football career. In addition to his increasing performance on the field, he continually acts as a role model for teammates off the field.

Any other comments?

Wyatt’s a great guy, we all love him.

Questions for Wyatt:

How did you start playing football?

What position do you play?

What was your path to playing it at Exeter?

What is your favorite memory from playing football?

What is the best part about being on Exeter’s team?

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your time playing football?

Do you hope to continue to play football after Exeter?

Wyatt Foster

How did you start playing football?

I started playing football in first grade for the Nor-Rock Vikings... I have played full contact football my whole life, never played flag or anything like that.

What position do you play?

I play Strong Safety

What was your path to playing it at Exeter?

When I came to Exeter, just like any athlete, I decided to continue playing my childhood sport through high school, however freshman year, I had an avulsion fracture in my right hip, Sophmore year I was my first year of really playing football at Exeter.  Then Junior year, although it was a tough year for the team, I managed to lead in tackles.

What is your favorite memory from playing football?

Favorite memory is from 5th grade, I was playing foul back and middle line backer/safety then.  We were in the semifinals for the state championship and we played a team that had not lost a single game in 3 years.  It was a hard fought game, but we ended up losing 8-13.  I was crushed, but that was the best memory of football childhood.

Another was in practice we used to do a drill called bull in the ring, and two kids would stand in the center of a circle made by the other kids, one would get a ball and the other would have to tackle them, they would run directly at each other.  That was another amazing memory.

What is the best part about being on Exeter’s team?

Best part is by far the culture of the team, we are so close as a team, and it is not clicky at all which is awesome, I’ve never been on a team where I have felt as close to kids before, it’s true brotherhood. 

What is the biggest challenge you have faced playing football?

My size and injuries, I have had a multitude of injuries from playing football, with a hurt back, shoulder, several broken fingers, knees, and groin.  Being that I am not built like a stereotypical football player, I have had to make up for the size differential in other ways like just flat out out working my opponents.

Do you hope to continue to play football after Exeter

I think that I would like to play at Cal Poly if the opportunity should present itself, even if not to start, but just to continue to be around the sport.

I also play lacrosse for Exeter, I play defensive midfielder.