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McCook High School's Lyons exudes athleticism, versatility
Bison senior excels in academics, leadership as well as three sports
Trent Lyons' athletic career for the McCook Bison includes a pair of championships, a bushel of accolades and several records.
However, the most amazing aspect of the three-sport star's time for the Bison is that Lyons has avoided major injuries while being a major workhorse for McCook the past four years.
The 6-foot, 155-pound Lyons, who plans to major in construction engineering technology and will play football at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, has built up a hefty collection of trophies.
The awards include back-to-back football titles, numerous mentions in record books (Nebraska All-Class career field goal record with 30, and he is the Bison's all-time offensive and defensive career points leader).
Lyons has amassed a collection of "All's" (as in All-Area, All-District, All-Conference, All-State an All-Class teams).
Lyons is only the fourth Bison football player to be named "Super State" -- a feat made all the more impressive because Lyons made it both his junior and senior years.
"I've never relied so heavily on one kid. Trent kicked, punted, led us on defense as a free safety and played quarterback. Because of his athleticism, he has avoided major injuries," said McCook head football coach Jeff Gross, the Gatorade football Coach of the Year in Nebraska.
"The only plays that he wasn't involved in were the kick and punt returns."
He estimated that Lyons was on the field for 95 percent of the team's plays during his career.
"As a four-year starter, he accounted for 41 wins and to end his career on a 26-0 run as a pivotal leader is a big statement."
Lyons is again reaching new heights as his assault on the record books has stretched into the spring with track and field season.
Lyons eclipsed Rick Haney's (1980) and Tony Pantenburg's (1983) pole vaulting record by one inch on Friday at the GNAC meet with a vault of 14-4.
"It was one of our older school records," McCook boys head track coach John Gumb said of the pole vault mark.
"It was something that Trent has looked forward to and has been a goal of his and he was able to accomplish it."
Haney, McCook's pole vault and high jump coach and previous owner of the pole vault mark, lured Lyons to the pole vault pit when he was Lyons' eighth grade basketball coach.
"Mr. Haney talked to me in basketball my eighth grade year and told me to come out and try it," Lyons said.
Once Haney got Lyons started, the success followed immediately.
"I recruited Trent off the basketball court because he showed phenomenal athleticism," Haney said.
"He broke the eighth grade record and he's now progressed to be one of the best vaulters in the state."
Haney said he was happy to see Lyons surpass his vault mark.
"I don't put a lot of value on my record," he said. "My name would still be in the record books as his coach and I would great pleasure by seeing Trent break the record."
Lyons, who placed sixth in the pole vault in last year's state track meet with a height of 13-6, currently holds the fourth highest vault in all classes.
Lyons also runs a leg on the Class B-leading 400 and 1600 relays.
Gumb said that Lyons' a positive attitude has been a major aid in reaching his goals.
"He's always been upbeat and positive," he said.
"He has a lot of confidence in his abilities and always makes to you feel like he's going to get the job done."
The intensity that Lyons brought to both practices and games set him apart from others, Gross said.
"The biggest thing I'll miss is his approach to the game," Gross said.
"He approached practice and games with the same fire to make himself better. He is not a kid that got down a lot, he always stayed positive. You don't find a lot of kids that do that."
One of Lyons' best friends, McCook senior track standout Carl Fritz, said that while Lyons is all business at track meets, he is a kind friend.
That is evident by Lyons being voted First Attendant during Homecoming celebrations in the fall.
"He can take anyone and pump them up to win. He knows what it takes to win and he always gets it done," Fritz said.
"He's always been there as a friend, no matter what happens. He's a really nice guy and caring about what's going on with you."
Positive just seems to be the word everyone uses to describe Lyons and his actions.
"You always know that when '21' is in the game," Gross said referring to Lyons' football jersey number. "Then positive things are going to happen."