Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week: Tyler Niedrowski
When he grabs a javelin next spring, Wyomissing’s Tyler Niedrowski admits he’ll feel the pressure to perform at a high level. His older brothers – Hunter, Evan, and Collin – were all champions, as was his father Jeff.
On the football field it’s a little different. His older siblings and dad were all standouts, mind you, but Tyler feels a little more at ease there.
“I love football, whether I do good or not,” the junior linebacker said. “It’s my favorite sport.”
That was easy to see Saturday when the 5-11, 180-pound Niedrowski recorded five tackles for loss in the first half as the Spartans beat Daniel Boone 42-6.
He had seven tackles (on 21 Blazers snaps), was in on three of Wyomissing’s four sacks, and recorded a safety – all the first half. That performance earned him Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week for the first time.
“He’s a really good athlete, but he’s got that (football) mentality, too,” said Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum. “He’s gonna be as physical as he can be, and he’s quick enough to not get (faked out. On that safety), he missed him the first time, but he was right back on top of him.”
Boone’s Hadyn Moyer is as elusive as any quarterback in the league but he couldn’t escape Niedrowski, who nearly drove him out of the back of the end zone late in the first half.
Niedrowski and the Spartans hounded Moyer so much that Boone coach J.D. Okuniewski moved his quarterback to receiver because he couldn’t protect him in the pocket and wanted to keep him upright for the remainder of the schedule.
Boone was held to minus-18 yards rushing and minus-3 yards overall in the first half, and Niedrowski was at the front of the assault.
Niedrowski has taken a little something from each of his brothers to become one of the best linebackers in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
Hunter, who’s nine years older, and his throws coach in track, critiques his game and offers advice. Evan pushes him to be a little nastier on the field. He’s much closer in age with Collin, a 2023 grad, and got to learn from him by playing alongside him the last two seasons.
“He’s a combination of them,” Wolfrum said of Tyler and his brothers. “He’s quick like Collin; he’s powerful like Evan.”
Hunter and Evan had more bulk; both were lineman. Evan also played linebacker and moved to fullback as a senior.
Tyler may be the fastest and most versatile athletically of the brothers. He went 35-14 with 17 pins and finished third at 189 pounds in the District 3 Class 2A wrestling tournament as a sophomore. He was fourth at the District 3 Track and Field Meet in the discus.
He moved into a starting spot at linebacker at midseason last year when Drew Forrey was lost with an injury. He was an instant hit at the spot and helped the Spartans nail down a fifth straight district championship.
Niedrowski also plays fullback, spelling Chase Eisenhower. He scored a pair of touchdowns Saturday, including his first on a reception. He’s averaging 5.5 yards on 29 carries.
Niedrowski is the first Wyomissing player to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors this season. Brother Collin earned the award last season.
Players considered for Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Body Zone Physical Therapy is sponsoring the Defensive Player of the Week. At the end of the season a Defensive Player of the Year will be named.
Also nominated this week:
- Palmer Reber, Berks Catholic
- Ashton Kiebach, Conrad Weiser
- Logan Wegman, Exeter
- Dylan Worley, Gov. Mifflin
- Lenard Brown, Reading High
- Tristan Goda, Schuylkill Valley
- Joey Buckley, Twin Valley
- Christo Hunsicker, Wilson
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Fred Lacey, Muhlenberg
- Week 2: EJ Brownback, Wilson
- Week 3: Landen Hare, Fleetwood
- Week 4: Logan Cammauf, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 5: Justice Hardy, Wyomissing
- Week 6: Kowen Gerner, Schuylkill Valley
Selected in 2023 as Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Lucas Myers, Twin Valley
- Week 2: Michael Odeyemi, Reading High
- Week 3: Stewie Janowski, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 4: Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
- Week 5: Ethan Lafferty, Kutztown
- Week 6: Luke Spotts, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 7: Colby Crills, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 8: Luke Impellizzeri, Berks Catholic
- Week 9: Logan Cammauf, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 10: Justice Hardy, Wyomissing
- Week 11: Dominic Giuffre, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 12: Collin Niedrowski, Wyomissing
Selected in 2022 as Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Jonathan Martin, Exeter
- Week 2: Nate Capitano, Wilson
- Week 3: Ethan Kryman, Daniel Boone
- Week 4: Nate Pashley, Exeter
- Week 5: Nafis Blythe, Berks Catholic
- Week 6: Nick Weitzel, Wilson
- Week 7: Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
- Week 8: Drew Eisenhower, Wyomissing
- Week 9: Mason Marks, Twin Valley
- Week 10: Lucas Palange, Exeter
- Week 11: Mason Semmel, Hamburg
- Week 12: Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
Selected in 2021 as Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Brett Organtini, Conrad Weiser
- Week 2: Eden Johnson, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 3: Josiah Jordan, Berks Catholic
- Week 4: Matt Kramer, Wyomissing
- Week 5: Ryan Souder, Daniel Boone
- Week 6: Nevin Carter, Wyomissing
- Week 7: Nate Goodman, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 8: Sam Orzolek, Exeter
- Week 9: Cam Jones, Wilson
- Week 10: Aaron Shuker, Muhlenberg
- Week 11: Mitchell Watt, Hamburg
- Week 12: Tyler Givens, Berks Catholic
- Week 13: Jack Miller, Wyomissing
- Week 14: Ty Yocum, Exeter
