They turned on the lights of Vermont State University Castleton’s Dave Wolk Stadium in October to showcase the high school football game between Mill River and Poultney.Nobody shone any brighter than Toby Pytlik. He piled up 207 rushing yards on 28 carries to power Mill River to a 28-12 victory over the Blue Devils.His defensive linemen gave him the crack of daylight he needed. Once he got to the next level, he was able to do plenty on his own, using those legs, moves and athleticism that helped to make him a state snowboarding champion to leave defenders grasping at air.Pytlik was the overall state champion in snowboarding for his performance earlier this month at Jay Peak in which he won the rail jam, placed second in the slopestyle event and finished fifth in the giant slalom.Consistency was his hallmark as he won every freetstyle event but two all season and had high finishes in both of those. Now, the state champion can add the accolade of Rutland Herald Snowboarder of the Year.Pytlik was also part of the Mill River team that placed second in the GS, a unit comprised of Pytlik, Collin McLean, Maverick Lawson and Nicholas Karpinski.If standing out on the snow and the gridiron were not enough, Pytlik was also one of the state’s top wrestlers in the 150-pound division and a fine baseball pitcher and shortstop.“He might be the best competitor that I have ever worked with,” Mill River snowboard coach Peter Roach said.“Snowboarding is different than all the other sports. You have to be calm mentally and physically and still fire on all cylinders. He has the ability to balance that.”Roach said that the success Pytlik enjoyed last year as a junior really set up this season for him.“He got the confidence to really come back this year and be the person,” Roach said.“He really wants to to ride. He works so hard. It is the talent on top of his work ethic.”He also shines in the hallways, classroom and community, Roach said.“He is genuinely liked. He always has this smile on his face,” the coach said.Roach said it appears that Pytlik is headed to the University of Vermont to ride.“I am sure that he will continue to compete in events on his own on the side,” Roach said.Pytlik had the love of the sports to be a dual athlete this winter. He was a marquee performer both on the snow and the wrestling mat.It is that type of commitment that went a long way in making him the Rutland Herald Snowboarder of the Year and if there were an award for the top dual sport performer in one season, he would be a contender for that honor as well.

Pytlik had the love of the sports to be a dual athlete this winter. He was a marquee performer both on the snow and the wrestling mat.It is that type of commitment that went a long way in making him the Rutland Herald Snowboarder of the Year and if there were an award for the […]

Pytlik had the love of the sports to be a dual athlete this winter. He was a marquee performer both on the snow and the wrestling mat.It is that type of commitment that went a long way in making him the Rutland Herald Snowboarder of the Year and if there were an award for the top dual sport performer in one season, he would be a contender for that honor as well.If standing out on the snow and the gridiron were not enough, Pytlik was also one of the state’s top wrestlers in the 150-pound division and a fine baseball pitcher and shortstop.He also shines in the hallways, classroom and community, Roach said.Consistency was his hallmark as he won every freetstyle event but two all season and had high finishes in both of those. Now, the state champion can add the accolade of Rutland Herald Snowboarder of the Year.Nobody shone any brighter than Toby Pytlik. He piled up 207 rushing yards on 28 carries to power Mill River to a 28-12 victory over the Blue Devils.Roach said that the success Pytlik enjoyed last year as a junior really set up this season for him.Pytlik was the overall state champion in snowboarding for his performance earlier this month at Jay Peak in which he won the rail jam, placed second in the slopestyle event and finished fifth in the giant slalom.“I am sure that he will continue to compete in events on his own on the side,” Roach said.“He really wants to to ride. He works so hard. It is the talent on top of his work ethic.”Pytlik was also part of the Mill River team that placed second in the GS, a unit comprised of Pytlik, Collin McLean, Maverick Lawson and Nicholas Karpinski.“He might be the best competitor that I have ever worked with,” Mill River snowboard coach Peter Roach said.Roach said it appears that Pytlik is headed to the University of Vermont to ride.“Snowboarding is different than all the other sports. You have to be calm mentally and physically and still fire on all cylinders. He has the ability to balance that.”“He got the confidence to really come back this year and be the person,” Roach said.They turned on the lights of Vermont State University Castleton’s Dave Wolk Stadium in October to showcase the high school football game between Mill River and Poultney.“He is genuinely liked. He always has this smile on his face,” the coach said.His defensive linemen gave him the crack of daylight he needed. Once he got to the next level, he was able to do plenty on his own, using those legs, moves and athleticism that helped to make him a state snowboarding champion to leave defenders grasping at air.