Oklahoma Bible Academy junior Cylus Rudd is the kind of multi-sport athlete who seems to thrive no matter what season it is. Whether he’s lining up on the football field, sprinting down a runway in track, lifting in the weight room, or competing in baseball, club volleyball, or powerlifting, Rudd brings the same trademark drive: a motivation rooted in his family, friends, coaches, teammates, and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Rudd says one of the greatest influences in his life is Ian Eastin, an OBA graduate who competed in many of the same sports. Eastin’s persistent effort, athletically, academically, and spiritually, set a standard Cylus strives to follow. That same support continues at school, where his favorite teacher, Coach Jay Mendenhall, has played a pivotal role in shaping his confidence as a football player. “He didn’t just teach me the game,” Rudd says. “He helped bring out the confidence that has been crucial to my success this year.”
For Cylus, success doesn’t come by accident. It’s built on hours of preparation and the people who push him every day. One of those is teammate Caden Dinnin, his favorite practice partner because of the relentless effort he brings. And while many players get headlines, Rudd is quick to point to those who don’t, especially Ian Burnet, whom he believes is one of the team’s most underappreciated difference-makers on the offensive line.
His proudest moment as an athlete came during his sophomore year when he tore his UCL in a football game, underwent surgery, and, defying expectations, qualified for the state track meet in pole vault just months later.
Off the field, Rudd follows professional pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis, whose energy and determination inspire him to chase big goals of his own. Balancing academics, athletics, and leadership roles requires discipline, something Cylus has learned through careful time management.
Representing OBA carries deep meaning for him. “The letters ‘Bible’ on my jersey remind me who I’m truly playing for, the glory of God.”
Originally from Texas, Cylus loves coding, foreign languages, and anything involving the ocean or adrenaline, including a goal to skydive. His lifelong love for Oklahoma State football runs deep, and while he hopes to attend OSU, a pole-vaulting scholarship could send him in a new direction, one he’ll pursue with the same passion that defines him.
