By: J. Daniel Pearson
The most decorated wrestler in Harmony history will have a chance to add to his legacy at the next level. On Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by teammates, coaches, family and school officials, Nathan Lyttle formally inked a letter of intent to wrestle at Central Michigan University, a Division 1 program that competes in the highly competitive Mid-American Conference (MAC).
“For me the recruiting process started pretty late as I was not sure college was the direction I wanted to go,” Lyttle said. “But in the back of my mind I always felt that I wanted to wrestle in college and do so at the highest level possible. I felt I really worked hard to get to this point and I look forward to where it might take me.”
Lyttle finished his Harmony career last March at the FHSAA State Championship where he finished second – losing a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Miami Southwest’s Larzaro Soto in the 120-lb. final. In 2025, Lyttle recorded a perfect 49-0 season, winning the 113-lb. state championship and being named Orlando Sentinel Area Wrestler of the Year. He is Harmony’s all-time wins leader with 178. He finished the season ranked in the top 50 in the nation for his weight class.”
A two-time Osceola County Wrestler of the Year, Lyttle gained additional notoriety on the national and international level the last two months. In addition to attending several highly competitive training camps and national tournaments, Lyttle won the Puerto Rico Under 20 Nationals – defeating a Blair Academy All-American, two other opponents and pinning a state place winner from New Jersey – to go undefeated and earn a spot on the Peurto Rico National Team. He has earned multiple All-America designations in various competitions around the United States.
He will be joining a program that has numerous conference championships on its resume and one that has sent seven wrestlers to the NCAA Championships over the last two years. “There’s no question its going to be a big challenge,” Lyttle said. “The only goal is to go there, work hard and try to earn my spot.”
It’s an attitude that has served him well at Harmony. “Everyone wants to win, but not everyone has the will and determination to put in the work to win,” Harmony coach Vic Leorenzano said. “Nathan has always had to work ethic to succeed and now he will have a chance to do so at the Division 1 level. He never was one to rest on his laurels to take a day off. His entire attitude has always been, what can I do to get better? The thing that really sets him apart his willingness to step out of his comfort zone and go train and compete against the best in the nation. ”
Nathan credits his family, especially father Clint for his success. “When you consider everything, I have probably wrestled more than 1000 matches so far,” Lyttle says. “And I would be hard pressed to name any where my father wasn’t there cheering me on. I would be nothing without his support.”
