Outside the Metro

The Ada Style

e hub of the Chickasaw Nation, Ada o ers small town comforts and big city amenities.

From sports parks and theaters to universities and headquarters for a major Native American tribe, Ada has it all. Photo courtesy the City of Ada

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Ada Chamber of Commerce

580-332-2506 adachamber.com

City of Ada

580-436-6300 adaok.com

McSwain Theatre

580-332-8108 mcswaintheatre.com

East Central University

580-332-8000 ecok.edu

Chickasaw Nation Headquarters

580-436-2603 chickasaw.net

Oklahoma Sports Park

580-332-5535 oklahomasportspark.com Nearly six decades ago, an Oklahoma journalist took exception to an eastcoast writer’s snooty characterization of Ada as a “hick town.” Ada News columnist Ernest ompson said back then that even with a few minor aws, his hometown o ered close to the best to be had in terms of overall quality of life. And while the times have changed and the city has expanded in many ways, his characterization remains true, at least in the eyes of those who know it best. e Pontotoc County seat, with a population of just over 17,000, o ers a good business climate, educational and employment opportunities, and with it, a strong community spirit.

“We are a progressive, quality-oriented community … imbued with ingenuity, a pioneering spirit and hospitality,” says Lisa Bratcher, the City of Ada’s public information director. “Ada is large enough to o er many bigger city amenities, such as a fouryear university and a thriving business climate, yet still small enough to provide a safe and fun place to raise a family.”

Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Shana Wood agrees.

“We have access to everything we need here,” she says, “but you still have that small town, community feel.”

Ada began as a Chickasaw settlement and was incorporated in 1901. e city’s early life was dominated by the cotton trade, and according to the Oklahoma Historical Society, was once one of the disorderly places in Indian Territory, with a reported 36 killings in 1908.

High among Ada’s attributes today is East Central University, part of Oklahoma’s Regional University System. ECU o ers science and arts baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees and sports programs. Among ECU’s noted alumni are Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, plus two former Oklahoma governors – George Nigh and Robert S. Kerr, an Ada native and three-term U.S. senator, whose burial site is located in south Ada. e Chickasaw Nation is headquartered in Ada, and by the Ada Chamber of Commerce’s count, is the city’s largest employer, with a wide array of o ces that oversee its business enterprises, health services and housing.

“ ey are amazing; they do so much for our community,” says Wood. “Our partnership with them is truly unique. ey give so much to our community to make it better in every way.”

Count Bob Vavricka, a resident of Ada for nearly 30 years, is among Ada’s many enthusiastic cheerleaders. After moving from rural Kansas, Vavricka says Ada “seemed like a metropolis.” Vavricka is treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ada, which is spearheading a fundraising drive to restore the recreational train that encircles part of the city’s scenic Frances Wintersmith Park. at e ort – a “Save the Train” drive to raise $840,000 to replace the locomotive that has operated in the park since 1958 – includes replacing the train, two rail cars, two bridges, and rebuilding the track, storage barn and loading platform for handicap-accessibility.

“We’re getting the train ready for the next 60 years,” he says. He mentions the Chickasaw Nation has been most generous in assisting the fund drive.

Wintersmith Park is one of the most beautiful city parks in Oklahoma, adds Wood. It was a 1930s project of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and is the site of a spectacular Christmas lights display and annual Independence Day reworks show.

Recently, the City of Ada completed a water park pad in the park. And speaking of water, Ada is also home to the $2.5 million Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, a world-class EPA water laboratory opened in 1966. e city of Ada has a lot to o er now, as well as back in the ’60s. In fact, Ernest ompson ended his printed hu by extolling an Ada virtue that might apply today:

“So, go ahead and call me ‘hick’ if you wish,” he wrote then. “I’ll get mad for a moment, but then I’ll pity you, because, you see, you really don’t know what living is until you’ve been a ‘hick’ – Ada style.” HENRY DOLIVE

FOSTERING SUCCESS FOR COLLEGIATE By Tracy LeGrandATHLETES

Student athletes often have their plates full, jumping from practice to class to study groups to extracurricular activities. We explore the many ways coaching staff and school leadership step up to ensure athletes are receiving a well-rounded college experience – which includes tutoring, unity events and community service opportunities. We also discuss academic integrity within athletics, the process for walk-ons and the importance of physical therapy.

OU and OSU face off during Bedlam on Nov. 21, 2020. Photo by Joshua Gateley, OU Athletics

Creating Camaraderie

A team on the eld needs to be a team o the eld, too, so coaches and support sta work to ensure athletes have a sense of camaraderie ‘round the clock.

Don Tomkalski, University of Tulsa’s senior associate athletic director for communications, says that “it starts with recruiting good people and creating a family-type atmosphere within the team framework. It is also important that our student athletes know what resources are available to help them have a positive experience at Tulsa and have success in all aspects of campus life – athletics, academics and social.”

At TU, teams are strengthened with unity events and community gatherings.

“Not only is it the coaching sta s that plan activities to help bond a team both on and o the eld, but it’s the leadership amongst the team that has a big role and takes the initiative in developing team chemistry o the eld,” he says. “It may be having a cookout, going shing or just hanging out in both the o -season and during the season.”

Every sports program has a unique culture.

“Each coach at Oklahoma State has their own style as it pertains to team building,” says Gavin Lang, OSU’s associate athletic director for communications. “ e football team will stoke the players’ competitive re with non-football competitions such as sand volleyball or paintball, among other things. In softball, the day after the Cowgirls beat Oklahoma to win the Big 12 Championship, they drove to Broken Bow to spend time at the lake in advance of the NCAA tournament. e cross country team also leaves town. At OSU, there are plenty of options for team building.”

Northeastern State University football coach J.J. Eckert emphasizes the importance of relationships to his athletes.

“I believe it is huge that our team members get along on the eld, in the locker room, in the weight room, and in the classroom and dorms. ose relationships are what build the belief in a family- rst mentality that allows a team to be successful in any challenge they face,” he says. “Great teams have great chemistry, and we work on developing relationships throughout our team on both sides of the ball.”

Academic Integrity

Around many college campuses, there is often a harmful idea that athletes get it easier in school because their plates are already full with sports. Athletic programs work to combat that stereotype by emphasizing academic integrity and providing tutors and study groups to help athletes stay balanced.

“Student athletes do not get any special treatment while seeking a college degree,” says NSU’s assistant athletics director Scott Pettus. “ e NCAA explicitly states that student athletes are not a orded any extra or special bene ts that are not available to a regular student on campus. Yes, their plates are full with activities related to their chosen sport. However, there are strict guidelines on the number of hours a student-athlete can be involved in sportrelated activities each week.”

Pettus explains that student athletes are given a minimum of one day o each week, must uphold the NCAA minimum GPA requirements to play, and that NSU stresses academic success as the paramount goal of attending college.

“We are proud of our student-athlete academic success rate and our graduation rate,” he says.

University of Tulsa’s program, O ce of Academic and Stu-

Student athlete Kori Roberson interacts with an elementary school student on the football team’s visit to Miami, Fla., in May 2022. Photo courtesy OU Athletics

dent Services (OASiS), aims to promote student-athlete academic achievement, community responsibility and personal accountability, says Schnea Nealy, the associate athletic director for student-athlete development.

Academic support through OASiS includes academic monitoring to oversee progress of student athletes in accordance with NCAA, as well as providing assessments to all student athletes in vocabulary, reading comprehension and writing skills. Tutors provide course speci c assistance beyond the classroom, and assigned mentors assist in the development of life skills such as time management, organization and positive study habits.

Female Athletics

Male-dominated sports are wildly popular on college campuses – often more so than female-led athletics. So how are campuses incentivizing interest and engagement with female sports?

“Female sports at Oklahoma State are as strong now as they have ever been,” says Lang. “In 2021-22 alone, the equestrian team won the national championship, we had an NCAA individual track and eld champion, and the softball team advanced to the Final Four at the NCAA Women’s College World Series. e tennis team played in the Sweet 16 and the cross country team won the Big 12 championship. e year prior, the golf team nished second in the nation.”

And interest in women’s sports continues to grow.

“OSU had to add seating to Cowgirl Stadium for softball during the postseason due to over ow crowds,” says Lang. “A few years back, the women’s tennis team advancing to the NCAA nal in Tulsa resulted in the largest

The importance of physical therapy and conditioning are stressed in all of OSU’s sporting programs. Photo by Bruce Waterfield

crowd in the history of the NCAA tennis championships. We had a Bedlam women’s basketball game here a few years ago that completely sold out Gallagher-Iba Arena. So the disparity in popularity between our men’s and women’s sports may not be as large as some would think.”

At TU, Tomkalski points out that changes in culture impact all sports.

“Now in the 21st century, all colleges to some extent struggle with attendance for not only female sports but male sports,” he says. “ is is due to multiple factors, including the overwhelming number of games that are televised, as well as other entertainment competing for the dollar – concerts, casinos, nightlife, among others. e university’s athletic department promotes all its sports and tries to create an atmosphere that’s entertaining for fans attending games.”

Tomkalski recommends fans keep an eye on TU’s female sporting teams.

“Historically, the women’s golf program – with four national championships and ve national runner-up nishes since the beginning of the program in 1974 – is the most prestigious of Tulsa’s women’s sports,” he says. “Softball has 11 NCAA appearances and seven conference championships, all since 2006. Tennis has made the NCAA Tournament 12 times since 2007, with eight conference titles. Women’s basketball has started a new era under coach Angie Nelp and won 17 games, the most in eight years.”

Walk-On Athletes

Earning a spot on a college sports team is complicated. Aside from getting scouted, the walk-on tryout process can vary from school to school.

“ e athletic department encourages walk-on athletes to join Golden Hurricane teams,” says Tomkalski. “Most all of Tulsa’s 17 intercollegiate sports have a percentage of walk-on student athletes on their rosters. We have also seen where some of these walk-on athletes have been awarded athletic scholarships during their collegiate career. e football program, for example, currently has ve former walkons now on full scholarship and a total of 32 walk-ons on the roster.”

OSU’s Lang describes walk-ons as “valu-

TU freshman Tai Newhouse and fellow teammates took time this summer to participate in Shadow-a-StudentAthlete Day with youth from the Tulsa Dream Center. Photo courtesy TU Athletics

able members of every team at Oklahoma State. It’s not unusual for student athletes who come to us as walk-ons to earn scholarships and have the opportunity to become superstars in their own right,” he says. “Using football as an example, Dan Bailey came to us as a walk-on and eventually set the NCAA record for points scored by a kicker and won the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation’s top kicker. He went on to a distinguished career in the NFL that saw him become the most accurate kicker in the history of the Dallas Cowboys franchise at one point.”

At NSU, the process “varies by sport and is up to the coach of that sport to determine,” says Pettus. “Some sports can have tryouts, others cannot. If a tryout is o ered, the prospective student-athlete must have a copy of a current athletics physical and insurance veri ed before the tryout. Many of our sports have team camps and ID camps during the summer to assist in identifying prospective student athletes.”

The Importance of Physical Therapy

Staying in shape, avoiding injury and utilizing physical therapy where needed is emphasized in all collegiate sporting activities.

Chris Nerio, TU’s assistant athletic director for student health and performance, o ers advice when it comes to taking care of your body before, during and after sporting events.

“ e rst thing is hydration. If an athlete is not hydrated, that person is more susceptible to soft tissue injuries,” he says. “Not only is it hydrating with water, but putting electrolytes in your body through Gatorade and those types of sources. It’s also important to eat the right things and have the right amount of carbs in your body to help fuel yourself. We suggest taking some preventable measures as well – like foam rolling, massage therapy guns, recovery boots, cold tubs after practice and icing certain areas for a particular injury.”

Physical therapy is integral to any athlete’s success, but “especially when an athlete has su ered an injury,” says Nerio. “ erapy will help the athlete to get healthy and back physically to where they were before. It’s also important in a preventative way, especially if an athlete is susceptible to certain injuries.”

Lang continues: “A big part of staying in top athletic shape is listening to your body. ere are times when athletes can push through things and times when it’s wiser to seek help,”

Female sporting is more popular than ever – and a variety of Oklahoma teams have taken major titles in recent years. Photo courtesy NSU Athletics