19th Street Magazine February 2023

Riley Boone and the Sooners aim for a return trip to the WCWS

COFFEE FESTIVAL RETURNS

Rose Rock Habitat Helps South Central Oklahoma Find Common Ground

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity in Norman wants to help our community find common ground at their second annual coffee festival. The whole family is invited to enjoy a unique blend of culture and commerce for a cause.

The second annual Common Grounds Coffee Festival will be held Saturday, March 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. Admission to the event is $10 per person, which includes access to over 40 vendors with coffee-related brews and concoctions, artists, musicians and everything from books and story times to a student-led, on-location news reporting.

“Coffee is very communal,” President and CEO of Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity, Randy Gardner said. “It’s a conversation piece. That’s what we want this to be about. We want to bring people together to have conversations in the community about what we do to make the place that we live, work and play a better place for all of us.”

Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity is celebrating 30 years of service in south central Oklahoma. They will have surprises at the event to commemorate this milestone including live demonstrations and scavenger hunts to learn more about Habitat and coffee. Completion of scavenger hunt activities can earn up to 5 free raffle tickets into one of several raffles.

In addition to coffee roasters, other things attendees can expect to see at the festival include local authors, a selection of coffee related adult beverages, a maker-lab presentation from the Pioneer Library System, Not Your Average Joe’s VW Van Photo Booth, Loveworks student businesses and more coffee culture products and services.

Participating vendors are offering buy one get one codes on the purchase of tickets to the coffee festival for their customers. Last year, the event brought in over 1,000 attendees. This year, they hope to bring in over 1,500 attendees. Proceeds from the event will go toward Habitat’s mission of building affordable homes.

“We want people to thrive, not just survive,” Gardner said. “We’re there to get families into their first home and that’s vital because homeownership we know is critical to the success of the family. We know that generational wealth is built through homeownership. We know that the prospects of kids going to college or other advanced education opportunities goes up, the prospects for family success goes up when they’re in a healthy thriving environment. Weknow that they build stronger long-term relationships because they’re in an established neighborhood, and we also know that they are more civically engaged.”

Habitat not only builds homes, but also helps families purchase their first home through affordable, no interest mortgages; helps revitalize homes in the underserved community; and makes home modifications to accommodate individuals with a disability.

“Recently we did a home repair for a woman who had lost hope that her circumstances would get any better. Cracked walls, unstable flooring, non-functioning appliances and water heater on its last leg, she was in a situation that no one should be in,” Gardner said.

They were able to help make the critical repairs to her home. She attended a board meeting shortly afterwards and had trouble holding back the tears as she thanked Habitat for what they had done, he said.

During a Spring Break mission trip to assist Habitat, Ohio State University students were able to build a ramp for a wheelchair-bound youth in Norman. After learning he had received months of treatment at the hospital adjacent to the Ohio State University Campus, they provided him with university memorabilia.

“He thought it was the greatest thing in the world that not only was he getting his ramp, but he was getting a ramp built by students from the university he loved. He would tell you he was their biggest fan.” said Gardner.

Extending the impact, the young man’s school bus driver also noticed the new ramp and reached out to Habitat to request assistance in building a ramp for his wife who also had accessibility issues.

“Events like (the Coffee Festival) provide us with the opportunity to grow awareness and the resources to change lives. We can get them out of a situation that is not allowing them to thrive,” Gardner said.

For more information about Habitat and the Common Ground Coffee Festival, visit roserockhabitat.org.– 19SM

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

The Moore Chamber of Commerce is rolling out a new support local initiative for patrons of Moore and South Oklahoma City area businesses. The Make It Moore year-long discount program aims to benefit local shoppers and businesses, as well as young fundraising enthusiasts and the community as a whole.

“The past few years have changed the way people shop and think about shopping, with many of us now being more conscious about the decisions we make on spending and travel,” said Kim Brown, president/ CEO of the Moore Chamber of Commerce. “So, we decided to launch this campaign to remind area residents and visitors of how important it is to do business and to shop locally.”

The program came from the Chamber’s business development committee, which consists of businesses of all sizes that operate in the Moore Public Schools district. The committee wanted to cultivate yearround awareness of the benefits of shopping locally.

“The goal of this initiative is to benefit businesses and customers,” Brown explained. “People are really good about shopping locally during certain times of the year, but we wanted to help keep that momentum all year long.”

Local patrons can purchase a discount card for $15 at the Chamber or at participating businesses and access year-long discounts at local businesses for everything from real estate and catering to pet services. A directory of deals is available online.

Any company that does business in Moore or the surrounding area is eligible to be part of the discount program and may join at MakeItMoore.Biz anytime throughout the year. Businesses will receive a “Make it Moore.biz” decal to put in their store window to make shoppers aware they are participating in the program.

The discount cards will be for sale to patrons for $15 at the Moore Chamber, 305 W Main St, or at most of the participating businesses. In addition, students and other non-profit organizations may purchase cards in bulk at half price to sell at full price for fundraising opportunities.

“We realize it will take some time to build ‘Make it Moore’ into a successful program,” added Brown. “This is an ongoing, year-long effort to keep dollars

local and support the community. It is really about making it Moore.

“It is vitally important that we continue to build our community. This is user friendly for businesses and customers and has a fundraising element for local kids to help support their programs. It is full circle.”

Sponsors for the Make it Moore.biz discount program are Moore Norman Technology Center and Armstrong Bank.

For more information, to register as a business, and for a list of participating businesses, please visit MakeitMoore.biz or call the Chamber at 405-7943400.– 19SM

“People are really good about shopping locally during certain times of the year, but we wanted to help keep that momentum all year long.”

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Photos by: Mark Doescher

Sooner Softball senior Kinzie Hansen faced something last season she had not dealt with in her career. While rolling through the early part of the season and putting up her typical numbers, Hansen suffered a serious injury and, despite her best efforts, she just could not get back into her usual gameplay.

Now, healthy and happy, Hansen is ready to recapture her swagger.

“She’s got her face back,” Head Sooner Softball coach Patty Gasso said of Hansen during fall ball. “You can see in her body language and her facial expressions that she’s feeling much better. We figured out a few things, but rest was important too. She’s so pumped to get back into it and be back to the player that she was.”

The player that Hansen “was” and “is” would best be described as a problem for opponents and one of the best catchers in college softball. With unquestioned power at the plate, she brims with confidence, enthusiasm and unbridled energy.

During her first two seasons, Hansen had put together incredible numbers, even with the 2020 season cut short due to the pandemic. Hansen had 92 career runs batted in after her freshman and sophomore campaigns and had a career average of .430.

The talented catcher was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2021 Big 12 Tournament and was on the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team after helping lead the Sooners to the National Championship.

But that confidence and enthusiasm were shaken in 2022 when Hansen suffered a serious injury. Before the injury, Hansen was her typical dominating self. Through the first 15 games, Hansen was hitting .456 with four home runs and 11 runs batted in and was in the midst of an 8-game hitting streak. But, on March 9, Hansen was injured and missed four straight games in Hawaii.

That knee injury cost Hansen more than just the fourgame series on the island. She did not start another game until later in the month, but it wasn’t just the missed games that took its toll, she just could not find her swing.

“It was very difficult,” Hansen said. “Most of those things come naturally to me. I can go suit up and go hit and be fine and then last year I go out and suit up and I hit .200. I wasn’t present for myself, and it was difficult.”

Hansen hit just .150 the rest of the season after the incredible start and the challenging injury. It was a rough and unique time for the typical domination that Hansen had shown at the plate.

“I’ve had knee problems for a while and that was a moment where something happened in Hawaii,” Hansen said. “It was hard going through the pain, but the men-

GUESS WHO’S BACK

BY: CHRIS PLANK

tal side of it was difficult and not a lot of people talk about that challenge. At the end of the year, I came out of it and that’s when it really matters, so the timing was pretty good.”

As the postseason started, Hansen started to look more like her typical self. In the Championship clinching win over Texas, Hansen had her first multiple-hit game since March and hit a 3-run home run that all but sealed the program’s sixth National Championship. Hansen had that look back. There was a light at the end of the tunnel heading into the off-season.

“Working through it, I wasn’t going to give up. I knew that,” Hansen said. “I’ve never been one to give up. I kept going and I kept working. Even though it hurt, I hit extra.”

The Norco, California product enters her fourth season healthy and still has another year of eligibility available. Patty Gasso has confidence that Hansen is ready for a breakout season.

“Any time I’ve had an athlete, and that includes Lauren Chamberlain, Jocelyn Alo and others, when they did not have a very good year and they are elite players, once they get out of that down year, they explode the rest of the way,” Gasso said. “I think Hansen is in that space right now. I think she is about to explode offensively like she did when she got here. If we can keep her injury free, if we can keep her healthy, I think she is going to go crazy.”

As Hansen prepares for the 2023 season, there is a relatively new role that she has been charged with - team leader. During her previous three seasons, Hansen shared the catching position with three-time captain Lynnsie Elam. Now, Hansen is an established star who is counted on to lead and provide mentorship to younger players. Hansen has always been a vocal presence in the dugout and on the field, but now she has learned how to use it better.

“She has grown maturity and leadership wise. She has a good voice on the team,” Gasso said. “She would tell you it used to be more barking orders. Now she’s changed her tone and is getting a lot more response and respect from that.”

Through the process of getting healthy this offseason, Hansen started to also embrace and understand the importance of rest. With as many as four different catchers who could play at any time, the catching depth is as solid as the Sooners have had in many years.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Hansen joked. “We have four catchers at practice. It’s really awesome to see. I’ve been teaching Jocelyn Erickson a lot of stuff I know and things to help her.”

While serving as a leader and mentor, Hansen also embraces the competition.

“It pushes me to not be complacent,” Hansen added. “I don’t take anything for granted. It’s another factor to keep pushing me to get better and better and better.”

The Sooners feature a roster with eight newcomers and four talented portal additions. As competitive as practice is, the Sooners seem primed to have another championship run behind one of the most talented rosters in college softball. A healthy Hansen is a major cog in the Sooner engine.

“Everybody makes it fun. The team chemistry is so fun to be around,” Hansen said. “There is no pressure in it. We have so much depth that everything is competitive… you could lose your spot in the lineup, your spot on the field. It’s so competitive, but nobody acts like it. Everyone has so much fun with each other so it’s impossible to not have fun with this team.”

Kinzie Hansen is healthy, happy and ready to roll. Her freshman season was cut short because of COVID, and injuries cost her a lot of her effectiveness during her junior season. During her only full, healthy season in a Sooner uniform, Hansen had career highs with a .438 batting average, 24 home runs and 66 runs batted in. Now, Hansen is ready for the challenge of bouncing back.

“I’m like a horse chomping at the bit… at the gate, ready to run. That’s how I feel right now,” Hansen said. “I’m going into this season knowing that I can do anything I put my mind to. That’s really it… this past summer, I went into it thinking I’m going to play hard and see what happens. I’m going into it with joy in my heart.”– 19SM

GOING FOR

Photos by: Mark Doescher

BY: CHRIS PLANK

In 2022, the Oklahoma Sooner softball team won the National Championship. In fact, the season was so impressive many have labeled the 2022 Sooner softball team as the greatest in the history of college softball.

The dominant season included Oklahoma’s 10th straight Big 12 Championship, a 59-3 record, 41 run-rule victories, 33 shutouts, eight no-hitters, pitching and defense that held opponents to one run or fewer 49 times, home runs hit in 56 of 62 games, and of course the National Championship in back-to-back seasons and the fourth title for the program in the last six seasons!

Now… how do you possibly follow that up? How can you possibly match the success that was seemingly unparalleled in 2022? Hall of Fame head coach Patty Gasso met the challenge by bringing in one of the best high school recruiting classes in the country and adding to an already talented roster with four impressive transfer portal additions.

The Sooners are not only positioned to compete for a championship again this season, but they are also the hands-down favorite.

BUILDING THE LINEUP

The star power surrounding the 2022 Oklahoma Sooners was impressive and led by home run queen Jocelyn Alo. Alo was one of five firstteam All-Americans in the Sooners lineup last season.

During her final season with the Sooners, Alo became the sport’s new career home run queen (122) and the first player in history to hit 30 home runs and bat .500 in the same season, finishing with a .512 average. But it is more than just the graduation of the NCAA all-time home run leader that the Sooners will miss in 2023. Three-time captain Lynnsie Elam, starting 3rd baseman Janna Johns along with starting 1st baseman Taylon Snow and the pitching star of the Women’s College World Series Hope Trautwein all graduated.

But of those five first-team All-Americans from the 2022 squad, four return including all-world pitcher Jordy Bahl, Grace Lyons, Tiare Jennings and Jayda Coleman.

‘“I feel good, a lot of healthy bodies coming back,” Gasso said. “Grace Lyons was voted the captain and she’s healthy and back and ready to go. Jordy Bahl has been feeling really good, Kinzie Hansen’s knee seems better, and she seems back to her old form.

“We are deep at every position. We have power; we have a little more speed; we have that finesse slapper; bunter with athletes like Jayda Coleman; Quincee Lilio, Rylie Boone and the freshman Avery Hodge can slap it through a hole, lay down a bunt and beat it out, or hit it over the fence which makes for really dangerous athletes.”

Depth with a mix of experience, power and speed, the Sooners will have the ability to execute it at the plate.

“The depth of this lineup is a little bit more salty than last year,” Gasso said. “Our team knows that, and they know that anybody from one through nine in this lineup can change the game in one swing. It’s potent and no one should feel they need to do too much because they see it throughout the lineup, and they know anybody can do it.”

Of the nine Sooners from the Championship Series Starting lineup, six return for the Sooners in ‘23. Included among those returning is dynam-

ic leadoff hitter and do-everything centerfielder Jayda Coleman and record-setting second baseman Tiare Jennings. Jennings set the WCWS record with 15 runs batted in and five home runs during last year’s Championship run, amassing 56 home runs and 179 career runs batted in during her first two seasons. But its more than just the dynamic duo at the top of the lineup that has Gasso excited about the season.

“It’s a different group, it’s exciting,” Gasso said. “We have eight newcomers, and we have 20 on our team so almost half our team is newcomers. They’ve jived really well and their power, strength and athleticism is really showing.”

THE TRANSFER PORTAL

The “new” for Oklahoma softball does not mean new to college softball. In addition to adding one of the top recruiting classes in the country, the Sooners added four standout players from the transfer portal.

The impressive high school class includes left-handed pitcher Kierston Deal, who is the top overall player in the country, according to Extra Inning Softball. Jocelyn Erickson will provide the Sooners with a powerful lefthanded bat and has the potential to play a major role in 2023. Avery Hodge and SJ Geurin will likely have specialized roles for the Sooners.

But most of the talk about the newcomers is center around the portal additions - Texas A&M catcher/infielder Haley Lee, Michigan pitcher Alex Storako and Arizona State infielders Cydney Sanders and Alynah Torres. The biggest names in the portal chose Oklahoma because they want a shot to win a championship.

“The Portal is something we don’t try to live off of,” Gasso said. “It’s funny knowing how people have looked at it and painting us as Oklahoma becoming a juggernaut and taking all the best players in the portal. Am I supposed to go to the portal and get not the best players? It doesn’t make sense how some people view it.

“If I’m going to the portal, I’m going after the best and people don’t like that because you’re getting too good. What does that even mean? I keep my head down and keep grinding and doing what we do. The experience and the ability of these four portal players have been really good.”

Alynah Torres was an All-Pac 12 pick as a junior last season when she hit .339 with 16 home runs, 14 doubles and 40 RBIs. During her three seasons with the Sun Devils, the Glendale, Arizona product made 131 starts, hitting .326 with 37 home runs and 105 RBIs. Torres has been locked in a battle with fellow Pac12 transfer Alyssa Brito at 3rd base. Torres could still factor into the starting lineup in the outfield or as the designated player.

Jayda Coleman

Torres’ teammate at ASU Cydney Sanders made her mark on the Sooner Nation with her impressive performance during the fall. Sanders won the Battle Series Championship and seemed to establish herself as the starting 1st baseman for the Sooners. At Arizona State, Sanders was an NFCA first-team All-American and lead the team in home runs (21), RBIs (63) and slugging percentage (.952).

And then there is Hayley Lee - the two-time All-American who led Texas A&M in batting average (.405), home runs (15), and RBIs (45) in 2022. In 2021, she set program records in home runs (25) and slugging percentage (.955). Only OU’s Jocelyn Alo and Tiare Jennings hit more home runs than Lee that season.

“Each of these players brings a different kind of personality,” Gasso said. “Haley Lee has been a big surprise. She is one of the most wonderful athletes I’ve ever been around. Just real and honest. I’ve been happy with these portal kids. They fit into this culture quickly.”

PORTAL PITCHING HELP

The final portal addition for the Sooners may end up being one of the most important. After the injury to Jordy Bahl last season, Hope Trautwein stepped in and helped pitch the Sooners to a National Championship. Even with a healthy Jordy Bahl returning, the

loss of Trautwein to graduation was a big one. So, the Sooners hit up Big 10 country and brough Alex Storako to Norman.

Storako was an NFCA All-American and unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in 2021 when she was 25-8 with a 1.71 ERA and 300 strikeouts. In 2021, she set a Michigan single-game record with 22 strikeouts in a victory over Michigan State and led the nation with 12.9 strikeouts per seven innings. Despite struggling in the Battle Series, Storako will play a major role in providing experience and depth to an already talented and elite pitching staff.

“I feel really good about our staff,” Gasso said. “Alex is going to be fantastic and a healthy Jordy Bahl obviously. Nicole May really got better, in my mind, this fall. We’ve got these two lefty freshmen that can get us some outs as well. I’m really excited about putting them all together. I think it’s going to be really good.”

ALWAYS BE COMPETING

The key word for the Sooners in 2023 will be competition, on a game-to-game basis but also in practice and preparation. There will be constant competition for spots in the starting lineup. The Sooners have depth at every position and a hungry, talented and driven roster that is ready to compete.

The Sooners have a potent lineup from top to bottom and are in a situation where experience is replacing experience.

“It’s been a very smooth process,” Gasso said. “I thought the team last year was really tight and very well meshed. This team this year is telling me that it is even tighter. They get along, they hang out, they have so many different personalities and they really embrace each other. I’m proud of our players for being good humans and embracing all kinds of different personalities, no judgements, no secrets, they aren’t getting into their cliques. They do it like adults and it’s wonderful to see.”

Most importantly as they prepare for a potential Championship run, the Sooners are having fun.

“This team is just so much fun to be around. It’s obviously serious on the field, but it’s always a joyous time,” Sooner catcher Kinzie Hansen added. “The team chemistry is so fun to be around.”

With the Championship Mindset developing and the Sooners ready to start the 2023 season, the depth has also allowed Gasso to be more creative in her approach. The Hall of Fame head coach is completely aware of the power and potential of the lineup, but she is also constantly planning ways to make the Sooners better.

“I’m going to create roles... think the libero in volleyball, the defensive player... I’ll have some of that,”

Gasso added. “We’ll have matchups offensively off the bench. And I’m really excited about the two lefties in the bullpen who create really good lefty-on-lefty matchups. There are a lot more opportunities for substitutions and creativity. Every player is going to have a different role with the ability to break into the lineup. There are some young players that are waiting, and I know they are ready.

“There is a lot to be excited about beyond just in this moment and in this season, but also in the future. You’re going to see some of these young players ready to take over the reins and continue our tradition of winning.”

The historic run for Sooner softball could find another level in 2023. Oklahoma has finished its season in Oklahoma City at the Women’s College World Series in 10 of the last 11 seasons. They’ve won five of the six National Championships during that 11-year span and have finished runner-up twice. This season, the Sooners will look to become just the second threepeat champion in college softball history and the first since the UCLA run from 1988-1990.

Back-to-back-to-back… and the roster may be even more impressive in 2024. Look out college softball, the Sooner softball dynasty does not look to be going anywhere anytime soon. – 19SM

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IMAGES FROM THE JOHN NOBLES INVITATIONAL

BY: MARK DOESCHER

JANUARY 19-21, MOORE HIGH SCHOOL

LIFE-SAVING LESSONS

CPR classes offered at Moore Norman Technology Center attract teens to senior citizens and all walks of life in between.

“Anyone can take classes,” said Tiffany Herndon, CPR coordinator who works in health programs at the center.

Herndon has seen students, teachers, church groups and groups of friends, employees and retirees enroll in the center’s Heartsaver First Aid and CPR/AED course that is offered to individuals who don’t work in the healthcare field but want to learn the emergency procedure.

CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, combines chest compressions and rescue breathing as a life-saving tool when someone’s breathing or

heartbeat has stopped. The emergency procedure gained more exposure recently when it was used on Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest during a football game in January.

Following the incident, medical professionals highlighted the importance of learning CPR and the difference it can make in a person surviving an emergency situation.

Herndon said the Heartsaver First Aid and CPR/AED course is offered regularly at the center’s South Penn campus at 13301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City. The center is an official American Heart Association training center.

The class also is offered online and, once students complete the coursework, they schedule an in-per-

CPR and First Aid Courses Available at Technology Center

son meeting to perform a skills check with an instructor to complete their certification, Herndon said.

In class, students learn how to manage illness and injuries in the first few minutes of an emergency until professional help arrives. The class also includes AED (automated external defibrillator) instruction.

Herndon said taking the course can help students increase their understanding of what to do in an emergency situation. She also credits the longtime instructors for creating a learning environment that is encouraging, hands-on and offers real-life scenarios that help enhance students’ skills.

FAST FACT

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

“The instructors are just awesome,” Herndon said. “They give a very positive learning experience.”

Herndon said the center also offers a CPR Basic Life Support class for Healthcare Providers that teaches healthcare professionals a variety of information and skill sets, including the critical skills of high-quality CPR, how to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, how to provide CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking. Herndon said the center also offers a renewal class for those who need to renew their CPR certification.

For more information about the CPR and First Aid courses, visit mntc.edu or call 405-801-5000. – 19SM

Roughly 70 percent of cardiac arrests, that do not happen in the hospital, occur in homes and private residences, so a friend or family member is most likely to be the person who needs to take action. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, according to information from the American Heart Association.

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ESPORTS AT WESTMOORE

The burgeoning topic of Esports has become a buzzword on college and high school campuses, with local opportunities continuing to emerge. Westmoore High School has recently joined the list through a new student club, thanks to the efforts of dedicated young gamers.

Connor McCain and Sharee Ferguson, Westmoore math teachers, oversee the competitive side of video games. McCain, a 2017 Westmoore graduate, came full circle when he returned to the school last year as a substitute teacher.

“My original plan wasn’t secondary education. I studied history and comparative religion at the University of North Texas but last year, I worked as a long-term substitute teacher and then came on full time,” said McCain. “I really found a fit with the students and absolutely enjoy my role, thanks in part to watching students find their own niche and dreaming with them about who they can become.”

As a substitute, McCain met then-freshman Annan Karim, a leadership student who knew of Esports at other schools. When Karim asked McCain to sponsor Esports, the busy first-year teacher initially declined. He agreed to consider the possibility if another teacher would also agree to sponsor the club to handle the administrative side.

“I had been peripherally aware of Esports, and I can do the tech side but there’s a bureaucratic aspect of it that I’d prefer someone else help me that way,” said McCain. “Annan really wanted Esports at school and he even ran into our district superintendent [Robert Romines] at an event and asked him to be on-board with it.”

Karim approached Sharee Ferguson, who was also McCain’s math teacher during his time as a student.

“I was definitely surprised by the opportunities Esports can provide to our students,” Ferguson said. “At the time, I was finishing my master’s degree and told him I would love to help and provide my room for practice in the mornings.”

Westmoore’s club is open to grades 9 through 12.

“Our goal overall is to get Esports a designated classroom within the school and turn it into a sixth hour athletic credit as an elective. With the help of sponsors and additional tech personnel, we have just purchased a couple of consoles, attended two youth division tournaments and plan to attend others,” said McCain. “About 100 students have signed up and come to meetings but our actual competitors are limited to about 30 currently. The games we participate in are Valorant, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros., Halo, Fortnite, Rocket League and League of Legends.”

The National College Scholarship Association describes Esports as one of the fastest-growing university categories for recruitment and related funding.

“Since we are building this program from the ground up at our school and modeling for the district, we applied to be part of two Esports gaming leagues so that we could start participating in tournaments,” said Ferguson.

Westmoore’s Esports club is a member of Oklahoma Scholastic Esports and the Oklahoma Esports League, which organize local tournaments.

“Before sponsoring the club, my knowledge of Esports was limited and my original thinking was that Esports was a club where students played video games. I was corrected very soon after accepting the role as sponsor,” said Ferguson. “I found out that Esports is competitive video gaming where students can participate on a team, or individually, and compete in tournaments across the state. Students can also apply for college scholarships and be part of a college Esports program.”

McCain agrees about the potential for scholarships.

“There has been a trickle-down effect in the world of Esports, from the universities to high schools and middle schools,” he explained. “We are still very new in competitive gaming.”

Karim continues in a leadership role, along with eight others as part of the club’s administration.

The student officers meet once a week and the club members seek to meet about once a month.

BY: STAFF

“Connor is wonderful at providing the coaching aspect and his time, to help prep the students for success. I am working in the background on the financial side to get our club up and running,” said Ferguson. “I had no idea that we would be competing this year, but we have already taken some of our members to compete in two Smash Bros. tournaments. It has truly been amazing to see how connected and enthusiastic these kids are about this opportunity.”

Both faculty members recognize the leadership, competition and camaraderie aspects Esports provides to students.

“We’ve got a lot of kids who have a competitive drive, but they aren’t going to go out there and play a sport. It’s a good outlet for them,” said McCain. “Online gaming has a reputation of not always being a positive space. That’s a very vocal minority, but in the vast majority, they are looking for a space to fit it in. “Video games and Esports are a great entry to tech literacy and STEM [science, technology, engineering and math]. Kids will build a computer from scratch to play. A lot of self-taught techies start out in Esports and the gaming sphere. I would have loved to have had something like this as a young person and I cannot wait to see where our students go from here.”

Find out more about Esports in Oklahoma at https:// www.okse.org/ and the variety of scholarship opportunities nationwide at ncsasports.org/blog/ esports-scholarships.– 19SM

ELEVATING CANCER CARE

OU Health and Norman Regional recently announced a partnership to bring a new cancer care facility to Norman Regional’s HealthPlex campus.

At the announcement press conference OU President Joseph Harroz, Jr. highlighted the impact this partnership will have on surrounding communities and to the state of Oklahoma.

“We all know the incredible care provided at Norman Regional, one of the great community hospitals in the country. (This partnership) shows what role OU can play in the resources provided by the health sciences center and the research scientist there developing cures for things like cancer,” he said.

President and CEO of OU Health Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH, echoed Harroz’s sentiments.

“This is an exciting day for our two health systems as we join together to offer high-quality, research-driven cancer care to people in Norman and across southern Oklahoma,” said Lofgren. “We are pleased to welcome Norman’s excellent oncologists to the OU Health team and to partner with them to provide National Cancer Institute-level care that is driven by research. This is a natural evolution for the long-standing relationship of our health systems.”

Located near I-35 and Tecumseh Road, the planned 50,000-square-foot facility will be named OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at Norman Regional. The state-of-art facility will combine the full spectrum of

medical oncology and radiation oncology services under one roof on the newly modernized campus. It will include two advanced linear accelerators that provide a more targeted and precise radiation therapy treatment, as well as advanced diagnostic imaging services to improve detection and monitoring of treatment results.

“We are excited to extend the reach of Stephenson Cancer Center and bring these opportunities to patients in Norman and surrounding communities,” said Robert Mannel, M.D., director of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. “This partnership represents Stephenson Cancer Center’s first opportunity to begin expanding into a statewide network for the residents of Oklahoma, which is the charge that the Oklahoma Legislature has given us. Stephenson Cancer Center is the state’s most comprehensive oncology practice, and we rank No. 1 among all cancer centers in the nation for the number of people participating in NCI-sponsored clinical trials. That means scientific breakthroughs are more readily translated into new treatment options that bring new hope to patients fighting cancer.”

The facility is scheduled for completion in 2025. Beginning in January 2023, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center will assume operations and management of Norman Regional’s existing medical oncology services at the Porter Medical Oncology Clinic. In 2025, with the opening of the new facility, Stephenson will

OU Health and Norman Regional Partnering to Bring a New State-of-the-Art Cancer Center to the South Metro

begin providing radiation oncology services in partnership with Norman Regional. This provides patients access to a larger range of expertise.

“Norman Regional has a long history of excellence in cancer care. Partnering with Stephenson Cancer Center will elevate those services in a variety of ways and allow patients to receive convenient care closer to their homes,” said Richie Splitt, president and CEO of Norman Regional Health System.

In addition to cancer treatments, patients in Norman will have access to other services offered through a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, including clinical trials studying drugs for many types

and stages of cancer. Phase I clinical trials, in which humans receive a drug for the first time, will continue to be offered only at Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City. However, with the opening of the new facility, patients can enroll in Phase II and III clinical trials and receive their care in Norman.

Norman Regional also will offer patients an expanded range of supportive care services through Stephenson Cancer Center. This includes counseling services specific to cancer patients, nutritional services to support the body through cancer treatment, palliative care to manage cancer-related symptoms, cancer rehabilitation to recover function and more.– BSM

VETERAN OF THE MONTH: JOSH WINFREY

Josh Winfrey started his military career as a member of ROTC in college at Penn State. In the summer of 2001, he was commissioned and went on to become an infantry officer for 14 years of active duty in the Marine Corps. In 2016, he transitioned to the Reserves and is still a member today.

Before joining the Reserves, Winfrey served as a Marine officer instructor with the Naval ROTC unit at OU. Living in Norman with his wife and two young daughters, Winfrey discovered a new hobby.

Norman Strength and Conditioning opened across the street from where he lived with his family. Still on active duty at the time, he was looking for a place to work out. He serendipitously discovered Norman Strength and Conditioning and joined.

The gym quickly grew, and the owners needed help coaching some early morning sessions. With a little spare time, he began coaching and loved it.

Fitness has been at the center of his life from an early age. While attending high school in Tulsa, Winfrey played football and baseball throughout high school and continued playing baseball in college. After college, he transitioned his focus from competitive athletics to a more comprehensive physical preparedness required for military service.

In late 2018, Josh bought out the previous ownership group of the gym and took over full ownership in 2019. Then in early 2020, COVID hit.

Getting as creative as possible, Winfrey stayed in contact with his membership virtually utilizing Zoom.

“Connecting through social media, we were trying to stay as active as we could, engaging everyone as much as we could through phone, text and social media,” he shared. “We were fortunate to have a loyal clientele. About 60% came back as soon as we were allowed to reopen, but that wasn’t nearly enough so we had a hard road to just survive through the rest of 2020 and the first part of 2021.”

Winfrey said the gym has been steadily growing since.

“We were extremely fortunate to have our business survive and we were in a blessed position to be able to make it through and still be thriving,” he said. “We’re lucky to be in a position to continue to serve the community in a positive way.”

The primary aim of Norman Strength and Conditioning is not necessarily to serve elite athletes.

“We have some of those, but our hope and mission is to serve the community and try to make the community healthier and stronger through a holistic approach,” he explained. “We try to create a structure and system of accountability to help people live a healthy lifestyle with exercise as the centerpiece.”

Winfrey said he likes to stay active, especially in the outdoors. He enjoys hiking, bike riding and running. – 19SM

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