19th Street Magazine February 2022

M O OR E LO V E

February 2022 • Issue 2 • Volume 5

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Features

FEBRUARY CONTENTS 2022

ISSUE 2– VOLUME 5 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Moore Love

10 by Callie Collins

Mark Doescher

MANAGING EDITOR

Students lead major fundraiser, gain invaluable skills.

Lindsay Cuomo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

Citizens Police Academy

14 by Lindsay Cuomo

Moore PD resumes popular program aimed at educating citizens about policing.

‘Well’ Rounded

18 by Sharla Bardin

10

Sharla Bardin | Callie Collins Lindsay Cuomo | Josh Helmer Bill Moakley | Chris Plank

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Haley Gauley - haley@sportstalk1400.com Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com

PUBLISHER

Casey Vinyard

New wellness hub includes partnership with technology center.

Recognizing Excellence

22 by Callie Collins

Moore Chamber of Commerce begins new tradition.

Prepare for Madness - Part 1

26 by Chris Plank

Tanner Groves path to the Sooner men’s basketball team.

26

19th Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: 19thstreetmagazine@gmail.com Copyright © 19th Street Magazine Any articles, artwork or graphics created by 19th Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of 19th Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission.

Any opinions expressed in 19th Street are not necessarily that of 19th Street management.

Prepare for Madness - Part 2

34 by Chris Plank

Madi Williams leads the Top 25 ranked Sooner women’s basketball team towards March.

New Era Begins for Sabercat

42 Football

by Josh Helmer Southmoore selects Jake Monden as next head football coach.

34

On the Cutting Edge

47 by Lindsay Cuomo

New cardiac technology saving lives of patients with an elevated risk of stroke.

Veteran of the Month:

50 John Jewell

by Bill Moakley Air Force veteran shares highlights of his military career.

sportstalk1400.com

50

Cover photo provided

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 3 to 5 p.m.

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COM M U N I T Y

Mo ore Love

A

Students lead major fundraiser, gain invaluable skills

community’s love and care sometimes have a special way of coming together. With Moore Public Schools, it happens on an annual basis through the Moore Love fundraising campaign.

Last year’s campaign, which benefited Regional Food Bank and Moore Firefighters Santa Express, raised more than $200,000. All funds raised, 100% of dollars collected, are donated.

The program is a philanthropic initiative held each February in support of student-selected nonprofits that directly benefit children and their families in the Moore Public Schools district.

“The Moore Love campaign is important in our community because it is instrumental to our city, its citizens and our students,” said Assistant Fire Marshal Darren Sigmen.

Now in its fifth year, Moore Love serves the broader community through fundraising efforts that dedicate 100% of the total collected to the designated agencies.

This year’s recipients are the Regional Food Bank, The Sharing Tree, that offers a dignified shopping experience for furniture and household items, and Moore Public Schools Foundation’s Bridges Project, which helps teens with housing insecurity.

Through the Santa Express, Moore Firefighters oversee other needs like coats, mattresses, bedding furniture, not just Christmas time but throughout the school year. Moore Love donated $130,000 to the Santa Express efforts last year.

10 February 2022

Moore Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines started the challenge during the 2017 school

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

year. Students from all three Moore high schools form leadership teams to take on the task of organizing the campaign, planning activities and overseeing the district-wide process with the help of faculty and staff.

Currently, statistics indicate that 51% of the approximately 25,000 students enrolled in Moore Public Schools qualify for free and reduced lunch. Additionally, 38 students have been identified this year as individuals experiencing homelessness.

“Moore Love was, in part, born out of the Regional Food Bank’s Backpack Program, which is 650 or so kids on Fridays who go to the front office at our 35 school sites to have food items to maintain or sustain them over the weekend. We wanted to take care of our own, so outside agencies wouldn’t have to fund that,” said Dr. Romines. “Every nonprofit chosen is something our student population and their families may have a need to access at some point. This is our way of giving back.”

The goal each year is to double the previous year’s amount donated: $400,000 is the total students are hoping to raise through a variety of fundraisers, corporate donors and local goodwill.

“It has just grown by leaps and bounds. I am continually amazed by what our students can put together each year and the successes they inspire in the community,” Romines said. “Applications are given to nonprofits each year, then students have the hard task of choosing which will receive funding.”

school sites to have conversations with the younger students about what they’re raising funds for and why,” said Dr. Romines. “It’s a friendly competition across the three high schools. Every single student across this district realizes the importance of participating in the community and the value of coming together for the common good.”

Snack cart days, kickball and volleyball tournaments, dress-up days, movie nights and other fun activities also help see teachers and staff in a different light, Dr. Romines suggested, which can help build relationships.

“This is my first year on Moore High Schools’ council for Moore Love and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew that I wanted to make a positive impact to those within my community,” said Natalie Ochoa, Moore High School junior and Moore Love council member. “Being a part of the MHS Moore Love council is a huge responsibility that comes with many challenges.

“While some days are more stressful than others, I know that all of our Moore Love efforts will benefit good causes. I enjoy knowing that even as a high school student I am helping to give back to my community.”

Skills gained can benefit students for life.

Some schools, classes and individual students have already been hard at work since the beginning of the academic year. An outlet for creative ideas, persuasive pitches and business acumen, participants also benefit in new and unexpected ways.

“When we have students who graduate from high school and choose the college track or a trade, we’re hearing they have learned philanthropic value,” said Dr. Romines. “They’ve learned to be persuasive and work hard while teaching kids to give. Students are getting out and working to raise funds, facing businesses big and small.

They’re doing all of this on their own. It’s a big deal for a 17- or 18-year-old to sit in front of a hotel chain executive team and tell them why they should contribute to this community cause.”

“The big push is in February. Our Moore Love chairs and leadership classes will have visited their feeder

The community is invited to find out more and donate at mooreschools.com/moorelove.–19SM

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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 11

COM M U N I T Y

C i tize n s Po lice Acad e my

Moore PD resumes popular program aimed at educating citizens about policing

T

he Moore Police Department resumed its Citizens Police Academy in January, the first academy offered in several years. More than a dozen Moore residents are participating in the 8-class course which runs until April 20.

The bi-weekly academy is designed to give citizens a behind the scenes look at the police department, shared Capt. Kyle Dudley.

academy. He said the academy utilizes a wide range of expertise, instructional demonstrations and active participation.

Chief Todd Gibson opened the first class with an introduction into the department’s mission, vision and values and outlined the role of the community in policing efforts.

“It looks similar to our academy for new officers but less stringent,” he explained.

“We cannot do our job effectively without the community,” he said. “Coming together is what Moore is so good at.”

Students in the course tour the department and are introduced to defensive tactics, firearms training, virtual reality simulations, law enforcement driving and special divisions within the department.

Most of the classes are held at the Moore Police Department except for two sessions at the Oklahoma County Range. Participants also ride along with an on-duty officer outside of the scheduled course times.

“The academy has been well received,” said Lt. Kyle Hill, who has been involved with the Citizens Academy for several years. “We try to remove some of the mystery of what goes on in police work, to let people see the innerworkings of why we do what we do.

Moore resident and kindergarten teacher Myka Davis said she enrolled in the academy because she wants to help protect her students better. She is taking the class with a few coworker friends.

“It’s not like what you see on TV. There is a lot going on you don’t often get to see.”

“It’s just a crazy world we live in,” Davis shared. “We wanted to get to know the police officers and what all they do.”

Hill will be teaching about firearms and Moore’s school resource officer program during the 2022 spring

Bob Brady, also a resident of Moore, enrolled in the academy for a second time because he wants to gain a

14 February 2022

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO better understanding of what police officers are faced with on the job and how they do what they do.

“My first academy I learned so much, so I know I am only going to learn more this time,” shared Brady. “The first time we went out to the shooting range to see flashbangs and shot two different types of weapons. I got to drive a patrol car and ride with an officer.”

The department has typically hosted the academy twice a year, once in the spring and fall. Hill invites those who aren’t able to commit to the 8-week academy to consider scheduling a tour of the police department.

The academy is open to Moore residents or business owners of at least 21 years of age. To learn more about the academy or to inquiry about scheduling a tour, visit cityofmoore. com/departments/police-department/programs or email communityservice@cityofmoore.com. –19SM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

‘ Well’ Ro un d ed

New wellness hub includes partnership with technology center

M

oore Norman Technology Center is partnering with The Well, a new facility in Cleveland County featuring classes for fitness enthusiasts, foodies and those wanting to improve their financial skills.

The Well is leveraging community collaboration with various organizations including the Cleveland County Health Department and Norman Regional Health as well as Moore Norman to offer programs that focus on health, wellness and education.

Christi Gum, program developer at the technology center, said The Well is “going to be such a valuable resource for the community.”

Gum said the center is thrilled to serve as a partner, including designing and sponsoring the demonstration kitchen used for cooking classes. In addition, instructors from the center also teach courses at The Well, helping to support The Well’s initiative of offering health and educational resources for people in across the county.

“It’s going to be a wonderful well-rounded facility for the community,” she said.

Gum said Moore Norman’s involvement at The Well also raises more awareness about programs and courses available at Moore Norman Technology Center.

“It’s going to broaden our scope to people who may not even know what Moore Norman Technology Center is.

They’ll be able to come in and learn more about us.”

Tara Douglas, who works with The Well, said the technology center was one of the first community partners contacted during the early planning phases of the building.

“Their mission to provide educational resources to the

18 February 2022

entire county complemented our mission perfectly,” said Douglas, director of community engagement at The Well.

“They have such a wealth of instructors that we’re able to bring to The Well to provide a wide variety of classes, including cooking classes, workforce development training, etc,” Douglas said.

Classes and programs at The Well are free or low cost and are open to Cleveland County residents and visitors from neighboring communities, Douglas said.

“We wanted to ensure that cost would never be a barrier to access all of the programs and resources we provide out of our space,” she said.

The Well opened in November 2021 and features two buildings at 210 S. James Garner Ave. in Norman and an outdoor green space. The larger building is 12,000 square feet and houses classrooms, the demonstration kitchen, a clinic, event space and an outdoor terrace. The second building is 4,000 square feet and will serve as the new home of the Norman Farm Market in the spring and also can serve as event or program space, Douglas said.

Community feedback about The Well’s programs have been positive and plans are to add new programs and more free fitness classes.

“We’ll continue gathering feedback from our community members to ensure that The Well is meeting the needs of the public and that we are as accessible as possible to everyone,” Douglas said.

For more information about The Well and to check out classes and programs available, visit www.thewellok.org.19SM

February is National CTE Month®!

MNTC joins the U.S. in recognizing Career and Technical Education Month® and to celebrate the value of CTE, and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country.

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COM M U N I T Y

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

Recogni zi ng Excel l ence

From left, Kathy Gillette, former Chamber President/CEO; Kelly Arnold, Chamber director of development; Kim Brown, current Chamber President/CEO; Carol Motley, Chamber director of membership; Dyndi Gibson (front), McGraw Realtors; Cheryl Patterson, Chamber operations manager; and Jan Astani, Clear View Insurance gather together after a monthly networking lunch.

Moore Chamber of Commerce begins new tradition

T

he Moore Chamber of Commerce will honor outstanding citizen-nominated businesses and individuals through a new awards program. The inaugural “Salute to Excellence” Awards Mixer will take place on Feb. 22, with the goal of being the first of many to celebrate local success.

“Our goal is to recognize and honor those who work to contribute to our community in extraordinary ways,” said Director of Development & Engagement Kelly Arnold. “Work ethic, commitment to service and the ways we care about one another are what we seek to highlight through this initiative.”

Nominations were collected through mid-January.

Winners for Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Trailblazer of the Year (Entrepreneur), Rising Star and Employee/Team of the Year highlight business leadership, while the Legacy Award (Lifetime Achievement) and Citizen of the Year will honor individuals with a consistent history of volunteerism, vision and local involvement.

The awards are something Kim Brown, president/CEO of the Moore Chamber of Commerce, has focused on throughout her first year in the role, explained Arnold.

“It is so important to us to let people know their hard work does not go unnoticed,” said Arnold. “The Moore community has a history of coming together through so many circumstances, from natural disasters to our COVID response. We always embrace the challenge and

22 February 2022

come together. This is our way of recognizing our own.”

Nominations will be previewed by Moore Chamber of Commerce staff but they too will be surprised by the winners named, as all determinations depend on external assessment. All entries will then be mailed to Chamber of Commerce professionals in other communities for independent judging through unbiased evaluation of every individual suggested and each story detailed in the submissions for consideration. Plaques and trophies will be distributed, with additional plans to publicize winners’ stories.

The event is intentionally hosted on a Tuesday during the workday, from 3 pm to 5 pm, to better accommodate the schedules of the working people and busy volunteers. Its premier level sponsor is First United Bank, while executive sponsors are Moore Norman Technology Center and BancFirst.

Tickets to attend cost $50. Find more information at moorechamber.com.

“Moore is an extraordinary city with remarkable people and businesses who regularly go above and beyond to make Moore a better place to live and work,” said Mike Smith, board chair of the Moore Chamber of Commerce. “Our inaugural Salute to Excellence is not only an awards event, but an opportunity to embrace the strong community spirit we witness in Moore on a regular basis.” –19SM

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S P O RT S

T

anner Groves has heard all your jokes. Sure, the Sooner has a distinctive look, more Paul Bunyan than college basketball star.

But the shaggy, 6’10”, 235-pound, bearded big man has provided a spark in his first season with the Sooners. He has elevated the Sooners in the inaugural year of the Porter Moser era from a rebuild project to a championship contender.

As the Sooners continue to make a push towards the NCAA tournament, the senior transfer has become a leading factor in the Sooners’ success. Last year at Eastern Washington, Groves was The Big Sky Player of the Year and, along with his brother Jacob, helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA tournament and a near upset of Kansas.

But Tanner had his eye on something more for his final year of college basketball and entered the transfer portal.

After transferring from Eastern Washington to Oklahoma, Tanner has been a leader for the Sooners. He is currently leading all Sooners in scoring and has provided a veteran voice. His energy on the court has been contagious, a steadying force for an upstart Sooner team.

Well before making his impact at Oklahoma, Tanner was turning heads with his play at Eastern Washington, especially on social media.

The Groves brothers became the darlings in the NCAA tournament in 2021. Tanner displayed his infectious personality with his contagious smile all while scoring 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting in a first-round game against Kansas. Jacob scored 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

“It’s kind of funny,” Tanner said. “I think it was when Kansas took the lead, they were up like 10, near the end of the game. They were shooting free throws. One of the (KU) guys that was next to me, he was like, ‘Dude, you gotta slow down. You’re keeping your team in it.’

“I was like, ‘What are you talking about? How many points do I have because I have no idea?’ He was like, ‘You got like 30.’ I didn’t know. That was crazy.”

The Groves brothers were blowing up in more places than just on the court. They blew up social media. And had a high time with everything they saw.

“The Kansas game was the best,” Tanner said. “It was both of us.

There was just a bunch of funny stuff, talking about Jake as Napoleon Dynamite and a lot of people were saying I was Abraham Lincoln and Will Farrell in ‘Semi-Pro.’ “Jake Groves as Napoleon Dynamite is a classic. That one has to stick.”

Tanner said his favorite social-media post was a tweet about his brother and Eastern Washington teammate Tyler Robertson.

“These guys are going to kill it at LA Fitness in the men’s league,” the tweet said.

Photos by: Mark Doescher

Jacob, a 6’7” sophomore, averaged 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 2020-21. As was the case with his brother, he saved his biggest performance for the biggest stage as he scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds against KU. Just six days after the attention-grabbing performance against Kansas, the Groves brothers entered the NCAA transfer portal. Meanwhile, in Norman, Moser and his staff had just gotten off and running when Tanner entered his name into the transfer portal.

26 February 2022

SOONER REVIEW McIntyre Law is a proud supporter of OU athletics.

Contact McIntyre Law for all your personal injury needs

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part 1 19TH BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 27

28 February 2022

Oklahoma was immediately interested but the way in which Oklahoma reached out and made first contact with might not have ever landed them in Norman save for a Twitter direct message.

“After I entered the (transfer) portal, I think it was maybe like a few weeks into being in the portal, and I was just looking through my Twitter messages,” Tanner said. “I saw that Coach Emmanual Dildy from Oklahoma had messaged me.”

It didn’t take long for Tanner to link up with Moser himself.

“I messaged back and within an hour I was on a long FaceTime call with Coach (Moser), and we just started building that relationship,” Tanner said. “And I think within about a week or so, I committed to Oklahoma.

And it’s been going from there.

“It was definitely really hard to make a decision solely based off of a couple of phone calls. I’m a fifth-year senior and for me, I don’t really care (about) location or whatever. I’m just looking for the best fit, wherever I can go and play basketball and flourish within my game and be a part of a good system and winning system….

Oklahoma just turned out to be the best fit.”

Tanner and his brother Jacob brought a winning tradition to Oklahoma. While at Eastern Washington, Tanner was a major part of a team that made its first trip to the NCAA tournament in over 6 years and won a regular-season and post-season title in back-to-back seasons.

But Tanner isn’t the only transfer making an impact on the Sooners this season. Jordan Goldwire transferred in from Duke and has been the starting point guard for the Sooners while Tulsa product Ethan Chargois moved in from SMU to provide depth off the bench.

“It is pretty cool with us coming from winning backgrounds … understanding the winning culture and what it takes,” Tanner said. “When you bring in guys that know what it means to win and what it’s like to win on top of having a coach like Coach Moser, when you get a group of guys like that together that is a good base, you’re creating a culture. That was one of the most important things for me, that foundation of all of us together has helped to create a winning culture.”

Sometimes it can be tough to mesh so many different personalities in a short amount of time, but behind the leadership of Moser and the man that has been dubbed “The Lumberjack,” it has been a relatively seamless transition for Sooner basketball.

“It’s always hard to get a bunch of new guys together to get them all on the same page,” Tanner said. “We had been going at it 5 months leading into the season, but we made big strides and progress. We have a lot of potential to be great and the coaches have done an excellent job of getting us to mesh and connect.”

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For a first-year head coach, having a leader like Tanner has helped to build a foundation for this year’s squad. It also helps that he loves hoops.

“Tanner’s a perfectionist. He really wants to get it right,” Moser said. “I saw him early on just overthinking a lot of things because he wanted to get it right. When you overthink things, you tend to be a little late recognizing.

“What I’ve seen the last three weeks is his comfortability set in on what we want and what he’s to do. You’re seeing his communication level has been (good), his defense has gotten much better because he just knows and he’s more comfortable.”

Tanner Groves’ passion and energy are undeniable.

The talented big man he has helped set a standard in year one of the Porter Moser era, and that standard has no limits as the Sooners prepare for the home stretch of the season and March Madness.-19SM 19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 29

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S P O RT S

M

adi Williams is having fun. The smile on her face is contagious. Her energy has driven Oklahoma throughout her entire career, and she is the kind of teammate every player wants, regardless of sport.

Through her hard work and commitment to the team, Williams has become one of the most electric basketball players in OU history.

“She’s a dog… It’s hard to describe getting to play with somebody like that,” Teammate Taylor Robertson said of the Williams. “We’re a different team with her. She makes everything go. She makes us all better.”

Fun… it’s the word that keeps coming up when talking about not just Williams but this Sooner basketball team. This team is fun. Oklahoma’s high-powered offensive attack has consistently been one of the best in the country and is on pace to be the best in program history.

Against the Kansas Jayhawks in January, Williams continued to surpass major career benchmarks. Williams crossed the 1,500-point mark for her career joining teammate Taylor Robertson who crossed the threshold earlier this season. Williams and Robertson make Oklahoma one of six Division I schools with a pair of 1,500-point scorers, joining Baylor, NC State, Ohio, Rutgers, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

“Should I give a speech real quick?” Williams joked in the postgame.

“I want to thank my mom, god and my teammates for finding me and trusting me to go get a bucket. It’s been great.”

Williams became the 13th player in school history to register 1,500 or more points in her career, joining the likes of Courtney Paris, Stacey Dales, Courtney Robinson and her teammate Taylor Robertson.

“It meant a lot that I could put something down in the books. I’m sure it meant the same to TRob,” Williams said. “It is just great to be able to come out here and set records. Not a lot of people get to do that, to be put down in the books.”

Williams leading the Sooners is nothing new. Since arriving on campus as a 5-star recruit from Ft. Worth, Texas, Williams has consistently shown up on all-conference lists garnering pre- and post-season honors. This year Williams was added to the watch list for the Cheryl Miller Award, given to the nation’s best small forward each season. The senior was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection as a junior and was honored as a unanimous preseason conference selection to open the 2021-22 season. Williams was then named to the Naismith Trophy watch list, awarded annually to the nation’s top collegiate women’s player.

Photos by: Mark Doescher

Before her senior season even tipped off, Williams had to deal with something she had never dealt with before… a coaching change. Legendary Sooner Coach Sherri Coale retired, and Jennie Baranczyk took over after an incredible run at Drake.

“Spring was a confusing time for us,” Williams reflected. “We had never experienced a coaching change and I had not either. That was something new for me. I’m always open for new ideas, new faces, new energy, and it is great that Jenny came in with that.

SOONER REVIEW

“She’s been great. I didn’t have any expectations for her coming in and she’s been fantastic for me and the girls.”

The numbers have been incredible in the Coach Baranczyk system.

Williams has averaged 18.4 points in 2021-22 and a team-high 8.4 re-

34 January February2022 2022

McIntyre Law is a proud supporter of OU athletics.

Contact McIntyre Law for all your personal injury needs

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36 Februaru February 2022

bounds. Since the season ending injury to fellow senior Ana Llanusa, Williams is averaging a career 22.4 points and 8.8 rebounds.

But for Baranczyk, it’s the leadership of her senior that really stands out.

“Madi has been the heart and soul of this team,” Baranczyk said. “From a leadership standpoint, she presses a little bit because she’s trying to carry everyone.

Then she has these moments in games where she lets it come to her and there is nothing that is going to stop her. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pass, a rebound or a basket, nothing is too big, nothing is too small.”

For Williams, leadership and energy are nothing more than a magnification of her love for basketball.

“I wouldn’t say I have a loud personality within my family and at home,” Williams said. “I like to play basketball with this dog mentality, with this dominating mentality. When you express that it can sometimes intimidate the opponent a little bit. I do it to give energy and confidence to my teammates.”

In a season of personal milestones, Williams and the Sooners accomplished something in Big 12 play that no one on the current roster had experienced. Oklahoma beat Baylor for the first time in over 7 years. Baylor has been the perennial power in the Big 12 and has won the conference 9 of the last ten seasons. The Sooners 83-77 come from behind win over 14th ranked Baylor also represented the first win over a top-15 opponent since 2017.

“It was a great win for us. It was a great confidence boost, but not that we needed it. We’ve got a ton of confidence,” Williams said. “The win against Baylor showed us what we were made of, and we could hang with the big dogs.”

While the home win over Baylor is a signature victory for the Sooners this season, it was not a mission accomplished moment. OU is chasing its first postseason appearance since 2018. The Sooners have also put on a master class in overcoming adversity. Early deficits in games, a season-ending injury to senior star Ana Llanusa, COVID issues and adjusting to a new coaching staff, the Sooners have continued to forge ahead to win games in the face of consistent challenges.

Williams has a simple method to consistently overcome the challenges: be herself.

“I think personally, that comes from the person I am,” Williams said. “I’m not the type of person who takes things super seriously. That helps with being able to move through adversity. That attitude has radiated onto my teammates.”

The fun continues for OU women’s basketball as the Sooners march towards the post-season. And beyond what she has done on the court, the leadership and entertainment that Williams has provided, she has helped sportstalk1400.com

make the Sooners a legit contender as the post-season approaches.

“The chemistry that we have on and off the court is fantastic,” Williams said. “Even when we aren’t playing our best basketball, we have confidence in each other. It’s been great to highlight the talent we have and the work we put in over the preseason. To come out and prove people wrong and show ourselves what we’re made of.”

In a word, Madi Williams is special. And this season, Williams has been better than ever to help launch a new era in OU women’s basketball.

“It’s meant a lot to be able to be here through thick and thin,” Williams said. “To fight with these girls and to learn the things that we’ve learned. It’s great to be a Sooner.”-19SM 19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 37

TM

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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 39

FEBRUARY IS

Ask us about our dental month special!

40 February 2022

S P O RT S

N ew E ra fo r S a be rca t Footba ll

Southmoore selects Jake Monden as next head football coach

S

outhmoore hires Jake Monden as their new head football coach. Monden said the opportunity to lead the Sabercats’ program was too attractive to pass up.

“I couldn’t be more impressed with the alignment and the ability for (Southmoore football) to be really, really great,” Monden shared. “We’re going to make it great.

It’s an exciting time for us and everybody involved.”

Monden mentioned how Southmoore reminds him of several Arkansas powerhouses he’s familiar with in Bryant High School and Bentonville High School.

“With the ability, with the facilities, the commitment of the community, you look at the leadership right now in place from the administrative standpoint to the area itself and just how well it’s thriving right now, there’s just so many things that check so many boxes.

“If the right guy comes in there—and that being me

42 February 2022

right now—we can make this thing go and turn this thing into something to be very proud of.”

Part of the fit for Monden was the opportunity to come home. Monden is a 1999 graduate of Noble High School. He returns to the Oklahoma City metro looking to restore the Southmoore program. Monden brings a decorated track record with him.

In 2010, Monden became the defensive coordinator at Mineral Springs High School in Arkansas. In his three seasons with the Hornets’ program, Mineral Springs amassed 30 wins and his defensive units led the state with 120 takeaways in that three-year span.

During the 2012 season, Monden and Mineral Springs advanced to the state semifinals. In 2013, Monden became the defensive coordinator at El Dorado High School in Arkansas. In his first season with that program, the Wildcats won the 2013 6A state championship after replacing nine defensive starters.

BY: JOSH HELMER That 2013 defense forced 43 takeaways in 13 games. In the 2014 and 2015 seasons at El Dorado, Monden and the Wildcats advanced to two more state semifinal games.

In 2016, Monden was named the head football coach at Camden Fairview High School in Arkansas. In his six seasons leading the Cardinals, Camden Fairview won 44 games and made five consecutive Arkansas playoff appearances.

This past season, Camden Fairview won the 5A-South Conference outright with a 6-0 conference record and Monden was named 5A South Coach of the Year. He was also a semifinalist for Arkansas 5A Coach of the Year.

What kind of offenses and defenses does he want to employ at Southmoore? Monden said he is focused on being efficient and seizing opportunities.

“The biggest thing is just being efficient with the football and being intelligent with it, putting your kids in good situations,” Monden said of his offensive gameplan. “We’re going to put our kids at Southmoore in the best situation possible to compete every Friday night.”

“I’ve cut my teeth really on defense in the state of Arkansas and kind of made a name for myself,” he shared.

“We’re going to be very sound, very intelligent. We’re going to be a team that makes you earn it and be tough to score on.”

“We’re going to be an opportunistic defense, but we’re going to be very sound and get after people,” he added.

Monden said one of his first orders of business is to bring enthusiasm back to the Southmoore program.

“I think the biggest thing coming in, I’ve kind of got to get a feel for how things work at Southmoore,” he said.

“That way we can employ our program and what we’re trying to accomplish. Then, get people excited, getting the kids excited about competing in this game. That’s built in the offseason through summer pride and putting the weight room culture in.

“We’re going to compete at everything we do. I think it’s going to be a big deal for us to have our kids ready to play and have them explosive at the right time of year, to have those kids confident and prepared.” –19SM

Defensively, Monden expects more of what he’s built throughout his coaching career.

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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 43

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H EA LT H

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

O N THE CU T T I NG E D GE

New cardiac technology saving lives of patients with an elevated risk of stroke

A

n estimated five million Americans suffer from an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, according to Boston Scientific, the makers of a new device treating patients with this common condition.

Atrial fibrillation is caused by chaotic electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart. The resting heart rate of someone who lives with atrial fibrillation can range anywhere from 100 to 175 beats per minute.

The average resting heart rate for adults is between 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Atrial fibrillation may cause discomfort but usually isn’t a life-threatening condition on its own. However, when paired with an elevated risk of other serious conditions, such as stroke, it can be dangerous.

Luckily, there are several treatment options for atrial fibrillation. Blood thinners are a common treatment, but for patients not able to take blood thinner medications, the Watchman device serves as a life-saving option.

“The Watchman device is a catheter-based implantable cardiac device used to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation,” said Norman Regional cardiologist Dr. Archana Gautam. “This is not an open-heart surgery; this outpatient procedure is done to seal off one chamber of the heart, where more than 90% of clots form in the heart for atrial fibrillation patients.”

Norman Regional cardiologist Dr. Muhammad Salim said that almost 40% of patients diagnosed with atrial

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fibrillation are not able to take blood thinner medication, which leaves them at five times the risk for stroke.

The Watchman device is just one of many new technologies that have created a positive impact in the lives of patients with a higher risk of stroke. There is also the TAVR or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, which is another non-open-heart surgery, catheter-based procedure that replaces the entire aortic valve of the heart.

There is a very real possibility that soon all four valves of the heart could be replaced using catheter-based technology.

“There are many new technologies down the pipeline that are very exciting, many of them biological and genetic,” said Salim. “There are lots of RNA technologies on the horizon that can change the way we treat heart failure, atherosclerosis or valve diseases.”

Gautam said that one high-tech, life-saving device already widely available might come as a surprise.

“Smartwatches that track heart activity can be used to monitor heart rate and identify irregular heartbeats,” Gautam shared. “I have several patients that have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and it was all because they noticed changes in their heart activity on their smartwatch.”

To learn more about the Watchman device, TAVR and the complete continuum of care available in the Norman Regional Health System, visit NormanRegional. com/Heart. – 19SM 19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 47

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V ETE R A N

BY: BILL MOAKLEY PRESENTED BY

Veteran of the Month: John Jewell

CENTURIONCG.NET

Air Force veteran shares highlights of his military career

J

ohn Jewell spent his United States Air Force career viewing military planes from just about every angle. As an Air Force aircraft mechanic, and later a civilian quality assurance officer, Jewell has seen just about everything related to planes. However, his most memorable view came from a flight in a helicopter.

“The coolest thing I got to do was during an operation in Egypt,” Jewell recalled. “I was working with the Army there at a temporary command post and making sure they had all the stuff they need to maintain airplanes or their helicopters. At the end of the operation, they gave me a ride on an H-1 helicopter. The cool part about it was I got to fly over the Great Pyramids in that thing and took some pictures. That was probably the highlight of my whole career.”

Suffice it say it was view that not a lot of folks get to take in of one of history’s most treasured sites.

Growing up in Norman with his twin brother, Jerry, many of the views Jewell had came on the wrestling mat at Norman High School. Both brothers were standout wrestlers for the Tigers and after graduating in 1984, both headed for Tennessee to wrestle at the collegiate level. However, both decided to come home and wrestle at the University of Central Oklahoma. Deciding they weren’t “mature enough” for college, as Jewell put it, the brothers decided to join the Air Force in November 1985 and completed basic training together.

He listed locations on the West Coast as his preferred destination post-boot camp. He would instead land in a familiar spot.

“I didn’t know where I was going to get stationed, so I put down the places on the West Coast thinking I’d see some new areas,” Jewell explained. “But I got stationed right

50 February 2022

back here at Tinker (Air Force Base in Midwest City).”

Jewell spent a little over 12 years at Tinker working on the fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes that fly out of the base. As such, Jewell found himself away from home quite a bit with AWACS operations popular and the number of aircraft low.

“They were in high demand,” Jewell said. “They call it low density, high demand. I did a lot of time in the Middle East before Desert Storm and did some stuff in South America.”

Jewell would a get break, in a manner, from the time away from home when he was assigned to a base in England.

“I got to go to England and bring my family with me,” Jewell said. “We did four years over there, which was nice. I only went on a couple of short, temporary duty assignments. So, it really helped me gain back the stability for my family. We got to see a lot of castles and made great friends over there.”

After those four years, Jewell and family came back stateside for a stint at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska to work on RC-135s, reconnaissance aircraft similar to the AWACS. Jewell decided to retire from active duty in 2007 and move his family, including two sons, back to Oklahoma. He would earn his master’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and now works on the civilian side of Tinker conducting quality assurance investigations on aircraft that are torn down and rebuilt at the base.

When’s he’s not on base working or spending time with his sons or wife, Erin, Jewell can be found on a bike riding trails around central Oklahoma. –19SM

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