Moore FFA
Hands-On Learning
New Initiative for Times of Crisis
Moore PD S.A.ID. Program
Veteran of the Month
Jonathan Drew
May 2021 • Issue 5 • Volume 4
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Features
MAY CONTENTS 2021
ISSUE 5– VOLUME 4 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher
Leading Lions
10 by Chelsey Kraft
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mark Doescher
CONTRIBUTORS
Moore PD S.A.ID. Program
Moore Police Department launches new initiative to better serve individuals with special needs in times of crisis.
The Ultimate Hands-On 20 Learning Experience
Lindsay Cuomo
Moore High School principals Rachel Stark and Mike Coyle talk about the transition in leadership.
14 by Rae Lynn Payton
MANAGING EDITOR
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Roxanne Avery | Sharla Bardin Callie Collins | Lindsay Cuomo Josh Helmer | Chelsey Kraft Bill Moakley | Rae Lynn Payton Chris Plank
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by Callie Collins Moore FFA teaches lifelong lessons .
In Memory of
RANDY LAFFOON
A Year to Remember
28 by Sharla Bardin
MNTC graduates share challenges, successes of attending school during a pandemic.
From Westmoore to the
32 Sooners
by Chris Plank Three former Jaguars are playing for the Oklahoma baseball team.
Fresh Start
40 by Josh Helmer
28
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Southmoore hires a new girls basketball coach.
Norman Regional Hospital:
46 May is National Osteoporosis
Month
by Lindsay Cuomo Orthopedic nurse practitioner brings awareness about the importance of bone health.
Lindsey Medical Supply
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Lindsey Medical Supply offers a wide range of medical equipment and supplies.
32
Memorial Park
54 by Mark Doescher
Images from Moore High School’s park honoring fallen classmates.
Veteran of the Month:
58 Jonathan Drew
by Roxanne Avery Vietnam veterans shares about his career in the Air Force and aeronautic manufacturing.
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Cover photo by: Mark Doescher
COMM U N I T Y
Leading Lions
Moore High School principals Rachel Stark and Mike Coyle talk about the transition in leadership
I
n 2012, Rachel Stark received a phone call from her longtime mentor, Mike Coyle, asking her to join Moore High School’s administrative staff as an assistant principal. For Stark, that move was returning home.
Now, Stark is set to become the school’s first female head principal starting with the 2021-22 school year following the retirement of Coyle, who has been in the role since 2002. She admits that while it is a great feeling, she did not realize how big of a moment it would be, especially because she worked with female head principals at her previous two schools. “I just look at it as I love this school, and I’ve worked really hard with my team and with the teachers and Mr. Coyle, of course, as my mentor, to get this position,” Stark said. “They (Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines and Assistant Superintendent David Peak) know I love this place and that I’m going to do my best for our students, which is what I’ve maintained forever. We always do what’s best for kids.” The fact she is the first female in the role for Moore High School also highlights the stability in the district in terms of the positions not being open often. 10 May 2021
“Our principals are long-term head principals,” Stark said. “You don’t get a head principal in here for two or three years who then leaves … Our head principals like Mr. Coyle are long term, and that says a lot about our district and how great it is. I’m honored to be chosen and to work with our staff and my team.” Stark said she is very thankful for the guidance and leadership Coyle has provided at Moore High School and throughout the district. “I’m just taking advantage of all the time that he is going to be here to learn what even more that I need to learn,” she said. “He’s been great at letting me implement programs and initiatives, and he has taught me the right ways to do that in ... Honestly, the other two head principals at the other two high schools, I know they call him a lot, and I know he’s been somewhat of a mentor to them as well. Mr. Coyle, it’s going to be very difficult to let go.” A 1988 Moore High School graduate, Stark started teaching English at Brink Junior High in 1998, where she was hired by then-principal Coyle. She joined the high school staff in 2000, working there until 2006, before deciding to move into ad-
BY: CHELSEY KRAF T ministration. Stark spent two years as an assistant principal really hit the ground running with is the relationship building at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City and four years training, and we’re really going to start off even before school at Edmond North High School before she returned to Moore. working on that … We want our Lions back. We want them back in the classroom, and we’re excited to have them back.” When Stark began looking for administration positions, Coyle was supportive throughout the process, mock inter- As for Coyle, he has no doubt that Stark is going to do great in viewing her and looking over her resume. the role and that there are “nothing but great things ahead” for Moore High School. “He really was an integral part of me being an administrator,” Stark explained. “He’s been with me my whole career and hon- “In working these 10 years together, the successes that we estly led me to this point. If it weren’t for Mr. Coyle, I probably have had at Moore High School, and if I may say, respectfulwouldn’t be prepared for this next step, prepared to be head prin- ly and modestly, we’ve had several, but these successes we’ve cipal of Moore High School. It’s an honor for me to follow him.” had, she’s been intricately involved with them,” Coyle said. “If you know schools or know about them, you know nothing Stark said she is fortunate to be part of a cohesive team and in schools happens in a vacuum. It is everybody working toto have colleagues with whom she has a great relationship. gether, working toward the same thing. Rachel knows that so Coming out of two challenging years for the school and very well. That is why she’s such an ideal choice for the new community, one of Stark’s goals is to refocus on a couple of principal at MHS beginning next year. initiatives - ACT preparation and a literacy initiative - that have not received as much focus in recent months due to the “She’s incredibly high energy, and she’s very, very bright,” COVID-19 pandemic. Stark also wants to rebuild school Coyle continued. “She understands the standards and expectapride and relationships with staff and students, which have tions of high-performing schools, and just as she has done these also been impacted as some students are learning from home 10 years, she is going to build upon what we have together and and social distancing guidelines have prevented close inter- the entire faculty together have built thus far, and she’s going actions. to continue to develop it and build upon the excellence. Importantly, she’s got her own vision as well … She is passionate and “It’s going to be a challenge, but of course we’re going to over- loves this place. She will take it to even greater heights.” -19SM come it like we do,” Stark shared. “That’s what we’re going to
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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 11
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COM M U N I T Y
Moore PD S.A.ID. Program
Community outreach programs help Moore officers build relationships with citizens of all ages.
Moore Police Department launches new initiative to better serve individuals with special needs in times of crisis
T
he S.A.ID. (Special Needs Alert and Identification) Program is designed to help first responders and the community work together to assist those with special needs during emergency situations. The new resource, recently adopted by the Moore Police Department, equips police officers, firefighters and other first responders with pertinent and relevant information that will aid with response protocols to individuals that meet the criteria. “At the Moore Police Department, we really enjoy having a positive relationship with our community and are always looking for ways to strengthen that relationship and strengthen that transparency in communication,” explained Moore Chief of Police Todd Gibson. When a call is made to 911, a S.A.ID. alert will open if any
14 May 2021
of the names or locations included in the call are enrolled in the system. This allows first responders to gain insight on an individual’s specific needs so that they may use the best strategies and obtain the best resources to help those individuals prior to arriving on the scene. Different events can trigger different reactions, depending on a person’s needs. The S.A.ID. program is a tool that gives first responders information ahead of time to allow them to effectively de-escalate and peacefully resolve potential problems. Residents of Moore can now complete an online form to enroll. A S.A.ID. alert is then created in Moore’s secure communications database. The system is not public record or available on air. Privacy is of the utmost importance and
BY:RAE LYNN PAYTON strictly available for only first responders to use, Gibson explained. The department is urging community members to register or register their loved ones if they qualify. Individuals with physical or mental impairments that could require special assistance should register. “It’s a very simple process, with a huge return during times of crisis in an emergency. For example, a person with autism might not respond well to lights and sirens. This allows us to prepare ahead of time to best meet their needs,” shared Gibson. Between the creation of the S.A.ID program, as well as having additional training on how to appropriately respond to various needs, the Moore Police Department continues to prioritize its citizens and safety for all involved. “We feel like the S.A.ID. program is one of many steps that we have taken and will continue to take in building that positive relationship with our community and partnering with them to create a city that’s desirable to live in and enhancing our community by making impacts on individual lives. That’s important to us,” Gibson shared. To complete an online form, visit cityofmoore.com/said. After registering, if there are any significant changes in registrants’ lives, location or status, call 405-793-5139 or update the form online as needed, An annual review is recommended to ensure important information is up to date. –19SM
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COM M U N I T Y
THE ULTIMATE HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Moore FFA teaches lifelong lessons
20 May 2021
J
essica Dunlap, agriculture education advisor at Moore High School, is proud to impart more than textbook topics to local teens. Responsibility, work ethic, business skills and life lessons: FFA may not necessarily be the first outlet that comes to mind for students to put those concepts into practice but it’s consistently teaching local students in more ways than one. The term “FFA” often brings up conversations about the original meaning of the acronym, “Future Farmers of America,” a term the official organization no longer uses. They made the change in 1988 “to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture.” Applicable to so many disciplines, Dunlap recognizes the importance of what is collectively Oklahoma’s largest youth organization. “FFA, in general, is really broad, especially here with this unique urban setup. Most of our kids live in a neighborhood, so owning livestock and keeping animals at home is not an option for them, so they use our school barn,” explained Dunlap. “Students have to go to the Moore FFA ag barn at least twice a day to see (the animals), feed them and make sure their environment is clean. It is a huge commitment.”
Although sheep, goats, pigs and cows are the animals students typically participate with if they choose to, showing an animal is not required in FFA. Students at Moore High School join with Westmoore and Southmoore students who come together to participate with three agriculture education teachers. Between Dunlap and her colleagues, Hanna Aviles and Michael Gustafson, students can learn about animal and food science, aquaponics, horticulture, communications and leadership through a print shop that includes working with local customers and welding/metalwork as part of ag mechanics. A greenhouse measuring 48 feet by 96 feet is also part of the features offered on-site. Seasonal plant sales are open to the public in the spring and fall. Students in ninth through twelfth grade can participate in FFA. Participation throughout all four years of high school can spark an interest students they didn’t know they had by helping them discover something new. Finding their niche sportstalk1400.com
BY: CALLIE COLLINS can spark a passion, and through a tremendous amount of hard work, those interests can lead to additional skills and even scholarships. That was the case for Freddy Ronquillo, age 18, a high school senior from Southmoore who currently serves as chapter president. He won the prestigious 2021 Central Area Star in Ag Placement, a statewide competition with five regional designees in four categories. The honor included a full-tuition scholarship to Eastern Oklahoma State College awarded at the Oklahoma Youth Expo in March. His intended major is landscape design. “I had no idea what FFA was. I am a proud first-generation FFA member,” said Ronquillo. While many participants have a longstanding tradition in their family of being in FFA, it was completely new for Ronquillo, whose family owns a lawn care business. “In seventh and eighth grade, I took computer classes for my middle school electives. When freshman year came around, I told my counselor I wanted a different elective, something outdoors. I like fishing and I just wanted to do something
that wasn’t indoors or looking at a screen,” said Ronquillo. “I bused here and ever since I walked in the door, I found my first love, thanks to the teachers who help us. It’s because of them that I love it and that I am where I am today. I’m a very faith-filled person and I believe God puts people in your life for a specific purpose. They saw potential in me.” Ronquillo explained how FFA helped him stay centered through his high school years. “Before I was in ninth grade, I wasn’t sure who I was as a person,” he said. “Now, I wake up every day and I think about FFA. I plan to pursue agriculture the rest of my life and be involved in it. People don’t realize it but the agricultural industry is in everything. If you eat, you’re part of the agriculture industry.” Learning responsibility is an important part of being in FFA. Ronquillo developed that life skill through the process of raising and showing pigs, a variation on the work ethic that also pairs well with his dreams of entrepreneurship with the family business. 19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 21
“Showing animals teaches you a strong work ethic,” he said. “For example, sometimes they have to be on a schedule for their medicine. That has to be given to them at the same time each day and if not, they don’t make it sometimes or you can’t finish showing them. They survive because I’m there. It’s on me.” During February’s ice storms, Ronquillo joined other students and his dedicated teachers in caring for the animals inside a single heated barn where they were all moved indoors. “I don’t know what the temperature was but Mr. Gustafson and I were there with our students, who realized that just because it was snowing outside didn’t mean those animals didn’t need them to be able to eat. They had to show up,” said Dunlap. “It was rough for a couple of days. That storm came through at the end of their project. When animals are cold, they cannot put on weight, they get sick. Of course, we wanted the students to do well, so together, we made it work. They sat on the floor of my classroom while everyone else was at home and took care of their animals.” Yareli Martinez of Moore High School is also 18 and a senior. She won a $2,000 scholarship made possible by McDonald’s to the college of her choice. Martinez plans to study animal science and pre-vet at OSU/OKC with the ultimate goal of becoming a veterinarian. Interacting with animals at a relative’s veterinary clinic and a family farm helped Martinez develop that interest. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved the vet idea,” she said. “When I heard there was a barn here and animals were part of it, I knew I had to participate. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a place like this.” Showing sheep for all four years of high school confirmed for her that caring for animals is what she loves to do. Both Martinez and Ronquillo were thrilled to find out at the Oklahoma Youth Expo that they had won. Out of 250 candidates, 22 were selected. The selection process, which began in November, was extensive, between paperwork, essays, creating a resume to apply, logging volunteer hours, maintaining their GPAs for an optimal average and going through related interviews, in addition to FFA participation. “Both Freddy and Yareli are just outstanding,” said Dunlap. “They’ve done what they’re told, worked circles around the others, done all the homework and put in the work. My goal is setting them up with skills so they leave better than they first came in because of what they learned at a critical age. If they do that after the four years I’ve had them, then my job is done. And if they can get through college with less debt because of scholarships, that’s also what I would want for them because paying student loans years after graduation is no fun.” Dunlap has been teaching for six years. A graduate of Texas Tech in animal sciences, she went on to earn a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in international agriculture before taking a job with the OSU Extension Office 22 May 2021
before being approached about teaching, which was not part of her original career plan. “I was approached about applying for the job. This is my one and only stop on my tour of teaching,” she said. “We have such good administration and support from our administrators, I couldn’t ask for a better place to work. I believe I was put here for a reason.” The notion that FFA is meant solely for children from family farms is one Dunlap would like to dispel. From graphic design to the ability to communicate well and follow directions, she recognizes their value to potential employers. “I have no doubt my students will do something and go out and be something someday,” she said. “Kids have to go out and learn responsibility and work ethic. Meeting deadlines, being held accountable for their actions and following something through are really important skills they can use anywhere.” Find out about Moore FFA’s upcoming events and print shop available for custom work to local businesses at facebook. com/mooreokffa/. –19SM
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COMM U N I T Y
A Ye a r to Reme m b e r
BY: SHARLA BARDIN
MNTC graduates share challenges, successes of attending school during a pandemic
H
undreds of students will graduate in May from the Moore Norman Technology Center, capping off a unique year of pandemic protocols and practices, schedule changes and health screenings. Students say that while there were challenges during this academic year, they have gained knowledge, experience and confidence as they move into the workforce or college. “The hands-on training and the other students I have come to be friends with, along with opportunities and goals my professors have helped me achieve have made my experience very enjoyable,” said Norman graduate Jesse Bottoms. Bottoms is a graduate of the automotive service technology program. He is one of approximately 500 students from the center who will graduate May 19 at the Moore High School football field. The ceremony is planned to be in-person with mask requirements and social distancing measures in place for attendees, said Terri Helvey, executive director of instruction. Helvey said she’s proud of how students and center instructors and staff have navigated this academic year and adjusted to new practices to respond to COVID-19 including masks, health screenings, temperature checks, online learning opportunities and adjustments to in-person class schedules to accommodate smaller groups of students. “Our students are amazing. Our teachers are amazing,” Helvey said. “They have just adapted and made it work.” She said instructors and staff “really went out of their way to be creative and find ways to continue what they needed to teach.” As of March 29, the center was back to 100 percent in-person classes, Helvey said. Chantel Goldsmith, a senior from Moore High School and a pre-nursing student at the center, said it was challenging initially to adapt to changes for this academic year “because we all had to go through the sudden shift of doing everything online.” “But, in a way, this was an amazing experience because I got to learn a lot about myself, especially how I learn and how to help others,” she shared. Bottoms said when the center had a hybrid schedule in the
28 May 2021
Chantel Goldsmith, a senior from Moore High School and a pre-nursing student at MNTC
late fall – which included groups of 10 or less coming to campus for hands-on training, while other students did online classes – “the challenge to stay focused and continue my studies did put a damper on (his) progress. “The need for in-person training was important for me and learning automotive virtually was a tough task.” Bottoms said he was able to work as an intern with Fowler Honda throughout his training at the technology center, which helped enhance his abilities and experience. “The internship in the auto industry and gaining the technical and life skills training, like resumes and preparing for an interview, have helped me be confident as I move forward in my personal life and career,” he said. He said he wants to continue a career in the automotive field after graduation. His future plans are to attend Oklahoma City Community College and he’s considering participating in a specialized training program with Honda and Acura. Goldsmith said after graduation she wants to attend the University of Central Oklahoma and become a registered nurse. She said she has enjoyed attending classes at the technology center for the last two years and the change of pace it offered from her high school schedule. “I have gained tons of experience on how to approach a health care setting and how to interact with others,” she said. “MNTC has given me a chance to get my feet wet in the health field and I really appreciate that. Now I know for sure that I want to be a nurse.” -19SM
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Pursue a career in law enforcement, security, or corrections with training from Moore Norman Technology Center’s Basic Peace Officer Certification Academy. As a CLEET-authorized technology center, MNTC provides a new route to becoming a certified basic peace officer. Our curriculum meets all CLEET-mandated basic peace officer requirements. mntc.edu/BPOC | 405.801.5000 FRANKLIN ROAD CAMPUS: 4701 12th Ave. NW, Norman, OK 73069
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From Westmoore S P O RT S
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BRANDON ZARAGOZA
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W
estmoore Baseball has always had a certain shade of crimson and cream attached to it. From its head coach to its numerous Sooner alums that played for the Jaguars, the Oklahoma Sooner Baseball program has been engrained within the Westmoore Jaguar program. This season, Sooner Baseball has been injected with more of a red and black tint as Westmoore alums are making an impact on the diamond for the Sooners. Between senior shortstop Brandon Zaragoza, redshirt freshman Braxton Bohrofen and his true freshman brother Jace Bohrofen, on any given night, a handful of former Jaguars players can find themselves in the starting lineup for Skip Johnson. “Westmoore has some really strong talented players… and things just aligned the way that they did,” Sooner Shortstop and Westmoore alum Brandon Zaragoza said. “It was one of those things where we had a couple of guys come to Oklahoma and we were looking at it as... well who’s going to be next? The next thing you know we’re all in college together and Westmoore is taking over.” Zaragoza has been a cornerstone for the Sooners defensively. During his freshman campaign, he started 56 games at short-
32 May 2021
stop and has started every single game since. Zaragoza has also become the all-time leader in games played for Sooner baseball and is widely regarded as one of the best defensive shortstops in college baseball. “If he hit .100, that’s all that matters to me, because I know if it’s hit to him, you’re going to get out,” Sooners coach Skip Johnson said. “That’s what kind of defender he is.” His high school coaches knew just how special Zaragoza was early in his high school career at Westmoore. Sooner Alum Jarod Freeman was the head baseball coach at Westmoore during the first three seasons of Zaragoza’s high school career. “At the end of his freshman year, he started coming up with the varsity group and we really got to see him start to shine for us,” Freeman said. “Going into his sophomore year, it was incredible the plays that he was making. It was Omar Vizquel-esqe some of the plays he could make. He’s doing skate park tricks at shortstop and he’s a sophomore in high school.” But it was more than just the eye of his high school coach that Zaragoza was catching. When a college coach came to town to look at some of the pitchers on the Westmoore staff, his attention shifted to the wiry shortstop.
BY: CHRIS PLANK “Your shortstop has that extra 15 feet… that zip on his ball,” Freeman recalled the coach saying. “(He had) a kid playing shortstop and he might be the top players around from Canada, and your sophomore shortstop has more than he does. “All I could do was nod, agree and magnify how fun he was to coach. His work ethic is special. He could go as high as he wants defensively.” After Freeman moved on from coaching, prior to Zaragoza’s senior season at Westmoore, Joe Patterson took over and was immediately drawn to the ability of his then senior shortstop to lead. “He was simply different,” Patterson said. “There are always some of those guys that approach the game differently. The day I knew he was special he came up to me and Joe Moore, our infield coach, and said ‘I want to have a team meeting.’ We asked what for and he just wanted to cover some infield assignments and we gave him the green light. “He brought the whole team in the locker room and got on the white board and went over how to control the running game and second base and did it all perfectly. Coach Moore and I were in awe... that is just the type of guy that he was for us and that he is at Oklahoma.” While Zaragoza has always been known for his defense, his work in the batter’s box has consistently improved over his time at Oklahoma. His batting average has steadily improved and his RBI numbers have increased every single season. But one accomplishment had proven unattainable for Zaragoza. Heading into his senior season, he had yet to hit a collegiate home run. But that changed on a spring Sunday afternoon in Norman. With the Sooners leading Houston, 7-2, in the bottom of the
BRANDON ZARAGOZA
5th inning, Zaragoza stepped to the plate and crushed the first pitch he saw over the left center field wall. “It was a pretty cool moment,” Zaragoza said. “The reason it was so cool was the reaction of my teammates, the team rallied around me when it happened. I think that’s what made the moment so special. I truly saw the character we have in that locker room… The way they reacted… the love that we have for each other is what makes those moments so special.” Zaragoza was mobbed as he returned to the dugout. His former teammate Blake Brewster was on the TV call that afternoon and celebrated like he was right in the mob outside the Sooner dugout. Parents hugged, yardbirds cheered and Zaragoza gave a curtain call. “I know how hard that kid always wanted to hit a home run,” Freeman said. “You’ve got that whole extra year of baseball that he got and now gets that big one out of the way. He’s one of those guys always trying to get bigger and stronger. To see that weight room pay off for him is really special.” “I saw it all over Twitter,” Patterson said. “My phone blew up and everyone was talking about it after it happened. I saw the letter that a fan wrote, and I thought that was really cool. If you’re great, you’re doing great things, but can you make the people around you better? You can tell by the reaction to his home run, even the fans, he’s made everyone around him better.” While the moment was big for Zaragoza, it was made even bigger by his teammate’s reaction. Two of the first guys out of the dugout were Jace and Braxton Bohrofen. Braxton and Zaragoza had been teammates at Westmoore and went to a state championship game together. But with Braxton being younger, Zaragoza had never had the opportunity to play on the same team as the younger
JACE BOHROFEN
BRAXTON BOHROFEN
to the Sooners sportstalk1400.com
19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 33
Bohrofen. In fact, Jace had been one of Zaragoza’s biggest fans, watching him play at Oklahoma while he was coming up through the ranks at Westmoore. It only made sense that when Braxton became a Sooner, Zaragoza would take him under his wing. “It’s a pretty cool moment. He’s like a younger brother to me,” Zaragoza said of fellow Westmore alum Jace Bohrofen joining the Sooners. “A soon as he walked in the locker room, I just took him under my wing because I see the potential. I’ve been in college for 35 years now, so I feel like I have a little knowledge I’d like to spread to him. But it’s more taking him in as a person not so much a ballplayer. It’s a really cool opportunity to have a guy like that on our team and understanding that the future of this program is in really good hands.” Jace was a top 100 prospect and there was a chance that if the MLB Draft fell for him the right way he might not even play for the Sooners. But when COVID hit and shortened the MLB Draft from 40 rounds to five, Jace ended up at Oklahoma and was able to learn from one of his idols and follow in his father’s footsteps. Brent Bohrofen was a standout for the Sooners from 1989-91. “Both Bohrofens are exceptional kids. They are great leaders,” Patterson said. “Jace is a tremendous player. One of the most highly skilled high school hitters I’ve ever been around. Pretty much me coaching Jace about hitting was writing his name on the lineup card and telling him to go out and get it done and that worked out really well for three years.” Jace joined his brother Braxton who had already spent two seasons with the Sooners. Braxton had an incredible amount of high school success at Westmoore including helping propel the 2018 team to the State Championship game. “Braxton was a field general and did everything you needed to do,” Patterson said. “The best thing about Braxton was you could tell him to make sure everyone knows what to do on a bunt situation or a 1st and 3rd and he would take care of it. Braxton’s senior year, we had a pitcher come in that was our number two starter and he said he was moving to Houston two days before the season started. Braxton stepped up, picked up the slack and pitched, and went 9-1 on the mound 34 May 2021
as our number two starter. He even pitched and beat Owasso in the semi-finals.” With three Westmoore Jaguars on the Sooner roster, it brings a sense of pride to the entire Westmoore baseball family, especially the former coaches of the Bohrofen’s and Zaragoza. “I think it says a lot for Westmoore High School in the development,” Freeman said. “Obviously knowing Brent (Bohrofen) and the kind of dad he is to Jace and Braxton, it’s cool that you’d get to watch your two sons play at OU. I’ve got two boys and one boy on the way and I just think how cool it would be as a dad to watch those players play where you did and especially at the level those two are.” “It’s great to watch them and sometimes you feel like you’re playing with them when you’re watching on TV,” Patterson added. “You stand up when they’re hitting and you’re yelling at the TV.” At the core of all the success was a start and that beginning was at Westmoore. “They molded me into the person I am today,” Zaragoza said of his time at Westmoore. “It is just really awesome to see both of my high school coaches that gave me valuable lessons in the game of baseball and the game of life. I enjoyed every moment I got to play with those guys. “High school baseball was a special time in my life. Sometimes I reflect on it … and I’ll reflect on how (Westmoore) helped build me into the person I am today.” As the Oklahoma Sooner prepares for a run at the postseason, the three former Westmoore players will play a major role. If Oklahoma is going to make a run to Omaha in 2021, lessons learned on the field at Westmoore High School will be a major reason why they are able to take the next step. “It speaks volumes about Westmoore and the program that keeps developing talent,” Freeman added. “Skip and the staff at OU are top notch in how they handle players and how they handle high school coaches throughout the state. It’s where people want to go. When you have people like that running the program, there is no problem with any high school coach wanting to send his players to play for a guy like that.” –19SM
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38 May 2021
HI G H S CH O O L S P ORTS
FRESH START
BY: JOSH HELMER
Southmoore hires a new girls basketball coach
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outhmoore hired Kayla Fourkiller as its fifth head girls basketball coach in program history. Fourkiller comes over from Catoosa looking to jumpstart a program that has enjoyed just three wins over the past two seasons. Fourkiller is familiar with the Moore community since she spent her childhood summers visiting her grandma in Moore and said it’s where she has been trying to get to. “I saw it came open, applied for the opportunity and I’m really thankful and blessed to have this opportunity,” Fourkiller said. “I’m looking forward to rebuilding the program and having lots of success at Southmoore.” Young talent in the program and her relationship with the Southmoore administration were a couple of the reasons why leadership saw Fourkiller as the right fit. “I know they’ve got some young girls coming up that could be special,” she said. “Tradition is there. I feel like it’s a great place, a great school. All of the administration is wonderful.” The jump up to Class 6A girls basketball was an attractive piece of the puzzle, too. “I’m excited. I know it’s a change, but I feel like it’s a good change for my career,” she shared. “I’m excited to get in there and start working and have this opportunity to put my coaching knowledge to work. “I know it’s a tough conference. I’m hoping to get in there, compete, have some success and just build on that tradition.” Fans can expect the Sabercats to employ an exciting brand of basketball. “I like to get up and down, press. I like to put pressure on the basketball, play a lot of defense,” Fourkiller said. “I feel like defense is my strength. I love to run and gun.” Meeting her players and beginning to build those relationships are the first steps for Fourkiller. “That’s my main goal right now is just meeting the girls and getting those relationships going,” she said. “I feel like that plays a big role in coaching. I always believe that if the kids believe in you and they respect you, they’ll run through a wall for you.” Southmoore athletic director Greg George said they had close to 40 applicants apply for the job. Fourkiller met all of the qualifications they were looking for. “We were looking for more than just a great coach, but a great person and someone that fit our program and fit our athletes,” George said. “That was our biggest deal, finding someone that could fill both molds, having a great technical coach and a great person that fit our kids. “Her attitude, hard work and experience stood out. She’s been coaching for over 12 years and had good success everywhere she’s been. We talked to a bunch of different people that she’s coached with and around, and they all say she’s a really hard
40 May 2021
worker, dedicated and loves the kids. Basically, everything we wanted, she was doing.” Fourkiller’s high school coach at Vian, Tina Ramos, said she envisioned this type of future for her former player. “Believe it or not, I did envision her doing something like this,” Ramos said. “When Kayla played for me, she was always one of our hardest workers on the court. She did whatever you asked her to. Just having her as a player and witnessing that, I could see that she would be able to be an excellent coach. “I know that she’ll work hard and I know that she’ll do a great job and those kids will be able to relate to her. She’s a very adaptable person to whatever environment she’s in and she’s going to challenge those kids to get the most out of them.” –19SM
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COM M U N I T Y
May is National Osteoporosis Month
Orthopedic nurse practitioner brings awareness about the importance of bone health
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steoporosis is a medical term that defines levels of bone loss. While some bone loss is a natural part of aging, too much bone loss can lead to life-changing injuries, cautioned Kasey DeGuisti, a nurse practitioner with Ortho Central.
not seem like a serious concern, however, DeGuisti said that these injuries can significantly affect quality of life and, for some, can be life-threatening, which was a motivating factor in why Ortho Central established their Bone Health and Osteoporosis treatment program.
“We reach peak bone age at around 25,” DeGuisti explained. “Our bone age is not going to look the same at age 65 as at 25. Bones with osteoporosis look different. They are soft, thin and brittle.”
“Our bone health clinic was started because our surgeons see poor bone health every day and they wanted to take steps to prevent patients from ending up on their operating table,” she explained. “Patients have to deal with pain, surgery, delayed healing, being less active, posture issues and those can become a waterfall progression.”
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), an estimated 54 million Americans have or are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis. “Osteoporosis is a silent disease,” DeGuisti said. “Most people don’t realize how common it is. One in two women and one in four men will have a fracture in their lifetime due to osteoporosis.” The disease is responsible for an estimated two million broken bones each year. On the surface, a bone fracture might 46 May 2021
The NOF confirms that one-quarter of hip fracture patients end up in nursing homes and half never regain previous function. A quarter of patients age 50 and over with hip fractures due to osteoporosis die in the year following the fracture. DeGuisti works as a bone health clinic provider, managing the clinic’s bone health and osteoporosis treatment program. After spending several years of her 12-year nursing career working with surgeons and seeing firsthand the negative ef
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
fects of poor bone health, she now helps patients with prevention, an area she feels is not getting the attention needed to save lives. Screenings are an important first step and the clinic offers inhouse bone density screenings that take as little as 45 minutes. “When a patient comes in for an appointment, we start with a history and a bone density scan that day,” DeGuisti said. “We go over the results with you and discuss treatment options. We can talk about conservation treatments like nutrition and exercise and we can talk about medication.” “If you are over 65 and a female, Medicare covers a bone density check, over 70 for men,” she added. There are things everyone at any age can do to protect their bone health, including making sure you get enough calcium, vitamin D and protein to prevent bone loss and regularly incorporating weight-bearing activities like walking or running. DeGuisti also recommends being proactive with your screenings and getting your vitamin D level checked through your primary care physician. To learn more about the bone health and osteoporosis treatment program at Ortho Central, visit orthocentralok.com/ bone-health-clinic or call 405-515-8094. – BSM
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis • Over 50
• Postmenopausal - surgical or natural • Low testosterone in men • Inactive lifestyle or inability to be active • Vitamin D deficiency or low calcium • Endocrine diseases like diabetes • Autoimmune disorders • Long-term medication use such as steroid, acid reflux or seizure medications • Family history • Smoking, excessive alcohol use • Low body weight • Adults who have had treatment for breast or prostate cancer
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B U S I N E SS
Lindsey Medical Supply
Lindsey Medical Supply offers a wide range of medical equipment and supplies
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indsey Medical is celebrating the two-year anniversary of their Moore location, an important milestone for any new business, especially during a pandemic. They also have two additional locations, one on North May in Oklahoma City and the other in Edmond. Store manager Sophia Ahmed said COVID-19 has had a positive impact on their business and Lindsey Medical has been fortunate to be a resource for the community. Ahmed said people began calling to inquiry about medical supplies like gloves, shoe covers, masks and hand sanitizers. “Then as people began walking through our doors, they saw all the different medical equipment we offer.” Lindsey Medical is a full-service medical supply company selling new and used equipment, catering to children, women, men, seniors and athletes.
more than what they came in for,” Ahmed shared. Lindsey Medical carries lift chairs, power mobility, hospital beds, wheelchairs, two-wheel and four-wheel walkers, knee walkers, portable oxygen, nebulizers, CPAP equipment and more. “Lindsey Medical Supply has the largest selection of lift chairs and power mobility in the metro,” she said. “We sell CPAP machines, mask replacements, full mask kits and CPAP sanitizers because people now want to make sure their equipment is fully sanitized.” Working with nursing homes and assisted living centers, Lindsey Medical delivers equipment such as medical beds right to the room.
Ahmed said they understand everyone walking through their doors is there for a need, whether for themselves or a loved one.
“Another important service we offer is servicing equipment,” she said. “Our in-house technicians service walkers, rollators, life chairs, power chairs, scooters, wheel chairs and mor, whatever a person needs to keep their walkers and equipment in working order.”
“Many people walk in overwhelmed and unsure what they need and then are so grateful they are here because they find so much
Lindsey Medical offers a one-year, in-home warranty on all equipment such as lift chairs, power chairs and beds, walkers, etc.
50 May 2021
BY: ROXANNE AVERY
“We offer that service at no cost,” Ahmed said. “There are stipulations but we do the service itself free for one year.”
They also sell pillows, seat cushions, wedges, compression and transport chairs.
Incontinence supplies are another popular item at Lindsey Medical as well as bracing for ankles, tennis elbow, knees, carpel tunnel and more. Ahmed said another big seller is bathroom safety equipment such as commodes, shower chairs, transfer benches and grab bars.
Curbside service is available. Simply call and place an order, which will be delivered to your car. Free local delivery is also available within a ten-mile radius.
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Lindsey Medical Supply is located at 630 SW 4th St. Visit lindseymedicalsupply.com or call 405-735-9505 to learn more. –19SM
19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 51
COMM U N I T Y
MEMORIAL PARK
MOORE HIGH SCHOOL - MAIN ST.
54 May 2021
PHOTOS BY:MARK DOESCHER
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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 55
V ETE R A N
BY: BILL MOAKLEY PRESENTED BY
CENTURIONCG.NET
Veteran of the Month: Jonathan Drew Vietnam veterans shares about his career in the Air Force and aeronautic manufacturing
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hortly after finishing his high school education at John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles in 1966, Jonathan Drew took a job with Douglas Aircraft. He was making mechanical drawings of aeronautical parts. Those drawings would be turned into a supervisor and promptly disposed of.
“I had fallen in love with Europe,” he explained. “A guy asked me why I was getting out of the service and I told him I wanted to go back to Europe. He asked for my name, rank and serial number and lo and behold about a week later I got an assignment to Camp New Amsterdam in the Netherlands.”
Drew wondered why.
Starting in June 1973, he worked on F4s and on all phases of aircraft mechanics. He stayed there for 12 years. In 1985, he went to Decimomannu Air Force Base in Sardinia, Italy, a joint base with American, Italian, British and German forces. Drew retired from the Air Force that same year and returned as a civilian to Holland.
“Turns out I was working on a valve for what would become the Space Shuttle,” Drew shared that he later found out. He also got what he calls “that famous letter from (President Lyndon) Johnson.” “You know, the one that says, ‘we have chosen, good young man, to serve your country,’” Drew laughed. “I went down and joined the Air Force on June 28, 1966.” Drew, who grew up on a farm near Haskell, Oklahoma, served his country in the Vietnam War and traveled the world from Air Force outposts across the U.S. to Southeast Asia and Europe. He left Haskell at the age of 13 with his grandmother, headed for Los Angeles, circled back to Oklahoma and left again for California again at 15. Drew was chosen for training as an aircraft mechanic after enlisting. One of his first overseas deployments was to Jordan. “I was trained on F104s and we would crate them up and send them over to Jordan,” he explained. “We set up a dry base over there. We set up equipment and trained the Jordanians.” Drew’s next stop was Aviano, Italy where he worked in transit maintenance. “Everything came through there,” he recalled. “All sorts of airplanes.” In 1971, he went to Nellis Air Force Base in New Mexico and four months later got the call to go to Da Nang, Vietnam. “We called Da Nang Rocket City,” he remembered. “All day long, it was getting bombed. It was part of the job to be around it.” After a year in Vietnam, Drew returned to Nellis and asked to head back to Europe. 58 May 2021
“My first year there I worked in bank,” he recalled with a laugh. “It was an odd job and didn’t work out that well.” So, Drew did the obvious and returned to airplane work for Fokker, a Dutch aircraft manufacturer. He worked on building F16s. “To build one plane, it took one year,” he said. “The assembly line was always full. I worked with them while 300 airplanes were built. I stayed until the last one.” Drew then went on to a Utah-based aircraft company for four years with locations in Europe. He would spend some time in the U.S. but would quickly return to Europe and Volkel Air Force Base, a shared Dutch and American base. Ten years later, he retired and returned to the U.S. “I liked all the airplanes I worked on, except for the F16,” he recalled about his time around aircraft. “It was a difficult plane to work on. The one I loved the most to work on was the F4. We called it the Smokin’ 4. You could see the smoke before you could see the airplane. It looked mean wherever it sat.” Drew also developed a love of Holland, a place he spent a good amount of time. “The Dutch are great people,” Drew said. “It was a very easy lifestyle. Not a rich life, but a good life.” Drew currently works as a civilian at Tinker Air Force Base.–19SM
FIVE LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA Norman: Robinson at 36th NW • Main at University Blvd. • Lindsey at 12th SE Noble: 805 N Main St. Oklahoma City: 11671 S Western Ave.
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