19th Street Magazine March 2023

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Mark Doescher MANAGING EDITOR

Roxanne Avery | Sharla Bardin

UNCOMMON PATH

When Weston Mize made an unlikely career pivot to teach middle school, he wasn’t sure what to expect. While career satisfaction was less than assured, it’s clear Mize has not only made a difference in his own life but in the lives of his students, including one through emergency care in the classroom.

An eighth-grade reading teacher at Highland East Junior High School, Mize pursued an alternative certification, an option for professionals from degree paths other than education to gain state credentials. Although he studied literature and journalism in college, Mize managed restaurants prior to teaching.

“Hours as a restaurant manager are not very accommodating for a fun or fulfilling life, so I decided to go another route. A couple of my regulars at a coffee shop in Norman actually convinced me to start teaching,” said Mize.

He started mid-year at Central Junior High School, filling in for a retiring teacher.

“I had never been in the classroom as a teacher except for some substitute teaching in college,” said Mize. “Although I had to learn on my feet, the students were receptive for the most part.”

Moore’s annual teacher recruitment event yielded a full-time role for Mize the following school year. Now in his fifth year, Mize feels he has found an ideal fit.

“I love teaching books like Jack London’s ‘Call of the Wild’ and ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry. I try to read what the kids are reading to keep up with the latest. I challenge them to read 25 books per school year and I’m right there on the chart with them,” said Mize. “Teaching takes a lot of patience, but students are blossoming at this age. They want respect. You give them respect and boundaries, protocols and procedures and it works well.”

Mize believes the key to his success is finding ways to meet students where they are.

“A handful of kids don’t like reading and will never like reading, so keeping them engaged is a challenge but I find literature that makes up for that. There’s no denying the classics are of literary merit, and I make sure the kids realize they do have value even if they may not see it yet,” said Mize. “Right now, I am lucky enough to be teaching theme and rhetoric and everyday speech and building those communication skills. It’s a lot of legwork on my part to find books that meet their needs, but you have to roll with the punches.”

Local teacher shares unique career choice, professional insight

Even as Mize teaches new and classic works, he also embraces projects like creating a comic book as an academic assignment and utilizes technology in the classroom.

“My big focus is furthering conversation around reading,” he explained. “For example, audiobooks are just as beneficial as regular books and I encourage kids to read along with the audiobook if they would like.”

That flexible approach resonates with students and improvisation is part of the job in more ways than one. When a medical emergency took place earlier this year, Mize took charge to help save a student’s life.

“I jumped into motion, got the kids out of the room, situated the child to where she wasn’t going to hurt herself and had someone call an ambulance while I performed chest compressions,” he said. “Then, I went to the rest of my students and made sure they were all okay before going back to class.”

Although privacy regulations prevent going into detail about the student’s medical condition, she has since returned to school. The incident garnered local attention when it was mentioned in Mize’s anonymous nomination for KOCO 5’s Teacher of the Month initiative, which recognizes outstanding educators, sponsored by Quail Creek Bank. Mize won $1,000 for his DonorsChoose project, which will add multi-level seating and mood lighting to create an optimal atmosphere for reading.

Mize would recommend teaching as a profession more Oklahomans should consider.

“Moore being one of the biggest districts is always in need of good teachers but in reality, teachers are important everywhere,” he said. “Most people fear it doesn’t pay terribly well but I can say there is job security. As long as you’re abiding by curriculum and state standards and making connections with the kids, that connection with someone at a pivotal time in their life is well worth the limited pay.”

Teaching also provides schedule breaks throughout the year, which Mize uses to pursue his hobbies. He recently built a greenhouse and plans to garden more, in addition to camping, kayaking, fishing and other outdoor sports.

“I am happily married to my amazing wife, Angie, who works in suicide prevention. We are dog parents to two mangy mongrels and teaching gives me a way to spend time with the family,” said Mize. “Summers are also an opportunity to do something different. I’ve been a manny [a male nanny], worked at a daycare and even gone back to the restaurant to be a cook for the summer.”

That fulfilled life feels full circle for Mize.

“Teachers matter and it is an outstanding profession,” he said. “I would like to say to other teachers ‘thank you for what you do.’”– 19SM

THE STATION EXPANSION

The City of Moore Expands Community Center to Meet Growing Demand

Gearing up for the growing needs of Moore’s thriving population, The Station is receiving a facelift. Construction on a new expansion project commenced in early 2023.

Additions include two new activity rooms, two group exercise rooms, a small entry and restrooms. The current fitness floor will expand as well. Group exercise rooms will be able to accommodate more freeweight and cardio exercise equipment, as well as fitness programs such as aerobics and Zumba.

Sue Wood, director of the parks and recreation department, said the expansion project is meant to better coordinate activities “so that we can offer more things at the same time so citizens will have a wider variety of activities to choose from.”

BY: RAE LYNN PAYTON

The tax renewal is expected to raise about $4.9 million that would be dedicated to the Station expansion over the 4-year period.

“This proposition was citizen-driven,” Wood explained. “We listened to your concerns, and we’ve taken those concerns into account when we’ve made these plans.”

After opening in 2016 with a projection of 1,600 passholders, The Station has been a huge success for Moore and its residents. With now over 4,000 passholders, and a growing demand for more programs, additional space has become necessary in order to keep up.

“(The expansion) will give us a lot more space to accommodate the requests of our patrons,” explains Brooks Mitchell, Moore’s city manager. “Because of the demand for the facility and for meeting rooms,

In addition to fitness classes, The Station offers free and low-cost programming. A large variety of activities are offered, making it a popular hub in Moore. Whether it’s dances, art classes or other functions, cancellations are rare and bookings are high, Wood shared.

“I am just really impressed with the support of the citizens of Moore. Not only do we have one of the best facilities in Oklahoma, but they support the measures needed to maintain and expand it,” Wood added.

The Station expansion project is funded by a portion of the proposition voters approved in the November 2020 local election. An existing ¼ cent sales tax was extended to allow for the capital improvements of existing Parks and Recreation and Public Works facilities.

fitness classes and summer programming, it’s time to expand The Station to be able to accommodate all of the programming that our citizens want.”

Outside construction will take place first, followed by changes made to the interior. Meeting room rental availability will be reduced at times temporarily, due to construction. The childcare center may experience some disruptions as well this fall, as construction takes place. However, pre-planned activities and programming should be able to continue as scheduled.

Completion is expected in 14 months with a grand celebration in 2024. Look to Moore’s Parks and Recreation Facebook page for monthly updates.

19SM

Spring Sports Preview

MOORE

GIRLS SOCCER

The Lions ended the regular season with a 7-7 record, which included some frustrating finishes in the second half. First-year head coach Clint Dellinger will be entering his first season with Moore. Dellinger has spent recent time as a police officer in Oklahoma City and decided to give high school coaching a shot. He’s been around soccer since the early 70s and started teaching three years ago.

Amaia Stephens will be a name to keep an eye on. The senior has been the heart and soul for the Lions over the years and recently committed to Northeastern for soccer. Stephens will be one of the attacking forwards for this Moore team.

With a unique roster, the Lions are loaded with seniors and freshmen.

“We have some talented freshmen and some talented seniors,” Dellinger said. “I expect to have four to five seniors on the field and four to five freshmen on the field at the same time.”

Freshmen Kristen Straughn and Avilee Becher will be standouts. Straughn spent time playing club soccer with Celtic. Meanwhile, Becher spent Thanksgiving break in England, playing against Manchester United.

“I’m really excited about this group,” Dellinger said. “I hired some amazing assistants to help me out this year. I’ve played and coached soccer throughout the years, so we should adjust fine with the talented roster we have.”

MOORE SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL

The Lady Lions are coming off another successful season under head coach Steven Peeler, as they made it to the State semi-finals. Peeler is heading into his sixth year as head coach.

Now, they are looking to get over that semi-final hump, and they have most of their production back to do so. They lost only three starters and return over 10 players who started in at least one game.

“We lost some key players in the lineup from last year, but we have many starters that were reserves,” Peeler said. “They were kind of in the mix as well, so we’re confident and excited about who we brought back.”

Junior Nichelle Marshall was a huge spark for the Lions as a sophomore, and she will be asked to do more this year. Marshall was a COAC First Team All-Conference last season.

Amaia Stephens

Senor Emiaj Self returns for the Lions, and she will look to continue her hot bat into the 2023 season. Self has committed to play softball at the Colorado School of Mines. Senior Ally Gossett is another exciting player for this squad. She was a COAC Honorable Mention last season and stepped up with big at-bats for the Lions last year.

Moore will open up against Southmoore to start the 2023 season. Westmoore, Mustang and Choctaw will follow on the schedule.

MOORE BASEBALL

The Lions were on the bad end of games last season, ending the 2022 season with a 14-21 record, losing in the semi-finals. Now, the Lions get ready for a new season and a new coach. Caleb Teel will be entering his first season as head coach.

BY: CONNOR PASBY

Teel spent six seasons at Edmond Santa Fe, four of those seasons as the varsity assistant coach. He was part of the 2019 State Championship team and the State Runner-Up last year. It’s a new team for Teele now and he is ready for the journey.

There are some talented starters returning for the Lions.

Senior Colby Mann will most likely be No. 1 on the mound. Senior Reese Voegele has the catching responsibilities behind the plate. Teel is excited to watch Voegele at the catcher position.

“He’s a really good player,” Teele said. “Voegele will be a 3-year starter after this year so it’s important to have him back. We also have so many young guys that could play right away. We have a bunch of sophomores and juniors that are competing for spots.”

The Lions will have strong pitching with some experienced arms. There will be some new faces in the starting lineup.

“Our expectations are to just compete,” Teele said. “I want people to enjoy the brand of baseball we play; it will be fast and aggressive. We want to compete with no matter what team we are playing, that’s the most important thing I want to see out of my guys.”

MOORE BOYS SOCCER

The Lions boys’ soccer missed the playoffs by one or two games last season, which will give them an extra boost of motivation for the 2023 season. Trevor Hunt will be entering his first season as the head coach. Hunt is trying to change the culture and mentality of the ball club, and that starts in the classroom.

“We have a lot of expectations for this year,” Hunt said. “One of our biggest goals is earning an academic state championship. That is earned by having the highest average GPA as a team vs. other schools in the state.

“Another expectation is to perform well against Southmoore and Westmoore.”

Sophomore Hoyce Ayer is a returning starter. He played forward last year and made some big plays down the stretch for the Lions. Another returning starter is the goalkeeper, sophomore Randal Terrill. The last returning starter is sophomore Aiden Cooney. He played center back for Moore last year.

A couple of key games are going to be against Westmoore because they are a district opponent and Southmoore, which will be a tight matchup with the Lions. All of the district games are equally important to the Lions’ chances to make the playoffs, which will be on Hunt’s mind in his first year.

Colby Mann

MOORE TRACK

The Lions’ track program continues to get stronger, and that will continue for the 2023 season. Head coach Stefan Seifried will have both duties, coaching the girls’ and boys’ team.

Overall, the Lions won seven of their 10 meets last season.

GIRLS

The girls have had struggles in the past, but Seifried loves the progress they have been making as of late. “Our girls’ team was a little down, compared to what we’ve had in the past, but they are getting better,” Seifried said. “I can see the work they have put in in the offseason. We also bring back some key returners from last year.”

Senior Kayleann Pope was the anchor for the Southmoore team last year. She did hurdles and high jump and qualified for state in both. Junior Ali Pope, Kayleann’s sister, is another returner. She is a state runner-up from last year in the pole vault. Aiciles Maldonado, a returning state qualifier in the long jump, will be another factor. She will have a good chance to repeat that this year. The relay teams will also be solid for the Lions, as they are hoping to finish within the top six or seven in the state.

BOYS

For the boys, it starts with the relay teams. The Lions have hung their hat on relays, and they expect to be dominant in them again. Usually, you’ll see upperclassmen on relay teams, but they have freshmen and sophomores. Seifried likes the combination of young kids and senior leadership that he has.

Senior Brayden Clark will be a returning state medalist in the 100m and 200m. Senior Owen Kinzer is a returning state runner-up in the pole vault last year and should be one of the favorites to win it this year.

“Our expectations for this year are pretty high,” Seifried said. “Which is where we like to keep it. Our groups have been constantly in the top-six team wise in the last four or five years. We expect that or even better. Every year, we shoot to win a State Championship.”

MOORE GOLF

The Lions girls and boys golf teams had very young teams last year, under head coach Ryan Dukes. They will bring back most of their rotational bags on both sides. The Lions are looking to add a few more players to the state tournament.

GIRLS

The girls will be led by sophomore Ava Fritts who was the only State qualified last year. Fritts was impressive in her first varsity experience as one of two freshmen, and now she’s looking to improve on that.

“She’s really talented and had a really good state tournament last year, ” Dukes said. “She made a hole-inone on the very first hole in the state tournament.”

Senior Kelsy Baker, who recently signed with Kansas Wesleyan, will be the No. 2 bag. The third bag will be sophomore Olivia Lee.

BOYS

The boys have seven or eight guys that can step into a starting spot on the varsity. Dukes likes the competitiveness that he sees in his younger team. The one with the most experience will be junior Kian Stark. Stark has been in the Top 5 in both his freshmen and sophomore years. Jessie Dowell will be next in line. Charlie Dowell, Jessie’s twin brother, will also see varsity time.

The conference tournament is a big matchup on the calendar for Moore, which will take place at The Greens.

“We’re a middle-of-the-road team so we always have our work cut out for us,” Dukes said. “The conference tournament and the regional tournament are always tough in 6A.”

Ty Morrison

Charlie Dowell

MOORE TENNIS

It’s a new year for Moore tennis, and they will be led by a new head coach. Debby Hooks was a tennis player at the University of Oklahoma and has been around tennis all her life.

She is very confident in the group she has on both the girls’ and boys’ sides. The No. 1 girls’ singles player is senior Kaytlyn Hall. Hall is coming off a shoulder injury that set her back last year. Hooks believe she has a good chance to make it to State and be a great leader for her team.

The No. 1 doubles team will be seniors Ella Daughtery and Kali Mayer. Both players had a great season last year and expect to make another run at the state tournament.

The boys have a new No. 1 singles player this year. Junior Gabe Reich will be stepping into a much bigger role. Reich has improved in the offseason and is expected to compete with the best. The No. 2 singles will be Lyndel Ackah-Mensah. He has been an anchor for this team as of late. He will be in contention with the other top singles in 6A.

“We have four or five players that can make their way into the state tournament,” Hooks said. “We have an extremely talented group that just keeps getting better and better.”– 19SM

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SOUTHMOORE

BOYS SOCCER

The 2022 season resulted in a 4-5 record for Southmoore, but most of their matches came down to the wire, resulting in all losses by one goal. Head coach Kit Stephenson has a hungry team this year and hopes to carry some momentum from last year.

“We were competitive last year, and we expect to be a little tougher this year,” Stephenson said. “We have several players who are much better this year than they were last year. Our goals are to win a City Championship and make the playoffs.

“If we can accomplish those two things and make it to the playoffs, I think the goal is always to win it all.”

The Sabercats are a young team, but they’re very deep. Stephenson has a solid starting lineup, but he also has some strong pieces off the bench. The sophomore class stands out to Stephenson - Grayson Schmidt, Caden Anderson, Micheal Carrizales, Kaden Locke and Miles Yaffe. Most of the guys learned a lot, playing varsity as freshmen last year. Damien Leyva, Javier Litton and Cam Hellams are all juniors that had big minutes last year as well. Seniors Rolando Hernandez, Zach Parsons and Paicer Zehr all came into their own last year.

There are some exciting matches that Stephenson has circled on the calendar, many with familiar foes.

“The Moore and Westmoore games are always big because there are some pretty serious bragging rights on the line,” he said. “Other games that we played really close last year and can’t wait to play again would be Norman, Deer Creek and Yukon.”

SOUTHMOORE GIRLS SOCCER

The Sabercats faced an up-and-down season in 2022, but they still finished with a 10-5 record, 4-3 in district play. They won some big matches late in the year and made it to the first round of playoffs.

Head coach Kathryn Swartzendruber loves the squad they bring back. Junior Hannah Montoya is a rising star for this Southmoore team. Montoya has been playing club soccer and is starting to get attention from D1 soccer programs. She is a team captain and was First Team All-Conference a year ago.

Spring Sports Preview

Sophomore Markala Johnson and senior Parker Hefti are exciting players to watch and will be counted on as playmakers this season. Hefti will be attending Rose State University next season for soccer.

They bring back most of the production from 2022. Elizabeth Silva (Sr.), Jenna Lingo (Jr.), Leilana Carolina (Jr.), Jerry Rodriguez (Sr.), Alyssa Schuerch (Jr.) and Tatum Gray (Sr.) all return for the Sabercats.

The matchups are always tough, based on how many well-rounded soccer teams there are in 6A, but Swartzendruber has a few games in her sights.

“Westmoore and Moore are always big games,” she said. “Since district games determine playoffs and playoff seeding, those are all very important games.”

SOUTHMOORE TRACK

Head coach Shanon Atkinson is gearing up for another season coaching the girls’ and boys’ track teams at Southmoore. The Sabercats return everyone that competed at the state championships and made the podium, which is usually a recipe for another year of success.

“This year, we have reloaded in areas and become even stronger in other areas with the addition of more freshmen that have the ability to compete on a 6A varsity level,” Atkinson said. “The really neat thing is we are still a young team and that makes things exciting for years to come as these athletes continue to develop.”

BY: CONNOR PASBY

On the girls’ side, the Sabercats bring back sophomore Jordan Atkinson, who was a state champion a year ago. Sophomores Lamiyah Hair, Cadence Pettit and Laniyah Curry are all returning from the 4x100 relay team that placed 4th last year.

“We have added some really talented throwers this year to give the girls’ team even more depth,” Atkinson said.

The boys have several key returners that had big seasons last year. Seniors Markus Means and Brennon Mason are two guys that have really developed, throughout their high school careers. Atkinson expects them to be hard to deal with in the sprints department. Mason Potter is another senior that has developed into a solid discus thrower for the Sabercats.

Freshman George Robley is looking very fluid in the sprints. Southmoore has several underclassmen that are in basketball and should add more depth to both sides.

“We look to be really strong by the end of April heading into our championship portion of the season,” Atkinson said.

SOUTHMOORE BASEBALL

Southmoore Baseball had many close outings last year that did not go their way. The Sabercats had a 15-21 record in 2022 and fell short at Regionals. Dakota Haines is entering his fifth season as the head coach for the Sabercats and expects a more competitive group this year.

The Sabercats will deal with some key departures from last year, but they have some young players that saw a significant amount of time last season. Sophomore Kasen Rinehart made an impact as a freshman last year, which is always important in building talent. He started the majority of the season, played in the outfield, and also saw some time on the mound.

Junior Andre Landeros is another player that started games for the Sabercats. Landeros broke out late in the year and saw time all over the field. He was also an arm for Southmoore later in the season. Junior Nathan Halverson did all the little things for the Sabercats last year. He was a role model last year, but he will be expected to be a mainstay in the lineup this season.

Southmoore will have big dates with Moore (3/9), Jenks (3/30, 3/21), Owasso (4/3, 4/4) and Westmoore (4/8). Baseball is very deep at the 6A level, and the Sabercats are hoping to get involved with the other top teams.

Parker Hefti

Brylee Fanning

SOUTHMOORE GOLF

In most sports, it’s important to have younger players that can compete right away, and that’s what the Southmoore girls’ and boys’ golf have. Head coach Brad Black coached the girls’ team last year, but took over the boys’ program half way through the year.

GIRLS

The girls’ team returned all but one player from last year. They will be led by senior Heather Hunkele, who qualified for the state tournament last year as well as the senior No. 2 bag, Audrey Jaworsky. Senior Sydney Fox was the No. 3 bag, and she also qualified for the state tournament.

Both Hunkele and Jaworsky have signed to play college golf next year at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Black looks forward to seeing what the No. 4 bag Ella Smith can do for the team.

In golf, it all comes down to Regionals. If you don’t play well there, nothing else matters because you don’t qualify for the state tournament. Knowing this and having a senior-led team, Southmoore is hosting regionals this year, Black said.

BOYS

The boys are in a very similar situation as the girls - a young team that keeps getting better and better. As a sophomore, Kouper Romo had a great season and qualified for the state tournament last year. A second-year player, Junior Ayden Benab missed qualifying for state by one shot.

A long list of names will provide an impact for the team this year. Romo will have higher expectations this season. A trio of seniors will find themselves in the mix as well - Ayden Benab, Kaden Sandersfield and Chance Justice.

There are also some solid golfers behind that list of names. Senior Brady Sargent and junior Beckam Longest will find a role on this talented team. Black says it’s all about how you play down the stretch.

“Once again, everything comes down to Regionals. We want to make sure that we are playing our best by then,” Black said.

SOUTHMOORE SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL

Southmoore slow pitch softball had another dominant showing on the diamond for the 2022 season. Their 28-4 record was capped off by a State Championship. Head coach James Lingo has helped build a dynasty for Southmoore softball, and the expectations are always the same.

“Expectations never change - make it to the state tournament and compete to win a state championship,” Lingo said. “Our girls embrace the high expectations and work hard to play at a high level.”

Seniors Taitum Bradshaw and Riley Sharp are 4-year starters and have been the backbone of Southmoore’s success. They both hit for average, power and speed. Bradshaw is one of the best outfielders in the state, according to Lingo.

Taylor Cronic is another senior that will add power and speed to the lineup, as well as exceptional outfield play. Bella Aguilar has a chance to earn some innings at pitcher as well.

Kaylee Carter and Brylee Fanning are 3-year starters and have provided great depth in the lineup. Carter hits at a high level and plays both corner infield positions well. Fanning is looked at as a leader for the ball club and has an all-around game.

Junior Lainey King had a successful season a year ago and will be a power bat in the lineup. Some younger players such as sophomores Olivia Smith and Bree Gomez will keep improving defensively.

Southmoore will have big matchups with Moore and Westmoore. They also head north to face Broken Arrow, Jenks and Owasso.

SOUTHMOORE TENNIS GIRLS

The girls’ tennis team had a very successful season last year. The Sabercats featured some freshmen making a big impact and seniors that played at a high level. Freshman Samanatha Nguyen was the No. 1 singles player on the team, and she ended the season with a 16-9 record. Nguyen was the No. 8 seed at the state tournament.

The girls’ No. 2 singles player was senior Grace Graham. Graham had a successful 15-10 record and placed 4th at Regionals. She also qualified for the State Tournament. As a team, the girls won the Mustang Invitational and placed 3rd at three other tournaments.

BOYS

The boys’ No. 1 singles player was senior Lars Castellanos. He ended the season with a 13-10 record, placed 4th at Regionals, and made it to the second day of the state tournament, with a win over Putnam City North. Senior Juelz Hunter is the Sabercats No. 1 doubles player this season. He and Castellanos will be relied on to lead the way for the Sabercats if they want to make a trip to the state tournament. That’s the goal for head coach Kelly Johnson.

“We are looking forward to more of our players in both singles and doubles qualifying for the state tournament this season,” Johnson said.

The Ponca City Invitational will be a big tournament for the Sabercats. The invitational will have some strong teams from the Edmond schools, Jenks and Bartlesville. The COAC Tournament will be an important tournament late in the season, where they will see similar faces and the results could determine the playoff seeding.– 19SM

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Spring Sports Preview

WESTMOORE

GOLF GIRLS

Last season ended with a State Tournament appearance for the Westmoore girls’ golf team but expectations are higher this season. The Jaguars had two 1st place, two 2nd place and one 3rd place tournament finishes. They also finished 3rd in Regionals and ended up finishing 7th in the state tournament.

Head coach Karen Donaldson is changing the perspective of the program and wants her players to expect to win.

“Our expectations are to win State, and not to be satisfied with just being there,” Donaldson said.

The two seniors that return for Westmoore are Jaeya Mathis and Mimi Hoang. Mathis had an average score of 76 and placed 4th in the State Tournament. Hoang had an average score of 76.92 and a sensational state run, placing 2nd in the tournament.

Junior Laci Fravert has been to State in the past two years. Fravert’s scores will be an important factor for the overall team score. There are also two sophomores who will be a key part in the team’s success this season - Makayla Been and Sophia Leonetti. They saw significant time in tournaments as freshmen.

The Jaguars will have key matchups against Edmond North, Edmond Memorial and Jenks.

BOYS

The improvement has been there for the boys’ golf team and head coach Bobby Brock. They return some important golfers and have had younger players step up. They have a returning starter, Zane Pryor, who is a great leader for the team. He’s been taking it to the next level in the offseason and is expecting a big year.

Oscar Correa will likely be the No. 2 bag for the Jaguars, and Brock loves the progress he has made.

“He has a really nice swing, and he is a great ball striker,” Brock said. “He’s been working on his consistency on the course and we’re looking for him to be a solid player this year.”

Westmoore has a very young squad with many golfers competing for the last three spots on the varsity roster. Gary Smith, Sebastian Islam, Bobby McIntire and Tyler Chaffin are all seniors looking to make an impact this year.

Juniors that could also find their way into a bigger role are Hudson Walters, Caleb Mackerelle and Cale Orman. They are expected to make a big jump. The Jaguars have one sophomore, JohnAustin Little, who is a much-improved player from last year.

Jaeya Mathis

“We expect some great things in the future, with some of these younger kids,” Brock said. “Jordan Masters and Griffen Gappa will make an imprint down the road. We’re excited about the group we have.”

WESTMOORE BASEBALL

Jags baseball had another deep run in the state playoffs. They finished the 2022 season with a 30-12 record and lost in the semi-final game. The Jaguars also finished the regular season 2nd in the district and hosted another regional.

To build on a great season, you have to return key pieces, and Westmoore does just that. Seniors Jackson Black, Eli Hill, Holden Woods and Mason Lindquist will be leading the pack for the Jaguars. They all started in the state tournament or played large roles in the tournament run. There are three juniors who will also play a big role - Connor Cavnar, Tanner Fallwell

and Gage Geiger. They also helped lead the Jaguars to the state semis.

The expectations are high, as they always are at Westmoore. Head coach Andrew McGuire is looking for another deep run in the state tournament.

“The expectations are to win district, host a regional, and make a run at the state title,” he said. “We feel great about the group we have. It will be a difficult schedule, but we have experience coming back. Look for the Jaguars to make another deep run into the playoffs.”

WESTMOORE SOCCER GIRLS

The Westmoore Lady Jaguars are looking to build on some momentum they had last season. They finished with a 10-6 record but had an early exit in the playoffs. Now, there’s a new leader at the helm.

Head coach Caitlin Radford is entering her first season with the program. She loves the progress her team has made coming into the season.

“We are making great strides in practice and having higher expectations for ourselves and this program,” Radford said. “We are a very young team but they are buying in and working hard.”

The Lady Jaguars have had no problem getting into the playoffs in recent years, but the goal this year is to get out of the first round. They have a young team, but there are some key returning players that will play a big role this season.

Junrio Jaycie Daggsis coming off a sophomore season where she made a big impact at the center back position. Senior Ruta Andrews will play center mid and has been a key part of the recent success at Westmoore.

A big matchup for the Lady Jaguars will be against Norman North, who has been the team to beat in 6A.

BOYS

2022 was a solid year for the Jaguars boys’ soccer team. They finished with a 7-4 record and caught fire late in the year. They had a great finish to district play, leading up to the postseason. Head coach Joseph Shepherd was impressed with the performance on the field and how his players did academically.

“I believe we could have gone further into the playoffs, but we now have a lot of returners who have gained more experience,” Shephard said. “The most important thing was receiving the academic achievement award as a team.”

Jaxson Lee

The Jaguars have every player returning, which is a positive note for this year. There will also be some new faces coming in that will help provide depth. They have juniors Jaxson Lee and Tristan Herrera and seniors Lucas Young and Kalor Killman, goalkeeper, all return.

“The expectations this year are high, and we think we can compete with most teams,” Shepherd said. “You have to believe you can win it all and that is something we believe in.”

Westmoore will have key matchups against Moore, Southmoore, Norman North and Mustang.

WESTMOORE TENNIS

Both the girls’ and boys’ tennis teams are looking forward to a successful season under head coach Randy Painton.

GIRLS

The girls are returning both their double players - Sophia Chakrabarty and Hannah Snow will be the No. 1 doubles team, followed by Elena Standefer and Angel Vuong as the No. 2 doubles team. The Jags came up short on qualifying any players for the state

tournament, but that will be their focus this season. Chakrabarty and Snow have improved significantly over the offseason, and Painton expects Standefer and Vuong to be contenders.

BOYS

Last season, the boys had senior Randon Kanchanakomtorn place 5th at State, which was an impressive performance. The No. 2 singles player Jonathan Eichman placed 6th. The boys’ doubles team - Evan Boyer and Parker Crawley - won a match at State over Stillwater, but didn’t place.

“We have some experience with a few seniors, and we also have some incoming freshmen who will make an immediate impact for us,” Painton said.

The Jags are a hungry group. Expect some big things from incoming freshman Trenton Kanchanakomtorn, who is one of the best players in the Southwest for his age. Kanchanakomtorn will be tested early in the Ponca City tournament. The tournament includes Jenks and all the Edmond high schools.

“Some other notable freshmen are Edward Nguyen and Dylan Calderwood,” Painton said. “They will play varsity for us as well.”

WESTMOORE TRACK GIRLS

The Lady Jaguars track team finished State-Runner last year. They bring back some quality players to make another deep run in the postseason.

Last season, the Lady Jaguars dominated the sprinting events at State, winning the 4x1, 4x2 and 200m. They also placed second in the 100m.

The team is loaded with speed, and that’s what stands out to head coach Rodney Burkes. He’s excited about the players he has returning.

“Jayla Dean, Amara Ubabuike and KK King should be big point scorers for our team this year,” Burkes said. “This year we look to have another strong performance in all of our relays this season.”

Renee Christian will lead the charge for Westmoore. She was a state champ on the 4x1 and 4x2. Christian was also a state runner-up in the 100m dash.

The Lady Jaguars will have a well-rounded team for 2023.

BOYS

The boys are heading into the season with loads of confidence. They finished the 2022 season with another State Championship, making that two in a row now. The team broke the state record in the 4x200m relay. They also broke the state record for most points ever scored in a state meet.

Jonathan Eichman

Additionally, Westmoore became the first high school program in state history to bring home a medal from one of the most prestigious track meets in the worldthe Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Westmoore competed against teams from all over the planet, including Bahamas, Dominican Republic and many US teams.

Returning State champions from 2022 are Kolton Bennet, Xavier Simpkins and Tyler Stephens.

Bennet was a state champion in the 4x4 and 4x8, was a state runner-up in the 400m and 800m and finished the season as the No. 8 sophomore in the country. Simkins returns as one of the top hurdlers in the state and is ranked in the top 50 in the country.

The boys are deep across the board, which will give them an advantage in State.

WESTMOORE SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL

Head coach Hillary Weaver is entering her first season with the Westmoore program, and she’s expecting a great season with the experience they bring back. Senior Brooklyn Knight played a huge role for the Jaguars last season, and they will be relying on her consistency in the lineup. Knight has been a big part of the program lately and has been a leader for the Jaguars.

Juniors Kylah Daniel, Jalynn Jones and Grace Ketcham will also provide a spark in the batting order and defensively.

Weaver has high expectations for her first year.

“As any team in the state, the big expectation and major goal is to do everything we can to be at the state tournament in May,” Weaver said. “We also know that a ticket to the state tournament isn’t given easily to anyone.

“We have been focusing on all the small things and the basic fundamentals of the game.”

In addition to the returning starters from last year, the Jaguars have added an additional 10 or 11 new players to the roster that have high hopes for contributing to the team’s philosophy this season.

Most of the matchups will be tough competition and very important for this Westmoore team. There are several games against top teams from multiple classes.

“Hopefully our competitive practices will prepare us for the challenges that our schedule holds,” Weaver said.–19SM

Prizes – The No. 1 reason to attend the 68Team Giveaway are the prizes. You could win BIG prizes including furniture, jewelry, golf outings, waterpark admission and much more!

Camaraderie – KREF program director TJ Perry said spending time with fellow college basketball fans is his favorite part. “It’s always a special event,” he said. “The giveaway has become about togetherness, about friends getting together.”

College Basketball – KREF fans can put their names in to be selected to align their luck with one of the 68 teams participating in the NCAA Basketball tournament. How far your team advances will determine your chance to win a prize. If your favorite team falls short, you’ll have another team to root for.

Meet the On-Air Personalities - Toby Rowland, host of the “T-Row in the Morning Show” and Voice of the Sooners, said he appreciates the opportunity to engage with listeners and callers. “This is the one time where a significant percentage of listeners are all under the same roof at the same time,” Rowland said. “Everybody’s excited about the tournament, and we all get together to figure out who is going to win this thing.”

SPARKING AN INTEREST IN STEM

Moore Norman Technology Center instructors are helping students see that a career in STEM is within their reach, be it working in a research lab or protecting computer networks.

Instructors Mia Sweetman and Stephanie Millican work in STEM fields. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The two said they enjoy helping students discover the variety of career opportunities that are available and also hope to encourage more women and minority groups to pursue STEM careers, given that these groups are often underrepresented in the field.

For example, statistics show that the number of women in science and engineering is growing, however, men continue to outnumber women, especially at the upper levels of STEM professions, according to a report on aauw.org, the American Association of University Women’s website.

Women make up only 28 percent of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math and men still vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college, according to the association.

Millican, networking instructor, said she encourages women interested in STEM careers, such as technology, to take a first step and explore the types of jobs available and the education and training needed.

“We have always been told that we can do anything

we set our minds to. It is true,” Millican said. “You just have to start by believing in yourself first, then keep moving forward. The way to break down these barriers is to just do it.”

Sweetman, biomedical sciences instructor, said she believes that sometimes female students might be intimidated about the science field. She works to give all her students opportunities to build their confidence and skills through hands-on learning experiences.

In Sweetman’s classes, students do lab work, experiments, dissections, research projects and presentations to other classes. She also aims to help students build their skills in problem solving, critical thinking and creative thinking, as well as enhance their communication and collaboration skills.

Millican said she also wants to encourage more women to enter the technology field, which offers a variety of career paths.

“IT is a fast-growing field that will never go away in our lifetime,” she explained.

Millican said the center’s cyber defense classes encompass an array of subjects and skill sets from learning the basics of hardware and software, network management and security, to cryptography, which is the study of techniques for secure communications, and cyber forensics “where they learn how to investigate a breach and remediate it.”

Instructors work to encourage more women, minorities to pursue jobs in growing fields

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

Millican said her hope is that more women will see that there is a place for them in technology careers. She said in her career she has encountered some barriers, including that “this field has always been primarily men, so women don’t feel they will fit or are even welcome.”

But “we need so many more women” in technology jobs, she said, adding that women offer different and diverse thinking and insights that benefit the industry.

Millican and Sweetman also said that Moore Norman Technology Center offers a great place for students to begin exploring STEM careers and find training and opportunities to further their knowledge and abilities.

“Career education will last you a lifetime and make you more diverse as you job search,” Millican said.

For more information about the center’s programs, visit mntc.edu. – 19SM

STEPHANIE MILLICAN MIA SWEETMAN

Following a model utilized by Mayo Clinic, Norman Regional Health Systems is aligning endocrinology and thyroid health services into a single clinic, “a one-stop shop with all the resources patients need under one roof,” said Dr. Tom Connally, a board-certified general surgeon that specializes in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Dr. Connally, who is the medical director for Norman Regional’s endocrine surgery program, said the new streamlined clinic is designed to minimize patient travel time and maximize efficiencies in patient care.

“Being in a rural state, we don’t have a specialist on every corner,” Dr. Connally explained. “When you see us, we want value to that visit.”

Dr. Connally said compassionate, individualized care are a top priority and the clinic’s shared resources help facilitate that at a higher level.

“Medicine is not a one size fits all industry and we have to make room for that and be flexible in how we deliver care,” he shared. “We have those critical people in our system to get things done. This is routine for us and that is what you want, all the stakeholders having that experience from the front desk to the nurse that sends you home.”

According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. In fact, one in eight women will de-

ONE STOP SHOP

velop a thyroid disorder during their lifetime. What causes thyroid problems is largely unknown and endocrinological conditions are often hard to diagnose.

“The nuances of (thyroid and parathyroid diseases) are hard to diagnose because you have to rule out secondary causes,” Connally explained. “The thyroid is responsible for all of the metabolic system and when they get out of whack that can cause damage and can be fatal if too high but that is rare today.”

Dr. Connally cautions patients about what they might find on the internet about thyroid and parathyroid diseases because of the complexity of the conditions.

“It can be hard to get good information online. The symptoms themselves are just clues,” he explained. “If you think you have a problem, you want to find an expert because doctors and surgeons that do this more often have better outcomes.”

Dr. Connally recommends starting your search with the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES), of which he is a member. In fact, he was the first surgeon in Oklahoma to become a member.

“AAES has patient resources to help you understand what to do,” he said.

The new Endocrine and Para/Thyroid Center is located near the HealthPlex campus at 3101 W Tecumseh Rd, Ste 200. To schedule an appointment, call 405307-5720. – 19SM

Norman Regional Unites Endocrinology Services into New Clinic

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VETERAN OF THE MONTH: MARTHA HIGGINS

Ever since Martha Higgins retired from the United States Air Force, she says being in the military was the best thing that ever happened to her. Born in Clearwater, Florida, Higgins was 20 when she enlisted. “I enlisted because I needed to pay for my education. I wanted to take some of the burden off (my mother),” she said.

Leaving the comforts of home, Higgins said women in the military quickly formed a tight bond.

“Not all the girls made it through basic training because of the discipline,” she recalled. She remembers Roll Call at 0500 every morning when everyone had to be in formation.

“If you were slow getting dressed, showering, you’d be in trouble,” Higgins explained. “And you don’t want to be in trouble in the military.”

Each young woman had a progress report written by the Commanding Officer (CO) and Higgins is proud to say she never had to go in front of the CO for disciplinary issues.

“The rules were very strict – everything from bed making to our uniform,” she explained. “When I went home on leave, I think my mother was surprised at how I had changed. The military shaped me.”

Higgins said her proudest moment was finishing basic training. The young women who made it through training were given a farewell party, then they were given orders.

“It was a happy and sad time because we had a sisterhood and we all wanted to do everything together,” she said.

Serving from 1951 to 1954, Higgins was stationed in Turkey during the Korean Conflict. Reading the news today, Higgins said learning about the recent earthquake in Turkey reminded her about when she was stationed there, working as a payroll clerk.

“There was an earthquake when I was there and I remember we couldn’t drink the water,” she recalled.

“There was so much bacteria and no one wanted to get an infection, so we had to put Clorox in our water when we wanted to cook. We also had to take a booster shot.”

Higgins said one of her happiest memories while serving her country was when she went home on leave and people came up to her thanking her for her service. The only time Higgins ever became homesick was at Christmas time when everyone went to the mess hall and she’d hear them singing Christmas carols.

“When we saw Campbell’s soup or Kellogg’s cereal or anything that reminded us of home, we’d be so excited,” she said. “The Navy ships out in the distance were our sanity. We had one pair of binoculars and we passed them around to look for the American flag.

“In Turkey, we’d go to the American Embassy and see the American flag flying and we’d just stop and clap. We were so proud of our flag, especially in another country.”

After her military service, Higgins worked for the post office. Today, she lives at the Norman Veterans Center, a long-term care facility. She serves on the veteran military panel which goes to area schools to answer questions from the students.

Higgins stays busy visiting her favorite thrift stores, bookstores, the beauty shop and Walmart. In her spare time, she writes hymns and currently has five published online.

Those hymns have been translated into six languages including Polish, German, Swahili and Latin. One of her hymns is displayed at the Oklahoma State Capitol. She said her hymn “Oh Lord, Hear My Prayer” was inspired by the 23rd Chapter of Luke in the Bible about Christ going up to the cross.

When asked for words of wisdom, Higgins said, to “remember the Golden Rule” and “treat others the way you want to be treated,” advice that has served her well in her military career and beyond.– 19SM

ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS COME WITH

Gratitude.

If you look at a situation through the eyes of gratitude, something powerful happens. Problems become easier to solve. Challenges reveal opportunities. And you begin to see the possibility in almost anything. For over 100 years, the Armstrong Bank family has truly appreciated serving up financial guidance and accounts to the people of this community. We’re grateful for our customers, for the work we do, and for the privilege of supporting our neighbors. Gratitude helps us do so much more for you.