19th Street Magazine November 2021

Making History

Jaguar Plays Pebble Beach

November 2021 • Issue 11 • Volume 4

2021 OU/Texas

Un-Stinkin-Believable

Veteran of the Month

Kirstin McNally

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Features

NOVEMBER CONTENTS 2021

ISSUE 11– VOLUME 4 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

Family champion

10 by Callie Collins

Lindsay Cuomo

Westmoore’s John Finn has encouraged success in athletics, academics and life.

Cadets say technology center’s academy offers extensive training for law enforcement career.

Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Native 24 American Education Program

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

Preparing Peace Officers

18by Sharla Bardin

MANAGING EDITOR

10

PUBLISHER

Casey Vinyard

In Memory of

RANDY LAFFOON

Un-Stinkin-Believable The greatest Red River Showdown, from the field to the stands.

State Champions

42

by Josh Helmer

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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

by Chelsey Kraft Moore students perform at museum grand opening.

30

by Chirs Plank

Roxanne Avery| Sharla Bardin Callie Collins | Lindsay Cuomo Josh Helmer | Chelsey Kraft Bill Moakley | Chris Plank

SaberCats shine in repeat championship run.

30

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

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

Jaguar History

46

by Josh Helmer

Jaeya Mathis makes Westmoore history at Pebble Beach.

High-tech Solutions

50

by Roxanne Avery

Oklahoma native opens new dentist office in south OKC.

Layers of Protection

55

by Lindsay Cuomo

Local primary care doctor shares about the benefits of vaccines and preventative precautions.

42

Veteran of the Month:

58 Kirstin McNally

by Bill Moakley Army linguist shares about what led her to serve.

sportstalk1400.com

46

Cover photo provided

Women's Small Business Expo Saturday, Nov. 13 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Station at Central Park 700 S Broadway, Moore VENDOR BOOTHS AVAILABLE! $25 for Chamber members; $50 for non-members

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Visit participating women-owned/managed businesses between Nov. 13 and Dec. 3 for a chance to win prizes valued at a minimum of $100 for Bingo and $250 for Blackout. Winners will be announced on Facebook & Instagram on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

100% Proceeds to benefit the Women's Resource Center.

COMM U N I T Y

Family Champion

Westmoore’s John Finn has encouraged success in athletics, academics and life

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faculty member at Westmoore High School since its opening in 1987, Assistant Principal John Finn has always been the school’s wrestling coach. Graduates may recognize him from having taught PE, or more recently, in his comparatively new administrative role.

“I became a principal about 16 years ago,” explained Finn, who got his official start at Chickasha High School more than 40 years ago. “I had been coaching for about 25 years and thought it was a good time to take on the role, in part because the same principles you use to be a principal are what you use to coach.”

Family values and valued family members are as much part of Finn’s story as his involvement in both student athletics

10 November 2021

and academics. The father of five sons, his respect for others stands out when talking about young people.

“The only thing you’ve got to have for kids to follow you is to make them believe you care because you really do and it has to show,” said Finn. “If they know you care about what is in their best interest, they will usually come around and do what they’re supposed to do, at home or at school or in sports.”

Finn graduated in Moore High School’s class of ‘77 and went on to attend the University of Central Oklahoma, then known as Central State University. An outstanding athlete, he was an All-American on the 1979 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics champion team. In 2012, Finn was inducted into the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

BY: CALLIE COLLINS While athletics were part of student life for Finn, he did not set out to be a coach or even a teacher. His major was finance, but he started helping coach part-time at an Edmond junior high school to help a friend then ended up at Edmond Memorial High School. The school was a state runner-up that year and Finn began to see potential in the possibility of being involved in academics, mostly because he enjoyed working with the students, many of whom he coached to future success as athletes. Westmoore’s reputation for excellence in wrestling has been under Finn’s guidance.

Finn and his wife, Nancy, a nurse, raised their five sons, now in their 20s and 30s, to be dedicated professionals and incredible athletes, too.

“I have seen a lot of families through the years and mothers matter. You can almost always tie a successful family or group back to having a good mother,” said Finn. “My kids are a lot like their mother. When she speaks, everybody in the house listens. Every boat has an anchor. She is the closest thing to a saint I know of and it’s a family joke that everyone recognizes I married way up and over my head. She’s amazing.”

“What you have to do as an administrator, or just as a person, is try to make a difference in somebody’s life every day. Sometimes, it’s just letting them know I’m here. It’s letting them know they’re seen. It’s asking, ‘How are you?’ and really hearing their answer,” said Finn. “It’s tough, but worth every effort.”

The five Finn boys were all involved in athletics at the college level with wrestling, football or both. Heavyweight championship titles, state champion status and national runner-up are all titles that run in the family.

“What’s going on with some families has been a series of ups and downs for more than 50 years. You cannot fix students’ family problems but if you look, you will find something good, something interesting, something to ask them about. As long as you bring in some of the positive stuff to the job, that is what makes it better. I remind students that a difficult upbringing doesn’t dictate the life they’ll have. It’s about choices, making our path and not staying on with what isn’t a good way to go.”

“We did not set out to raise great athletes but we did have high expectations,” said Finn. “Our kids just kind of thought you go to elementary, junior high, high school, go to college, get a job and play sports along the way.”

Oldest son, Chris, also studied finance and is a coach at Tuttle High School. Dustin, the second oldest, majored in business and is now an offensive line coach at Westmoore. Patrick, known for his skills as a linebacker, became a fireman in Edmond. John Jacob was the fifth member of the family to wrestle at UCO; he too became a fireman and works in Moore. Youngest son, Jordan, is currently a student at Baker University in Kansas and is considering a career in nursing.

The Finns credit part of their adult children’s success to simply spending time with them.

“We basically spent all our free time with our kids,” said Finn. “Our rule as a family was if there was something we were invited to and they couldn’t come, we didn’t go. We took a lot of vacations to go to their baseball, football or wrestling events. That’s what our time away from work would be, going to Fargo to watch our kids wrestle or going on vacation all together. We ate dinner every Sunday together and to this day, most of them still come back home every Sunday night whenever they can.”

The family has now expanded to include three grandchildren.

Finn enjoys spending weekends with them and cherishes his role as a grandfather.

That same commitment to family shines through in the way Finn approaches his roles at Westmoore. sportstalk1400.com

Finn has seen a variety of social situations throughout his tenure.

Finn hopes his students carry his lessons not just into academics or athletics but into life. He has already seen it happen in students who tell him later about their accomplishments in ways big and small.

“One of the most gratifying things is when former students say they became better fathers or better husbands because of the lessons they learned at Westmoore,” said Finn. “There is nothing more important than being a good husband and a good father. I preach that. Being a good wrestler is a good thing but being a good person is the greatest thing.

“So when I think sometimes, ‘Did I really make a difference at all?’ Those answers help validate that it has not all been for naught.”

Finn’s advice for other parents is consistency and encouraging kids to be not just good but great. While he recognizes parenting can be exhausting, putting one’s own feelings aside and persisting for the good of the child is what he encourages.

“Just hold your kid accountable,” said Finn. “I tell my own kids, ‘If it was easy, everybody would do it. Everybody would be a state champion or a doctor, but some things are hard to do. Recognize that. Be consistently good about achieving what you want to achieve.

“Care, love and consistency are what make for success.” -19SM 19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 11

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

Prepa rin g Peace O f fice rs Cadets say technology center’s academy offers extensive training for law enforcement career

C

ourtney Vandeberg and Darby Hammonds share a goal of wanting to serve and protect people in their communities.

They are learning more about that role, along with extensive training and courses, as cadets in the Basic Peace Officer Certification Academy at Moore Norman Technology Center.

“It feels like we’ve really gotten the best of the best as far as training goes,” said Vandeberg, of Oklahoma City.

The academy, which began last year, is open to adults 21 and older who want to pursue a career in law enforcement, security or corrections. The program meets the mandated basic peace officer requirements from the state’s Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

In addition, students also receive training in ethics, report writing, legal matters, community and human relations, firearm training, First Aid and CPR, law enforcement driver training and patrol and criminal investigation.

So far, 33 cadets have graduated from the academy, said Jerry McConnell, director of public safety. The program is 18 weeks and classes are at the center’s Franklin Road campus.

McConnell has said the academy offers an avenue for individuals to pursue careers as peace officers and a program that can assist area agencies with hiring and training needs.

There also are plans to continue to expand the program, such as through continuing education and training opportunities and building a driving course on property near the Franklin Road campus. Plans are to start groundwork early next year for the course, McConnell said.

Vandeberg and Hammonds said they are impressed with the training offered in the academy and the real-world applications.

“It’s a great program,” Vandeberg said, adding that instructors have “really went the extra mile” to help educate and prepare cadets.

18 November 2021

Hammonds said one area that she’s enjoyed learning more about is the firearms training.

“I didn’t expect myself to do as well as I have done. It’s really boosted a lot of self-confidence,” Hammonds said. “It just encourages me to continue to train and get better.”

Hammonds, of Oklahoma City, works for the Cleveland County Sheriff’s office in the detention center. A future goal is to work patrol in a police department and interact with the community, she said.

Hammonds said she believes the academy is helping to strengthen her knowledge and skills.

“They’ve gone way above and beyond and poured everything into us and it’s been great,” she said.

Vandeberg is a police officer in Midwest City and said she decided to pursue law enforcement after working as a paramedic. She got to know police officers through the job and became interested in that career field, along with her “desire to be available to the community and help others.”

Tasha Stacy, program developer, said she is fascinated by the caliber of cadets in the academy and the integrity and leadership skills they display.

“The quality of officer is amazing that we’re seeing,” Stacy said.

Stacy said it’s also exciting to be involved in a program that is assisting area agencies by training and sending out “top quality officers.”

“This is my passion being able to be a part of this organization,” said Stacy, a former police officer. “This cutting-edge environment that I’m working in right now is absolutely amazing.”

For more information about the program, visit .mntc.edu.-19SM

MNTC’S TRAINING FOR INDUSTRY PROGRAM

Moore Norman Technology Center can train your employees at low-to-no cost through an initiative backed by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce called the Training for Industry Program (TIP).

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COM M U N I T Y

Johnson O’Malley ( JOM) Native American Education Program

P ict u re Ta ken a t G ra n d O p en i ng Cerem on ies for th e Fi rs t Am erica n s Mu seu m i n O KC

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Moore students perform at museum grand opening

n mid-September, the First Americans Museum, located in Oklahoma City, celebrated its grand opening. A local group of students, the Moore Public Schools Native Student Dance Troupe, performed at the long-awaited festivities.

The dance troupe, composed of MPS students of all ages, is part of Moore’s Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Native American Education Program, which is under the umbrella of the district’s Native American Education Program.

The troupe performs at other events throughout the year too, including another performance at the museum for Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Oct. 11, as representatives for the community and Moore Public Schools.

The students love sharing their culture and take a lot of pride in the opportunity to do so, said Caryn Record, who has worked as Indian Education Coordinator for Moore Public Schools for nearly 10 years. She’s seen the group perform often, but the one at the First Americans Museum stood out.

“So many people comment on how excellent it was,” Record said. “I’ve seen them perform many times, and that was the best one I’ve seen. They were proud to be out there. They did their best, and they looked great … The kids were excited, and it was such an honor to be part of the grand opening of that museum that’s been in the works for years.”

Record added that there are many positive aspects for students

24 November 2021

who are part of the dance troupe. She recalled one student who was nervous to be in front of people when he first started performing, and over the years, she has watched his confidence grow.

Tracy Tanyan, Jr., who goes by TJ, is a current junior at Westmoore High School and longtime participant in JOM. He is a member of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Seminole Nation and the Blackfeet Nation. Tanyan dances the grass dance, a Northern Plains style in which he is supposed to mimic the sway of the grass and be smooth in his movements. Tanyan explained that the dance’s origins are that before every powwow, grass dancers would stomp down the grass to prepare the area.

Performing at the FAM grand opening was an awesome experience, Tanyan said, and he thinks the group should take pride in being involved. Bringing smiles to people’s faces during performances is Tanyan’s favorite part of being in JOM, especially during the performances for Moore’s elementary schools. He said it also brings “a lot of joy to my heart” to see the little kids in the group have fun when they are performing.

In addition to his involvement with JOM, Tanyan also plays basketball and baseball for Westmoore. He said that he looks forward to seeing how the JOM group continues to grow.

“We all just click,” Tanyan shared. “It’s a great program. They do a lot for all of us and really care about their kids.”

BY: CHELSEY KRAF T Moore has the second-highest number of Native American students enrolled in the state with about 3,000, Record shared.

There are also at least 60 tribes represented in the district.

“It’s a large district, and the dance troupe is a way to bring the students together from different schools, different ages,” she said. “They build lifelong friendships and will be in touch for a long time.”

In addition to the dance troupe, MPS’ Native American Education program provides a range of services including tutoring at the elementary schools and junior highs, cultural activities, after-school and summer programs, college campus visits and much more. These offerings are made possible through two grant programs: JOM and the Title VI Native American Education Program.

Record, a member of the Chickasaw Nation and longtime teacher in the district before transitioning into her administrative role, explained that tutoring is the basis for the program and an aspect that has been budgeted into the grant applications from the beginning. The reading and math tutoring starts at the elementary level partly because early intervention gives students the foundation they need to succeed throughout their school career.

“That’s what we focus on, just doing what we can to meet the needs of our Native American students here in Moore,” Record stated.

Record also extends a thank you to the parents of the dance troupe students, who are very involved with the program. She also wants to thank the entire district in Moore, from Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines to all of the teachers, for their support of the Native American Education program.

Photos, information and more about Moore JOM can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MooreJOM. – 19SM

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19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 25

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DISTRICT ATTORNEY GREG MASHBURN …

As a husband and father, DA Mashburn knows every family deserves safety and security.

That’s why Greg Mashburn works hard every day as our District Attorney.

The District Attorney’s Ofce continues to be recognized both locally and across Oklahoma with awards for excellence. bThis unparalleled level of professionalism is the standard District Attorney Greg Mashburn set when rst elected.

DA Mashburn leads a team of talented and accomplished professionals dedicated to serving the citizens of District 21. Over 30 times DA Mashburn’s ofce has been recognized with awards for excellence, including District Attorney of the Year, a governor’s commendation, Oklahoma Drug Court of the Year, Oklahoma Victim Advocate of the Year, Oklahoma Drug Prosecutor of the Year, Oklahoma Drug Investigator of the Year, Outstanding Arson Prosecutor, Oklahoma Domestic Violence Prosecutor of the Year, an award for excellence in sex crimes prosecution, and several awards for child support enforcement.

Local businesses, schools and neighborhoods are safer places to live and work thanks to the efforts of the DA Greg Mashburn.

• Keeping our community safe • Prosecuting the criminals who break the law

• Driving down crime rates

• Obtaining justice for victims

Working Hard For All of Us!

GREG District Attorney

MASHBURN AUTHORIZED AND PAID FOR BY MASHBURN FOR DA (2022) P.O. BOX 6373 NORMAN, OK 73070

any day of the week!

Use the QR code to donate online for Giving Tuesday,

is November 30th! scan m e!

We’re Thankful for You!

Our trucks will be parked at both Lowe’s locations.

Stop by and purchase items from our WISH LIST and drop them off at the truck!

Norman Moore

Saturday, November 20th 9am to 4pm Tuesday, November 30th 8am to 3pm

Fill the Truck!

S P O RT S

un stinkin believable - Voice of the Sooners Toby Rowland

Oklahoma vs. Texas Cotton Bowl October 9, 2021 1 st Q 2 nd Q 3 rd Q 4 th Q

OU - 7 OU - 20 OU - 30 OU - 55

TX - 28 TX - 38 TX - 41 TX - 48

Photos by: Mark Doescher

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

Contact McIntyre Law for all your personal injury needs

30 November | November2021 2021

T

BY: CHRIS PLANK

he joke about kickers is that they have one job. That one job is easily defined: make your kicks and put points on the board for your team when called upon.

“Williams in the Shotgun, Stoops in motion. Direct snap Brooks… fakes the pitch, bounces it outside… he’s to the 30, he’s to the 25, he’s to the 20. HE’S GONNA GO!! KENNEDY BROOKS…HE JUST WON… HE JUST WON THE GAME. Kennedy Brooks… JUST WON OU/TEXAS. A 33-yard touchdown run by Kennedy Brooks. One year after a four-overtime classic, we may have surpassed it with the greatest game in OU/Texas history. Un-Stinkin-Believable” Unforgettable, incredible, extraordinary, impressive, EPIC, whichever adjective you chose to describe the 117th edition of the OU/Texas rivalry, they all would fit for fans of the Sooner Nation after the 55-48 win.

A game that featured a little bit of everything came down to the wire and ended in dramatic fashion as Sooner running back Kennedy Brooks sealed the win and the greatest Sooner comeback in OU/Texas history.

“I’m trying to think of the moments in my career that I’ve been prouder of a team,” Sooner head coach Lincoln Riley said afterward. “If there’s any, it’s not many. ... We were poised, and we all felt like our confidence didn’t change and it didn’t get rocked by the fact that we didn’t play well early.”

Oklahoma fell behind by two touchdowns in the game’s opening minutes and saw that deficit grow to 18 by the half. But there was no panic, there were not any heads down as the Sooners tried to regroup in the locker room, just an all-out belief that OU would win the football game.

“We’ve been through worse. We were down 28-3 at Baylor my freshman year and that was in the back of my head the whole game,” Sooner receiver Jadon Haselwood said. “We walk up the same tunnel and they (Texas) walked up the whole ramp at halftime like they had won it all already without any enthusiasm. I told our guys, look they think it’s over.”

The first half featured two Texas touchdowns in the first two minutes of the game including a 76 -yard touchdown reception on the first play of the game and a score two plays after blocking a punt. A fox ran out on the field and the Sooners made a quarterback change turning to true freshman Caleb Williams midway through the first half.

The true freshman looked the part of an experienced veteran.

“He came in and he executed,” Marvin Mimms said of Caleb Williams. “He did what he was coached to do and that was a big help for us. The fans were into it, everybody was into it. We just got rolling at that point so that was huge for us and huge for the game.”

While Williams was directing the offense, Mimms was making jaw-dropping grabs including the game-tying 52-yard reception that he somehow was able to keep his foot down in bounds.

Actually, toe down may be more fitting as the pylon cam shot became as memorable as any play in the game. sportstalk1400.com boydstreet.com

19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 31

“It’s just part of the game plan that we need to get more explosive plays down the field,” Sooner Captain Jeremiah Hall said. “The running game also helped. When you’ve got guys worried about Kennedy Brooks rushing for so many yards every single play, you’ve got to account for that. And then you’re leaving guys one-on-one down the field. At the end of the day, we’re just letting guys go out and make plays.”

After opting out during the 2020 season, Brooks made the most of his final Red River Rivalry. With 217 yards on 25 carries, the OU running back paced the Sooner offense for most of the day. His game-winning touchdown run was the second time the Sooners had used that play and, in the mind of Brooks, it was all about just going straight.

“I just ran straight and scored,” Brooks said, crediting the offensive line and the receivers blocking downfield. “Just a great call by Lincoln Riley. It’s a great play setup.”

“Oh man, epic, that second-half run, the energy in that stadium, one of the best things in our sport,” Riley said. “Our crowd was great. I appreciate our crowd. They stayed into it even as we started to make the run. I think we really kind of both fed off each other — us off the crowd, crowd off of us and that’s why it’s the best rivalry in college football. It was as good as I’ve ever seen.”

THE STORY IN THE STANDS While the Sooners were mounting a record-setting comeback, the crowd was making a difference. Loud and enthusiastic, the Cotton Bowl South end zone was a difference-maker, packed with fans clad in crimson.

“Our crowd played a massive role in that comeback. It was insane,” Sooner radio analyst Teddy Lehman said afterward on the post-game show. “Texas could not get out of the south end of the field.”

“The crowd for Oklahoma was amazing,” Sooner sideline analyst Gabe Ikard said. “The crowd had as big of an impact on a football team as I’ve ever seen, ever. The crowd deserves some credit.”

Longtime Sooner fan Steve York agreed. The Choctaw native has been to many OU/Texas games and had a hard time imagining a game matching what happened in the stands in 2021.

“It was ranked as one of the very best,” Steve said. “Years may run together but this year was special. This year was different. When we got down, you had a few people that may have left but I promise you they came back. That place was packed and rocking and rolling at the end of the game.

“I know I’ve seen some great games over the years. One minute your cussing, next minute you’re celebrating. It was so up

32 November 2021

and down. It was THE loudest that I can ever remember. I’m 66... I can’t remember any game being any louder than that.

I can remember some great games, but this will stick in my memory for a long, long time.”

Steve has been a Sooner fan since birth. Along with his brother Jim, they are the definition of Sooner Born and Sooner Bred. For both, the biggest day of the year has always been the second Saturday in October. The family is so dedicated to OU/Texas that weddings have been moved to ensure they don’t miss the annual classic.

“My niece, my brother’s daughter, had scheduled her wedding for the first week in October since the OU/Texas game was always the second Saturday in October,” Steve recalled.

“One year, they changed it. For some reason that year, it was the first weekend. When the Sooner football schedule came out, we had a problem. She had to reschedule her wedding and send out new invitations. It’s a big deal in our family.”

Jim attended his first OU vs Texas game in 1969. That season Choctaw Head Coach Bill Jensen took a small group of players to the game and the cost to get in was only .50 cents. The experience not only hooked Jim on the excitement and energy of OU/Texas but also his buddy Delaine Baxter.

Jim went back in 1971 and has only missed one OU/Texas game since then. Delaine was a high school football coach so regular trips were challenging to the big game in Dallas. He 34 November 2021

begun his teaching career at Choctaw High School, but moved to McLoud schools and ended up spending more than 30 years as a teacher and coach with a schedule that allowed him to make the trip consistently. Finally, in 1988, the pair of pals made the trip together again and never looked back. 32 years straight Jim and Delaine have attended OU/Texas together.

The pair would go to Dallas on Thursday. Play golf on Friday, attend the OU game on Saturday and sometimes when they were younger, they would sneak in a round on Sunday. But as time passed and they got older the Sunday round went away.

“We have been going as a full family since the early 80s. It’s just something that is very special to our family,” Steve said of his family. “We’ve seen good OU/Nebraska games, but this was the game.”

For 32 years straight years, Delaine “Dog” Baxter was essentially part of the York family as he and Steve went to the game together. They stayed at the same hotel every year. Delaine loved being around the York family and he and Jim would always sit together at the game. 32 years they never missed… until 2020.

In August 2020, Delaine got sick and passed away. He was 67 years old. The popular Choctaw alum, McCloud teacher, coach, and diehard Sooner fan was gone. But the York family was determined to find a way to get Delaine to the OU/Texas game one final time.

sportstalk1400.com

19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 35

In October 2020, tickets were hard to come by due to Covid-19 and reduced capacity, so the family was unable to attend. It was almost fitting that the first OU/Texas matchup after Delaine passed his gameday companion missed as well for the first time in over 30 years. But in 2021, they not only got tickets but found a way to pay a lasting tribute to Delaine Baxter.

meet. Before the game, after the game, that was our spot. So, we thought what better place.”

Delaine’s brother had given Jim some of Delaine’s ashes. Since the two loved playing golf, some of the ashes were spread at different golf courses that the two enjoyed playing. But the last of the ashes were saved for OU/Texas game.

“He’s gonna help us win the game this year,” Jim said after the small ceremony.

“Delaine loved that game so much,” Steve said. “We had to find a way to pay a proper tribute so that he could and would always be a part of the OU/Texas weekend.”

Despite the area being closed off, Steve and the group talked their way past security and held a small ceremony before spreading Delaine’s ashes.

And as the game progressed and the momentum swung back and forth, the game was exactly everything that Delaine would have loved.

A small group of family and friends set about finding the right place to spread Delaine’s ashes. They thought about doing it on the field, but security was a challenge. Sure, they would do it, but they didn’t want to just spread it on the field and leave. They wanted to pay respect. And then, it clicked. The Pirate Ship.

“Dog (Delaine) would never give up on the Sooners. We could be getting smoked by 20 points or more, but Dog would never give up on them,” Steve recalled. “Even when it was imminent that we were losing he would stay until the very last minute. He was a true believer in Sooner Magic and that they would come back. After the game, everyone was high fiving saying Dog got us this win.”

“There is a spot where the Pirate Ship ride is by the main entrance of the Cotton Bowl,” Steve pointed out. “The pirate ship has been in the same spot for decades. That was our meeting spot. That’s where if our family ever got separated or someone called and said they were coming where could we

The stories are many and the memories will never fade for fans that attended the 2021 edition of OU/Texas. But for the York family, a Sooner win capped a fitting tribute to a fallen friend, making this version of the Red River Rivalry the greatest game ever.-19SM

36 November 2021

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St a te Ch a m p io ns

SaberCats shine in repeat championship run

L

ast year, late-inning heroics earned Southmoore softball the moniker of Cardiac ‘Cats en route to a state championship. In 2021, the SaberCats completed their successful title defense convincingly, topping Owasso again in the state title game, 5-1.

Senior catcher Lexi Hernandez got the scoring started when she blasted a full-count, two-out pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run home run to score herself and junior Taitum Bradshaw in the bottom of the first inning.

“I got deep in the count and then a good, high-inside pitch came in and I swung and it was over. It felt amazing. It felt smooth, everything felt right. I knew it was gone,” Hernandez said.

Senior pitcher Brinly Maples—who authored another championship gem inside the circle—said no one on the SaberCats’ roster deserved that championship moment more than Hernandez.

“Lexi has such a great eye when it comes to hitting because she’s a catcher. She gets walked more than anyone because of that, so she doesn’t get a chance to hit very much,” Maples said. “Whenever I realized that her hit was going over, I was so excited for her and for us and I was just over the moon because I was so happy.”

42 November 2021

Southmoore never looked back after that swing at USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. Sophomore first baseman Kaylee Carter and junior left fielder Riley Sharp each drove in runs in the second inning to put Southmoore in front 4-0.

Senior Abi Jones tacked on the final SaberCats’ run when she brought home sophomore Brylee Fanning in the fourth.

Meanwhile, Maples delivered the type of lockdown pitching performance that has typified Southmoore’s two-year run of dominance. She surrendered just the lone run in the fourth inning of the championship game when Owasso’s Preslee Downing plated Madilyn Drummond.

Maples pitched all 21 innings for Southmoore in the state tournament and allowed just nine hits combined in the three games against Broken Arrow, Mustang and Owasso. She struck out the final Owasso hitter and the celebration was on.

“She was spectacular in the circle,” Southmoore head fastpitch coach Jason Lingo said. “She was spectacular last year in the circle. When it meant anything important, she was going to be in the circle for us and she was going to get the job done.”

Maples credited her relationship with Hernandez as one of the primary reasons for her success inside the circle.

“She’s not only my school ball catcher, she’s my travel ball catch-

BY: JOSH HELMER er, too. I’m just very thankful for her because she knows how to calm me down whenever I’m stressing. She knows how to push me just far enough to where I’ll be great, not too far to where I won’t be able to do what I know how to do,” Maples said.

Southmoore sizzled defensively, too. The SaberCats had multiple diving grabs. Senior right fielder Maveryck Lightfoot helped slam the door shut on Owasso with her leaping catch late in the game.

“I saw the ball coming to me and I knew the fence wasn’t around so I made the jump and caught it in the air. I just loved every minute of that play,” Lightfoot said.

Lightfoot pinpointed how Southmoore was able to fend off the target on its back as defending state champs.

“Our bond for each other is just so unbreakable,” Lightfoot said. “We know we can trust each other on and off the field.

They trust me to make that play. I trust everyone to be on their ‘A’ game for every game and I expect nothing less from them and they expect nothing less from me. I think that’s just how we’ve gotten this far.”

“Everyone’s crying, it’s so emotional, but it’s a happy emotional. We were so happy that we did it again. I’ll just never forget those feelings,” Lightfoot said.-19SM

The SaberCats finished off a 33-6 season with a 7-3 comeback win over Broken Arrow in the quarterfinals before identical 5-1 victories over Mustang in the semifinals and Owasso in the championship game. In the process, Southmoore became 6A’s first repeat champion since Broken Arrow went back-toback in 2008 and 2009.

“I think the one thing I’m going to remember most about this group and last year’s group and just in general here on this run is the resiliency, the grit that the kids showed,” Lingo said.

“Sometimes we say that kids aren’t tough these days. They’re not as tough as kids used to be, this and that. All those comments are mentioned in different sports and society all the time. I want to give our kids credit. They’re pretty dang tough.

“They knew people were after them and they knew that they were marked for battle, but they never let it bother them. I’ll tell you what, it’s a great feeling. I’m really proud of our kids.

I really thought we played a perfect game and it couldn’t have come at a better time. They never believed that we weren’t going to win and that’s what I’ll probably remember the most.”

For Lightfoot and the rest of her SaberCats teammates, it’s the back-to-back championship dog-piles.-19SM sportstalk1400.com

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Jag u ar H istor y Jaeya Mathis makes Westmoore history at Pebble Beach

P

ebble Beach Golf Links is a destination any golfer dreams of playing. Westmoore’s Jaeya Mathis earned that right through The First Tee program to take on the course in the PURE Insurance Championship aired on the GOLF Channel back in September.

The junior carded three-under rounds of 69 at both Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill while playing alongside pro Tom Pernice Jr. Playing at Pebble Beach was something Mathis dreamt about ever since she started playing golf competitively.

“Since I even found out that Pebble Beach was an option through The First Tee, it’s been my dream,” Mathis said.

“When I found out that I was accepted, I was losing my mind.

Going there, just being there, it was insane. It was probably the best trip I’ve had in my life so far.”

Mathis said the experience of playing alongside Pernice Jr. was “amazing” because she got to see a little of his thought process, how he spoke with his caddy and how much his caddy helped him.

“Seeing him, he was so focused. You knew how bad he wanted it even though he didn’t play very well. St Just seeing that and being in that vibe, it was really awesome,” Mathis said.

He even helped her with a shot or two.

“He actually was the reason I attempted one shot. I was behind a tree and I hit under the tree, over the water and sliced it back into the fairway. Without him, I don’t think I would’ve been able to do that shot. He was like, ‘You can do it.’ So, I just put my mind to it. It was probably the best shot of my career so far,” Mathis said.

Hole six at Pebble Beach was her favorite.

46 November 2021

“It’s a par-five. The green is up a huge hill. When you get up on that hill, you can just see all of Pebble Beach. You can see everything. The water, it’s amazing. The air is just so fresh.

It’s beautiful,” Mathis said.

Mathis competing for Westmoore at Pebble Beach was a program first.

“To see her on TV, just to see her name and her on there, it was really cool. I don’t know of anyone at Westmoore that’s done that before, so she was our first. Super proud of her,” Jaguars head girls golf coach Karen Donaldson said.

Individually, Mathis finished ninth last year at the Class 6A golf state championship from Broken Arrow Golf Club, shooting rounds of 77 and 81, 12 strokes off the pace of individual state champion Haley Blevins.

Westmoore also qualified for state as a team, placing ninth overall. Donaldson said Mathis is one of the golfers her teammates look to.

“Besides being one of my best players, she has already emerged as a team leader even last year as a sophomore,” Donaldson said. “Without us voting on a captain or picking a team leader, the girls typically tend to go to her for advice on a shot. She works on her own way more than any girl on my team does.”

Mathis hopes to play golf in college. In the meantime, she’s working to tighten up her game.

“Working on my swing, I’d like to hit it a little farther even though I’m not really worried about distance. Getting older, girls are hitting it pretty far. I’d like to just stay with them and not lose distance. I think my short game is probably my biggest focus.

Chipping is pretty much my main goal right now. I’d like to get more up-and-downs when I go play,” Mathis said.-19SM

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BY: ROXANNE AVERY

H ig h - te ch So lution s Oklahoma native opens new dentist office in south OKC

W

e all know getting regular dental care is important to overall health, so why are many people not visiting the dentist as often as they should? Studies show the top reasons include fear of pain, anticipated costs and the worried about being lectured.

Fleming Dental aims to puts these concerns to rest with a new wave of high-end dentistry. Dr. Joseph Fleming and his staff have created a warm, family atmosphere that feels like home. A family man himself, Fleming understands that building strong, close relationships with patients while providing sincere and honest care helps alleviate the old dental office concerns.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, just trying to bring true customer service back,” Fleming said. “So many people feel they are milled through a dental office and barely see the dentist. I like interacting with my patients.”

Services at Fleming Dental include comprehensive dentistry and implants as well as same-day crowns and laser dentistry.

“We have a hard-tissue laser, used mainly for children, for small fillings with the benefit of not having to numb the patient,” Fleming said. “We get in there with some water to get rid of the decay. It sterilizes it all at once so patients with gum disease heal much faster.

“We are also able to uncover an implant with no bleeding, which is so much more comfortable for patients, and they heal faster.”

Invisalign is a convenient, less obtrusive orthodontic treatment offered at Fleming Dental that uses clear, removable trays specially designed for the patients’ unique alignment needs. Fleming says he really loves working with Invisaline.

“Anything complicated should be performed by a specialist but some of the easier cases can be done with Invisalign which saves patients a lot of money,” he shared.

With the latest techniques in dentistry, Fleming Dental utilizes 3-D scanners, 3-D x-rays and a 3-D printer.

50 November 2021

“People don’t like that messy, goopy, gagging material going down their throat and while we can’t get away from that 100%, we can avoid a lot of that,” Fleming said. “With 3-D printing, we can even print dentures. We eventually want to put the patient into something more permanent but if someone has an event coming up quick like their wedding, we can meet their needs.”

Working for many years in Pauls Valley, Fleming Dental opened a second location in South Oklahoma City, close to Westmore High School, at 13316 S. Western. With four kids ranging from the ages of a newborn to 10-years-old, Fleming said he needed to be closer to home to make it to soccer practices and school events.

Fleming Dental has implemented itself into being a part of the local community. “We’re not just another dental office; we support the local high schools and choose to spend our advertising dollars locally,” Fleming said.

A graduate of Broken Arrow High School, Fleming finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of Oklahoma in 2005 before completing his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 2010. He was awarded the Quintessence Award for recognition of academic achievement as well as the Award for Excellence in Scholarship in Dental Materials from the Academy of Dental Materials. Since dental School, Fleming has received certificates in Mini Dental Implants systems, Minimal Sedation and Custom Automated Prosthetics.

Fleming has taken several dental implant placement courses and is a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry since 2016. Dedicated to offering his patients the latest techniques in dentistry, Fleming has followed the education of the prestigious Spear Education and has completed yearly study clubs and several seminars with topics ranging from advanced occlusion to airway prosthetics.

To learn more about Fleming Dental, visit flemingdentalco. com or call 405-544-3606. -19SM

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Getting us all to a healthier place.

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

H EA LT H

L ayers

of P rote c t ion Local primary care doctor shares about the benefits of vaccines and preventative precautions

V

mittable diseases like COVID-19 and the flu. He recommends staying up to date on vaccinations including your COVID and flu vaccines and utilizing proper hygiene practices.

“Historically, life expectancy was low, at about 40 to 50 years, but today we have doubled that,” shared Dr. Krishna Vedala, an internal medicine primary care doctor with Norman Regional Health Systems. “Vaccines have contributed to that success and play a significant role in maintaining our health and prolonging life.”

The CDC recently changed its recommendation for a waiting period between getting your COVID vaccine and other vaccinations. You can now get your flu and COVID shots at the same time.

accines are a regular topic of national and international news and likely the source of many household and social media debates as well. As we enter another flu season, paired with the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, conversations around vaccines are likely to continue.

To date, nearly 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and during the 2020-2021 flu season a record 193 million influenza doses were distributed in the United States.

“The statistics clearly show that vaccines are effective in guarding against disease,” Vedala said. “We are not yet out of the pandemic, and it is difficult to say if there will be another surge, but we know that every year, except for last year, there is a rise of flu and pneumonia cases.”

While efficacy varies, studies show that flu vaccines prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year. In fact, the CDC reported that an estimated 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations were prevented during the 2019-2020 season. However, only about half of Americans get an annual flu vaccine.

“There is a hesitancy with people getting vaccines and that is unfortunate,” Vedala said. “Those of us in the health care field, we have a higher calling to help save lives. When we recommend vaccinations, it is because we care.”

Vedala sees patients at a primary care clinic in south Oklahoma City, but he previously worked in public health. His combined experience gives him unique insight into a wide variety of illnesses as well as community health trends. Vedala points to layers of protection as the best method for preventing transsportstalk1400.com

“Influenza rates were low last year as a result of COVID precautions. We were doing all of these things to guard against COVID and that helped keep people from getting the flu,” he said.

“The CDC used to recommend a two-week waiting period, but they have changed that,” Vedala confirmed. “If you are someone who is sensitive to vaccine reactions, I would still recommend waiting, since everyone reacts differently.”

At the time of press, the Oklahoma Department of Health reported 25 cumulative influenza-associated hospitalizations since Sept. 1, 2021, a number Vedala expects to increase.

“We are concerned that flu rates will return this year,” he said.

If you do contract COVID-19 or the flu, Vedala urges you to contact your primary care provider as soon as possible.

“If you do end up getting sick, call your doctor’s office to let them know,” he shared. “Norman Regional has a monoclonal antibody treatment center that has shown to help reduce symptoms especially for patients that are at high risk for complications from COVID-19.

“People tend to underestimate the flu, but the key is to get in as soon as possible so you have a better chance of feeling better sooner.”

Flu vaccines are available for established patients at primary care clinics throughout the Norman Regional Health System and COVID-19 vaccination clinics are held at select locations. Dr. Vedala is accepting new patients at Primary Care – South OKC, located at 2605 SW 119th St, Ste A. -19SM 19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 55

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Veteran of the Month: Kirstin McNally

Army linguist shares about what led her to serve

F

or Kirstin McNally, her first day of Army basic training was a memorable one, for more than one reason.

McNally, a Minneapolis native, was at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and had just received her training unit assignment and was headed down a flight of stairs believing she had reached the final step.

“I had a huge green duffel bag on my back, and I had another bag on my front, I was carrying my M-16 and I had another bag on my other arm,” McNally recalled. “I was maneuvering downstairs, and I thought I was on the last step. I wasn’t.”

A tumble and a rolled ankle later, McNally found herself on the floor of the stairwell with two fellow soldiers offering assistance.

She happened to mention she was headed west for training.

“I was like, I just can’t be injured, I have to go to Monterey,” McNally explained about her assignment to the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California.

“And one of them said, ‘Hey, I’m going to Monterey too.’ He helped me get up and he turned out to be my future husband.”

McNally had met fellow soldier Matt McNally. The two would marry in 2012, two years after that moment in the stairwell. Both serve as Army Linguists, Kirstin with a specialty in Spanish and Matt in Arabic.

As with her meeting her husband, McNally’s path to the Army seemed pre-ordained. Having earned her degree from Hillsdale College in Michigan, she was back home in Minnesota living with her parents when her mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

“I ended up in my room crying,” McNally recalled. “I said, ‘God, I don’t know what to do. I need direction. I have no clue.’ And literally, my phone rang and it was a recruiter with the National Guard. That kind of started the whole recruiting thing. I ended up going active Army because I wanted to do something full time.”

With specialties in different languages, the McNallys would find themselves deployed to different parts of the world. Matt

58 November 2021

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CENTURIONCG.NET

went to Afghanistan in 2012, and Kirstin to Columbia in both 2013 and 2014.

McNally would also spend time working in resiliency training for fellow soldiers, especially those facing deployment.

Her work involved assisting with the stresses of military life.

She hopes to continue working in a related field as a civilian after having been moved by a story relayed to her by a fellow non-commissioned officer about a talk she had given.

“She wanted to let me know that a soldier told her they were thinking about suicide and because of the talk they heard, they didn’t,” McNally said. “I thought if that is the only thing I ever do in my entire life, I’m good. Thank you, God.” With starting a family on their minds, McNally decided to leave the military and look for a community in which she and her husband could raise kids. She left in July 2016. Armed with a map of the United States, she and her husband literally sat down and crossed off states they didn’t care to move to.

As they narrowed their list, nine states were left.

“One of them was Oklahoma and we looked at each other like why is Oklahoma still there?” McNally said. “I guess it never offended us.”

Since coming to Oklahoma, the McNallys have welcomed a son and daughter, Matt McNally has earned his degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma and Kirstin is working on an associate’s degree in psychology with plans to pursue master’s level study. Oh, and Oklahoma has been confirmed as the right choice.

“We’ve been really surprised with how awesome a place Oklahoma is,” McNally concluded.–19SM