Boyd Street Magazine May 2022 by SportsTalkMedia

Elevating Education

Nancy O’Brian Center

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National Champions

Gordon Drummond

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May 2022 • Issue 5 • Volume 21

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Features

MAY CONTENTS 2022

ISSUE 5– VOLUME 21 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

MANAGING EDITOR

United Way of Norman

20 by Callie Collins

Lindsay Cuomo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Meeting local needs, funding critical programs.

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

Elevating Education

26 byLindsay Cuomo

District completes fine arts renovations, construction of professional development center.

Callie Collins | Lindsay Cuomo Kathy Hallren | Josh Helmer Shannon Hudzinski | Chelsey Kraft Bill Moakley | Chris Plank

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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Normanites in the Spotlight:

32 Barry and Becky Switzer

by Chelsey Kraft Norman royalty discuss their involvement with search and rescue dogs.

Comeback Queens

38 by Chris Plank

In a year they were doubted, the Sooner women gymnasts stormed back to take the title.

Boyd Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © Boyd Street Magazine Any articles, artwork or graphics created by Boyd Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of Boyd Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission. Any opinions expressed in Boyd Street are not necessarily that of Boyd Street management.

Spotlights 15 Community Calendar What’s Happening

Staff

Champions X2

46 by Lindsay Cuomo

61 Normalizing the Stigma with Norman Regional Hospital:

Norman North JV Pom earns two National Championships.

Functional Medicine,

50 Firsthand Experience

Preventative Care by Lindsay Cuomo

66 Officers Chris Allison and Ben Gomez Service Spotlight:

by Bill Moakley

by Callie Collins World champion triathlete expands medical practice.

72 What to Skip This May What to Buy and

by Shannon Hudzinski - OUFCU

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56 by Josh Helmer

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Legendary coach reaches another milestone.

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80 Where to Eat in Norman the DINE guide

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Cover photo by: Mark Doescher

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COM M U N I T Y

U n ite d W ay o f No rman

Meeting local needs, funding critical programs

nited Way of Norman’s community impact happens in ways large and small. Creating positive cycles of change happens through its work and the work of its partner agencies, select nonprofits the organization helps fund through its annual campaign. “We have given out an average of $1.2 million each year for the last couple of years,” said Diane Murphree, director of community impact. “That total has hovered around the same amount but this year, our official goal is to raise $2 million.” Raising awareness of local issues is work United Way’s staffers are dedicated to carrying out in diverse ways, all of which are solution-oriented in fulfillment of its mission: “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.” “The citizens of Norman are known for caring for one another and there are so many needs being met by this critical funding,” said Murphree. “Some of the agencies we fund would be hard pressed to continue essential services without United Way funding. They are out there doing hard work and important work, from keeping kids safe and helping people stay stable to mit-

20 | May 2022

igating trauma and showing families how to progress for themselves.” United Way President and CEO Daren Wilson agrees. “For me, the biggest thing is that we have a very strong national brand, but all decisions and all funding stay local. Our organization is made up of individual people and volunteers who are concerned with issues in Norman,” he said. “We also have the autonomy as a local United Way to make sure the greatest local needs are actually met. Every community has different needs and different challenges, and we tackle those head on.” The United Way achieves all that it does through the support of pacesetter companies that lead summer campaigns prior to the organization’s yearly community kickoff, currently slated for Sept. 1. “Our campaign celebration is usually mid-December, but the majority of the money gets to us by January,” said Murphree. More than 30 partner agencies receive part of their funding from the United Way of Norman.

BY: CALLIE COLLINS Partner agencies are selected from applications submitted online through a formal process each January that includes submitting a formal request for proposal (RFP) and in-person meetings, with evaluations that close at the end of February with a rubric-based scoring system as the final step to impartially assess each application. Three impact councils focus on key areas: health, financial stability and education. Approximately 65% of funding goes to community-based health initiatives, with 20% of funding dedicated to furthering efforts dedicated to promoting financial stability, and the remaining 13% is allocated to education initiatives. The organization describes its work in four steps: 1.

They convene community leaders to assess the needs of the Norman area.

Then, invite local non-profits to apply for grants to fund specific programs.

The community leaders recommend to the Board of Directors allocation of funds for the specific programs the agencies provide.

If there are gaps between community needs and agency response, the United Way of Norman manages initiatives to address the needs.

“Agencies will apply for a program they run under one of those or more than one,” said Murphree. “We do not fund actual agencies. We fund programs offered to the community by the partner agencies.” Formerly a Norman High teacher, Murphree served in a variety of roles from 1983 to 1997, from working in the classroom to serving as activity director. She also observed similar issues in a community-facing role at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma. “I saw the need in our community then while working in our schools and I see it now but there are so many more solutions through funded programs like these,” said Murphree. “I will never forget… we had an athlete who was just phenomenal but (he was sleeping in his car). There are still so many students who have nowhere to lay their heads. Now, we have Bridges to help meet that need. There is a tremendous amount of good that happens through our partner agencies.” Supporter Mandy Mumma, senior vice president and director of credit risk and analysis at Armstrong Bank, recognizes the ways partner agencies help diverse demographics, with direct impact on individuals in Norman. She has served as a member of the health council for the past five funding cycles. “Serving on the council is a good opportunity to get knowledge about a lot of different agencies at one time and see what the needs of the community really are,” boydstreet.com

said Mumma. “We try to help and allocate where those dollars will make the most impact.” The misperception that a limited number of individuals decide who gets funding is one Mumma believes needs clarification. “It is not a handful of people picking and choosing. Community volunteers, business people and advocates come together with members of a committee and, in our case with the health council, there are three subcommittees,” she explained. “There can be a dozen people on a committee. We have deep discussions and hard conversations with the agencies. It is so much more than a series of meetings and involvement includes volunteering many hours over a year, looking at agencies’ financial statements, asking questions, going on site visits and following up to see how funding is used. There is so much to think through and so much dedicated work in making those decisions.” Mumma appreciates the variety of work United Way empowers that makes a difference in the quality of life for so many. She specifically mentioned Project Outreach, which provides respite services for caretakers of children and siblings with disabilities. Traditional medical and dental services for the uninsured are the work of Variety Care, while organizations like Betheseda help survivors of sexual abuse. “One of my favorite organizations is Meals on Wheels of Norman, which makes sure senior citizens have a hot meal that meets their dietary needs. As a result, the elderly can stay in their home of choice and remain independent. Volunteer drivers have a daily visit as a welcome presence in their lives so they’re not isolated, and sometimes, those drivers can alert that something is wrong.” Donors, partners, volunteers and community workers are critical to meet Norman’s needs. Find out more at unitedwaynorman.org/fundedpartners.– BSM

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COM M U N I T Y

E l ev ating Education

District completes fine arts renovations, construction of professional development center

he Nancy O’Brian Center for the Performing Arts recently received a $7 million update, thanks to a bond issue approved by voters in 2019.

The renovations included a refreshed lobby and added more than 20,000 square feet for the relocation of the district’s fine arts department and professional development center, both previously located in the former U.S. Post Office building on Gray Street. Within the brand-new Elaine Fulton Hale Professional Development Center, amenities include integrated student art galleries, conference rooms and office spaces for district staff.

26 | May 2022

Justin Milner, associate superintendent and chief operating officer for the district, said the center is an indicator of the investment that Norman citizens supported with a nearly 80 percent passage rate. “Voters and taxpayers in the Norman district allowed us to invest in our teachers to continue to help them grow,” he said. “It wasn’t easy to achieve a project of this scale during COVID but we leveraged partnerships to bring together a space that is now open to the community.” Elaine Fulton Hale, for which theprofessional develompent center is named, shared that Norman Pub-

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Dr. Nancy O’Brian began teaching at NPS in 1961 and served as curriculum director, assistant superintendent and then superintendent before retiring in 2000. A good friend and colleague, Elaine Fulton Hale described O’Brian as “one of the most talented people (she’s) ever known.” The two and their legacy in public education are now memorialized within the multi-use building.

boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 27

lic Schools has been a leader in professional development for many years, even serving as a state-wide resource for educators. “NPS leadership recognized early on the value of professional development and how important it is for what happens inside the classroom,” Hale said. Her tenure in professional development began in 1977 when she transitioned from a special education teacher to become the director of staff development at the Federal Teacher’s Center in Norman. Three years later, Hale and her staff assisted legislators in opening a state professional development center. “We were so successful other districts decided they wanted similar centers,” she said. While the new facility’s main purpose is to support NPS educators and students, Milner shared that the conference rooms, equipped with a kitchenette, are also available for the community to use. The former U.S Post Office that previously housed the two departments was given to the district in 1966 by the federal government. The building was built in 1932, coincidently the same year Hale was born, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The building was recently sold to a local proprietor. “The historical building is important to Norman. We would have loved to keep it but we took great care in making sure it found a great new owner,” Milner said.

Elaine Fulton Hale touring the building for the first time. 28 | May 2022

The district is nearing the end of the bond’s projected construction timeline and is on schedule to complete projects at several elementary schools this summer. In addition to the renovations at the Nancy O’Brian Center, both high schools also received fine arts additions adding classrooms and rehearsal spaces, both of which also double as the schools’ storm shelters.– BS

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Barry and Becky Switzer, third and fourth from the left, are joined by search and rescue dogs and their handlers.

here are some names that do not need any introduction in Norman. While many may know Barry and Becky Switzer as the former University of Oklahoma football and women’s gymnastics head coaches, respectively, the duo also makes its mark through extensive community involvement. One organization that is significant to the Switzers is Ground Zero Emergency Training Center, a nonprofit founded by the couple to train search and rescue canines in the state of Oklahoma. In addition to dogs being trained to respond following natural and manmade disasters like hurricanes, tornados and building collapses, they are also taught to search for lost adults and children. The Switzers established Ground Zero in 2017, but the idea to create the nonprofit began after the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. That was when Becky was first in-

32 | May 2022

troduced to rescue dogs and the work they do, and after tornados devastated Moore in 1999 and 2013, she knew it was important for Oklahoma to have more dogs for search, rescue and recovery. Right now, Ground Zero has placed dogs in 10 states and is about to add four more states to that list. Oklahoma has a state task force, which Becky said is one of the best in the country, to which Ground Zero has provided several dogs. She added that the nonprofit will continue to replenish or add more dogs to the task force as needed.

“Oklahoma ranks third in natural and manmade disasters in the nation.” “That’s our priority, being sure that our state is ready for whatever,” Becky explained. “We’ve had, of course, tornadoes. The possibility of earthquakes is great here, so structural collapse is a big concern too. We hope it never happens, but we want to be prepared. ”

BY: CHELSEY KRAF T

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Next month, the organization will hold its first major fundraiser. Originally planned for 2020, “Dinner on the Fifty” is scheduled for June 18 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Becky said it will be a unique and “once-in-a-lifetime” event. Guests will enter the Switzer Center, where there will be cocktails and music. VIP attendees will have the opportunity to explore the locker room, and everyone will experience the hype tunnel - complete with everything turned on - to enter the field. There, guests will see some of the dogs and their handlers in action. The evening will also feature dinner catered by Benvenuti’s, a silent auction and dancing, with music provided by “Manhattan,” a 16-piece band based out of Texas. Becky added there will be some other surprises thrown in as well. The dress code is “Garden Party Chic,” but no heels are allowed since the event will be held on the football field. More information can be boydstreet.com

found at groundzerosaveslives.com under the “Events” tab, and individual tickets go on sale this month. The nonprofit’s kennels and training site are located just outside Tuttle, Oklahoma. The Switzers hired Todd Frazier as the lead trainer and breeder, and he moved here from Mississippi for the job. Frazier explained that they start training the dogs from three days old, introducing them to environmental elements like different sights, sounds, smells and textures on their feet. Training continues for several months, and eventually dogs train on rubble piles to simulate an actual disaster situation. If a dog is deemed not able to be a search and rescue dog, the organization finds them other jobs or adopts them into homes. Frazier said that nationally, one out of every 1,000 dogs make it from puppyhood through training. However, Ground Zero has been fortunate and had most of its litters make it. BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 33

Dogs trained through Ground Zero serve in several states around the nation, including a state task force in Oklahoma.

Rescue groups who are asking for a dog from Ground Zero must send a handler to an extensive two-week course. After completion of the course, handlers are assigned a canine at what is called The Passing of the Leash, a very special ceremony for everyone involved including donors, trainers, volunteers and handlers. The Switzers are dog lovers, and Barry recalled always having dogs following him when he was growing up in rural Arkansas. He also remembered the night of the

1999 Moore tornado when Becky couldn’t sleep and went to help. What she saw that day stuck with her, and it gave birth to Ground Zero. “We’re in the fourth quarter of our lives, and we certainly want to leave something behind for our state, for the people of our state,” Becky shared. “If we can leave behind some type of preparedness that will potentially save lives and help our task force, I think that’s great.”– BSM

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a comeback for the ages, the Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team capture another National Championship. Some might even say a heavy dose of Sooner Magic helped the Sooners to their fifth National Title in program history. The Sooners were mired in last place after the first rotation, but the team put forth unmatched performances in the final three rotations to claim the title with a score of 198.200 over Florida (198.0875), Utah (197.7500) and Auburn (197.3500). “I don’t know if you guys have seen anything like that before, I personally have not,” Sooner head coach KJ Kindler said. “What fight and heart they had. They didn’t count themselves out and they pushed every single event.” The comeback for the Sooners started well before that Saturday afternoon in Ft. Worth. It started in the preseason when many tried to count out the perennial power. As Kindler started her post-Championship press conference, she pulled a sheet of paper out from her pocket and held it up. The sheet was from a preseason preview, and it had a scathing prediction for the Sooners. “If there is a year when it is actually safe to predict Oklahoma NOT winning, this is the year,” the paper said.

Photos: this page provided by OU Athletics - rest by Mark Doescher

“This has been on our fridge in our locker room since the preseason polls came out. This really fueled them,” Coach Kindler said. “We have a very young team, but we have incredible seniors and juniors that led us all the way. They’re fighters until the end and it would’ve been easy to count themselves out.” The “sign” was not a motivational tactic put forth by the coaching staff. It was instead the senior leadership coming through for the Oklahoma Sooners. “I saw that quote on the internet and I immediately sent it to my senior class,” senior Carly Woodard said. “We decided we were going to hang it everywhere in the locker room. So every time we walked into our training room, we would see it and everyone knew the focus.” For some, it would seem natural to count the Sooners out. Oklahoma entered the season as the preseason No. 3 team and featured what many viewed as a young and unproven roster. Even with the unparalleled success of the pro-

38 | May 2022

CO M E B AC K QUEENS

BY: CHRIS PLANK

boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 39

gram, many might consider a preseason No. 3 ranking as a reason to celebrate, but it was a sign that some did not view Oklahoma as capable of making a run for the title.

had also returned to the top of the Big 12 Conference, winning six of its last seven meets as they headed into the postseason including a thrilling home performance in a win over Michigan.

“You can’t measure a person’s motivation, determination and discipline,” Kindler said. “No one from the outside can see what’s going on daily and the work being done in the gym. Everything that happens, must happen in your head and heart and it comes out in competition. There was a lot of youth on this team and a lot of guidance from the seniors.”

“I love the fact that we were preseason No. 3, that we had to work our way to that No. 1 slot,” Kindler said. “I know going into the finals we weren’t the top pick. Florida was the team people were thinking would win it and they are a great team. We knew they would be tough to beat, but we felt our team was rising at the right time.”

The Sooners struggled out of the gate losing two meets in the first month of the season. But the struggle ended up being a major part of the season’s success. “Because last year we had some depth issues due to injuries, health was one of our top priorities,” Kindler shared. “That would put us in a better position at the end of the year… to put our best team forward. Our sophomores grew from last year, and there was no sophomore slump. They were shooting stars.” As the season progressed, the Sooners started to find their groove. In fact, as the postseason loomed, the Sooners were back in what you would consider a natural, rightful spot. Oklahoma was ranked in No. 1 for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, and they hosted one of the four regionals for the 12th consecutive year. They 40 | May 2022

By the time the Sooners reached Fort Worth, the site of the National Championship, they were at the top of their game. The title-clinching performance marked the Sooners’ ninth straight and 11th overall trip to the team finals. In each of their eleven appearances in the finals, the Sooners have finished within the top three. This is Oklahoma’s fifth national title in the last eight years. As had typified the campaign and became the theme for the season, even the title-clinching performance featured adversity and the challenge of having to overcome a substantial obstacle. During its semi-final performance, the Sooners put up a small number on the vault, their first event, but proceeded to perform lights out in the next three events to clinch a spot in the championship.

In the championship performance, the opening event put the Sooners in a much deeper hole. The Sooners had a challenging start with a season-low 49.1875 on floor to sit in fourth after the first rotation. There was no magic pep speech, there were no magic words. It was a simple push. “Let’s Go! It was really that simple,” Kindler said. “(Katherine LeVasseur) vault really fueled everyone. We didn’t vault well in the semi-finals, and we didn’t get to show our true selves on that. They came in with a vengeance in that event and wanted to prove themselves. Kat has faltered a bit in the semis and her vault really set the tone.” But nothing at all? No “Win one for the Gipper?” Nothing magical from the Sooner head coach? “I didn’t even say anything to them,” Kindler said. “They knew what was happening. If I brought them in a group together that might have killed the momentum. Sometimes you must know when to not talk.” Kindler did not have to say anything. She didn’t have to whip up a fire and brimstone speech because her seniors had already set the tone. “Our theme this year was legends… each meet we had a different athletic legend in the sports world and for the season it was Secretariat,” senior Carly Woodard noted. “Secretariat came out of the gate last in every race and that’s what was going through my head. He came out of the gate last in every single event and, in my mind, we still had this and we could build momentum in every single event, we could pull this off… and that is exactly what we did.” “You could read the room, everyone knew we were in last place, and we knew we had to get back on track and get that momentum going,” senior Olivia Troutman shared. “We let everyone sit in it for a little bit and feel it themselves. Going into vault, I normally do the vault talk before we compete. I told them it’s not over until it’s over and we got to keep fighting.” After the dismal start on the floor, the Sooners found their groove. Allie Stern started off with a 9.9 on the vault. Katherine LeVasseur put the comeback into overdrive with a 9.975 in the No. 2 spot. During the vault rotation two days before in the semi-finals, LeVasseur posted a season-low 9.65. “I just think that kind of fueled everybody,” Kindler said of LeVasseur’s vault. When all was said on the second rotation, the Sooners had posted a school NCAA Championship vault record with a 49.6625 to make up a lot of ground. boydstreet.com

“When I think about those last three rotations, the only word that comes to mind is white hot,” associate head coach Lou Ball said. “I’ve never seen a team be that good, at that high of a level for three straight rotations. We came off vault and we were still behind. I remember running off the runway and saying to ESPN before they interviewed KJ, don’t count us out.” The school record-setting didn’t stop for the Oklahoma Sooners. After a vault performance that had kick-started the comeback, the Sooners posted yet another school NCAA record with a 49.725 team score on the bars. It was the highest score the Sooners had put together all season on an event where they spent most of the season ranked as the top team in the country. “That bar rotation was electric,” Ball added. “We needed the lead going into beam and it gave us a little bit of a cushion. It allowed us to relax and do their thing and be calm about it.”

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 41

By the time the Sooners hit the beam, there was no question that they had raised their collective game. The Sooners registered a 49.625 on beam which marked the second-highest score at an NCAA Championship event. The comeback was complete. After not scoring a 9.9 or higher on any floor routine, the team tallied 14 scores of 9.9 or better in their final eighteen routines. The Oklahoma Sooners were National Champions. “It’s incredible,” Woodard said. “Getting this opportunity and this fifth year is something I’m incredibly grateful for. To go out on top was a dream of mine from the beginning, so it’s a surreal experience. It’s nothing like 2019, it’s very different in itself.” The championship was the 4th outright title the Sooners have won in the last 6 years and its 5th overall in program history. The program is the gold standard in Women’s College Gymnastics and is only getting stronger. “The minute I woke up I had a feeling we were going to win. After floor I still had that feeling we were going to win, I just didn’t know how it was going to work,” Troutman said. “I remember looking around... and I knew somehow we would pull it out. There was never a doubt on this team.”-BSM

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Norman North JV Pom earns two National Championships

46 | May 2022

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

orman North’s 2021-2022 junior varsity Pom squad became the school’s first JV team to earn two National titles in a single competition, earning the prestigious honor of a JV Gram Slam. They also placed second in the Oklahoma State Dance Team Directors Association’s (OSDTDA) State Championship competition in JV Pom and first in the JV Jazz category. Head coach Reiley Menzie shared that she is most proud of how hard working and well rounded her team is. “These girls are students first,” she said, adding that the team also earned an Academic State Championship. “On top of being students and everything else they do; they are so dedicated. It is a full-time job for them and to balance it the way that they do, they make it all work.”

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Menzie said that her squad also spends a lot of time cheering on other student-athletes. “The majority of our job is cheering on other sports,” she pointed out. The squad begins preparing for sideline performances, halftime shows and team competitions before the school year begins. “They spend so much time supporting other athletes, cheering on other people and being ambassadors for our school,” she said. “To accomplish what we did, to show off the girls’ talent on a scale that highlights what they are capable of. Nationals was a great way to end the year.” – BSM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 47

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Functional Medicine, F i r s t h a n d E x p e r i e n ce World champion triathlete expands medical practice

octor, athlete, wife, mother and more: Dr. Amanda Sadler’s professional resume and personal story include highlights from board certifications and degrees to world championships and an active family life. Sadler works with Normal Regional’s NMOTION clinic, a state-of-the-art sports and human performance center that will be housed in the Young Family Athletic Center. As a functional sports medicine physician, she knows firsthand about the way exercise impacts patients’ physical and mental health. That knowledge informs her sports medicine practice, which is newly expanded at 3400 W. Tecumseh. “My focus is on optimizing health and wellness and putting the ‘health’ back in health care. Sometimes in medicine, it can seem like we forget that preventive piece,” said Dr. Sadler. “Functional medicine takes a holistic approach to health care and wellness.” Sadler treats patients of all ages. Most of the people who seek treatment from her are athletes in the traditional sense, on school or recreational teams, but also individuals who need specialized care.

50 | May 2022

“Everybody’s an athlete. A lot of people don’t consider themselves that but if you’re moving your body, you’re an athlete from my perspective,” Sadler said. Seeing people with fatigue or who are not performing at their best is part of Sadler’s daily work, a different approach for athletes that also reflects her own experience. “I had a lot of health issues, even though I was one of the top athletes in world,” Sadler shared. “While I was extremely fit, I was not healthy. I would go to see doctors and they would brush off my symptoms. There are things we need to get to the bottom of by digging deeper and looking for answers. Functional medicine is about fixing issues rather than treating symptoms.” A graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Sadler completed her residency at the Great Plains Family Medicine Program and her fellowship training through the University of Oklahoma Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship program. Her undergraduate degrees are in biology and chemistry from Texas Christian Univer-

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

sity, where she graduated magna cum laude and participated as a NCAA Division One swimmer. Between her medical school graduation and fellowship, Sadler took a life-changing nine-year leave of absence to pursue athletics. Originally, she competed in a triathlon as a dare but her aptitude both in and out of the water became immediately evident, a culmination of the athletic abilities developed throughout her lifetime. She competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials, in addition to competing internationally as a member of Team USA. A world champion, she also participated in Long Course Triathlon, more commonly known as the Ironman. She still holds the Ironman swim course world record. Sadler began swimming competitively by age 8 and her siblings all swam competitively at their respective colleges, too. “Water is my happy spot,” she shared. “I was also a gymnast. I did cheerleading, track, tennis and twirling. My parents did great keeping us busy and encouraging us to keep doing what we were passionate about.” boydstreet.com

Volunteering and presenting as a motivational speaker are also important aspects of her life. When parents ask her for advice, she is happy to share. “I always say to support what your kids are passionate about. Don’t force them to be what you were,” she explained. “Otherwise, they’re going to burn out and it won’t last. The mental aspect of sports is definitely something parents should consider; it gives you so many life skills.” Sadler plans to support her daughters’ interests as they develop. She and her husband, Randy, are the parents of OuidaJho, 4, and MeliaAnn, 2. “In our household, we teach mistakes are good. Every mistake is a learning opportunity,” she said. “We can look at that situation and choose to say ‘let’s see what we do moving forward to becoming a better person or athlete.’ “Don’t specialize in a sport super young; tons of studies show it’s better to try a variety of sports. At the end of the day, that’s what made me great as a triathlete.” An interest in medicine became apparent in high school. A graduate of Enid High School, she recalled dissecting BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 51

frogs in Mr. Hockmeyer’s junior biology class. “I loved it. My biology teacher asked me ‘Have you ever thought about medicine?” she said. “I kind of brushed him off since nobody in my family does medicine. A shadowing opportunity helped her recognize medicine was a fit.” Stress is also a familiar topic. “Stress in any form, whether from work or sports in training, gets turned into illness,” said Sadler. “Find that life balance, the things that scream the loudest at you, because life will go on and you’ll have taken care of what’s important to you. Always dream big but set realistic goals and milestones to get there so you always know you’re moving in the right direction.” Find more information about Dr. Sadler and her practice at normanregional.com/doctors/1322-amanda-sadler-md. – BSM

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HI GH S CH O O L S P ORTS

Legendary coach reaches another milestone

ordon Drummond and his Norman High Tigers crossed off another milestone in his legendary career leading Norman’s boys’ soccer program. In the Tigers’ first district game of this 2022 season, Drummond picked up career win No. 400 in a 3-1 victory over Northwest Classen. “I’ve been around a long time,” Drummond joked as he reflected on what win No. 400 meant. “You know, you try not to make a number stand out, but in a way it does and it’s an accomplishment that’s for sure. The fact that I’ve been doing it a long time means there’s been a lot of great players and some assistant coaches with great wisdom. It all makes a difference.” Following historic win No. 400, Norman Public Schools district athletic director T.D. O’Hara discussed what Drummond has meant to soccer in Norman. “He has been doing it for 38 years, and we’re hoping for 38 more. You see, a coach who stays at a school for that many years, that’s just that’s uncommon nowadays. It just brings more value to what he is and what he’s about,” O’Hara said. It’s tough to find appropriate words to describe the type of impact Drummond has had on Norman High’s program, soccer in Norman as a whole and soccer in the state of Oklahoma. Pioneer, ambassador, architect, iconic and remarkable are a few that come to mind. At 84 years of age, Drummond is synonymous with soccer in the state of Oklahoma and specifically in Norman. Originally from Canada, Drummond’s first job offer was from the history department at the University of Oklahoma after he finished up his graduate degree

56 | May 2022

at Stanford. In 1976, Drummond and Bob Shalhope founded the Norman Youth Soccer Association as a place where kids could play before the OSSAA had elevated soccer to a varsity sport. That’s when the love of coaching grabbed hold of Drummond. “I grew up in a soccer family,” Drummond said. “My father played and coached, and so I knew all about the game very early. Once we settled here in Norman and a friend of mine decided that we needed to start a youth league, we did and then the coaching bug really got me. I just couldn’t let go and I’ve been doing it ever since. Then, after the OSSAA elevated soccer to a varsity sport, Drummond took over the post of head boys’ soccer coach at Norman High ahead of the 1985 spring season. What has followed is beyond anything Drummond could have dreamt up. It’s still humbling for Drummond that the pitch his team plays on is named after him. “It is humbling. I mean it. When I walk out onto the field, I try not to look to my left because that’s where the sign is, but then to hear the announcers say, ‘Welcome to Gordon Drummond Field’… and I’m very grateful,” Drummond said. His career has spanned decades and resulted in four state championships during the 1986, 1993, 1997 and 1999 seasons. Perhaps typical of any head coach, there could have been several other titles in the Tigers’ trophy case, too, which is a thought that has stuck with Drummond. “Funny as it may be, somebody asked me, ‘Well, what

BY: JOSH HELMER game do you remember most? Or what games?’ And, as a coach—and I’m sure that other coaches would say the same thing—you tend to forget about the games that you won and you still stew on the games that you lost, the games that you lost in the last minute,” Drummond said. “We lost two state finals in the last minute and those are the kinds of things that tend to stand out to coaches because you’re just so involved in the preparation and going through it all with the boys.” Any coach will have his fair share of both successes and failures. The mark of a great coach is one that gets his teams to reflect the image of its leader. That’s what Norman has enjoyed since its inception in 1985. “More than anything, what you want—and I think this is true of any sport—you want players who are unselfish, players who are able and willing to see beyond themselves and that word team keeps coming up. Every coach uses [team],” he said. “This is what you hope for more than anything. And when you are successful, if that’s looking at wins and losses, then it’s because the

young men have made a commitment, they’ve invested in the team and in something beyond themselves. That’s what makes the difference.” Drummond paused for a moment before answering what his favorite part of coaching the Tigers has been. “I think really the opportunity every year to deal with a new group of young men... to try to have them play their very best and then put it all together and have success on the field,” he said. “But also, I have always thought it was really important that they be successful off the field. Their academics are so very, very important for them as they look ahead to the rest of their life, so having an impact both on the soccer field and beyond, I found that very, very important.” Drummond is ingrained in the fabric of Norman and its soccer history. It’s been a perfect pairing for both. “This is a great place to live, a great place to raise a family. Wonderful, caring people, good neighbors. I couldn’t have chosen a better place to live,” Drummond said. – BSM

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Mental health screenings integrated into primary care

ay is Mental Health Awareness Month but for primary care doctors, mental health is something they focus on daily. Because of the prevalence of mental health illnesses, doctors are proactively screening patients during their annual visits. “If you go to your doctor once a year, they often do a mental health screening because patients might not even realize they are having symptoms,” shared Dr. Serena Mitroo, a board-certified primary care doctor specializing in internal medicine at Norman Regional’s Primary Care – NW Executive Park. According to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Oklahoma has some of the highest rates of mental illness, ranking third in the nation per capita. They also note that most are not receiving the care they need. “We are still challenged with a lack of mental health providers,” confirmed Elise Grein, registered nurse and Norman Regional’s manager of clinic care coordination. “Depending on a patient’s need, there is often still a waitlist.” However, that is where primary care doctors and departments like Grein’s can step in. “Our care coordinators help patients connect with menboydstreet.com

Key questions to ask yourself about your mental health: 1. Do you have little interest or pleasure in doing things that used to interest you? 2. Do you feel down, depressed or hopeless often? 3. Do you have trouble sleeping or staying awake? 4. Do you frequently feel tired or have little energy? 5. Do you have trouble concentrating? If you find yourself experiencing these symptoms often for longer than two weeks, you should talk with your doctor. BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 61

tal health resources and ways to help themselves while they wait,” she explained. It is important to know that the patient questionnaire screenings are not an official diagnosis, Dr. Mitroo said. Instead, the questionnaire is meant to alert your doctor to look more into what is going on because “mental health issues can develop into physical symptoms that interfere with a patient’s daily life,” she cautioned. Liz Shumate, the manager of Norman Regionals’ outpatient counseling center, said that medical professionals from varied backgrounds are stepping in to help. “Nurses are reaching out to their colleagues and helping with a continuity of care,” she shared. “And more education for medical staff is available so they can help patients until they can get in to see a mental health professional.” Shumate, Grein and Dr. Mitroo all agree that patients are also more aware and willing to seek help, something they believe the pandemic may have influenced. “Before patients had to bring it to a doctor’s attention, now we want to catch it earlier and intervene sooner,” Dr. Mitroo said. “There is still some hesitancy to take medication for things like depression, compared to say high blood pressure, but therapy and medication work best together.” Shumate said that the pandemic has highlighted mental health concerns by taking away some of the most common coping mechanisms. “When our routines changed during the pandemic, peo-

62 | May 2022

ple have been more aware and are seeking help,” Shumate said. “For people who are functioning and are not in crisis, the typical way we recharge is making plans to spend time with people that we care about or planning a vacation or something exciting to look forward to. But when we were faced with the day to day without a clear picture of the future, we were all really in the moment. Also, returning to what we were doing pre-pandemic can be very overwhelming. “It all starts with a self-awareness, just being honest with yourself and your doctor about how you are doing. We can monitor our symptoms for things like anxiety and depression just like we might for high blood pressure.” She pointed to symptoms such as changes in your sleep whether that be not sleeping or sleeping too much or changes in your energy levels. More severe symptoms could be your heart racing. “The best way to assess is to keep a log,” Shumate encouraged. “Technology can be very helpful. If something does come up, you’ll have that information readily available.” Dr. Mitroo is accepting new patients at her clinic located at 3201 W. Tecumseh Rd., Suite 110. To schedule an appointment, call 405-515-1800. Patients can also self-refer to Norman Regional’s Outpatient Counseling Center, located at 700 S. Telephone Rd. in Moore. The center offers in-person and virtual therapy sessions for individuals 18 and older. To schedule an appointment, call 405-912-3485. – BSM

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Service Spotlight: Officers Chris Allison and Ben Gomez

wo officers with the Norman Police Department are part of a new effort to address long-term solutions for repeat crimes and offenders.

Chris Allison and Ben Gomez are heading the department’s new Proactive Policing Unit. “The intent is to use a targeted approach to crime,” Gomez explained. “We have specific problem people and problem areas that have been issues for Norman for quite some time. And it seems like there’s a revolving door of people just going to jail getting released, going into jail getting released. There’s not any long-term solution to that.” Both officers are employing data-driven, analytics of crime patterns and criminal behavior in Norman to decide where they might focus their efforts. They also work from intelligence developed by patrol officers. For instance, if a pattern of car thefts or burglaries occurs in a specific neighborhood over a definable period of time, Allison and Gomez will flex their time on duty to concentrate in that area, including being in specific neighborhoods at specific times when crimes have been occurring. 66 | May 2022

“What’s really cool about our unit is we can kind of deploy at any time,” Allison pointed out. “So, patrol comes to us and says they’re having an issue with, say, somebody stealing construction equipment at this certain time of night, we can go deploy at 2 a.m. and watch that and really try to immediately solve some of these crimes, instead of just waiting and waiting and hoping to capture somebody at a later time.” For repeat offenders, the officers are trying to ensure regular contact in an effort to prevent additional activity. “Our philosophy is we’re trying to contact people enough to where they either quit doing what they’re doing, they leave Norman, or they go to jail for an ex-

tended period of time where they cannot continue to behave as they have been,” Gomez said. “We try to give them those three options.” Allison also said the unit is working with the criminal element of Norman’s homeless population in an effort to find solutions that benefit all. “We’ve worked our municipal court to figure out kind of a reasonable way to deal with someone that is homeless and is being charged with certain crimes repeatedly,” Allison explained. “We’ve also been working with some of the homeless camps and the property owners to kind of figure out a dignified way to help the situation the best we can. We’ll go out and contact everybody and tell people what resources we have for them while giving them notices to vacate. We try to give them an extended period of time to do that, we’re not trying to go there and say, ‘you need to leave in 10 minutes.’” Allison emphasized the hope is to get transitory populations matched with services that are available, but that’s not always possible. “You have some people that are recently homeless because of events that may have happened, and have just fallen on hard times,” Gomez said. “With the right direction or a little bit of assistance, they have the capability to get their life straightened out again. You have people that either suffer severely

from mental health illness or drug addiction, or a combination of the two, that they’re not capable of living self-sufficiently long term. They can use these resources. And then you have folks out there who simply don’t want them and they’re content with the lifestyle.” In addition to Allison and Gomez, a lieutenant and a department captain are involved with the unit. The idea was adopted from similar programs that are being started nationwide. One of the benefits already being realized is an increase in the sharing of investigative intelligence. “We’ve kind of broken down a lot of our intel by our beats that patrol officers work,” Allison said. “We’ve tried to pass on the information to them, and we’ve had multiple officers already go out and do some really good work based on the Intel we’ve received. And we’ve received good intel from our patrol officers on things that we can follow up on. We’ve been able to go ahead and make an arrest or stop a crime that’s been constantly occurring.” Allison, who earned a degree in Film and Video Studies from the University of Oklahoma, is a 10-year veteran with Norman Police. Gomez is also an OU graduate with a degree in education. Both have served in Norman roles with the department, including as patrol officers.– BSM This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.

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What to Buy and What to Skip This May

he month of May kicks off summer and hosts one the biggest shopping holiday weekends of the year. Because of this, you can pick up fantastic deals this month, but some purchases are best pushed off a bit longer or for another season. Here’s what to buy and what to skip in May.

BUY: FURNITURE Memorial Day sales feature great prices on major home-related purchases. Look for new furniture like dinette sets, sofas and more at your favorite stores and through online sites. Sales often start a full week before Memorial Day, so shop early for the best selection.

SKIP: SWIMWEAR AND LINGERIE Beach season may be starting soon, but you’re best off waiting another month to pick up your new swimwear and lingerie. The sale cycle for these is set by lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret. The company usually hosts a semi-annual sale each June, and competing retailers are quick to join. Hold out just a little longer before perfecting your beach look for the season to save yourself a bundle!

BUY: ATHLETIC APPAREL AND LOUNGEWEAR It’s time for cooler workout clothing and that means retailers will be slashing prices on their leftover workout gear from the winter to make room for the new lines. You’ll also see bargain-priced loungewear as people get outside and spend less time indoors. If you need new footwear, check out major shoe retailers and department stores for steep discounts on sneakers as old styles must move to make room for the new.

SKIP: HOME ELECTRONICS May is not the time to pick up new electronics. Laptops, gaming consoles and more always see their lowest prices in November during Black Friday sales events. If you can’t wait that long, you can also find deals on electronics during the back-to-school shopping season in August.

BUY: SPRING APPAREL In the world of retail, May is well into the warm-weather season. Spring clothing will see steep discounts this month, so you can fill out your spring wardrobe without busting your budget. Check for sales on your favorite retailers’ social media pages, websites or by signing up for email and/or text alerts so you never miss a sale.

SKIP: SUMMER APPAREL 72 | May 2022

While spring clothing may be discounted in May, it’s still too early to start stocking up on summer wear. Leave the flip-flop and tank-top shopping for the July Fourth weekend, or even August, for truly bargain prices.

SKIP: OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND GRILLS There’s lots of grilling holidays coming up, including Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, but hold off on purchasing a new grill for now. Grills will be steeply discounted at the end of the summer during Labor Day sale events. If you must buy a new grill for this season, though, you can find them at slightly lowered prices during Memorial Day sales.

BUY: MAJOR HOME APPLIANCES Is your fridge on its last legs? Is your oven about to give out? Pick up major home appliances for less during Memorial Day sale events. You can also replace or buy new small home appliances like coffee makers, blenders and more during these sales. Be sure to check out competing retailers before making a purchase to ensure you’re getting the best price on your appliance.

SKIP: OUTDOOR FURNITURE With all the time spent outside in these warm-weather months, you’re likely itching to upgrade your patio furniture. However, it’s best to hold off on these purchases until Labor Day weekend sale events, when prices can be slashed by as much as 50%.

BUY: MATTRESSES AND BEDDING If you’re itching to upgrade the quality of your sleep, you can pick up new mattresses at bargain prices during Memorial Day sales. Check out major retailers, like Macy’s and Sleepy’s, as well as online sources, like Overstock.com, for the best prices. You can deck out your new mattresses in stylish and comfy bedding for less this month as well.

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Summer Time Summer Wine

t’s time to sit on the patio, or by the pool, and sip some chilled wine. But keeping your glass the perfectly chilled temperature can be a challenge. My pro tip: refreezable plastic cubes won’t water wine down. There are also some neat refreezable icicles that keep an entire bottle cold, very helpful on a hot day. So what is the perfect wine to fill that chilled glass? In summer, even dedicated red wine drinkers will drink white wine. However, if your preference is still red, then you will probably be happiest with a traditional chardonnay, with its heavier structure and full body. Or you can serve your cabernet sauvignon at cellar temperature, 60°F, rather than room temperature to bring a new dimension to your glass on a hot day. Twenty to thirty minutes in the refrigerator should do it. Pool friendly single serve wines in cans now abound. Slightly fizzy Barefoot Refresh offers several wine flavors. Flip Flop, white or red, come in four packs that total a liter of wine. French winemakers have joined

76 | May 2022

the canned wine market with Pampelonne, a Rosè Lime soft wine and Sangria. Stella Rosa offers an aluminum bottle and you can even get Canella Bellini in a pool friendly container. Put a mixture in the cooler and you’re ready to party. Another intriguing wine, although not new, is Blanc de Bleu. This dry blueberry sparkling wine is both pretty and fun. You can add sparkle to summer mornings or evenings with individual servings of Prosecco, Lamarca or Cupcake. Individual servings mean a fresh glass every time with no waste. Finally, if wine is not really your thing, Stoli has come out with a wine-based Ginger Mixer, perfect for a Moscow Mule. Other great serving suggestions are on the side of the box containing four cans. Enjoy the heat! Kathy

T HE DI N E G U I DE

the DINE guide

80 | May 2022

Legends Restaurant & Catering

Sauce It Up

Legends has served the Norman community and

Sauce It Up serves high-quality pizza, pasta and subs

the University of Oklahoma for over 50 years.

that can be grabbed fast, on the go, or enjoyed while

Legends is a stunning, intimate, casually up-scale

watching your favorite sports in the restaurant.

family-owned restaurant that is perfect for business

With an extensive appetizer, salad, pizza, sub and

meetings, gatherings, romantic dinners or casual

pasta menu, Sauce It Up has something delicious

meals. Private dining rooms and catering available.

for everyone in the family.

1313 W Lindsey St. • 405.329.8888

2627 Classen Blvd Ste. 104 • 405.857.7795

The Turn Grill @ Westwood Golf Course

405 Burger Bar

Located at the Westwood Golf Course on the SE

Do you like big buns and real meat on your burgers?

corner of NW 24th and Robinson, The Turn Grill

Then 405 Burger Bar is the place for you and your

offers a good meal at an affordable price to keep

family. Featuring an extensive burger menu, full bar

your energy up for your next round. Check out their

and multiple TVs to catch the game, all just a short

Launch & Lunch special including $2 range tokens

walk from OU’s stadium, 405 Burger Bar is perfect

and Happy Hours every weekday.

for both pre and post-game celebrations.

2400 Westport Dr • 405.360.7600

1429 George Ave • 405.500.6750

Gaberino’s Homestyle Italian

Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails

Gaberino’s is a family-owned Italian restaurant

Scratch’s menu is crafted entirely from scratch

located on Ed Noble Parkway. They feature

and features smokehouse bacon, pan-seared fish,

homestyle recipes made from scratch, with gluten-

farm-fresh veggies and slow-roasted meats. They

free, vegetarian, vegan and low-carb options.

have a plethora of custom cocktails that will leave

Gaberino’s provides in-house dining, patio dining,

you wanting more. Come taste the difference a true

delivery, online and takeout services.

fresh, from Scratch experience can make.

400 Ed Noble Parkway • 405.310.2229

132 W Main St • 405.801.2900

Spare Time Sports Grill

The Mont

Spare Time Sports Grill is inside Sooner Bowl and

You won’t find a better spot for lunch, dinner,

features delicious food beyond what you’d expect at

or drinks than The Mont’s famous patio. Enjoy

a bowling alley. Great burgers, salads, sandwiches

enticing entrees, burgers, Mexican delicacies and a

and appetizers enhance the bowling experience or

world-famous swirl. Is it your birthday? The Mont

provide a great lunch or dinner spot. Carry out or

is the perfect place for your big birthday blowout

dine-in available.

party with all of your friends.

550 24th Ave NW • 405.360.3634

1300 Classen Blvd • 405.329.3330

Service Station

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

The Service Station has been Norman’s favorite

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar specializes in preparing

neighborhood restaurant for 43 years. Stop by and

simple foods - such as the quintessential hamburger

try one of their famous burgers, sandwiches, salads,

- with a culinary passion to satisfy restaurant-goers’

steaks or seafood and grab a drink from their full

cravings like never before. The bar features an

bar. Enjoy a nice meal on the patio, inside the

ever-rotating selection of regional draft beers and

historic dining room or grab your food to go.

cocktails that are well beyond ordinary.

502 S Webster Ave • 405.364.2139

2050 24th Ave NW Ste 101 • 405.561.1067

Interurban

Penny Hill Deli Bar & Char

Interurban is a casual and fun concept featuring a

100% fresh meat. Handcrafted sandwiches. All-

wide variety of menu items catering to families, busy

natural ingredients. That’s what customers will

business professionals and baby boomers of all ages.

find when visiting Penny Hill Deli. Voted Norman’s

Their commitment to customers back in 1976 is the

favorite Deli for 14 years, the menu extends far

same today: good, fresh, quality food; reasonable

beyond normal deli offerings, with a full bar and

prices and friendly and attentive service.

multiple grilled entrees to entice all patrons.

1150 Ed Noble Dr. • 405.307.9200

1150 W Lindsey St. • 405.366.8767

Mr. Sushi

Thai Thai Asian Bistro

Mr. Sushi believes in quality and consistency, using

Thai Thai is a family-run restaurant serving

only the freshest ingredients to prepare and present

delicious, authentic Thai food in Norman for over

every dish with care. From Yellowtail Sashimi

a decade. Everything on their menu is made fresh

to their creative Captain Crunch Roll, there is

daily. Join them for dine in at their location on 24th

something on the menu for everyone. Dine-in, take-

Avenue NE near Tecumseh or take home a meal for

out and delivery options are available.

you or the entire family.

1204 N Interstate Dr. Ste 130. • 405.310.6669

3522 24th Ave NW Ste 100 • 405.310.2026

The Meating Place Located on Main St, just East of the railroad tracks, The Meating Place’s permanent location serves delicious high-quality barbecue, local beer, craft cocktails in a lively atmosphere. Join them for trivia night or stop by their food truck when you see it out and about around town. 121 E Main St. • 405.857.7431

Want to be included in our monthly Dine guide?

Call 405.321.1400 or contact us at sportstalk1400am@gmail.com

for more information on how you can be included every month! boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 81

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