SOUTH METRO
STANDARD YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
January 2024 • Issue 1 • Volume 1
A FAMILY LEGACY
Business Spotlight
Silver Star
Drake Stoops
Mr. Reliable
Commitment to Community
Simple Modern
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what’s inside
JANUARY CONTENTS 2024
ISSUE 1– VOLUME 1
14 A Commitment to Community
Simple Modern is rooted in foundational dedication to philanthropy.
16 Prioritizing Health
Strategies for a transformative fitness journey from local fitness experts.
20 49th Annual John Nobles Invitational Tenured basketball tournament showcases top talent.
24 Mr. Reliable
A legend’s son and former walk-on cements his own place in Sooner history.
32 OU Gymnastics Previews The Sooner women and men look to capture titles once again.
24
38 Building Beyond Boundaries
Silver Star Construction’s journey of growth and community impact.
42 Striving to be the Best
Norman Regional is home to six Centers of Excellence.
on the cover
Mark Doescher
MANAGING EDITOR
SOUTH METRO
STANDARD YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
January 2024 • Issue 1 • Volume 1
Lindsay Cuomo
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mark Doescher
CONTRIBUTORS
Roxanne Avery | Lindsay Cuomo Chelsey Koppari | Chris Plank T. J. Turner | Tim Willert
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Trevor Laffoon - trevor@kref.com Perry Spencer - perry@kref.com Tanner Wright - tanner@kref.com
PUBLISHER
Casey Vinyard
SOUTH METRO STANDARD
South Metro Standard 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.
A FAMILY LEGACY Business Spotlight
Silver Star
Drake Stoops
Mr. Reliable
Commitment to Community
sImple MODERN
10 A Family Legacy
Finn family earns prestigious honor for excellence in the sport of wrestling.
Cover photo by: Mark Doescher
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C OM MU NI T Y
A FAMILY LEGACY
Finn Family Earns Prestigious Honor for Excellence in the Sport of Wrestling
W
restling put the Finn family on the map in Oklahoma. But it is how John and Nancy Finn lived their lives that set up their five sons for success. “They were molding us to be good people in society,” recalled John Jacob Finn, 30, a Moore firefighter. “That always comes back to doing the right things, even when people aren’t looking.” The countless road trips and family dinners strengthened the bond between John and Nancy and sons Chris, 38, Dustin, 37, Patrick, 36, John Jacob, and Jordan, 27. “They were so hands on. I noticed that at an early age,” said Patrick Finn, an Edmond firefighter. “We
10 | January 2024
did everything as a family. If we couldn’t all go somewhere we didn’t go. “That’s how my dad was, he was big on family. Every Sunday we sat down as a family and had dinner. We did that until my mom passed.” Liver cancer took Nancy Finn, 65, a registered nurse, two years ago. The couple were married for 41 years. “She was the rock of the family,” said John Finn, 64, a longtime Westmoore High School wrestling coach and administrator who retired in 2022 after nearly four decades of service. “I want to believe that I held it together, but she was the one that did everything in the background.
BY: TIM WILLERT “She probably didn’t get the credit she deserved, but she never wanted to be in the limelight. That’s just the type of person she was, a very humble person.” When it came to raising their children, John and Nancy Finn were teammates who practiced what they preached. “They taught us anything can happen with hard work,” said Jordan Finn, a firefighter for the city of Oklahoma City. “They were always there for us … they were always responsible, respectful and caring.”
In 2014, John Finn was inducted into the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In October, the Finn family received the 2023 Madalene and Lee Roy Smith Family Award, which is given annually to a family with two or more wrestlers who have achieved excellence in the sport and brought recognition to the state. “It validates what you did and all the people you touched,” John Finn said. “It validates just how grand it is to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Summers were usually spent traveling in the family’s black Chevy Suburban to out-of-town wrestling tournaments in places like Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Dustin followed his father and older brother into coaching and is an assistant to head wrestling coach Will Evans at Westmoore.
“Typical families go on family vacations,” John Jacob said. “My family vacations were going to watch my brothers wrestle.”
“As a kid you see your parents always being there, not only for us, but for the people in their careers,” he said. “My mom was always working; she wouldn’t take days off. My dad was building a program.
Above all, John and Nancy Finn were committed to their marriage and raising their sons the right way. “There’s a lot of give and take that goes on throughout life,” Dustin Finn said. “You just know at the end of the day you’re committed to that person. “Me and my wife have been through a lot of things. One thing I’ve learned from my parents is being committed, no matter how hard or how easy things are, no matter what life throws at us. The one thing that stays constant is that commitment.” John Finn, an All-American wrestler at the University of Central Oklahoma, was hired to coach the Westmoore wrestling program when the school opened in 1998. Finn built the Jaguars’ program into a power that produced 11 individual state champions, 32 state place winners, 11 district team titles and a state runner-up finish in 2000. Chris Finn and his brothers were accomplished wrestlers who “grew up in the halls and the wrestling room of Westmoore.” “That’s where we spent most of our time, watching practice,” said Finn, a state wrestling champion at Westmoore who also starred in football for the Jaguars and coaches both sports at Tuttle High School. “We were all really competitive,” he continued. “We kind of fed off each other. That’s all we knew and saw. We were around football and wrestling. That was normal for us, being in a competitive environment growing up.” John Finn and four of his sons wrestled for the University of Central Oklahoma, with John, Chris and Dustin earning All-America honors for the Bronchos. John and Dustin, a three-time All-American, were the first father and son to be inducted into the UCO Hall of Fame. kref.com
“Looking at it as a kid, a lot of people were counting on them, and they were giving themselves to their communities. That’s what I always wanted to do. As a coach, I am able to give back to the kids and give back some of the knowledge that I have.” After coaching at Westmoore for 21 years, John Finn became an assistant principal at the school and served in that role for 16 years until retiring in 2022. As an administrator, Finn was skilled at developing and maintaining healthy relationships with students while also holding them to a high standard, according to former Westmoore Principal Mark Hunt. “John was extremely impactful on creating and maintaining the culture at Westmoore,” said Hunt, who knew Finn from their days as students at Moore High School and hired him to advise Westmoore sophomores as their assistant principal. “It was all about high expectations for student success in every program. “John has an innate ability to develop relationships with people where they trust him. He can work with the brightest and he can work with the kids that struggled. He has that ability to make that connection, where students believe he has their best interest in mind.” John Finn said he is regularly approached by former Westmoore students. “They tell me, ‘I just appreciate all the stuff you made me do, it made me be a better father and a better employee,’” he said. “We wanted to set the example that people live by. We didn’t know we were doing it, that’s just what we did until it was all done.”– SMS
SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 11
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C OM MU NI T Y
A C O MM I T M E NT TO C O M M U NI T Y
Simple Modern Rooted in Foundational Dedication to Philanthropy
14 | January 2024
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
“Being involved personally helps us stay connected. It is motivating to all of us.” - Chris Hoyle
I
f you’ve visited 19th Street in recent years, you’ve likely noticed an inviting three-story office building tucked in behind the shops on the west end of the Fritts Farm development. This unassuming structure is the headquarters of Simple Modern, an e-commerce company specializing in the sale of drinkware and consumer packaged goods. Simple Modern partners with some of the largest retailers in the world, including Amazon, Walmart and Target, serving customers in all 50 states and internationally. But what might surprise you is the altruistic genesis of Simple Modern – three friends, who are University of Oklahoma graduates and e-commerce experts, wanted to start a mission-driven, values-based company that gives generously. “Mike Beckham, Bryan Porter and Micah Ames wanted to create a company for good and they started with that concept even before they had a product,” said Chris Hoyle, chief marketing officer. Having dedicated seven years to Simple Modern, Hoyle takes pride in being part of an Oklahoma-based company. “We are proud to be Oklahomans and we want to represent Oklahoma well in all the places we are selling,” he shared. “We want people to see our products and know we are their neighbors, that our kids go to the same schools, that we are a part of the same communities.
“We don’t just want to write checks,” shared Hoyle. “Being involved personally helps us stay connected. It is motivating to all of us.” Simple Modern has partnered with several organizations including OKC Thunder. “It is fun to be connected with a local but national brand,” Hoyle shared. “They are doing a lot of great things and have a good platform that we can connect with.” Recently, Simple Modern introduced an employee stock option as an additional means to reinforce their commitment to generosity. “Now every employee in the company is an owner because we want everyone to succeed together,” Hoyle said. Within the Great Place to Work program, 99% of employees say Simple Modern is a great place to work which is well above the average of 57% nationally. Hoyle aspires for Simple Modern to inspire other entrepreneurs. “We hope we are an incubator for other entrepreneurs,” he said. “For those wondering can I build a business here? The answer is yes. You can do business here that is a benefit to your owners, employees and the community.”– SMS
“Oklahoma has a great talent pool – great, hardworking people.” Guided by their core values of excellence, generosity, trust, humility and collaboration, Simple Modern allocates 10 percent of annual profits to charitable causes, with a significant portion benefiting local initiatives in Oklahoma. A dedicated giving committee steers contribution decisions within the company’s core giving areas, encompassing clean water supply, education, the fight against human trafficking, support for marginalized communities and homelessness. Furthermore, employees are actively encouraged to engage with the community by utilizing paid time off to volunteer. kref.com
SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 15
C OM MU NI T Y
P R IO RI TI ZING HEALTH Strategies for a Transformative Fitness Journey from Local Fitness Experts
I
f you’re prioritizing fitness, co-owners of Burn Boot Camp, Alisha Jones and Casey Christian, advocate steering clear of gimmicks and quick fixes. Instead, focus on setting realistic goals aimed at lasting lifestyle changes, advises the fitness experts. “People should focus on one change at a time,” explained Christian. For instance, if you’re new to working out, set a goal to exercise once or twice a week.
16 | January 2024
“Once you’ve nailed that, move on to something else,” she encouraged. “Starting a new lifestyle is difficult, so you need to take one step at a time, which is why we offer 15-minute focus meetings to go over goals.” Jones emphasized that reframing motivation also helps maintain consistency. “It’s not about losing a bunch of weight,” she said. “I had to learn it is so much more than that, both mentally and physically. Once you get into
BY: ROXANNE AVERY
it, you’ll realize you want to be there to get strong and play with your kids and grandkids and want that healthy lifestyle. “Making it attainable is the only way to fit it into your busy life. Make it doable so you’re still there in six to twelve months, seeing those results you need.” Burn Boot Camp, located at 1344 N Interstate Drive in Norman, offers challenging and transformative 45-minute workouts comprising of an active warm-up, a challenging workout and a finisher. Having started as a member when the Norman location opened, Jones fell in love with the program and eventually bought half of the franchise. Christian, a trainer at Burn Boot Camp, bought the other half, making them full owners in 2019. The partners expanded their venture by opening another Burn Boot Camp location in March of this year, located at 849 SW 119th Street in Oklahoma City. “We feature high-intensity interval training and a mixture of strength and conditioning,” Christian said. “Our protocols and workouts are never going to be the same every week. This helps keep people from being bored.” Jones said what distinguishes Burn Boot Camp from other workout centers is that every personal trainer is a certified national trainer. Although some camps have over 40 people, everyone receives one-on-one attention. “We are community based,” Christian added. “Our members root and cheer for each other. It is the most awesome atmosphere around. We high five each other, have big smiles and just have fun. “It can be scary to come into a community, but we work hard to make everyone feel welcome. We’re all strong and we’re all rooting for each other and want everyone to achieve their goals.” Members can sign up a week in advance, and the first week for new members is always free, except in January when four weeks of camp are just $69. Free child watch is included with memberships . For more information, visit burnbootcamp.com.– SMS
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4 9T H A NNUAL J OH N N O BLES I N V I TATIONAL 20 | January 2024
BY: T.J. TURNER
Tenured Tournament Showcases Top Talent
S
ome of Oklahoma’s most talented squads are set to hit the court in hopes of securing victory at the esteemed John Nobles Invitational this January. The annual tournament is highly sought after by many of the state’s top teams and has, in the past, attracted formidable competition from out of state. Formerly known as the Moore Invitational, the John Nobles Invitational has been a fixture in the Oklahoma high school basketball scene since 1976. Established by the legendary Moore Lady Lion head coach, John Nobles, the tournament was renamed in his honor in 1991. During Nobles’ tenure at Moore, he made nine appearances in state tournaments, clinching three state titles. With an outstanding career record of 497-121, Nobles earned multiple accolades, including being voted National Coach of the Year. Today, the John Nobles Invitational brings together top-tier teams, transcending school class distinctions. Oklahoma, with its rich basketball history, views the tournament as a standard-setter, according to Chad Mashburn, former athletic director at Moore, now serving as Westmoore’s athletic director. “The John Nobles Invitational is a part of the tradition of great basketball,” Mashburn said. “People come from far and wide just to be in the tournament.” This year marks the 49th occurrence of the tournament, hosted at the Douglas H. Frederick Sports Complex in Moore. “It is an honor to host the John Nobles Invitational each year,” said Courtney Walker, Moore’s current athletic facilitator. “We are blessed to showcase our facilities while enjoying the incredible talent of the athletes and coaches that participate.” The John Nobles Invitational is scheduled for Jan. 18-20.
GIRLS BRACKET The girls bracket boasts an impressive lineup of talent this year. The Class 6A Moore Lady Lions, fresh off their victory at the Cleveland Invitational, are a team to watch. Spectators should also keep an eye on the defending champions, the Class 5A Midwest City Lady Bombers, who clinched the title at the John Nobles Invitational last season. Midwest City recently faced stiff competition at the Joe Lawson Memorial Invitational in Norman, finishing in third place. The tournament will also feature the Choctaw Yellowjackets, the 2022 champions, and the Class 6A kref.com
Owasso Lady Rams, who secured victory at the Bishop Kelly Invitational. The tough Class 3A Millwood Lady Falcons are poised to make an impact, along with the Class 6A Bixby Spartans, who are off to a 3-1 start this season.
BOYS BRACKET On the boys’ side, the Class 6A Westmoore Jaguars aim to defend their title after securing victory at the John Nobles Invitational last season. The Moore Lions are off to a strong start, finishing in second place at the Tahlequah Invitational. Fans can anticipate an impressive performance from the Class 3A Millwood Falcons, who gained valuable experience in a tournament setting at the Hays City Shootout in Kansas. The Putnam City Pirates, with solid experience from the Lawton Great Plains Invitational, are also set to compete. The Class 4A Ardmore Tigers, finishing second at the Madill Winner Classic, and the Class 5A Carl Albert Titans are among the contenders eyeing victory. The Class 4A Ada team has started the season strong and is poised to make a run for the title at the John Nobles Invitational.– SMS
SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 21
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24 | January 2024
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R E L I A B L E
O
BY: CHRIS PLANK
klahoma football needed someone to stand up and show there was still something to play for in 2023. Sooner fans needed to know that, despite heartbreaking back-to-back losses, it all still mattered, and the Sooners were not going to fade away. Much like his father did when the Sooners were left without a coach following the 2021 season, Drake Stoops stepped up and delivered the message that everyone needed to hear. “For me, there’s a lot left to play for,” Drake said. “I bust my tail year-round for this, for six years now. So, I’m not listening to what people say. I don’t care if we’re 0-8 right now, I’m playing ball because I love to play football. “I love my teammates. I love my coaches. I love the University of Oklahoma. I have a lot of pride in this place. So, I’m going to go hard every single day and do everything I possibly can to see us win.” The Sooner Nation needed a spark, and during that media session after practice, the Sooner legend provided just that. Much like he did many times on the field. The charge and challenge worked. Drake set career highs in two of his final three games and helped lead the Sooners to a 10-win season in his final season in a Sooner uniform.
OU DNA Drake blazed his own path, and his final act was among the most impressive. From walkon to crucial part of OU’s offense, he built a legacy that stands on its own. The path to Oklahoma was one that he knew well. His legendary father Bob Stoops is the all-time winningest coach at Oklahoma and football was always part of Drake’s life. “Growing up in a coach’s family like I did, being around football all my life, gave me a different perspective on the game and the college football world,” Drake said. “Seeing my dad work so hard really instilled in me that I wanted to do that for myself, but I didn’t want to ride his coattails. I wanted to work hard myself and chase something within myself.” Drake starred as a multi-sport athlete at Norman North, but on the gridiron is where he truly shined. He finished his high school career with 201 catches for 3,390 yards and 39 touchdowns and, during his senior season, he caught 67 passes for 1,093 yards and 15 scores. He also helped lead Norman North to its sec SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 25
ond-ever State Championship game during his junior season when he caught 86 passes for 1,536 yards and scored 20 TDs. Despite being viewed as undersized coming out of high school, Drake had several full scholarship offers to play college football including from his father’s alma mater Iowa. Other schools like Memphis, Ohio, Western Kentucky, and Air Force were interested, but he decided to bet on himself. Drake spurned the scholarship offers and decided to walk on at the University of Oklahoma. “That’s always been my goal to make my own name and do something with my own life,” Stoops said of growing up around Oklahoma football. “It was an incredible influence. Seeing what it looked like, how much it would take and watching the players and admiring them. They were superheroes to me. “Now, being in that position, it’s definitely come full circle and I’m glad I had that growing up because it gave me a lot of perspective and a lot of insight on what it was going to take.”
BUILDING THE FOUNDATION Drake caught a pass in his very first college football game. It came with 11:20 to go in the first half of a blowout win over Florida Atlantic. As soon as the catch was made the crowd roared with the chant of Stoooooooooops. The chat would stick and be a constant cheer every time he touched the football during his Sooner career. “Hearing my name has always meant a lot to me,” Drake said of the chant. “Just embracing me like that. I don’t know — it’s made me my own man, and kind of stepping out of my dad’s shadow, which was hard for me early on in my career. It just feels almost like vindication for a lot of hard work and adversity.”
But adversity would hit in a way that no one could have imagined after the end of the 2021 regular season. Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to take the head coach job at USC. Bob Stoops would return to serve as the interim coach for the Sooners in the Alamo Bowl game against Oregon. Bob Stoops would finally get to coach his boy. Despite having retired before ever getting to coach Drake in a Sooner uniform, Bob Stoops finally got the opportunity and Drake made the most of it. Drake scored a touchdown in the Sooners’ 47-32 triumph against the Ducks, adding to an experience that Bob Stoops described as “a chance of a lifetime.” “It was really awesome,” Bob Stoops said after the Alamo Bowl. “What a chance of a lifetime to be on the field with my son one time and to win the game, but it was more than that. I have such an investment in the University of Oklahoma and OU football, so to help them finish the season in a positive way was really cool.” Under a new head coach and a new offense, Drake saw a bigger role in the offense and started 10 games. He finished the season posting 39 catches for 393 yards and three touchdowns — all career highs. “Just a baller,” Venables said. “Just always doing the little things right. Whether he’s cracking somebody to set up a run or a screenplay or making the third-down catch - making the extraordinary catch look ordinary - then his ability to run after the catch is different. He bounces off guys. He breaks a lot of tackles. He runs through trash, can make guys miss in a phone booth. “His toughness and grit - that’s what you want in your whole program” The strong finish to the 2022 season left Drake with a decision, play another season in the Crimson and Cream or take a shot at the NFL. Drake decided to return.
While the two catches during his first career game would be his only two catches of the season, it was historic. It’s believed to be the first and only time in Sooner history that a true freshman walk-on recorded a catch in a season opener.
The son of a legend, who walked on to the school where his dad became a Hall of Famer, developed into a difference maker and an NFL prospect but chose to return for a sixth season.
His reps and opportunities increased during his sophomore season, but he started to break out during his third season in a Sooner uniform. After missing the season opener in 2020, Drake registered his first career touchdown against Kansas State, finishing with a career high at the time of three catches for 93 yards.
Drake has caught passes from nine different quarterbacks during his time in a Sooner uniform. But no one clicked with Drake like Dillon Gabriel did. Heading into the Alamo Bowl, Drake has more touchdowns during the 2023 season than he did in his previous 5 years combined.
But the most memorable moment of that season for Drake was his game-winning touchdown catch against Texas as the Sooners won in four overtimes. He finished the season with 15 catches for 219 yards and two scores. After receiving a scholarship before the 2021 season, Drake stayed consistent, catching 16 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. 26 | January 2024
FINISHING STRONG
He’s also nearly doubled his career catches and yardage in one season alone. “Drake is … he’s unreal, honestly. He’s always open. He’s a competitor. He’s my best friend,” Gabriel said. “The way he plays, it’s inspiring and it’s motivating and having a guy like him right by me is something I’m grateful for.”
kref.com
SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 27
In back-to-back games this season against Oklahoma State and West Virginia, Drake went over the 100-yard mark in receiving yards in a game for the first time in his career. In the loss to Oklahoma State, Drake caught 12 balls for 134 yards.
that’s discrediting all the work Drake has put into his career, his instincts, his consistency and his ability to make plays. He’s special. Players love being around him. I’m really thankful for what he brings to the locker room every single day.
Against West Virginia, Drake caught 10 balls for a career-high 164 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns in a statement win for the Sooners that sparked a 3-game winning streak to finish the season.
“That’s who he’s been, man - Mr. Reliable.”
“He was one of them guys that did the dirty work, setting the example,” fellow receiver Jalil Farooq said. “He didn’t need no camera in front of him to put the work in.” Drake finished with over 100 yards receiving in three of the last four games, setting and matching a career high for catches. “He’s just tough,” Venables said. “People say he’s a coach’s kid, but he’s a fantastic football player. I think 28 | January 2024
Drake’s season totals are even more impressive. He finished the regular season leading the Big 12 in receptions (78) and receiving touchdowns (10), and he also ranks second in receiving yards (880). He is enjoying the best campaign of his six-year career. And even though it’s coming to an end, his legacy at OU continues to grow.
THE LEGACY “He’s had to overcome a lot, one being a coach’s kid, right?” Venables said. “He walked on, but he never was bitter about the things that he’s had to overcome. He’s allowed his name and his opportunity to be a
blessing. When it’s time to compete, he loves to compete and he doesn’t care who it’s against.” The son of a legend has blazed his own path. His goal coming out of high school has been accomplished. “He is OU football,” former Sooner offensive coordinator and current Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby said. “If I’m fortunate enough to be able to do this for 20-25 more years, I might not ever have the opportunity to coach a guy like Drake Stoops again. I’m just so proud of what he’s been able to accomplish.” “He’s exhausting this moment in his life,” Venables said. “I love that. As opposed to hurrying up to get onto the next thing like everybody else tries to get you to do, he’s like, ‘No, college is too fun, and I’ve got a lot of developing still to do.’ “There are no mulligans. You get one chance. So, make the most of college, which, as we all know, is the most transformational time of your life. It’s going kref.com
to be one of the most enriching times in your life and help propel you for the rest of your life. He’s got wisdom beyond his years.” Drake is a five-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree and in 2022 was nominated for the Campbell Trophy, known as college football’s “academic Heisman.” He stays involved in the community and is active with many different charities including Meals on Wheels. Drake did what he set out to do, in the shadow of one of the biggest names in the history of Oklahoma Sooner Football. He forged his own legacy, one that will serve as a foundation for years to come in the Oklahoma locker room and amongst Sooner fans. “You don’t really know your impact and your legacy until you’re gone, and you look back,” Drake said. “I would want to be remembered as a good teammate, a good leader, someone that was always doing the right thing, whatever it takes to see his team win.”– SMS SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 29
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J Kindler has built a dynasty with the Oklahoma Women’s Gymnastics team. Grand expectations and championship aspirations are nothing new for the Sooners. Oklahoma has won six of the last nine NCAA team titles and the titles in 2022 and 2023 mark the second time they’ve won back-to-back crowns, having been national champions in 2016 and 2017. As the Sooners prepare to tackle a challenging 2024 schedule, they will look to become just the third program in women’s gymnastics to win three straight national titles and the first since Georgia in 2005, 2006 and 2007. “Because the expectation is there, because you’re the favorite, people are expecting (so much),” said OU Women’s Gymnastics Head Coach KJ Kindler. “It was the hardest thing we did that year (2017). You put yourself in that position, and you got to be able to handle that.” Kindler enters her 18th season as the Sooner head coach and while the program has never been stronger, it’s hard not to reflect on the incredible success over the last 10 seasons.
GYM U Women 32 | January 2024
“I always remember there is that intense pressure after you win to go win again. The comparison between the two championships are so immensely different, not just the journey but the actual championships,” Kindler said. “Our team led the whole meet, but it is difficult to lead. I almost feel like the year before when we came from behind was more glorious, but at the same time the ability to lead and keep your lead the whole time is more difficult and more stressful. I’m so proud of those women and our seniors … we’re missing them.” But any amount of reflection on the past is short lived. Kindler and her veteran staff including Lou Ball, Tom Haley and Ashley Kerr are
BY: CHRIS PLANK always focused on what’s next, pushing to be better year in and year out. And the key to matching the title run of the past two seasons starts at an event that Kindler is all too familiar with. “As a coach, you’re always projecting forward,” Kindler said. “It’s not that you’re not in the moment, but because you’re out there recruiting. You know what you have to replace. “On beam this season, that is probably the biggest impact - trying to find that athlete who is going to be your starter and get your team off to a good beginning.” Dunn had been a beam specialist for Oklahoma for all four of the seasons she competed for the Sooners. Trautman, who will be joining the Sooners in 2024 as an assistant coach, wrapped up her distinguished career with 10 All-American honors including two on beam. Now Kindler is challenged to replace the historic production. “We’re still going back and forth on our options and what the best decision to make is. We’re trying different things,” Kindler said of the competition on the beam. “We have some ideas and strategies that we’re still considering. We have so many good balance beam performers and we have talented depth.” Even with the lost production of Trautman and a record-setting senior class, the Sooner lineup is loaded. Junior Jordan Bowers returns after winning a pair of NCAA All-America honors (on floor and in the all-around). In her career, she has now notched 12 All-America honors and in doing so joined OU legend Maggie Nichols as the only Sooners in program history to garner five regular-season All-America honors. Katherine (Kat) LaVasseur returns after claiming All-American honors on the vault last season and 4-time NCAA All-American Ragan Smith is back looking to set the career mark for perfect tens. She is currently second in Sooner history with five and has added to her difficulty on the vault. “As a team, I think vault is most impressive right now because we have so many 10,0 start values,” Kindler said. “That’s something that all coaches across the country are aiming for and it’s a very difficult thing to do.” Add in the return of All-Americans like Danielle Seavers, Danae Fletcher and Audrey Davis and the Sooner line-up is loaded. “We’re very much an all-around team. We’re strong on all four events and we have some newcomers that are going to make a huge impact,” Kindler said. “Freshmen Keira Wells and Hannah Scheible will be on two or three events and if they aren’t in those events, they are going to be the alternate knocking on the door. Excited to add them to the mix.” kref.com
Wells and Sheible were two of the top recruits in the country. Despite joining a roster loaded with All-Americans, both have an opportunity to be major contributors in their first season in Norman. “They are both national vault champions and both are in the vault lineup. At our inter-squad, in their very first meet, they both scored 9.9.” Kindler said of the impressive freshmen. “Those two are dynamos. They have a lot of promise and I’m super excited about them.” Faith Torrez wowed in her first season at Oklahoma. The Bristol, Wisconsin product was a first-team All-American on the vault and floor and was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. During the offseason, she got even better. “We saw Faith do an incredible job last year. She is on fire, better than she has ever been,” Kindler said. “She’s only a sophomore but she has come into her own. Her personality is showing through. Excited about the progress she made in the offseason.” As the loaded roster prepares for another run at a National Championship, Kindler has not relied on the same approach year in and year out. And with an increasingly difficult schedule ahead, Oklahoma is prepared to defend its crown with a solid balance of veteran leadership and talented newcomers. “We put some new strategies in place and I feel good about it,” Kindler said. “There are a lot of challenges along the way, and I feel like we’re in a really good place. “I love the chemistry of this team. I love their comradery. I love the way they are feeding off each other. These women have taken charge, and you just love to see that.” With high expectations, a loaded roster and an exciting schedule, the 2024 Oklahoma Women’s Gymnastics team will be appointment viewing. The only thing missing is you. “Sooner Nation, we need to pack the LNC,” Kindler said. “That place needs to be full, not a seat available. We can’t wait to see you there.”– SMS SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 33
OU S P O RT S
T
he Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics team has long been the standard in collegiate men’s gymnastics. The Sooners have won 12 National Championships including four in a row from 2015 to 2018. Under the guidance of legendary head coach Mark Williams, the Sooners have captured 53 individual national title honors and have developed 335 All-Americans. Despite history and tradition and years of continued success, the hunted has become the hunter. Stanford has won the last four National Championships, and the Sooners are looking to recapture the title and bring it home to Norman. “You’d like to be on top and stay on top… It’s a good place to be. But a lot of times, it’s a little bit different game when you’re coming up from behind and you’re the underdog,” Williams said of chasing Stanford. “In a lot of ways, it forces me to kind of go back and make sure I’m flexible, I’m changing things and I’m doing things differently for the team chemistry. “I’m always questioning how we can be better and how we can meet that standard that is in front of us.” Despite coming up short of the title in 2023, Williams may have completed one of his best coaching jobs. Battling through injury and adversity, the Sooners still notched a fourth place finish last year. Wiliams and the team never gave up, and now a unique and deep roster will look to take the Sooners back to the top of the mountain.
GYM U Men 34 | January 2024
“I think we have experience. Last year, we lost some guys to injury, and we were scrambling during 2023,” Williams said. “But the good news coming out of our intrasquad was that we had five guys for each team competing on every event. We’re ten deep on all the apparatus and we haven’t been that deep in a while. That’s a positive.”
BY: CHRIS PLANK Oklahoma lost four graduating seniors, and all were 5th-year student athletes who took advantage of the extra COVID year. With eight true freshmen and several stars returning from injury, the Sooners may be even deeper despite the production that was lost.
now… but there is a pretty big separation between that level and where Stanford and Oklahoma have been,” Williams acknowledged. “With Stanford, it’s been a good rivalry. We’re excited we get the chance to meet Stanford once or twice a year.”
“Getting Fuzzy Benas back, who had been a phenom his freshman year but was out all of last year with shoulder surgery, an Achilles tendon injury and surgery to his hand, has been huge,” Williams said. “He looks better than ever. He’s leading us back as a redshirt sophomore along with Jack Freeman who is one of our captains.
One thing that Williams has consistently done is schedule a challenging slate for the Sooners to prepare them for the postseason. Oklahoma will make trips to Ann Arbor and Palo Alto to challenge themselves against Michigan and Stanford, and to prove the importance of growing the sport, the Sooners battle Simpson College on the road as well.
“Dan Simmons is a captain and I call him Diesel Dan because you can’t stop the kid. He just keeps going. Along with Zach Nunez, who is also a senior, they’ve been doing a really good job of leading this young group into a place where we are in better shape than we were last year.”
“We’ve put together a very challenging schedule, facing the top three teams at the NCAA Championships last season – Illinois, Michigan and Stanford, twice – all away from home,” Williams said. “We’re excited to be hosting the conference championships in Norman at the end of the regular season, and then finishing up with the national championships at Ohio State.
In 2022, Benas was named CGA Rookie of the Year and earned All-American in the all-around. Having his skill and athleticism back is a big deal for the Sooners. But not many Sooners created as much buzz as junior Emre Dodanli did during the off-season. Dodanli earned a place on Turkey’s National Team after his performance at the FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Belgium. “Dodanli went to the World Champ for Turkey and Turkey had never qualified for the Olympics. He was on a team that got them there so he’s going to be competing in Paris next year with the Turkish national team,” Williams said of Dodanli. “That’s pretty impressive. He’s been a kid that’s improved a lot since he’s gotten here. He’s competed in four events for us, and he’s excited about doing pommel horse and rings which are events he hasn’t always been the best at. “He’s elevating us, his floor, his vault, his high bar is amazing. A lot of guys are having to respond to keep up with Emre.” In the middle of building a Championship roster and trying to chase down Stanford, Williams has been integral in the continued growth of men’s gymnastics at the Division I level. Currently, only 15 schools compete in men’s gymnastics on the Division I level and that number only grew to that size last year with the addition of Greenville and Simpson College. Even amid a heated chase for the top spot, Williams is still bullish on building the sport and trying to increase the competitive balance from top to bottom. “We’re excited about that expansion, and we certainly want to grow the number of teams from where it is
“Our away schedule, competing at Illinois, at Michigan and at Stanford, creates really difficult competitions where we’re going to have to be at our best during the regular season. Those will be events where we’ll have to rise to the occasion knowing those are very good teams, and not getting to face them at home makes it a little more challenging.” The Sooners will also welcome the return of the MPSF Championships to Norman and McCasland Field House for the first time since 2019. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation is the conference home for Sooners Men’s Gymnastics and the last time McCasland Field House hosted the Championship the Sooners walked away with the title. At that time, it was their eight of nine consecutive MPSF titles. The 2024 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics team is as deep as it has been in years. As Williams begins the pursuit of National Championship number 13, he knows one of the biggest difference makers is the health of his squads and for the Sooners to continue to have a difference-making home crowd. “We hear from the other teams. They don’t like coming to the Field House because it’s a big advantage for us,” Williams said of the home crowd difference. “They’re loud, they’re into it… they know the gymnastics. “We’ve had the highest home attendance in the sport for a while now and we have all our meets are televised on ESPN+. Opponents know they must be on their game when they come in. We need our crowd to continue to be a difference maker.”– SMS
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C OM MU NI T Y
S I LV E R S TA R C O N S T R U C T I O N
38 | January 2024
BY: CHELSEY KOPPARI
Building Beyond Boundaries: A Journey of Growth, Values and Community Impact
I
n 1978, while a student at the University of Oklahoma, Steve Shawn bought a dump truck and started delivering sand for local home builders in Moore. That company, then called Steve’s Truck and Tractor Service, grew into what is now Silver Star Construction. Since 1981, Silver Star has steadily grown. Craig Parker joined the business in 1992, bringing with him asphalt knowledge. The company’s president, Tim Caudle, started as an intern for Silver Star in 1996 while he was a construction science student at OU. At the time, there were just over 30 employees, while today there are over 300, he said. The company offers a wide range of services, including mass dirt work, stabilization, concrete paving, asphalt paving, drainage and bridge work, surveying, clearing and grubbing and municipal public work. Additionally, Silver Star Construction has three sister companies: Accurate Points Surveying, a fully licensed survey company; Paving Materials, an asphalt plant; and Frontier Bridge, a highway bridge contractor based out of Okarche. According to Caudle, Shawn originally chose Moore for his business because that’s where his apartment was located while he was in college. As he built his connections in the community, he also put down roots. Caudle said the company’s location at 2401 Broadway Ave is the only place it’s ever been, and Shawn is still heavily involved in Silver Star today. Silver Star Construction distinguishes itself by being an employee-owned enterprise. Shawn and Parker sold the company to the employees, and this unique ownership structure fosters a remarkable synergy within the organization, Caudle said, emphasizing a shared responsibility for success. In recent years, Silver Star has embraced a values-based approach, championing principles of safety, dependability, relationships, innovation and quality. This cultural shift was initiated by the employees themselves, reflecting their collective vision for what Silver Star represents as a company. “What that entails is any day-to-day decisions, any decisions in the office or in the field are made in accordance with our core values, whether or not we’re rewarded for that decision,” Caudle explained. “Our core values are plastered throughout the organization, and that stamp is on everything we do.” The relationships value can be seen through Silver
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Star’s dedication to community outreach. In late 2012, the company established a community team to help coordinate these efforts. Since this team is made up of different people who have different causes that speak to them, Silver Star supports a variety of charities and organizations, Caudle said. Some of these include Bridges of Norman, Santa Fe Place, Moore Pawsabilities, Support the Kid, Crimestoppers, Santa Express, Regional Food Bank, the Women’s Resource Center of Norman, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Norman, local schools, youth sports and more. “As a business, it’s important to be part of the community and be bought into the people in the community,” Caudle said. “It’s great getting to meet a lot of people who work intricately in these areas that really make a difference. Being involved also gives us the opportunity to meet people involved in other organizations not in our industry but who also live in our community and donate their time and efforts the same way, which we enjoy doing as well.” – SMS SOUTH METRO STANDARD | 39
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H EA LT H
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
STRIVING TO BE THE BEST Norman Regional is Home to Six Centers of Excellence
Y
ou’ve likely read the announcements or come across a billboard or plaque declaring various departments within the Norman Regional Health System as a Center of Excellence, but what does that mean? We sat down with Sara Barba, Norman Regional’s manager of Centers of Excellence and Accreditation, to decode what a Center of Excellence really is and what it means for patient care. Barba shared that the definition of a Center of Excellence can vary from hospital to hospital, but at NRH, these prestigious certifications are awarded by esteemed national organizations seeking to recognize the highest standards of care. “Currently Norman Regional has six Centers of Excellence – in bariatric, cardiovascular, stroke, in-patient rehabilitation, orthopedics and perinatal care,” she said. “These departments are broad service lines that cover a very large population of our patients.” To be named a Center of Excellence, hundreds of requirements and evidence-based processes must be in place, and once the distinction is awarded, “you have to continue to excel,” explained Barba. “We are constantly looking at our performance and where we can improve. We are never satisfied,” she said. “Healthcare is one of the fastest changing industries, and we are dedicated to keeping up with the newest and best practices because that is what is best for our patients. 42 | January 2024
“It is always about the patients and these accreditations have helped drive us forward.” Factors such as patient data and direct patient care as well as staff education and community outreach all come into play. “For example, for diseases like heart disease and stroke, prevention is very important so we educate the community about prevention, how to recognize the symptoms, and what to do in an emergency so we can have better patient outcomes,” Barba said. Additional resources include post- and pre-operative care education as well as support groups for patients and caregivers, among others. Ultimately, a Center of Excellence accolade means “every patient that comes into the health system can know they are getting the very best care,” offered Barba. Barba’s department is now sharing what they’ve learned navigating the six certifications and numerous other accreditations with other hospitals nationally. Her team is in the process of composing an article for an industry publication. “It’s not easy to do,” she said. “We are now pulling together what we’ve learned and sharing it with other hospitals.” To learn more, visit normanregional.com/why-norman. – SMS
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