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MANEK MENTALITY
Junior forward Brady Manek shoots the ball during the game against West Virginia Feb. 8 at the Lloyd Noble Center.
JACKSON STEWART/THE DAILY
As Brady Manek’s family and high school coach reflect on the junior forward’s journey from Harrah to Norman, his work ethic positions him for further success CHANDLER ENGELBRECHT @ctengelbrecht
Brady Manek’s phone kept ringing. It was the summer of 2015, just a few months before he would begin his junior season at Harrah High School in Oklahoma. After he finished his sophomore year, in which he averaged just under 11 points per game and helped the Panthers reach the Class 4A semifinals, those calls, texts and other notifications were coming from schools interested in the then-6foot-7 forward. Universities such as G e o rg e t ow n , Ma rq u e tt e,
Wake Forest, Oklahoma State and Tulsa were reaching out to Manek — but he wasn’t answering. Cary Manek, Brady’s father, recalled Brady’s tendency to let the phone ring on most of his recruiting calls didn’t come from a lack of interest in continuing his playing career — it was because his mind was already made up. “He’d look at his phone and tell me, ‘Oh, this is coach whoever from wherever,’ and I’d look at him and say, ‘Answer it,’ but he’d always say, ‘I don’t want to,’” Cary said. “After putting up with that for about a month, I asked him, ‘What’s the hang up? Why won’t you answer these calls? People would die to be in the situation that you are.’
“He looked at me and said, ‘Why would I consider a school like that when I’ve got OU 45 minutes away from the house? ... I’m gonna go to OU.’” Manek would later commit to the Sooners, who were the first to extend an offer, in October of that year. He was Oklahoma’s first commitment in its 2017 recruiting class. Now, more than halfway through his junior season at OU, Manek has gone from just a catch-and-shoot forward in head coach Lon Kruger’s offense to a more well-rounded offensive and defensive player. Along with being the Big 12’s third-leading scorer so far this season, averaging almost 16 points per game on a shooting
percentage just above 47 percent, Manek has already made as many 3-pointers as he did last season, and he’s done so on 23 fewer attempts and in 12 fewer games. He’s also recorded more blocks this season than in either of his previous years with the Sooners, and he’s significantly cut down his total amount of turnovers. On top of that, Manek has cemented himself into the Sooner history books twice this season. Manek became the 46th Sooner ever to join the 1,000-career points club as he posted a career-high 31 points in Oklahoma’s win over TCU, 83-63, on Jan. 18. Two weeks later, on Feb. 1, Manek’s seven made 3-pointers in the Sooners’
82-69 win over Oklahoma State marked another career-high and moved him into the No. 10 spot on Oklahoma’s career 3-pointer list with 171 career makes. While those accomplishments are enough to be proud of, they don’t come as a surprise to Manek and those who have surrounded him on his journey from Harrah’s basketball gym to the Lloyd Noble Center. “As (Brady) grew up, even when he was playing kids a couple years older than him, he could always put the ball in the hole,” Cary said. “It was just a matter of him getting in the right situation and being with see MANEK page 5
Gallery features women artists over 40 Show focuses on art careers pushed aside, begun later in life ABBY TOW @abby_tow
Ginna Dowling was 50 years old when she decided art school was her latest ambition. With one son in high school and a career behind her, she said she found herself hard-pressed to find opportunities for older women artists. That’s why she and Norman Arts Council executive director Erinn Gavaghan created an exhibit for women like her. Norman Art Council’s newest exhibit, “40 Over 40: Women Artists of Oklahoma,” will feature art from 40 Oklahoma women 40 and older at Mainsite Contemporary Art gallery opening on Feb. 14. “There are a lot of things for emerging artists and younger artists,” Dowling said. “I was well over 40 when I went back to school, so that was always a pet peeve of mine.” Gavaghan and Dowling sorted through almost 100 submissions before settling on a body of work they said was representative of their vision. The exhibit will feature several mediums including sculpture, painting and mixed-media art. The namesake of the exhibit in part came from Interstate Highway 40, which runs through the entire state of Oklahoma. This symbolizes the exhibit’s
showcase of artists from all over the state, Gavaghan said. One of those artists, Amanda Boehm-Garcia, is the current outreach coordinator for OU’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Her job involves reaching audiences outside of the immediate OU art community on and off-campus. Boehm-Garcia’s series of floral drawings, “Triptych, In Silence Flowers Speak,” will appear in the exhibit. The drawings are part of her larger work, “Forget Me Knots,” which explores the concept of floriography — a Victorian-era practice where flowers were sent between people to express emotions when it was considered taboo, BoehmGarcia said. Boehm-Garcia grew up in a military family, and through her current job as an outreach coordinator she works with veterans from multiple generations through art-centered programming. She said the series of drawings was inspired by the effects of trauma she witnesses in her work with the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. “You have veterans from Vietnam ... memories that are kind of old. Then I have some post-9/11 veterans that I work with who have just come back from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Boehm-Garcia said. “Talking with those two different groups, but seeing the same ways the trauma affects them — it’s really interesting to me.” This exhibit will be the first all-women showcase
COOPER LEE/THE DAILY
Paintings done by Liz Roth (left) and Polly Hammett (right) at the Norman Arts Council’s “40 Over 40” women’s art exhibit Jan. 31.
Boehm-Garcia has been featured in. Like many of the women in the exhibit, Boehm-Garcia is also a mother. One of the reasons Gavaghan and Dowling said they created this exhibit was to feature the work of women whose art careers were either pushed aside by, or paired with, motherhood. “Many of these artists, especially the ones who are in their 60s or 70s, they raised families ... that was their job. And so they didn’t have time to go out and present their art to different galleries and things like that,” Gavaghan said. Boehm-Garcia is an artist, mother, wife and professional in the art world. “I think for a lot of the women in the show ... although we may be professional artists, there’s also their own job aspect too, as well as then having to take care of family,” Boehm-Garcia said. “Knowing that everyone in the space is doing the same thing, it’s
really refreshing.” Norman-based fiber artist Darci Lenker’s embroidery piece “Judith Leyster: Self Portrait” will also be featured in “40 Over 40.” The piece is part of a larger series of miniatures Lenker embroidered of famous artworks. “I’ve been involved with (exhibits) that involve all women before, but not to this extent,” Lenker said. “I’m really excited to see the diversity of it ... giving women the recognition that they should get.” Lenker graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in formation arts, and embroidery was something she reserved for embellishments to her other work, she said. But after doing a year-long embroidery challenge where she worked on the craft every day, she said she was hooked. Lenker’s embroidery work varies across subject matter and imagery. Some focus on civil rights activists and feminist figures
such as Ruth Bader Ginsberg and transgender rights activists Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. For Lenker, she said artwork is a means of creating social change. “I’d love to give back in any way I possibly can,” Lenker said. “I can’t contribute financially because I’m a working artist, but I feel like I can use my skills to help try to make the world a better place.” Like all of Mainsite’s new exhibits, “40 Over 40” will be a part of Norman Art Council’s 2nd Friday Art Walk on Feb. 14. The gallery will host a reception that evening for the public, and the exhibit will remain open through March 13. Mainsite is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Abby Tow
abby.tow1@ou.edu
2
NEWS
• Feb. 10-16, 2020
Barnacle births new beginning Controversy leads OU Parking to evaluate methods
payments on parking garages … all of the money generated from parking permit sales goes right back into the operation.” Regardless of OU’s parking budget, Pollock had parting words for the university: “I made the choice to go here, but you’re making the choice to continue to tax the students. That’s something y’all need to reexamine because the whole policy is flawed.”
BETH WALLIS @walliswrites
GONE FOR GOOD?
Kris Glenn, director of OU Parking and Transportation Services, talks to a reporter on Jan. 30.
looked at the Barnacle’s im- of their citations, a $75 fee, plementation on another and a $100 deposit refundcampus. able upon return of the device in a depository. At OU, HOUSTON, WE HAVE drivers would have had to A BARNACLE pay all of their citations, a $35 fee, and a $50 refundI n N o v e m b e r , t h e able deposit. Barnacle began its tenHouston’s public transit ure at the University of system differs from Norman Hou s t o n . Ac c o rd i ng t o in that it has an extensive Robert Browand, director of Park and Ride network of 26 Parking and Transportation pick-up and drop-off locaServices at UH, implemen- tions around the Houston tation of the Barnacle “re- metro, all of which connect ceived very little response to six bus lines that route difrom students, faculty and rectly to the university. staff.” In comparison, OKC’s T h e p a rk i n g d i re c t o r EMBARK transit system credited the lack of a nega- has one route to OU. OU’s tive reaction to the depart- CART transit system has five ment’s efforts to communi- daily routes and one nightcate to students through its ly flex route that serve the blog and other social media university. avenues before the device’s Browand said there were debut. also programs designed To receive a Barnacle at to aid financially strugUH, drivers must have five gling students, such as the or more unpaid citations Coogs on Alternate and and their vehicle must not Sustainable Transportation be registered with the uni- program. Under this plan, versity. At OU, drivers with students receive a stipend three or more unpaid ci- to cover the cost of bus and t at i o n s w ou l d hav e re - light rail fares as an alternaceived a Barnacle, regard- tive to driving their cars. less of whether their vehiWhile Browand said there cle was registered with the was not much backlash university. after UH’s implementation To remove the Barnacle of the Barnacle, one UH stuat UH, drivers must pay all dent was particularly vocal
about the consequences of the device. Twitter user @ babayaga tweeted on Jan. 15 they had to pay $920 to get the Barnacle off their car, “all (because) the university doesn’t have enough permits available nor parking options that are affordable for students that already pay to attend the university.” The post went viral, gathering nearly 3,000 retweets. The user asked for donations to pay the hefty fine.
BARNACLE REBUFFED At OU, students voiced their opinions on the Barnacle and the overall state of OU’s parking challenges. “Why are there not enough spots on campus to where people don’t have to park in spaces where they get ticketed?” asked broadcast sophomore Kaitlyn Deggs. Deggs said she was frustrated over the lack of available spots, towing, cost of parking permits and OU’s focus on punitive systems over comprehensive solutions. “I feel like if they spent more time and money investing in fixing the problem instead of punishing people … that could be a better situation,” Deggs said. Glenn said the university tows as a last resort — only after a driver has three outstanding parking tickets of 30 days or more. After drivers receive a warning of an impending tow, they have three days to contact Parking Services. Glenn said Parking Services “works with students” struggling with fines and will even void one of the three tickets. If a driver does not contact the parking office within three days about a towing-eligible vehicle, then the university may tow it. Some students expressed broader concerns: parking is not convenient, affordable or adequate for the number of students needing spaces every day. Meteorology sophomore Bruce Pollock lived on campus last year and had a parking permit but
TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY
moved off-campus and said he can’t afford a permit this year. As an out-of-state student, Pollock said he feels he is paying enough money to the university that he shouldn’t have to pay for a permit or parking tickets. “Putting a parking ticket on students is an unnecessary practice because you don’t know what the student has to afford,” Pollock said. “You don’t know if they need to buy food that week, you don’t know if they have a pet. What if they have to take care of a kid?” Pollock said the university should find more ways to compromise with students. If the university will not make parking free or allow students to use financial assistance to purchase permits, he proposed allowing students to pay parking tickets with community service or other creative avenues that avoid a financial burden on cash-strapped students.
“
I don’t know that there is a future for the Barnacle. We don’t know that we will ever use the Barnacle. -Kris Glenn,
“
Jan. 14 began like any other day at OU Parking and Transportation Services. Papers were shuffled and coffee was poured. But one thing was different — Parking Services staff gave The Daily a demonstration to of the department’s new project, the Barnacle. Shortly after The Daily posted the video demonstration, Twitter erupted. Seven hundred and seventy thousand views, 357 comments and 147 retweets later, news of the Barnacle backlash had reached as far as the BBC. Students, alumni and community members on Twitter took the opportunity to voice their opinions on the university’s new parking project. Ma n y c r i t i q u e d w hat they called the administration’s insensitivity toward students’ parking and financial concerns. Some complained that Barnacled cars remain immobilized, defeating the purpose of opening parking spots for permitted drivers. At 6:29 p.m. Jan. 14, OU announced that, until further notice, the Barnacle was pulled from use. “Our students spoke,” said Kris Glenn, director of OU Parking Ser vices. “That’s it. They spoke. It’s important that when that is the reaction, you stop, you pause and you listen.” Glenn said he felt a communication issue may have led to the Twitter uprising. “I think first and foremost, I should have led all of the communication with the Barnacle as just an alternative to towing,” Glenn said. “I think that maybe they thought it was an alternative to parking tickets.” W h i l e s o m e s tu d e nt s may not understand the details of the Barnacle, chief among student complaints was the lack of prioritization of affordable parking and the issues with transportation efficiency at OU. After OU Parking took the device back for review, The Daily
OU Parking director
“If we offered a way to go out and clean up a wildlife preserve or pick up trash on campus, I see no reason why the university can’t say, because of your actions helping the community, we can go ahead and forget this ticket,” Pollock said. Glenn pointed out as a “self-sustaining auxiliary department,” Parking Services would not be able to fund itself without permit or ticket revenue. “We don’t make a profit in this department and we don’t receive any other university money,” Glenn said. “Building new parking lots, really expensive maintenance and repair, bond
Glenn said the Barnacle’s lifespan at the university has come to an abrupt close. “I don’t know that there is a future for the Barnacle,” Glenn said. “We don’t know that we will ever use the Barnacle.” Outside the Parking Services office, the space where the Barnacle depository box once stood is now empty. “If we were ever to consi d e r a ny t h i ng l i ke t h e Barnacle or booting of vehicles, we would engage students, we would go to (the Student Government Association),” Glenn said. “We would probably hold information sessions that students are welcome to attend.” Glenn said the Parking Ser vices will likely do a parking survey in the spring to hear from the student body. Going for ward, Glenn said Parking Services plans to help ease the stress of trying to find parking spots on campus. Currently, two new commuter lots are under constr uction: one south of Headington Hall and one south of Sarkeys Energy Center. Glenn said the university “doesn’t plan on raising parking permit rates on campus in the near future.” He said this is the third consecutive year the university has not raised rates, and OU’s permit prices are “about (in the) middle of the Big 12.” Glenn also acknowledged the need to address the state of the CART bus system by responding to students’ concerns about overcrowded buses, long lines and unpredictable schedules. “As we figure out a way to hear students regarding parking, we should,” Glenn said. “It just makes sense to listen to them about shuttles as well.” Two weeks after the Barnacle controversy, Glenn said he and his department have learned an important lesson. “I think that we’re going to spend the semester finding ways to listen to our students,” Glenn said. “This situation is a good reminder that you should always be proactive and take your time with the students, and make sure that whenever you roll something out that you truly have their buy-in.” Beth Wallis
bethwallis@ou.edu
Donation to support OU’s Iranian students U.S.-Iran conflict prompts expansion of scholarship fund BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918
Th e Fa r z a n eh Fa m i ly C e nt e r f o r I ra n i a n a n d Persian Gulf Studies recently expanded a scholarship fund supporting Iranian students amid the ongoing
travel ban and sanctions against the country. Afshin Marashi, director of the Farzaneh Family Center, said the fund existed previously but was expanded after the existing fund was almost expended. The scholarship benefits international students from Iran who have been affected by travel restrictions implemented by the Trump administration. “The Farzaneh (family)
has really stood up and expanded their contribution to the scholarship,” Marashi said. “Iranian students have become innocent bystanders, they’re victims in the crossfire of this conflict between the government of the United States and the government of Iran.” The donation will prov i d e a $ 1 , 0 0 0 s c h o l a rship to 53 students, said Patsy Broadway, director of administration at OU’s
College of International Studies. Marashi said the scholarship helps cover both educational and personal expenses due to the difficulty of transferring funds from Iran and finding reliable employment in the U.S. as a non-citizen. “It’s ver y difficult, almost impossible, to transfer money from home to the United States because of the sanctions that have been imposed,” Marashi
said. “Students who previously were able to rely on their families can no longer do so, and what we’re trying to do is everything we can to alleviate some of that.” Marashi said the scholarship will hopefully help give Iranian students a feeling of security as tensions between the U.S. and their home country continue. “It takes a terrible toll, and the students in some ways are really struggling
(emotionally and psychologically),” Marashi said. “There’s a kind of anti-immigrant targeting that comes with that travel ban, but the Iranian students that come here ... come here because they want opportunity that they can’t find in Iran.” Blake Douglas
bdoug99@ou.edu
NEWS
Feb. 10-16, 2020 •
Democratic nomination hazy after Iowa caucus
No coronavirus cases in state Health officials take precautions against spread of virus ARI FIFE @arriifife
JORDAN MILLER/GAYLORD NEWS
Pete Buttigieg, Democratic presidential candidate and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, speaks at an event in Ames, Iowa.
JORDAN MILLER @jordanrmillerr
Iowa voters caucused Feb. 3, taking the first electoral step toward the 2020 presidential election. Oklahomans will vote March 3 in a Super Tuesday that could be up for grabs after Iowa’s messy Democratic results. The Associated Press declared Iowa’s Democratic caucuses too close to call, especially with statewide reporting irregularities. Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders were virtually tied in state delegate equivalents, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren came in third place, according to The New York Times. Iowa voters who caucused Feb. 3 are somewhat similar to Oklahoma’s electorate — while Oklahoma is more diverse, both states hold a majority of white voters dispersed across a rural, midwestern area. Dianne Bystrom, former director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University — who also worked at OU for 17 years in public relations and political communication — said early states usually narrow the field of candidates for Super Tuesday on March 3. Oklahoma voters will be among the more than onethird of the U.S. population to cast their vote that day, according to Ballotpedia. “What I see, and that’s supported by some research, is that the result in the early states tends to influence what happens in other states on Super Tuesday,” Bystrom said in an interview prior to caucus night. “Oklahomans (may) have less choices than Iowa, but they’ll still have a pretty robust choice because … the differences in outcomes in those first four states will dictate how many people are still standing on Super Tuesday.” Tyler Johnson, an OU political science associate professor with expertise in public opinion and elections, said in an interview prior to the caucuses that it’s difficult to “draw a direct line” between Iowa and Oklahoma. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey single-year estimates, Iowa’s population is about 800,000 less than Oklahoma’s population. The percent of Iowa’s population 65 years or older is 17 versus 15.7 percent in Oklahoma, and Iowa’s population is 90.2 percent white compared to Oklahoma’s 74.2 percent. This lack of diversity in Iowa often prompts questions as to why Iowa has the privilege of going first, which
it has held since 1972 simply for the sake of being the first state — and critiques increased after issues in the 2020 caucuses. “One of the criticisms of the Iowa caucus is that the demographics of Iowa do not match the demographics of the Democratic Party nationally, and that’s certainly true,” Bystrom said. “But I think what it does do is that Democrats in Iowa, although they’re mainly white, they do ... ideologically fit with the Democratic Party nationwide.” If the results from the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada fall the same way, Johnson said, it may cause Oklahomans to decide to stand behind that front runner. “If you get sort of a mixed bag out of those first few contests, then it’s likely that Oklahomans are going to come into that primary on Super Tuesday sort of voting their conscience or their real preference,” Johnson said. “We’ll have to see if the first few contests after Iowa fall in line … or perhaps we get to Super Tuesday and Oklahomans are just as confused about what’s going to happen.” Voters choosing their “real preference” may have been fewer in number in this year’s Iowa caucus due to a rule change, Bystrom said. Typically, caucus-goers would enter the designated area and stand under a sign for their chosen candidate, and others could come by that sign and lobby voters to change groups — called the “first alignment.” This year, Iowa voters
Democratic Party communications director. As a result of the rule change, Bystrom said she saw more consideration for Democratic Iowans before caucus night — should they vote for the candidate they ideologically prefer or the one they think may be most electable against President Donald Trump? “In the time I was in Iowa, I have really never seen more emphasis on really wanting to get rid of the Republican incumbent,” Bystrom said.
“
Given the animosity between parties ... I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that that’s at the forefront of people’s minds and to a level that perhaps it hasn’t been in past cycles.
“
Experts discuss expectations for Oklahoma primary
-Dianne Bystrom,
ISU political scientist
When talking to Iowa voters at Democratic events throughout the state, many echoed that the issue of beating Trump would be their main priority when they headed to the caucuses. “I think that sentiment is heightened right now,” Johnson said. “Given the animosity between parties, given the dislike of Donald Trump that is clear within the Democratic Party right now, the sort of passionate dislike,
points, while Iowa chose Hillary Clinton by less than 1 point. Johnson said, though Sanders galvanized Oklahoma support in 2016, the fact that this year’s Oklahoma primary will probably not be a clear oneon-one race like four years ago may change things. “It’s been argued that Oklahoma still has this sort of anti-establishment populist streak among some voters that might have made Sanders a more appealing choice,” Johnson said. “You have the interesting dynamic of Elizabeth Warren being from Oklahoma as well … if she is still a strong contender on the time of that primary, that might win her some attention that would have gone to Sanders before.” Since 1972, when Iowa started its tradition of voting first, the state has successfully chosen the Democratic nominee seven times out of 10 contested races. The state has only chosen the Republican nominee three times out of eight contested races since 1980’s first Republican Iowa Caucus. Although this may seem discouraging, Bystrom said, the state is still crucial choosing the frontrunners for the nomination — with candidates rarely going on to win their party without finishing in the top three in Iowa. Johnson said there’s still plenty of time for the dynamics to shift in the month following Iowa’s caucuses and Super Tuesday — but these results are still important because they are the first concrete measurements voters have of candidate performance.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health has received confirmation that two people in Oklahoma who were believed to potentially have coronavirus tested negative. This version of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) originated in Wuhan, China, but there have been cases of the coronavirus detected in several countries, including 12 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Feb. 9. There are no other people in the state that meet the established criteria for testing, according to an Oklahoma State Department of Health press release. Oklahoma State Department of Health Commissioner Gary Cox said in the release that the risk of contracting the coronavirus is low for the general public. But Oklahoma State Department of Health officials will remain in contact with local, state and federal partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . In the event of more suspected cases in Oklahoma, public health officials will work with county health departments, health care providers and hospitals to arrange for testing with the CDC, according to the release. “We appreciate the work of the OSDH Acute Disease Service and the CDC for working quickly to confirm there are no cases of the Novel Coronavirus in our state,” Cox said in the release. “The public should be assured that OSDH will continue monitoring and engaging the multidisciplinary coordinated response team which is formulating response plans as the situation evolves and stands ready to protect Oklahomans.”
Oklahoma sees dispensary boom @jana_allen21
I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that that’s at the forefront of people’s minds and to a level that perhaps it hasn’t been in past cycles.” Iowa is more purple ideologically than Oklahoma, w h i c h ha s n o t vo t e d a Democrat into the presidency since 1964. But in 2016, Oklahoma Democrats chose the more progressive Sanders by 10 percentage
“We’ll have some data, and some data that matters,” Johnson said. “I think everyone should be paying attention to Iowa, because we’re actually going to have tangible information on how voters have reacted to the past year or so of campaigning.” Jordan Miller
jordan.r.miller-1@ou.edu
Ari Fife
ariani.s.fife-1@ou.edu
SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY
JANA ALLEN
were locked in with their first choice if that candidate obtained viability, or 15 percent of the vote. The state also reported the results of the first and final alignments for the first time — rather than just the amount of state delegates each candidate is allocated. The change may have slowed down the reporting of results, according to a statement from the Iowa
Common symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the release. Primary factors of concern for the disease are travel history to affected areas, and close contact with either a laboratory-confirmed patient or a patient under investigation for the illness. According to the release, the CDC advises that the public avoid non-essential travel to China, and that those who do travel to China take health precautions, like washing their hands regularly. According to an email from OU’s Office of the President sent Friday, interim president Joseph Harroz said that, in response to travel advisories released by the U.S. Department of State and the CDC, OU will implement travel guidelines and restrictions to China. The OU Health Sciences Center, the OU-Tulsa campus and the Norman campus have all suspended student, staff and faculty travel to China for university business or academic purposes, according to the email. Travel for personal reasons is strongly discouraged. T h e No r ma n ca m p u s strongly discourages travel to China by students, faculty and staff for any reason. Individuals traveling to China that aren’t suspended from doing so are required to communicate with their college dean or administrative vice president and the provost’s office before making travel plans, according to the email. Faculty, staff and students who traveled to or from China during January are required to contact OU Health Services or OU Health Sciences Center Employee Health to arrange for a telephone medical screening.
Green Buffalo dispensary on Campus Corner.
Newly legalized medical marijuana creates businesses
GRAPHIC BY JORDAN MILLER/GAYLORD NEWS
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Oklahoma ranks second in states with the most marijuana dispensaries per capita, according to a report by Verilife. With 608 dispensaries in the state, there are 15.6 per 100,000 residents. Norman, which has 26 dispensaries, is also 7th in cities with most dispensaries per capita at 14.1 per 50,000 residents. Matt Zajechowski, content strategist for Verilife, said researchers were surprised at Oklahoma’s “boom” in dispensaries. “It’s definitely something that really shocked us, (Oklahoma being) comparable to the amount of dispensaries in Oregon, which was only about 50 more,” Zajechowski said. “And only about 150 less than Colorado, which are two states where people associate with marijuana usage, being … in the first couple of states to (legalize recreational marijuana).” But with the law legalizing medical marijuana still new, Oklahoma collected the
least amount of tax revenue from marijuana in 2018 at only $70,000, according to the report. “I would expect the 2019 number, when we have it, to be far higher,” said Zajechowski. Ve r i l i f e, a U. S. c ha i n of marijuana dispensaries, started collecting the data in November of 2018. Oklahoma’s data is current as of Jan. 22, Zajechowski said. “(Verilife) wanted to provide some awareness both to their customers and their states,” Zajechowski said, “to kind of find out where are the most dispensaries located and then just kind of be a general awareness piece for the rest of the public.” Zajechowski said Verilife’s report specifically counted brick-and-mortar dispensary locations, not including all dispensary licenses. Along with ranking states, Verilife also listed the top 30 cities with the most dispensaries per capita. Oklahoma has nine cities in the top 30, more than any other state. The revenue data for 2019 should be available in the next few months, Zajechowski said. Jana Allen
jana.r.allen-1@ou.edu
4
CULTURE
• Feb. 10-16, 2020
Gala to celebrate arts alumna
Annual event gives OU graduate career achievement prize SYDNEY SCHWICHTENBERG @sydnerry
The Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts’ 29th annual “Arts! Arts! Arts! Gala� will return in March to present an OU graduate with the school’s second annual Arts Luminary Award. The award goes to an OU alumna who has made significant accomplishments in the arts, according to a press release. Sheila Hoffman, a graduate of OU’s School of Visual Arts, will receive the Arts Luminary Award at the gala for her career accomplishments as a curator of
fine art museums across the country, according to the release. “(Hoffman is) intellectually curious, globally engaged and passionate about art and material culture,� said Pete Froslie, associate professor and interim director for the School of Visual Arts, in the release. “Hoffman exemplifies the type of alumni that we hope to produce in our school.� Hoffman began her career in Oklahoma as a museum curator, earned her Master of Arts degree in art history from OU and traveled the world in pursuit of maintaining historical art worldwide, according to the release. The gala will also showcase live performances by fine arts students and include food and drinks. Students from the School
of Musical Theater and the School of Dance will perform, and artworks by School of Visual Arts students will be displayed in the evening’s art exhibit, said Mary Margaret Holt, dean of the College of Fine Arts, in an email. Funds raised by the annual gala will go toward College of Fine Arts student scholarships and professional opportunities. The gala begins at 5:30 p.m. March 1 in the Oklahoma Memorial Ballroom. Reservations must be made online by Feb. 17. Entry tickets start at $100. Sydney Schwichtenberg
sydneyschwich@ou.edu
VIA WEITZENHOFFER FAMILY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Submissions open for CAC student film fest Spring competition highlights creative community at OU JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor_
OU’s Campus Activities Council Film Series has opened submissions for its annual student film festival on March 31, allowing students to showcase their creativity and homemade films. The Student Film Festival accepts student film submissions from all genres that will be judged by a panel of OU faculty members. Submissions will be narrowed down to 10 finalists, whose films will be featured and judged at the festival. Judges will choose the top three films as well as a winner for the category and award of Best Performance. Prizes will cater to both amateur and professional filmmakers, said Fawaaz Hameed, chemical bioscience junior and Film Series chair. Past films in the festival include projects ranging from an ’80s cop spoof film called
COOPER LEE/THE DAILY
The outside of Meacham Auditorium on Feb. 7.
“Johnny Renegade� to more serious documentaries and short films. “We are so thankful for everything that you can create, make and that you are willing to show us,� Hameed said. “Don’t be afraid about what people think or things that might be holding you back — just go for it and show us what makes you passionate.� Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 6 via Orgsync. There is no submission fee to enter the festival and everyone is welcome,
Hameed said. The 10 finalists will be contacted by email on March 10 to confirm their participation in the film festival. The festival will take place from 7–9 p.m. on March 31 in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Meacham Auditorium. Questions regarding the festival can be sent to Hameed at fawaaz@ou.edu. Jillian Taylor
jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu
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Previous Solution
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last People and pastimes that have something unique to offer will grab your attention. Positive change will be your objective. If you stick to a routine, success will follow. Embrace life, love and happiness and use your intuition to choose what will bring out the best in you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Challenge yourself physically and question your current lifestyle. Aim for a healthier and more practical way to take care of yourself and whatever is essential to you. Romance is in the stars.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Get involved in activities that help others or will bring you in contact with people from your past. A promise will come to fruition. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Keep your money tucked away someplace safe. Your generosity may bring joy to others, but, in the end, it will leave you stressed out and in debt. You cannot buy love. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Aggressive behavior will make matters worse. If you don’t like what’s happening, find a solution that will counter the problem. Use your intelligence and intuition to guide you.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Proceed with caution. Minor accidents will occur if you aren’t mindful of what’s going on around you. Arguments will erupt if you aren’t willing to compromise. Look for solutions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Give your time, not your cash, when dealing with charity events. What you have to offer will be appreciated. The people you meet will enrich your life.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Make travel plans. Whether a proposed trip is a spiritual, educational or physical journey, it will be a learning experience that will improve your life. Love is encouraged.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- New romantic opportunities may cause uncertainty due to the sudden and unpredictable changes that occur. Look for the positive in everything and everyone, and you’ll come out on top.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’ll have to be realistic if you want to accomplish your goals. Look at your current surroundings and consider the adjustments required to make your life better. A partnership looks promising. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Look at what’s in front of you and consider what’s required for you to take advantage of an unfolding situation. Underhandedness is evident. Don’t overreact or do something you’ll regret.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Get involved in social functions, educational pursuits or travel, and you’ll get a different perspective on the way others operate. Be diplomatic, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Keep an open mind and a closed wallet. Don’t pay others’ way. Offer suggestions, but get physically involved. A change should be to your advantage, not for someone else’s benefit.
Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg February 10, 2020
ACROSS 1 Catcher’s face protector 5 Thing changed by a pit crew 9 Congressional channel 14 Prayerending word 15 Admired figure 16 Large group of people 17 “Roots� Emmy winner Olivia 18 Partner of glitz 19 “The game is ___!� 20 Have complete control 23 Cry before “Blastoff!� 24 “___ a Wonderful Life� 25 Hall of “The Hate U Give� 29 Flashing light 31 Steals from 33 Furious 34 Washed off 36 Puts into words 37 Pick up an audience’s vibe 40 Cincinnati’s state 42 Be less strict 43 Line on a garment 44 Do really badly on Broadway 46 Within reach 50 George Takei’s “Star Trek� role
2/10
52 Subj. with labs 53 Salmon eggs 54 Dance by pushing both hands upward 58 Shakespearean feet 61 “Superfood� berry 62 German auto company 63 Soccer shoe gripper 64 ___ guard (soccer equipment) 65 Santorini, for example 66 Ovens for firing pottery 67 ___ Kong 68 Not just want DOWN 1 Computer shortcuts 2 Quantity 3 Buyer’s counterpart 4 Body part with a cap 5 Hybrid offensive position in football 6 Doesn’t do anything 7 (Don’t mess with the lion king!) 8 Red resident of “Sesame Street� 9 Tries to catch 10 First sound of “gerbil� but not “goat� 11 Con’s opposite
12 “Much ___ About Nothing� 13 Volleyball court divider 21 Secondlongest human bone 22 Spherical object 26 Muslim leader 27 No, in a vote 28 YouTube annoyances 30 “Wonderfilled� cookie 31 Physical therapy, e.g. 32 Poems often “to� things 35 Narrowest part of a champagne flute 36 Second yr. of high school 37 Features of some eyeglasses
38 Successfully contacting 39 Protruding navel 40 Unit of electrical resistance 41 She/___ pronouns 44 Big explosions 45 “Yes,� in Paris 47 Awaken feelings in 48 Chicken ___ soup 49 Stood up to 51 ___ Outfitters 52 Splotch 55 Scout’s garment 56 Bounce, as a sound 57 Wet forecast 58 “Gross!� 59 Boxer Laila 60 “First name� of two Spice Girls
PREVIOUS PREVIOUSPUZZLE PUZZLEANSWER ANSWER
2/9 2/3
Š 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal Š 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com www.upuzzles.com
Ruh-Rooh! by Erik Agard and Neville Fogarty
SPORTS
Feb. 10-16, 2020 •
5
EDWARD REALI/THE DAILY
Sophomore guard Jamal Bieniemy during the game against West Virginia on Feb. 8 at the Lloyd Noble Center.
OU bolsters resume with win TARIK MASRI
@TarikM_Official
The Sooners picked up a marquee win at home with a 69-59 victory over No. 13 West Virginia on Saturday to improve to 10-1 at home this season. Oklahoma’s lone home loss of the season came against No. 3 Kansas on Jan. 14. Since then, the Sooners have been needing a quality win to boost their resume, and a top-25 win against West Virginia is certainly a quality win. The Sooners rode the hot hand of senior forward Kristian Doolittle, who scored 14 of his 27 points
MANEK: continued from page 1
coaches that believe in him — I knew he would be fine. I knew if he chose the right school, then he would be successful, and it would lead to great things.”
‘HE HATED TO LOSE’ B r a d y ’s o l d e r b r o t h er, Kellen Manek, who is now in his junior season at Southeastern Oklahoma State, has no difficulty describing what it was like growing up with Brady. “If you didn’t know Brady, even to this day, (you would think) he’s very quiet, very reserved,” the 22-year-old said. “But when you get to know him, he’s like a totally different person. He’s wild and crazy. Always cracking jokes, always smiling and laughing. He’s just so much fun to be around.” Kellen and Brady grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma. As the sons of two former college basketball players, they quickly showed an interest in and a talent for sports at a young age, particularly basketball. They both began their playing careers on their dad’s little league basketball team for 5-year-olds. “(Brady’s) always looked up to Kellen,” Cary said. “Kellen’s always been old and mature for his years. Growing up, especially when playing sports, Brady leaned on Kellen for everything from emotional support to basketball advice.” Most of the time, at the little league level and beyond, the Maneks would find themselves playing against older competition. As Kellen is a year older than Brady,
in the first half against the Mountaineers. Doolittle credits the team’s success to the amount of practice the players get on their home court. “Shooting on a familiar rim, you know we practice there the day before games — two days before games, we normally practice on the main floor to get acclimated with it,” Doolittle said. The Edmond native was just 2 points shy of his career-high of 29, and he had 12 rebounds, including four offensive rebounds, against one of the best rebounding teams in the country. The Mountaineers came into the game ranked No. 4 in the country in rebounding margin at 9.2 rebounds per game. Oklahoma’s home record now includes victories over TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma
that often meant Brady was competing against kids two years older than him. It didn’t always go well. “We’d take some beatdowns. We’d lose by 30 some games,” Kellen said. “And (Brady) hated to lose ... My dad’s message was always, ‘Hey, this is going to make you better. Don’t get frustrated, just keep playing hard.’ (From then to now,) I think he’s always done a great job of doing that.” Brady’s drive for success and passion for the game began then — and it never went away. Years later, when his family made the move to Harrah, he worked his way onto his high school’s varsity team as a freshman. It was around that time Kellen saw the potential in his younger brother. Much like Brady’s leaps in development from his first to third year at OU, he made similar progress early on in his high school career. “Coming in as a freshman at Harrah, Brady was like 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4, weighed about 140 pounds. He was a scrawny little dude,” Kellen said. “But it was just the way he was finding ways to score ... He went from four dunks in his freshman year to 37 as a sophomore. “At the time, I was thinking, ‘This is crazy.’ You could see the change in him. It was at that point I thought he had a chance to be something special.”
‘I WANT YOU TO BE A SOONER’ Harrah High School b a s ke tb a l l c o a c h C ha d Rochelle was still an assistant on Harrah’s coaching staff when Brady was in his freshman year. After he met Manek for the first time and got to see his strong work
State and West Virginia, with an opportunity to add another win on Wednesday against Iowa State. “It’s a huge win. (West Virginia is) a highly ranked team coming in second in conference, playing with a lot of momentum,” Doolittle said. “We knew this game was going to be a battle, especially down low, so me and Brady (Manek) had to be ready for this game. I feel like we handled the challenge.” Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger has been most impressed with the improvement the Sooners have shown since the beginning of conference play. Kruger said he thinks the team took a big step forward by defeating a top-25 team at home. “Very, very happy for the guys,” Kruger said. “They’ve been making progress in
big steps. We were close at Baylor, close at Tech, and to beat a club like this is the next step, and they figured that out today.”
specifically the way the team has prepared for upcoming games. “Sure, any time you beat a ranked team, that’s great from a resume standpoint,” Kruger said. “Our most important thing — as most (of) the guys We’ve always have the last three weeks — is got to protect just keep getting better. This is a good practice group. They home court, make progress every day in we always talk it’s not just game-toabout that. You practice, game. And I think our habits know you can’t are getting better in practice let any game and that’s why we’ve gotten slip when we better results lately.” The Sooners now sit half a come home. game behind Texas Tech for -Kristian Doolittle, third place in the conference OU senior forward standings. They recognize the importance of protecting their home court in the double round-robin schedule Kruger said Oklahoma’s re- they play in the Big 12. cent improvement has been West Virginia was the most noticeable in practice, last conference foe that
Oklahoma hadn’t faced this season, and the Sooners have won every home matchup they’ve played except Kansas. Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Sooners will need to ride the momentum they’ve had at home and hope to steal a couple more on the road before March. “Just having a home crowd with us instead of against us — it plays a huge role,” Doolittle said. “We’ve always got to protect home court, we always talk about that. You know you can’t let any game slip when we come home.” The Sooners will take on Iowa State at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday at the Lloyd Noble Center on ESPN2.
He then could just focus on playing ball and not worry about all the other schools and decision-making stuff.” The Manek family believed Brady was destined to be a Sooner. Of course, Manek’s early commitment to the Sooners came after a childhood immersed in OU athletics. Growing up roughly 32 miles away from OU’s campus, Manek and the rest of his family never shied away from donning crimson and cream and cheering the Sooners on — the reason other schools’ offers ultimately fell on deaf ears. “Since we were kids, we’ve always been OU fans,” Kellen said. “We always watched OU football, OU basketball ... (I remember) us being scared of the first ‘Top Daug’ when he would come to games. “We just had a long history. Once Oklahoma offered him and Coach Kruger told Brady, ‘I want you to be a Sooner,’ his eyes lit up. He was like, ‘Man, I can play at the University of Oklahoma like the Kevin Bookouts, Willie Warrens, Cade Davises, Blake Griffins of the world.’ ... It meant a lot to him.”
where the Sooners need him the most, Rochelle and many others say Manek is playing the best basketball of his life. “He’s doing more than just catch-and-shoot 3s now,” Rochelle said. “I think he’s become a better defender. I think he’s become a very good rebounder. He’s getting bigger (and) stronger every year. All that shows is that he’s becoming a better basketball player. Being a high school coach, one of the things that we don’t see a lot of in today’s kids is good work ethic outside of practice ... I’m not surprised by (how Brady’s playing) now because he’s never had that problem.” The timing of Manek’s growth and development on the offensive side of the ball couldn’t be more perfect for the Sooners. Manek and the on-thebubble Sooners are now gearing up for a season-ending stretch that will decide their postseason fate. After upsetting No. 13 West Virginia, 69-59, on Saturday, Oklahoma has a chance to bolster its resume tenfold with opponents like No. 3 Kansas and No. 1 Baylor left on the schedule. “He’s worked so hard for this,” Kellen said. “He just does everything the right way, on the court and off the court. He (worked hard) to play at this level and to perform at this level. It isn’t surprising to me. When you do the right things, when you put in the work — it’s bound to happen at some point. He was just waiting for his opportunity.”
“
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Victory over WVU proves growth in Sooner basketball
JACKSON STEWART/THE DAILY
Junior forward Brady Manek shoots the ball during the game against West Virginia on Feb. 8.
ethic and attitude off the court, he thought the future of his basketball team might be in good hands. But after seeing him come off the bench to shoot 8-of9 from behind the arc in an away game at Shawnee High School, he knew it was. And that 6-foot-3, skinny spot-up-shooting freshman would evolve into a 6-foot-9 senior who had brought more balance to his game, making him one of Oklahoma’s top recruits heading into his final season with the Panthers. Manek finished his senior season averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field, and he led Harrah to the state quarterfinals that
season. “He’s always been confident, and that’s because he’s always put in the work,” Rochelle said. “When he was in high school, he was the definition of a gym rat, and he still is. Staying after practice (and still working) when practice was over, getting keys to get in the gym on the weekends ... that’s where his level of confidence comes from. He knows he’s put in the work to be able to do it. “A s s o o n a s t h e o f f e r dropped from (OU), it was pretty much a done deal. That’s where he was wanting to go and what he wanted to do. ... I think he was glad he was able to get that (out of the way) his junior year and be able to commit then.
‘HE’S BECOMING A BETTER BASKETBALL PLAYER’ After coming to OU ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN and a three-star by Rivals, Manek finished his first season in 2017 with the Sooners as the team’s third-highest scorer behind then-freshman Trae Young and then-junior Christian Ja m e s. He av e ra g e d 1 0 points and five rebounds per game. Now, a little under three years later and in a season
Tarik Masri
Tarikmasri@gmail.com
Chandler Engelbrecht chandler.engelbrecht@ ou.edu
6
SPORTS
• Feb. 10-16, 2020
TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY
Junior Carly Woodard during a meet against Iowa State on Jan. 31.
High beam score seals OU success Freshman David Sandro performs on the pommel horse during the meet against Iowa on Feb. 8.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Men’s gymnastics earns 74th straight home win Crowd energy, team motivation lead unit to victory JOSEPH TOMLINSON @JosephT_OU
After their first loss of the season two weeks ago against No. 2 Stanford, the Sooners came out with a fire within them Saturday night in McCasland Field House and took down No. 9 Iowa, 411.600 to 403.250. In their meet against Iowa, the Sooners were looking to not only get their 74th straight victory at home, but also impress the Sooner crowd at the home opener. During the fourth rotation, freshman David
Sandro was lining up for his routine on the parallel bars when a clap chant broke out. It was not from the Sooner fans, but from his teammates lined up on the empty floor. With sophomore Vitaliy Guimaraes and freshman Jack Freeman out with injuries, the Sooners needed Sandro to put up quality performances. “With (Guimaraes) and (Freeman) out, (we) knew there needed to be some extra energy to help me get through that,” Sandro said. Sandro came through in the absence of Guimaraes and Freeman, placing top five in each event he participated in, other than a seventh-place finish on floor.
Sandro said he loved the energy of the crowd on Saturday night. “It was absolutely incredible. I knew it was going to be intense, and it still took me by surprise,” Sandro said. “Knowing that it’s a home crowd, everyone wants to see you succeed, so why not do it?” The crowd brought a relentless energy, but the Sooners were motivated by more than just the desire to win. The Sooners wanted to show they’re still an undoubted contender, despite their loss to Stanford two weeks ago. Even with the loss, the Sooners were still ranked No. 2 in the College Gymnastics Association’s
Softball team goes on perfect run in Mexico Young players make big impact in four-game streak AUSTIN CURTRIGHT @AustinCurtright
PAYTON LITTLE @payton__little
The No. 3 Sooners opened their season in the Puerta Vallarta College Challenge and went 4-0. Here’s a recap of their four wins: OU 9, NEVADA 3
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Then-junior Giselle Juarez pitches in a game against Northwestern during the 2019 season.
immediately, as junior utility Alyssa Gonzalez hit an RBI single to cut into the Sooners’ lead, 5-1. Long Beach State continued its comeback efforts in the bottom of the fifth, as senior catcher Abby Lockman hit a two-run homer off freshman pitcher Macy McAdoo, cutting into the Sooners’ lead, 6-3. But the Sooners ran away with it in the top of the seventh, as sophomore Kinsey Koeltzow brought in one run and Boone brought in two. Koeltzow wrapped up the inning, scoring on a fielder’s choice. They went on to secure another decisive victory.
The Sooners got the scoring started early on Thursday, courtesy of a two-run single in the first inning by freshman Kinzie Hansen to push the lead to 2-0. In the bottom half of the first, Nevada answered back with an RBI double to cut the lead to just one, but the Sooners were too much to handle. Oklahoma went on to win, 9-3, behind big nights from newcomers Hansen and freshman Rylie Boone, who finished 2-5 with four RBIs and 2-5 with two runs scored, respectively. Senior pitcher Shannon Saile got the start in the circle, OU 5, GEORGE going five innings and allow- WASHINGTON 2 ing only one earned run on After trailing in the top of three hits while tallying nine the third, the Sooners put strikeouts. up five runs to hand George Washington University its fifth OU 10, LONG BEACH straight loss on Saturday. STATE 3 Alo got the Sooners’ ofHansen had another mon- fense started, as she brought ster day on Friday, tallying in Boone with a single to left three RBIs that brought her field. Junior Lynnsie Elam season total to seven in just got it going as well, as she slammed a home run to left two career games. However, it was junior left field, tying the game 2-2. fielder Jocelyn Alo who had Hansen continued her RBI hot the highlight of the day, slam- streak, as she brought in freshming a three-run homer and man Mackenzie Donihoo to putting the Sooners up 5-0 in give the Sooners the lead, 3-2. The play of the night goes the top of the second. Long Beach State answered to the Sooners’ defense, as
sophomore Grace Lyons, Donihoo and Hansen connected to complete a crucial double play. The Sooners never looked back and went on to score their third win of the tournament. OU 3, BYU 1 The Sooners rode the hot hand of Saile against BYU, who recorded eight strikeouts and gave up one hit in five innings. The bats came alive for the Sooners in the bottom of the sixth, as Lyons brought in Koeltzow to put the Sooners in front, 1-0. The Sooners weren’t done, though, as freshman Alycia Flores brought sophomore Grace Green home. Junior Eliyah Flores then singled to right field to bring Lyons home and put the Sooners on top, 3-0. The Sooners will play next in the Hillenbrand Invitational, as they travel to Tucson, Arizona, to take on Bryant University at 12:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 14. Austin Curtright
austincurtright@ou.edu
Payton Little
payton.m.little@ou.edu
Week 4 power rankings. “The last article written about us by (the College Gymnastics Association) was telling us, don’t sleep on the Sooners,” Sandro said. “We really took that to heart. (The Stanford Open) was not one of our best meets, but you can’t let that define you. I feel like tonight defines us — how we can bounce back from anything.” The top-ranked Sooners will meet against No. 3 Michigan at 1 p.m. CT Feb. 15 in Ann Arbor. Joseph Tomlinson
Joseph.H.Tomlinson-1@ ou.edu
Women gymnasts use depth to reach new heights in win MASON YOUNG
@Mason_Young_0
No. 1 Oklahoma (11-0, 2-0 Big 12) flexed its might in a dominant 197.900-195.225 win over Texas Woman’s University (4-5, 0-1 Big 12) at Kitty Magee Arena in Denton, Texas, on Sunday afternoon. The Sooners got off to a fast start on bars thanks to a 9.975 from senior Maggie Nichols and 9.9s from senior Jade Degouveia, junior Anastasia Webb and freshman Ragan Smith. The Sooners held a 49.52548.825 lead after the first rotation. Nichols’ day was finished after her effort on the uneven bars due to scheduled rest, but OU was able to ride its depth to victory without the star performer. Oklahoma extended its edge on vault thanks to a 9.975 from Degouveia and a career-high 9.95 from junior Evy Schoepfer, giving the Sooners a 98.975-97.375
advantage at the end of the second rotation. OU’s floor group rebounded from a season-low performance in its previous outing, with a 9.925 from Webb and 9.875s from Smith and junior Jordan Draper. Oklahoma maintained a commanding 148.325-146.075 lead entering the final rotation. The Sooners finished their strong outing with a 9.975 from Smith, a career-high 9.95 from junior Carly Woodard and a season-high 9.9 from sophomore Olivia Trautman on beam. Together they tallied a season-best 49.575 team score on the event. Webb claimed the allaround crown for the second time in as many meets with a score of 39.475, while Smith narrowly finished in second with a 39.450. OU will face TWU once a g a i n a l o n g w i t h We s t Virginia (5-5, 0-1 Big 12) in its next meet at 6:45 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Lloyd Noble Center. Mason Young
mason.e.young-1@ou.edu