Stadium lights Friday, August 20, 2021
Clubs, organizations gather at Lights on Stillwater Anna Pope News Editor Featuring community and campus organizations, Lights on Stillwater returned to its in-person format. Annually, booths representing groups on Oklahoma State’s campus and the surrounding community line the north side of Boone Pickens Stadium. With an entry fee of $1 or one canned food item, students can enjoy music and games while getting connected to their interests. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic affected Lights on Stillwater, like everything else. The event shifted from its traditional setting causing new freshmen to not experience the activities fair. Kayla Osborne, freshman graphic design major, said she is from the state of Washington and this event provides opportunities to easily connect with new organizations. “Actually, it has been pretty easy going,” Osborne said. “Like, I’m surprised
Written in stone
After a summer of separation, students gathered together on the north side of Boone Pickens Stadium to enjoy free food and fun.
Abby Cage
See Stadium on 3A
New learning center dedicated to renowned pathologist
Abby Cage U.S. health officials recommend a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.
Third dose questions answered Janet Woodcock and White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. “Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization and Ryan Novozinsky death could diminish in the Staff Reporter months ahead, especially among those who are at The delta variant of higher risk or were vaccinatCOVID-19 is raging across ed during the earlier phases the world and top health of- of the vaccination rollout.” ficials said people will need While information was a third dose of the vaccine widely spread about the first soon. two doses, there’s still many According to top U.S. unknowns about the third. health officials, these boost- Here’s what the experts are er shots will begin to roll saying about it: out next month. Can people get it “We are starting to see now? evidence of reduced protecMuch like the first two tion against mild and mod- doses, immunocompromised erate disease,” according to people are the priority group a statement from officials for the third jab. According such as CDC Director Dr. to a statement from the CDC Rochelle Walensky, acting last week, people with the FDA Commissioner Dr. See Third dose on 5A
Abby Cage COVID-19 delayed many plans, building dedications included. The Roger J. Panciera Education Center dedication took place on Aug. 13.
Rachel Williamson Staff Reporter
indeed a rock star,” said Jerry Ritchey, a pathology professor at the veterinary school. Long after Panciera retired, he kept his office and A “rockstar” in his field, continued coming to campus Rogers J. Paciera never worked a conducting research and educatday in his life. ing others. In addition to being The OSU School of Vetinternationally recognized as a erinary Medicine finally held an renowned pathologist, Panciera’s official dedication of the Roger research has been published J. Panciera Education Center. hundreds of times. The state of the art learn“If you love what you do, ing center is named in honor you never work a day in your of the legendary pathologist life,” Ritchey said. “Roger lived Panciera, who spent his entire that.” teaching career at Oklahoma The education center also State. Alongside the new educa- fosters new, more collaborative tion center also comes innovalearning in the classrooms, movtive teaching methods for the ing away from the traditional veterinary students. lecture hall style. “In the discipline of vet“Now, the classes are more erinary pathology, Roger was interactive,” said Zane Hilbig, a
second-year vet student. “It adds another dimension to the learning and makes it more hands-on. I feel like I learn a lot more this way compared to the traditional way.” The groundbreaking design of the Panciera building is a more open concept where all of the classes for vet students years one through three are all on the same floor in the same building; a first for the college’s history. This design will allow for more opportunities for third-year students to mentor to second and first-year students. The classrooms also include cutting-edge technology with monitors on all four walls, See Written on 3A
Join us on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Closing Reception at 5:00 PM Juror Talk at 6:00 PM Gardiner Gallery of Art 108 Bartlett Center for the Visual Arts gardinergallery_osu
GardinerArtGallery
Hours: M-F, 8 am - 5 pm & Saturday by appointment
August 16 – September 17, 2021
Exhibition and programs in the Gardiner Gallery of Art are sponsored by OSU Student Fees, The College of Arts and Sciences, and Donors to the Gallery.
Page 2A Friday, August 20, 2021
O’Colly
Page 2 PHOTO OF THE WEEK by kelly kerr
Editorial board
Reporters/photographers
Editor-In-Chief Maddison Farris editorinchief@ocolly.com
Assistant Sports Editor Chris Becker sports.ed@ocolly.com
News Editor Anna Pope news.ed@ocolly.com
Design Editor Karisa Sheely design.ed@ocolly.com
Lifestyle Editor Ellen Slater entertainment.ed@ocolly.com
Photo Editor Abby Cage photo.ed@ocolly.com
Sports Editor Dean Ruhl sports.ed@ocolly.com
Digital Editor Ben Hutchens digital@ocolly.com
Adviser John Helsley john.helsley@okstate.edu
Newsroom
Photographers: Zachary Hunter Alicia Young Emily Singleton
News reporters: Dru Norton Jared A‘Latorre Rachel Williamson
Lifestyle writers: Ryleigh Clem Emily Stuart Bryanna Nickel Jessie Hernandez
108 Paul Miller Stillwater, OK 74078 (405)-744-6365
ALTERATIONS BY APPOINTMENT
ALL TYPES OF CLOTHING IN 7-14 DAYS!
Party/Semi-formal Pageant/Performance Wedding
Sports reporters: Sports writers Adam Engel Sam Hutchens Kaleb Tadpole Sudeep Tumma Ryan Novozinsky Connor Burgan Calif Poncy Jared A’Latorre
405-780-7720 121 E 9th Ave, Downtown www.formalfantasy.com
SFC Welcomes Back a Fellow OSU Alumni! Monica Harden, D.O. is Now Accepting New Patients of All Ages
Call To Schedule an Appointment Today! 4 0 5 . 5 3 3 . 2 4 3 3 | w w w. s t i l l w a t e r f a m i l y c a re . c o m
O’Colly
News
Friday, August 20, 2021 Page 3A
Stadium... Continued from 1A how welcoming it is.” Oklahoma State University Student Foundation aims to raise funds for students in need of scholarships and held a booth at Lights on Stillwater. Jenny Cook, a sophomore speech communications and disorders major, is the student foundation’s vice president of membership. Cook did not attend the in-person event last year, but Cook said she liked having the opportunity to connect with fellow students. Cook said the event helped draw attention to the student foundation. “We gave away 200 of our T-shirts and we had a lot of people wanting to know how to apply for the student foundation, which you can apply in fall,” Cook said. Lights on Stillwater is not just for campus and student organizations but also Stillwater the community.
“Lights on Stillwater is an amazing venue for us to reach out to students and people in the community and let them know we’re here for them, and we are happy to be a part of it.”
Abby Cage Many refer to Roger J. Panciera as an inspirational educator and fundamental researcher.
- Bradley Kinder OSU alum Bradley Kinder is part of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in Stillwater. The organization has come to Lights on Stillwater for multiple years. PFLAG Stillwater is a local LGBTQ+ and ally group offering support for the community. “Lights on Stillwater is an amazing venue for us to reach out to students and people in the community and let them know we’re here for them, and we are happy to be a part of it,” Kinder said. The group’s mission, Kinder said, is especially meaningful to him because PFLAG supported him when he came out to his family. Organizations also provide attractions such as games and activities for students. Roping its way into the hearts of students, Cross Brand Cowboy Church brought its small group and two metal cows to show people how to rope at Lights on Stillwater. It’s pastor, David Lyons said it’s fun and is a great way to engage students. “Tonight we have two roping dummies set up here and pretty much stay consistently busy all night,” Lyons said. “So, it’s a good time, which is how we view church.” Working through partnerships with the OSU horse ranch team and state FFA chapters, Lyons said the church offers an agriculture community for OSU, roots are in agriculture. news.ed@ocolly.com
Abby Cage Paw prints imprinted on the concrete outside the Panciera Education Center.
Written... Continued from 1A
microphones in the ceiling to pick up student input, multiple whiteboards, and mobile tables can interlock to form groups. “That makes it a lot more interesting because we’ve all been
there whenever and your eyes start to wander, and wherever your eyes wander now, there’s a television there,” said Hilbig. Though the Veterinary Medicine school was not outdated, this learning center assures students will be equipped with the tools they need to succeed. Oklahoma State Rep. Trish Ranson attended the dedication and said consistent investment in OSU’s higher education will benefit future
generations. “Oklahoma State is the only vet med school in the state,” Ranson said. “This new classroom building will bring the education of our future veterinarians up to the 21st century, and I think it’s going to be a great asset to OSU and the Vet Med department.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Variety
Page 4A Friday, August 20, 2021
O’Colly
News
OSU Dining returns menu and restaurant options
OSU Dining options: Adams Market Express it! The Hatch
Bennett Dining Fast Break Slam Dunk
Kerr-Drummond Country BBQ Co. Linguetti’s Twenty Something Which Wich
North Dining Last year, dining options were limited due to various complications brought on by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jared A’Latorre Staff Reporter After eating Chick-fil-a chicken sandwiches every day for months, students will now see variety in their diet. Since the CDC’s updated guidelines in late July, the city of Stillwater encouraged its businesses to require more mask rules, and for residents to be obeying them if required. Student Union Marketing Coordinator Rachel Metzger said there are setbacks when it comes to the delta variant affecting dining. “Currently, the biggest challenges we and a majority of businesses nationwide face are staffing and supply shortages,” Metzger said. However, Metzger said there is a plan for these shortages. “We have been actively hiring since the beginning of the summer, developing a streamlined application process to make it easier for potential employees to express their interests in working for us,” Metzger said. Last school year, students pushed for cheaper tuition because of mostly online classes. When OSU went to limited food options last year, students like Myriam and Maha Achour said the cost of food should’ve been different, just like the cost of tuition.
“I think it should’ve already been lower prices because it’s so expensive for students,” Myriam Achour said. “I wasn’t here last year, but if they limited the options, and college students already have
“I think it should’ve already been lower prices because it’s so expensive for students.” - Myriam Achour
limited options for nutrition and for health, so, for them to cut that and also keep the same price is just unfair,” Maha Achour said.
Zachary Hunter
While the food options were limited, it helped create a conversation about healthy food options, like gluten-free students choices. “Since we’re already limited to everything else in our lives and making it difficult to do certain things and go places, especially with rising cases, the least we could have is a consistent dining option because there are people with specific dining needs,” Myriam Achour said. Maha Achour said social distancing could’ve been done by keeping more people distanced in the Student Union. “If they decrease all the options and everything, the people that have certain dietary restrictions will resort to unhealthy foods,” Maha Achour said. If the OSU campus goes far as to mask up again, Christopher Fulbright said he wouldn’t mind going back to the requirement of masks if it meant school would be comfortably back to normal. “Honestly, I think I’d be fine because safety first,” Fulbright said. “I don’t want to go back online. If that means we have to have a limited menu, I’m OK with that.” Kailey Cullom said even though people might be required to wear a facial covering again, it wouldn’t be an unfamiliar sight. “We’ve all done it before. It’s not going to change anything,” Cullom said. “If it means we can be in person and sit in zoom classes, and all have the same experience, I think it’s better to just do that.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
B & B co. Carvery Dash The Natural Noodle U Road Trip Pizza & Mac Zest
Student Union Bread & Beyond Deli Caribou Coffee Chick-Fil-A Johnny Rockets Mambo Italiano Passport Red Earth Kitchen Shake Smart Union Chophouse Taqueria Union Express
Edmond Low Library Cafe Libro
Henry Bellmon Research Center Newton’s
North Classroom Building Roots For the fall 2021 school year, more options are available for on-campus dining and takeout.
Zachary Hunter
O’Colly
Friday, August 20, 2021 Page 5A
News/Lifestyle Third dose...
Column: Bad Takes Football isn’t the only thing OU dominates OSU in
Continued from 1A
Ryan Novozinsky Staff Reporter I have good news and bad news, OSU students. Let’s start with the good: football is no longer the most lopsided Bedlam deficit. The bad news? The new embarrassment directly impacts student’s lives. To put it bluntly, OU is kicking the crap out of OSU in on-campus dining options. When I visited Norman this week to investigate, the OU dining team made it hard for me to enjoy OSU’s food. Let’s go through some of the OU’s greatest dining option hits (keep in mind, these are all on-campus and accept meal plan): an all-you-can-eat Chick Fil-A, Quiznos, Taco Mayo, Einstein Bros. Bagels, the best taco salad I’ve ever had, fresh pasta and much more. And here’s the kicker: I didn’t even see it at full strength. Yes, much like the 2016 Bedlam game — the one where OU won despite Dede Westbrook being injured in the second quarter — the hollow shell of OU still completely blew out OSU. Taste and restaurants aside, the efficiency is better at OU too. While lines still exist there, the payoff is sweeter. When you wait in the dreaded Chick FilA express line at OSU, you have limited menu choices and receive a subpar chicken sandwich at the end. At OU’s, they let you scoop as much chicken as you want because the dining team is constantly replacing it. This buffet-style self serving exists at OU and most college dining halls across the country. Why doesn’t OSU trust its students with self service? The most frustrating thing about this trip was realizing how much OSU lies. Plastered across OSU’s campus are stickers and signs that read “America’s Healthiest Campus.” Well, as I found out this week, OSU isn’t even Oklahoma’s Healthiest Campus. While OSU has some options for vegetarians and vegans at their disappointing range of restaurants, OU has entire sections dedicated to it. To be adventurous, I tried OU’s plant-based meat — also known as “beyond meat.” It was outstanding. It was supposed to mimic brisket and if I didn’t see the section name, I would have been fooled. Another key to a healthy lifestyle is hydration— and believe me, OU has you covered way better than OSU. There are large water filling jugs all across OU’s campus, which are the perfect way to beat the Oklahoma heat. At OSU you may be able to find a lukewarm water fountain if you’re lucky. But wait, OSU has the awesome Shake Smart place. Surely the restaurant helps its “America’s Healthiest Campus” status, right? It actually hurts it. Just look at the nutrition facts for this place. One of the most popular items, the chocolate frosty, has 261 calories and a whopping 31 grams of sugar. You might as well have a Snickers — which has 30 grams of sugar — instead. Look, I’m rooting for OSU to build a dynasty in the food game. It’s no secret Stillwater isn’t the most exciting town, so don’t you think adding exciting food options would be a huge draw to people? It sounds silly, but if I saw an all-you-can-eat Chick Fil-A on a college tour, it would be a huge factor in my decision. OSU tried by getting chain restaurants like Which Wich and Johnny Rockets to come, but those pale in comparison to OU’s Quiznos and Taco Mayo. Heck, for awhile OU even had a meal plan Raising Cane’s on campus. How amazing would that be here? I think OSU should survey its students about food, see what they want before randomly adding unknown restaurants to the Union and aim to better suit its students dietary needs. It’s time to get better — and OSU can do that if they just ask their students. news.ed@ocolly.com
Ryan Novozinsky OU’s campus dining is vastly superior to OSU’s.
Maddison Farris
mised people continues to be evaluated.” As for side effects, they said they were similar “to that of the two-dose series.” The common side effects for the second dose were moderate fatigue, chills, pain at the injection site. Why do we need a third shot? The third dose is needed due to the highly contagious nature of the delta variant. Cases and hospitalizations are the highest they’ve been since last winter. While the vaccine protects against COVID-19 transmission and severe symptoms, the immunity isn’t permanent. “There is a concern that the vaccine may start to wane in its effectiveness,” said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. “And delta is a nasty one for us to try to deal with. The combination of those two means we may need boosters, maybe beginning first with health care providers, as well as people in nursing homes, and then gradually moving forward.”
following medical conditions are now authorized to get the third dose: People who are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood. People who have received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system. People who have received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system. People with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome). People with advanced or untreated HIV infection. People with active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response. What are the side effects? According to the CDC, there isn’t much information about the risks involved with the third dose, but the “the safety, efficacy, and benefit of additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine in immunocompronews.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy of Mallory King
Humans of OSU: Mallory King Mallory King at Yellowstone National Park, during her off time from her summer job.
housekeeping team. Housekeeping is kind of the back-bone of the lodging industry so I was super excited to get to be hands-on. I have had housekeeping experience with my hospitality classes here Ellen Slater at OSU through the Atherton so I have already kind of had a basis Lifestyle Editor of knowledge for what housekeeping is like. At Yellowstone, our campus has 103 tents that span After working the entire over a mile, it’s outdoors, and in summer at Yellowstone National Montana so it’s a super extreme Park, Mallory King was excited version of housekeeping. to share with the O’Colly what “The wildlife watching was the experience meant to her, and great. When you are out in nature how it played into her hopes of a you have no idea what you are goprofessional career. ing to see day-to-day so we had to “My summer job was with take a lot of precautions at camp, Under Canvas at their Yellowstone with bear safety and that kind of location. It’s about ten minutes thing. west of the West Entrance of Yel“On our opening day, we lowstone National Park in Monhad what I would consider a bliztana. zard. In Montana they would not “I am a hospitality and tour- consider this a blizzard, but for ism management major at OSU my little Oklahoma eyes, it was with a minor in business sustain- a snow storm and it was on our ability. I am really interested in opening day. We got three feet of ecotourism and I got to work with snow overnight. The highway pass one of the up and coming comright outside of camp had a lot of panies in the ecotourism sphere. wrecks. There was so much traffic It’s a glamping resort, so it’s tent to the point where guests could camping, but the tents have real not even make it to camp. Because beds and bathrooms. our tents are not necessarily made “It was really cool. I was a for snow camping, some guests housekeeping inspector and I was would leave in the middle of the really lucky to get some mid-level night in the snow and we would management experience with the have no idea where they went;
we would just hope they were ok. They would just drive off to a hotel or something indoors. That was a crazy circumstance to deal with literally on our opening weekend. But it was cool for the team to come together and just trudge through the snow. Plus, it was absolutely beautiful so we would just stop and look around and be reminded of where we were and how lucky we were, while also doing this crazy intense snow patrol at all hours of the day. “I felt so lucky to be there and be working for such a good company, when you apply for a job so far away you have no idea what it is going to end up being like. Coming from such a friendly and welcoming place as Stillwater with professors that I have known for years and all that, you just don’t know what it’s going to be like when you take the leap to go somewhere new. Moving to Montana was one of the best decisions that I have ever made and I learned so much and had such a wonderful time and it has definitely helped me figure out what my career is going to look like in the future to a better extent.”
entertainment.ed@ocolly.com
Page 6A Friday, August 20, 2021
O’Colly
News
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Abby Cage
Emily Singleton
Abby Cage
Abby Cage
Alicia Young
Emily Singleton
Zachary Hunter
O’Colly
News
Friday, August 20, 2021 Page 7A
Take it from the seniors Seniors share freshman year do’s and don’ts
Zachary Hunter
OSU seniors offer advice to incoming freshmen.
Dru Norton Staff Reporter
Hundreds of students arrive to begin their freshman year at Oklahoma State every fall semester. For some incoming freshmen, college is the start of an exciting new journey. It is a place for students to grow, find their passion and have fun. However, for others, college can seem overwhelming and daunting. Lucky for them, seniors have endured it all and know what to do and to avoid.
Do: Find out where your classes are located before the first day. “I remember my first day of classes, I was so nervous,” Spencer Webster, an accounting senior, said. “I didn’t prepare for the amount of people there would be and how far apart the buildings are. I ended up sitting in an astronomy class for fifteen minutes before realizing it wasn’t Comp I. I definitely should’ve planned beforehand.” Don’t: Skip class. “I know that 8 a.m. class might be rough, but it makes a huge difference when you connect with your professors and show them you care,”
Jessica Blevins, a hospitality and tourism management senior, said. “If you attend class, not only will you learn something, your professors will notice and are more likely to help you out.” Do: Learn how to manage your time wisely. “The biggest piece of advice I have is to figure out how to balance your time so you can enjoy all the things college and OSU has to offer,” Peter Ramsdale, a mechanical and aerospace engineering senior, said. “It can be hard to manage school, sleep and a social life, but you have to find a way to do it that works for
you by taking advantage of campus resources.” Don’t: Forget to have fun. “It’s important not to sweat the small stuff. Don’t spend too much time stressing over a bad grade or worrying too much about appearance. College is about experiences and finding yourself,” Pierce Gunnars, a computer science senior, said. “Just have fun and learn as much as you can. These four years will be over before you know it.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Page 8A Friday, August 20, 2021
O’Colly
Lifestyle
FALLing for SUAB Emily Stuart Staff Reporter
Getting involved in campus life is an important part of attending college. At OSU, one of the easiest ways to make long lasting friendships while taking part in fun activities is through the Student Union Activities Board, so here is what they have planned for the upcoming semester. Bingo It’s not just for grandparents. This household favorite is brought to you Aug. 28 at the Union AND Sept. 8 at North Dining by SUAB. Though bingo may not sound like a world of fun at first, the competition is fierce between students at OSU, and there are free prizes available to those who win. Learning a Language SUAB is putting on a Sign and Dine. Sept. 16 in the Union ballroom, students can get an introduction to the world of American Sign Language while getting free food with their friends. But, students need to make sure to come early if they want food before it all runs out. Chalk Wars The whole day is dedicated to chalk art outside of the library on Sept. 23 at this extreme chalk competition. SUAB is conducting another event to give away prizes and showcase the artistic talents of OSU’s students. However, students have to register before they can draw, so make sure to sign up, which will be available at the end of this month. Open Mic Night Want to perform a stand-up routine? Do something strange that no one else can? Enjoy being in the spotlight? At SUAB’s open mic night, you can blow the crowd away with any talent you can display. This event will be in the Union’s terrace Sept. 29 where you can either perform or enjoy the performances of others. Either way, it is a fun way to spend an evening. There are even more events during the month of October that centering around Halloween and fall. SUAB plans fun activities for OSU students throughout the semesters that are often free, so continue to keep up with their schedule, and there will be things to participate in at the university.
Hannah Kay Kirby Red Rock Bakery has a lot of healthy options, including the Southwest Salad.
Hannah Kay’s Plate Red Rock Bakery
Hannah Kay Kirby many options from food to drink, including Staff Reporter specialty coffees, beers, and wines. The espresso rivals any Starbucks order, and the alcohol pairs well with the food options. For breakfast, the Waffle Sandwich is a delicious combination of egg, cheese, and bacon between Belgian waffles. This thing might be the best breakfast sandwich ever. It’s not too sweet and not too savory, and the waffles are cooked to a perfect crispiness (imagine the Cane’s toast of waffles). Every bite will leave one speechless. For lunch, the Southwest Salad is a must try. It feels like a morning walk through a Spanish market-a little bit of kick from the chipotle ranch paired perfectly with lettuce, avocado, and chicken. The picture of this beauty alone should convince you to try it.
Column: Students are back in Stillwater for the semester, filling up restaurants on and off campus and hosting events with free food every night. Walking across campus this week, one can expect to be offered a slice of pizza or an invitation to an ice cream social, but where are the healthier options? Less than a mile off campus at the corner of Husband and Boomer stands Red Rock Bakery and Deli, one of the best places in Stillwater to find fresh soups, salads, and sandwiches. Red Rock management reopened the restaurant in January 2021, following a renovation spanning several months. The updated building features unique lighting and sleek colors, the perfect venue for your next dinner date or lunch with entertainment.ed@ friends. The menu holds ocolly.com
SUAB
entertainment.ed@ocolly.com
Cowgirl SOccer Preview
Keep away Trio of Cowgirls competing for starting spot
Adam Engel Staff Reporter Goalkeeper Amber Lockwood stood in the line at midfield at Neal Patterson Stadium for the first time. The starter’s line. One by one, each Oklahoma State Cowgirl soccer starter was introduced by public address announcer Brandon Jackson in front of the home crowd late this past March. Jackson bellowed Lockwood’s name, and she stepped forward for her first career start. Joy replaced nerves. Her parents, Matthew and Michelle Lockwood, traveled from San Antonio, Texas for the occasion, watching as their daughter recorded two saves in a 5-0 win over UTEP. A year later, Lockwood remains the only goalkeeper with collegiate experience on this year’s squad. The unit accounts for six appearances — the lowest in the Big 12. In the spring, Emily Plotz, See Keep away on 4B
Alicia Young
No graceful way to throw a chair
Yochum has become a fiery leader for the Cowgirls.
Yochum building on leadership role
Ben Hutchens Digital Editor
Abby Cage With Emily Plotz departure, three Cowgirls are fighting for the starting goalkeeper spot.
Chairs in the Oklahoma State locker room aren’t safe when Grace
Yochum gives the pregame speech. “(Yochum) is definitely our main person (who gives pregame speeches),” defender Kionna Simon said. “She’s the hype, yelling, throwing chairs type. She actually throws chairs like she’s a wrestler or something like that. Throws them down
and smashes them and steps on them.” Simon said the demonstrations are entertaining for onlookers, and she will just watch. “I’m like ‘This girl is crazy’ but it definitely (makes me) feel the energy,” Simon said. See Chair on 4B
Cowgirls prepare for increased schedule after COVID-19 Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter
Normal does not necessarily mean easier. The Oklahoma State soccer season started Thursday night. It feels more like seasons of old than the previous, COVIDmarred year. Reverting back to the usual comes with its own set of challenges. The Cowgirls double the number of games played per week. In accordance with the traditional Thursday/Sunday schedule, OSU takes the pitch twice in four days — sometimes in different cities. The toll of the added workload may feel amplified by the unprecedented NCAA spring soccer season. Instead of the tradi-
File Photo Led by Kim Rodriguez, Olyvia Dowell, Gabriella Coleman and Kionna Simon, the Cowgirls return to their normal schedule following a reduced schedule in 2020.
tional winding down period over the spring semester, the Cowgirls played their most intense soccer of the season (including NCAA tournament games) just a few months ago. Senior midfielder Grace Yochum said the team “picked up a couple knocks” over the amid the recent extended period of frequent play but is excited for the season. “Obviously playing in the spring was difficult,” Yochum said. “So much fun to have the tournament. Blessed to have it. But a lot
of us did play in the summer for summer teams. I think a couple of us have felt that.” Coach Colin Carmichael has not seen any negative effects from the return to normalcy play out yet but is ready to adjust practices if issues crop up. There’s so many different factors,” Carmichael said. “Right now, we look pretty good we’re just kind of pushing through. As we roll into sort of late September/October that might be something we evaluate. Do we tone it down a bit?”
The non-conference part of the schedule — which was not played in the in 2020 — may present opportunities for Carmichael to slow the pace down. “Coaches do a really good job of not just throwing us in there and basically killing us,” Yochum said. “It’s about managing practice, managing load. If we’re up a lot in a game taking us out. He’s been doing this for a long time so he knows what he’s doing.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Unlikely source saves Cowgirl’s season opener an unlikely source. Ally Jackson, a senior defender, netted just the second goal of her career on a corner kick from fellow Cowgirl defender Kim Rodriguez in the 28th minute of No. 16 OSU’s Ben Hutchens season-opening 2-0 victory against the UTSA Roadrunners. Digital Editor OSU was fortunate Jackson stepped up offensively, because the The Oklahoma State Cowgirls nationally ranked Cowgirls struggled first goal of the season came from to put away a projected bottom-dweller
in the Conference USA. It was not until senior forward Gabriella Coleman scored in the 76th minute on a traffic jam at the net were the Cowgirls able to take a breath. The Roadrunners failed to cash in their looks at goal but continued to threated freshman keeper Evie Vitali throughout the game, edging the Cowgirls 5-4 in shots on goal. See source on 4B
Chris Becker Cowgirls open their season with a win on Thursday.
Page 4B Friday, August 20, 2021
O’Colly
sports
Cowgirl SOccer Preview Chair... Continued from 1B Anyone can throw a chair, but it takes skill to channel the aggression into motivation and energy for a group to feed on. Yochum throws chairs for the good of the Cowgirls. “She’s not mad, she’s just trying to get hype and that’s her way of doing it,” Simon said. Yochum is the most outspoken player on the team and possesses a huge personality. After scoring a goal, whether in a game or practice, she will clench her fists and yell in celebration. On the bus ride back from OSU’s Bedlam win in Norman last season she led the team in karaoke. She is one of the most physical players on the roster, seemingly always falling down competing for the ball or flying through the air to score a header. “She’s got that emotion that she just loves to play and compete,” coach Colin Carmichael said. “I think that’s infectious and I think that rubs off on all the other players.”
A Hulk Hogan chair toss is one way to galvanize a team around a cause, but Yochum is also a skilled verbal leader. She makes an effort to talk with freshman who have recently moved far from home, something she underwent four years ago. Yochum is also not shy to use the strongest of words in the locker room ahead of a game. “(Yochum) likes to do the ‘LFG’ a lot,” Simon said. “She doesn’t abbreviate it, it’s definitely explicit.” “I think ever since my freshman year its gone more and more and I’ve developed more into that vocal leader that the coaches have wanted me to be,” Yochum said. Carmichael mentioned Yochum’s experience and grasp of soccer’s mental side, making her a good leader. Carmichael said he sees Yochum learning to how to talk to her teammates and coach them on the field. “(Yochum) is always trying to push us even when she’s on the sideline or on the field, you…can feel she’s trying to make you better,” Simon said. sports.ed@ocolly.com
Graphic by Abby Cage
source...
Keep away...
Continued from 1B
Continued from 1B
The Cowgirls weren’t especially sharp, much like Vitali played like a sea- in their 1-0 exhibition loss to soned veteran. She challenged Missouri, but were good enough several Roadrunners outside to get past the Roadrunners. the 6-yard box, disrupted OSU will next face Pittsburgh UTSA scoring chances with a Sunday in Stillwater. full-body extension and slide tackle and finished with four sports.ed@ocolly.com saves.
The Cowgirls found victory in their season opener.
Chris Becker
COWGIRL SOCCER STARTING LINE UP
last year’s starter, had a semester of graduate school remaining but decided to move back to her home state of Florida. But even as a returner, Lockwood isn’t the clear starter. No one is. Ary Purifoy, a redshirt freshman from Machesney Park, Illinois, transferred in the winter from the University of Houston. Evie Vitali is a freshman goalkeeper from Overland Park, Kansas. Both are seeking their college debuts. Last season, Lockwood had the benefit of learning from three older teammates at goalkeeper. Plotz, along with Maleah Milner and Hannah Warner, helped the freshman adjust to college soccer. Now, Lockwood can do the same for Vitali. “I think Evie is a little more comfortable and confident,” Lockwood said. “I think coming in as a freshman, she was a bit shy on the field. Now, just like all the freshmen she’s getting used to the flow of things.” The lack of participation could be minimized by the Cowgirls veteran defenders, including fifth-year senior Hannah Webb and senior Ally Jackson. Lockwood didn’t just assume she was ready for the job. With a summer to work with, she decided to play with Oklahoma City FC in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. Her teammates included former Cowgirl Jaci Jones, current OSU teammates Kylee Munson, and a handful of Big 12 players. She started all seven matches allowing eight goals with a 1.47 goals against average. “Playing time is definitely the biggest help,” she said. “Having to step up in a new environment. You have to be very confident to be able to that and perform.” Lockwood said her confidence is growing, along with her improvement at stopping high balls. But her communication and organizational skills are consistent. “The backline said that (communication) that was something they felt they lacked last year,” she said. “So, they really like that when people do communicate with them. That is something I try to add.” But the lack of participation is made up by the Cowgirls veteran backline. “That’s a lot of experience so their job is to talk the goalkeepers through that and you hope that the goalkeepers grow into that role,” Carmichael said. “There’s only one way to gain experience and that’s to play. We’ll probably end up playing all three of them at some point early in the season.” Lockwood admits she feels comfortable with her teammates in front of her. “Those two players (Rodriguez and Jackson) really want the ball at their feet and it’s comfortable knowing that that’s always an option.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
EVIE VITALI
Amber Lockwood
ARY PURIFOY