Friday, Dec. 9, 2022

Home for the holidays

All walks of life celebrate traditions around the world

cultures and backgrounds. Cel ebrating Christmas is one of the most fun times of the year for students and adults alike, but what other holiday traditions come to town this time of the year?

Mallory Pool News Editor

Christmas isn’t the only thing coming to town.

There are billions of people across the globe this holiday season that come from different

When it comes to December holidays, Christmas takes up a lot of space in society. Celebrated around the world, it is considered a religious holiday, honoring the birth of Jesus, as well as a cultural one, with traditions that combines Christian beliefs with ancient folk lore rituals. For some, Christmas

isn’t Christian at all, but a time for pine trees, Santa, presents and good food.

Christmas was made an official federal holiday in 1870 and is now one of the most widely celebrated in the U.S. But there is a large amount of other winter hol idays celebrated in other countries with festivities that far exceed the most outgoing and wild Christmas celebrations.

See Holidays on 4A

OSU freshmen put on a show

Isaac Terry Staff Reporter

The show must go on—for the first time at least.

People piled into Gunderson to watch many OSU freshmen preform last Thursday.

For the first time, a group of 12 freshman presented solos, duets, trios, standup comedy and a fashion show in the Jerry L. Davis Studio Theatre on the second floor of Gunderson. Liliana Cudly and Dallas Rogers, the president and vice president of the Student Theater Council, respectively, were excited to host the student’s perfor mances.

“We have had them work with upperclassmen,” Cudly said. “This is the first year that TCO (the theatre council) has been able to put on something like this since COVID.”

Cudly said, the various groups had been practicing since the start of October. Gen Thomas Alexis, the head of productions, had been working on the idea since August or before then.

“This is the first year,” Rog

ers said. “Hopefully we’ll do it again next year.”

Liz Calandra, the president of Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre service fraternity, greeted guests as they arrived. People were urged to bring boxed and canned goods to donate as a food drive. The donation was not required to enter, however, and admission was free for all.

Over the course of an hour the stage hosted a pianist and performers, and the first perfor mance was “I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas, a solo Noah Horton belted out. After that was Jay Matherly singing “Dulcinea” from Man of La Mancha. The solos were interjected with standup comedy from Brigham Miller that had the audience rolling.

Afterward, the solos con tinued with Katlyn Farrer sing ing “Home” from Beauty and the Beast, Savannah Harrod followed singing “I’m Breaking Down” from Falsettos. The songs were once again interjected with a fashion show, curated and dis played by Dice Troy. Four unique outfits strutted across the stage and showed off their details.

For more information regarding the Student Theatre Council and their events, please visit cas. okstate.edu/department_of_theatre.

“This isn’t really about me,” Troy said. “It’s about my wonder ful models, Ethan, Kylee, Hilton and Tasha.”

After the fashion show, Brax ton Thompson, Jay Freeman and Leia Howton sang the first trio of the night, “I Love You Song” from 25th Annual Putnam City Spell ing Bee. After their trio, the solos returned with Elizabeth Brockman singing “The Girl in 14G,” Kyndall Reed singing “Carrie” from Car rie the musical and Jimmy Miller singing “Who I’d Be” from Shrek the Musical.

The night ended with a big trio sung by Noah Horton, Savan nah Harrod and Kyndall Reed. The piece was “I’ve Decided to Marry You,” from A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder.

More than a holiday OSU students celebrate December diversity

Luisa Clausen Staff Reporter

Nine Christmas trees and two holiday celebrations.

Luke Ludwick, a sophomore majoring in aerospace administration and operations, grew up in a divided household.

Ludwick’s mother is Jew ish and Ludwick’s father is Christian.

“Growing up I went to Jewish Sunday school and Sunday service,” Ludwick said. “ I’ve always celebrated Ha nukkah and Christmas. When I was 8, my mom asked me which holiday I wanted to celebrate. I said both.”

Ludwick, met his roommate and friend, Jaden Hirneisen, a sopho more studying to be a pilot, when they toured OSU before the fall of 2021. Hirneisen said they met at three random times and they knew it was life telling them to be roommates. Ludwick and Hirneisen roomed to gether during their fresh man year at Zink-Allen Hall and that is when they found an interesting difference between them.

Ludwick told his friend he was Jewish and that he would celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas when the holiday season started.

“ I didn’t put up any decorations think ing it could affect him in any way,” Hirneisen said. “But this year my

grandma send me a bunch of Christmas decorations and I put them up.”

Ludwick’s girl friend reminded Hir neisen his roommate was Jewish, but Hirneisen said his friend was not bothered. Both room mates said they respect each other’s beliefs and celebrations, and Hir neisen complimented his friend’s holiday spirit.

“He treats it not like a holiday, more like a birthday month,” Hir neisen said.

Ludwick said it is challenging finding synagogues since moving from Texas to Oklahoma. They are mostly present in big cities such as Okla homa City and Tulsa. Ludwick is responsible for keeping the Hanukkah celebration alive since going to a synagogue might be difficult.

“It’s hard to explain my true personal beliefs ‘cause I have grown up hearing the two opposite sides of the spectrum,” Ludwick said. “This will be the first year I won’t be home for the holidays. I will buy a Menorah and light a candle every night. As roommates we don’t do much to celebrate Hannukah, we mostly celebrate Christmas.”

Even with a total of nine Christmas trees up in their apartment, Ludwick and Hirneisen manage to balance and celebrate multiple reli gious holidays throughout December.

Mallory Pool

Traditions and holidays from around the world are celebrated alongside Christmas. Menorahs are a large part of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah.

Courtesy of Jaden Hirneisen

Luke Ludwick (left) and Jaden Hirneisen (right) pose in front of their many Christmas trees. Ludwick celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas while Hirneisen celebrates Christmas.

“But you know, the thing about romance is… people only get together right at the very end.” -Love Actually

Thank you again to every one who took the time to read last month’s article and Happy Holidays. We have some heartfelt questions and let’s help love win the day.

Where should I take someone on a first date here in Stillwater?

My philosophy with first dates is daily simple. Be aware of chemistry and how you feel about being in this person's presence. You will be able to tell pretty quickly if chemistry is there. So, I like to keep my first dates informal and shorter than the second and third ones. You would be surprised at how many first date options we have in Stillwater. My first of two suggestions are going to Sonic together. This will allow both of you to exam ine each other’s music taste

by Kendall Mcghee

The O’Comic

and then take a walk around Boomer Lake while drinking Sonic. Depending on your walking pace, you will get back to your car in around an hour. Boomer has a nice view and walking around gives you a great chance to just talk. See what common interests you both have and really get to know what they are like.

If Sonic and a walk around Boomer sounds too long, my second option is going to get a milkshake or malt at Braums. It’s a public indoor setting and you will be able to finish your dessert in under 20 minutes. But, in my experience I’ve tended to see milkshake talks go well and lead to sparks. So, be warned.

I feel like my partner and I are in a slump, still in love but there’s no spark right now. How do I find that spark again?

This tends to happen more than most people realize. So, know you’re not alone and it’s common. To help bring

the spark back, focus on what your partner’s love language is for one week. If they like gifts, have a different one everyday. If they like acts of service, have a meal prepared, their car cleaned and their housework completed for them. Give them a chance to relax and destress. Then you have a date night dedicated to going down memory lane. Have a nice dinner ordered or prepared. Go through old texts, pictures, and videos with your partner. Talk about why you pursued one another. Talk about your favorite dates that you’ve been to, discuss the hard times that have made your relationship stronger, and ask each other what made you fall in love. I promise after all of that sparks will be back and I hope you’re prepared for it.

Should I get back togeth er with my ex?

Getting back with an ex tends to be a sticky and messy situation. I wish I had more details to better understand

your situation, because the world isn’t black and white. Not every person and break up is the same. But, as a rule of thumb, I do caution people to stay away from their exes. Especially if cheating was involved, it is a difficult and ardu ous task to build back that trust and vulnerability. I understand you had experi ences with your ex that were special and you probably feel like you won’t find someone like them again. That the love you shared can never be had again. But, the beautiful thing about love is that it’s always closer than we think. Give yourself some time away and if your feelings about get ting back together after a few months apart have changed, then you will have the an swers you need.

Keep loving, Doctor Amore

How do people shop?

Presents by Bridget Marrara

Tree by Rebekah Cleary

Holiday Q&A with students

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Maggie George, sopho more, Mckinney, Texas.

Q: What’s your favorite part of winter break and the holidays?

“My favorite part of winter break is spending time at home, especially being out of state. It is nice to finally see and spend time with family I don’t usually get to see. And just to be able to have free time.”

Q: What are some of your Christmas family tradi tions?

“My family has a Christ mas Eve party every year and we eat tamales so it is kind of interesting, none of my other friends do it so it is fun. We invite all of our family and friends, just anyone who needs plans on Christmas Eve.”

Q: Favorite Christmas movie?

“I am a die-hard “Elf” fan.”

Q: What are your win ter break plans?

“Just spending time with family and relaxing.”

Q: What’s the number one thing on your Christmas gift list?

“This year I am asking for a skincare fridge, and sup plies to stock up.”

Haylee Rooks, sopho more, Skiatook.

Q: What’s your favorite part of winter break and the holidays?

“My favorite part about winter break is obviously being out of school and not having any priorities, but I do enjoy being around my friends and family during the holi days.”

Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrating African culture and community from Dec. 26-Jan. 1. Kwanzaa focuses around what is called The Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba, and recognizes traits such as creativity, purpose and collective work. People who celebrate gather together for large feasts, music and dance and hold a continued commit ment to their cultural values.

Destiny King, an OSU sophomore, said that she would like to learn more about Kwanzaa and its traditions.

“I don’t feel like it is talked about enough, at least compared to Christmas and Hanukkah,” King said. “Con sidering it’s one of the major winter holidays, I think I should learn more about it, and help others be willing to learn. I also saw a TikTok recently of a kindergarten teacher reading a book about Kwanzaa, and it made me realize how much I don’t know about it.”

The Jewish festival, Hanukkah, is an eight-night celebration that honors the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem dur ing the Maccabean Revolt. It usually occurs in November or December, depending on where the 25th of Kislev is on the Hebrew calendar. Celebra tions include eight nights of games and gifts and the light ing of the traditional menorah.

St. Lucia’s Day is cel ebrated on Dec. 13 and honors St. Lucia, an early Christian martyr the Romans killed in 304 A.D. It is celebrated in Sweden, Norway and Swedishspeaking parts of Finland. St. Lucia is also considered the patron saint of Syracuse in Sicily, so the holiday is also celebrated in parts of Italy. The festival includes selecting a girl to represent St. Lucia, who walks at the head of a parade through the town while singing traditional songs of the culture.

Part of where the Christmas we know today came from, St. Nicholas Day celebrates the Christian saint who sold everything he owned and gave money to the poor. It is ob served on Dec. 6 and much of northern Europe celebrates the holiday.

Leaving small gifts and treats in shoes is one of the traditions during this holiday. But while still considered a different person than modernday Santa Claus, many tradi tions of Santa in our view of Christmas originated with the legends and stories of St. Nicholas.

Las Posadas is a Mexi can holiday that also follows some of the more traditional Christmas celebrations. Las Posadas takes place between Dec. 16-24 and honors Joseph and Mary and their journey as they made their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Small children dress up as an angel leading a parade of children through town while going to various homes, look ing for lodgings for Mary and Joseph. Similar to Stations of the Cross in Catholicism, each stop includes songs and scripture readings. The holiday ends with a Mass service and the children breaking open piñatas full of toys.

Some traditions and celebrations have many simi larities to ones celebrated in the United States. Omisoka is the Japanese New Year and is celebrated on Dec. 31, much like the Western version of New Year’s. The Japanese consider it one of the most important holidays in their cul ture, second only to Shogatsu, or Jan. 1, the Japanese New Year’s Day.

People host bonenkai parties to help forget about the past year, send gifts and write cards to friends and family. Homes are decorated with a sacred Shinto straw rope, and the Japanese people use these traditions to celebrate the close of the old year and bring in the new one.

Chinese New Year is usually not celebrated in December but is an important tradition in many parts of the world. This holiday celebrates the beginning of the lunar new year and occurs either in the end of January or beginning of February.

Caden Davis, a market ing major at OSU, said he wants to learn more about the holiday.

“Chinese New Year would be fun because every culture has specific things they embrace and new years is big for any country or culture,” Davis said. “They do a lot that shows their culture and love for their country.”

Each year of this im portant Chinese celebration is named after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Also known as the Spring Fes tival, the Chinese New Year festivities include fireworks, parades, performances and closes with a lantern festival.

“A part of understand ing other holidays is also understanding other cultures,” King said. “I feel like if you’re getting to know other holidays it shows a sense of respect towards other religions and cultures.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

DIY Christmas Gift Ideas

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

As Christmas approaches, many college students are scrapping up coins and extra change to get gifts for their loved ones. There are many ways to give gifts this holiday season even if you don’t financially have the funds, it is the effort and thought that counts.

When I was younger and did not have a job yet, I still wanted to buy Christmas gifts for my family and friends. I am not extremely artistic, but I love gift-giving. It is my love language, but all I could afford was to put my creative mind to work and make gifts with resources I had around the house or buy supplies for cheap. Even now that I have a job, I am still a broke college student. Making gifts for your loved ones is one of the sweetest things that can be done, and I can guarantee whoever is at the receiving end of your gift will love it.

The first gift idea I had was creating a “brag board.” I made three in total, one for my parents, one for my grandparents and one for my uncles. Hobby Lobby does many sales through out the year, especially on their craft supplies. To create a brag board, you need to buy a chalkboard. Prices range from $3.99 to $15, depending on how big you want your board to be. You will also need to buy chalk paint to assure it won’t smudge or fade over time. The last thing you will need is to buy photo prints. Walgreens does free same-day pick-up for photos. Depending on the size picture you want, each print ranges from $0.28 to $3.99. With a little bit of glue and effort, this is a quick, easy gift to make.

Another gift idea is taking a deck of cards and writing reasons you love someone in them. I believe there is nothing more beautiful than telling someone why you love them, and how they make your life better. All you need is a deck of cards and a sharpie. A deck of cards costs $0.97 at Walmart. Once

you have written all you have to say, adding a couple of photos to your deck is a nice touch. Wal greens is the best place to print photos for cheap. This gift is sure to bring a smile to your loved one’s face.

The last gift idea I have for you all is painting a sweatshirt or other fabric. My siblings and I made this sweatshirt for our grandfa ther. All you need is a plain sweatshirt (Hobby Lobby has them for $12.59), and fabric paint. My siblings and I used acrylic paint despite it being water soluble, but Arteza Perma nent Fabric Paint will assure it won’t dissolve when washed. Arteza is $8.99 at Walmart. My siblings and I decided to put paint on our thumbs and create hearts using our favorite colors. This can get expensive if you are having to buy supplies, but this is also a good chance to recycle old hoodies, shirts, or sweats that you might not wear anymore.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Jaycee Hampton

Maggie George

Jaycee Hampton

Cowboy spotlight: Students share their thoughts on finals week

Kennedy Thomason Staff Reporter

Perhaps the two most dreaded weeks of the semester are here.

Dead and finals week notoriously leave students stressed about their academic performance. The entire semester leads up to the final weeks, where students push to end the semester on a strong note.

The experience is different for every one, from freshmen’s first finals week to some seniors’ last.

Garrett Pool, a December graduat ing senior majoring in psychology and philosophy, said he is excited to experi ence his last round of finals.

“I’m very ex cited,” Pool said. “I’ve put in a lot of time and effort over these four years, and it’s finally paying off. I’m going to miss Okla homa State, but it’s time for me to move on and move forward.

My time here has been very beneficial for that.”

Freshmen, who are navigating their first finals week, are unsure of what to expect.

Kennedy Seals, a freshman biochem istry and molecular biology major and McKnight Scholar, said she is taking ad vantage of dead week.

“Dead week has been relatively productive so far, and is helping prepare me for finals week,” Seals said. “I am feeling pretty well prepared as a freshman. I’ve had really good pro fessors and TAs who are devoted to helping us succeed in and out of the classroom.”

Kyla Schultz, a freshman and applied exercise science ma jor, said she is feeling prepared.

“I’ve been going over notes I’ve written in class this semes

ter,” Schultz said.

“Dead week has honestly been pretty good for me. I only have a few exams. It will probably be more stressed next week.”

The stress of the last two weeks of the semester can leave students feeling burnt out. Students manage their stress in different ways to keep a pro ductive mindset.

“I try to con tinue my daily routine and exercise to help maintain some nor mality during the high stress environment,” Seals said.

Stress reduction techniques like this can help students stay focused.

Regardless of the stress, school work continues. The irregular schedule of dead and finals week can be an obstacle, but students persevere to finish the semester.

There are lots of recipes for success, but everyone has to discover their own.

“When I pre pare for my finals, I go back and print off past practice exams and exercises and complete them to help refresh myself on the topic I am being tested on, and what areas I need to focus most of my energy on,” Seals said.

Strategies such as these are helpful in review and prepara tion of finals week.

Pool said he has found time and effort to be important in success.

“My best advice for younger students is to become in vested in your classes early,” he said. “A lot of stress over tests comes from not being prepared. If you put in the time needed for each class, which usually isn’t as much time as you think it is, you’ll do fine.”

Lifestyle

Reindeer bring holiday cheer to OSU

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Two North Pole natives joined OSU to celebrate the holidays.

Grace and Rose the reindeer partnered with the Off-Campus Student Association to raise student morale as finals week approaches.

Lexie Lenderman, a graduate assistant for the Off-Campus Student Association, helped orga nize the reindeer’s visit.

Lenderman said the reindeer “not only motivate students but get them excited for the holidays.”

Rose and Grace waited for excited stu dents outside of the Classroom Building with their owner, Nick Led better. The reindeer and Ledbetter are part of the Reindeer Club of Oklaho

ma, a club that provides reindeer for Christmas parties and events.

Rose and Grace are the main reindeer that travel with Ledbetter. He said the two reindeer travel well as a pair be cause they live together on the farm.

Rose performed a trick for students as she stood on a small square bale. As Rose performed, Grace lied on the ground to sunbathe.

“Rose is a complete ham,” Ledbetter said. “She’s gonna stand up; she’s gonna do magic tricks.”

Although a sleigh was available for stu dents to take photos in, the reindeer had to travel more inconspicu ously to reach OSU. The reindeer’s star status has made traveling difficult in the past.

“If you pull into

a gas station with rein deer during the holiday season, you’re gonna be there for 30 or 45 minutes showing off the reindeer.” Ledbetter said.

The reindeer were originally hauled in a stock trailer, which made it easy for others to notice that Ledbetter was hauling reindeer. Now, the reindeer are hauled in a trailer that makes transporting them more discrete.

“We switched to a big box trailer in order to sneak the reindeer into places and then let people experience them and sneak them back home,” Ledbetter said.

The Reindeer Club of Oklahoma displayed reindeer pelts and ant lers for students to view as well as a board that shared a few fun facts about reindeer.

The board ex

plained that although Rose and Grace have antlers, they are still females. Female reindeer and their racks tend to be smaller than male rein deer but are similar in appearance otherwise.

Reindeer such as Rose and Grace eat fresh clover, willow leaves, oats, hay and an occa sional sweet treat. Rose’s favorite treat is animal crackers.

After visiting the reindeer, students were offered hot chocolate and free scantrons in prepa ration for finals week testing.

To get in touch with the Reindeer Club of Oklahoma or book Grace and Rose for an event, visit their Facebook page or website.

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The best off-campus study locations

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Finals week is here.

The last week of the semester means tests, stress and all-nighters for students at OSU. Relocat ing from your dorm room or apartment to a local coffee shop or area on campus can make hours of studying more bear able.

For many students, their room is a place of relaxation. It’s where they wind down after a long day of classes or spend time with friends. To ensure that your room remains a place of leisure rather than stress, it is important to spend time studying outside of your living space

A common study habit of college students is doing homework while they are in bed. Studying in bed makes focusing

difficult and negatively affects your ability to fall asleep.

Freshman business major Linda Bakich said she struggles with pro ductivity while studying in bed.

“Studying in bed makes me sleepy, and I won’t study,” Bakich said. Bakich avoids studying in bed by sitting on the floor of her dorm room and recommended Panera Bread and Bal anced Coffee Co. as good off-campus study spots.

Panera Bread is located at 113 W. Hall of Fame Ave. Panera is suit able for students studying for long periods of time. Most booths have outlets for charging computers and students can eat a hot meal as they study, creat ing a homey atmosphere.

“It reminds me of my grandma’s house,” Ba kich said.

Balanced Coffee

Co. is favorite study spot among many OSU stu dents. Located at 120 E. 9th Ave., Balanced Coffee Co. is near campus and offers plenty of seating and coffee options for studying students.

Aspen Coffee is another study spot OSU students frequent. Aspen Coffee has two Stillwater locations, one located at 111 W. 7th Ave. and another at 1908 N. Per kins Rd. Each coffee shop’s walls are lined with colorful decorations and paintings. If study ing in a coffee shop isn’t your thing but you’re still in search of caffeine, Aspen Coffee has a drive through location that is walking distance from campus at 139 S. Duck St.

Although Edmon Low Library is never a bad location for a study session, some students, such as sophomore sociol ogy major Callie Gray,

prefer to study elsewhere on campus.

Gray branches out by studying under her favorite tree on campus or sitting at the tables out side the Student Union.

“I really enjoy find ing the really big shady trees around campus to lay down a nice blanket and do homework and study,” Gray said. “Some times the library is a little too busy or crowded and you need more space around you, so it’s nice.”

No matter how many tests are approach ing, students should always prioritize their mental health. The Re boot Center in the Student Union offers ways for students to recharge after studying while on cam pus, and Pete’s Pet Posse dogs visit the library of ten to visit with homesick students.

Bella Casey

Rose the reindeer entertained students and staff between classes outside the Classroom Building on Monday morning.

Chase Davis

Students are at the library 24/7 preparing for finals during this week and next week.

What bowl games would be if it were a cereal

Abby Cage Co-Editor-in-Chief

Eight Big 12 teams are heading to a bowl game this year, which means eight cereals have been given to these teams.

When I was a child, I heard the term “bowl game” and thought of cere al. Do they play in a bowl of cereal? Is a cereal bowl on the line for the winning team? Why would someone want a bowl of Cheez-It’s as a cereal? Turns out, it’s just the name of the game.

I was disappointed growing up to learn about the reality of these bowl games. No cereal involved. They still played in stadiums, not giant cereal bowls. This doesn’t stop me from think ing about what cereal each game would be. Here are what all the bowl games for Big 12 would be if they were a bowl of cereal.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Baylor vs. Air Force): Multi grain Cheerios

A tried and true favorite, that’s just a bit healthier and more mature.

This bowl has a more respectful tone to it because of the military title with it. Because Air Force is playing in it this year, it also adds more of a hardcore tone. You know these athletes will be peak, at their best and buff. Multigrain is a staple for ath letes who strive for that.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl (OSU vs. Wisconsin): Cheerios

It’s mid. Can’t go wrong,

but not amaz ing. Could be more amazing if you add bananas or get another flavor, but plain old heart healthy Cheerios is the perfect fit for this game. You know you can’t be dis appointed, but no guarantee you will be amazed either.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Kansas vs. Arkansas): Raisin Bran

A soft jump into the healthier world of cereal, that is healthier for you. Though, most people will look over it in the aisle. The older folks — grand parents, parents, staple fans — will always grab it and be cheering for it, especially because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of these players. Raisin Bran usually stays as a one time only thing unless you are a senior citizen.

TaxAct Texas Bowl (Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss): Trix

Silly Texas, Trix is a cereal. Ev eryone talks about it, everyone knows what it is, but who actually eats it? It’s delicious, it’s a kid’s favorite suppos edly, but I have never seen people put it into their basket. Are people going to watch? Do people remember this happens?

Cheez-It Bowl (Oklaho ma vs. Flori da): Pops

Pops is an acquired taste. Most people either love it or hate it. Howev er, if you love it then you really love it. Devoted

fans will watch and enjoy, similar to Raisin Bran. Others will channel surf and immedi ately skip it. Valero Alamo Bowl (Texas vs. Washington): Count Chocula It’s deli cious, but can be overwhelm ing and turn people away. Count Chocula is a cereal you will never for get, like The Alamo. One may leave a better taste in your mouth, but both are hard to fathom. How can a cereal have that much chocolate in it, really?

Allstate Sugar Bowl (Kansas State vs. Alabama): Off Brand Lucky Charms

Imagine you are at camp and you see the cereal bar set up for breakfast. You see the marshmal lows in the cereal that mom never lets you have at home because you only eat the marshmallows and run to get your bowl.

Disappointment sets in when you see dif ferent shapes than usual. It’s “Marshmal low Mateys.” You’ve heard of this cereal before, but never seen it.

College Football Playoff Semi final, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (TCU vs. Michigan): Cinnamon Toast Crunch

“Crave those crazy squares,” in this case, crave those wild matchups. TCU and Michigan have never met before, and now the teams are meet ing for the first time for a spot in the National Champion ship game.

Crazy. Just like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It’s sure to be a hit among a large group of people, and it’s going to be crazy. I definitely imagine a crowd of fans that look like the Cinnamon Toast Crunch people from the commercials, with big mouths and loud personalities.

While it tastes similar, it’s not quite the same. It’s missing the extra magic Lucky Charms has. In case you missed it, Alabama is missing the real deal this year.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Q: What are some of your Christmas family traditions?

“One of our traditions is play ing the ornament game on my dad’s side. We have to guess when my grandpar ents purchased the ornament and whoever wins gets a prize at the end. On my mom’s side, we always play dirty Santa which is a common tradition among families.”

Q: Favorite Christmas movie?

“I have to go with Elf, but Na tional Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a close second and is always watched at our house during the holiday sea son.”

Q: What are your winter break plans?

“My plans for this break are to spend time with some old friends from home along with spending some time with my close family. I’m also determined to read the books I have bought since coming to school that has sat on my shelf since I got here.”

Q: What’s the No. 1 thing on your Christmas gift list?

“A new laptop. Mom, please see this.”

Lily Martin, junior, Tulsa.

Q: What’s your favorite part of winter break and the holidays?

“My favorite part would prob ably be the kind, generous spirit most

people have during this time of year.”

Q: What are some of your Christmas family tradi tions?

“A Christ mas tradition that my family has is playing dirty Santa and a lot of solitaire.”

Q: Favorite Christmas movie?

“My favorite Christmas movie is Elf.”

Q: What are your winter break plans?

“My plans for Christmas break are to visit my family and work.”

Q: What’s the No. 1 thing on your Christmas gift list?

“The number one thing on my Christmas list is a fish tank.”

Andrew Bye, freshman, Wichi ta, Kansas.

Q: What’s your favorite part of winter break and the holidays?

“Spending time with family for Christmas.”

Q: What are some of your Christmas family tradi

“We go to church together on Christmas Eve, and on Dec. 23 we usually rent a party bus and go see Christ mas lights.”

Q: Fa vorite Christ mas movie?

“Home Alone 2.”

Q: What are your winter break plans?

“I am just going to work at a pharmacy back home, and spend time with friends and family.”

Q: What’s the No. 1 thing on your Christmas gift list?

“I want a pair of boots.”

Stevens Johnson, grad student,

Dubai, India.

Q: What’s your fa vorite part of winter break and the holidays?

“Seeing family.”

Q: What are some of your Christmas family traditions?

“My family is Christian so there are a lot of Christian meetings all around the church.”

Q: Favorite Christmas movie?

“Home Alone.”

Q: What are your winter break plans?

“This winter break I am excited because I a going to a student confer ence, and then I am flying back to In dia to see my grandparents. It has been a long time since I have seen them.”

Q: What’s the No. 1 thing on your Christmas gift list?

“I would like a jacket.”

Aubrey Schroyer, junior, Owasso.

Q: What’s your favorite part of winter break and the holidays?

“My favorite part of winter break would be spending time with my fam ily and getting a break from school

work.”

Q: What are some of your Christmas family tra ditions? “A few of my fam ily tradi tions for Christ mas is baking cookies for Santa and sprinkling reindeer food out on Christmas Eve.”

Q: What is your favorite Christmas movie?

“The Polar Express.”

Q: What are your winter break plans?

“Go home for a couple of weeks and spend time with family.”

Q: What’s the No. 1 thing on your Christmas gift list?

“A new pair of Ugg boots.”

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

All photos by Jaycee Hampton

Haylee Rooks

Lily Martin

Stevens Johnson

Aubrey Schroyer

Andrew Bye

Top 10 Christmas movies to watch this holiday season

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

There is no better way to prepare for the holidays than watching your fix of Christmas movies. Although there are hundreds of Christmas movies, I took the liberty of putting together the top 10 Christmas movies that will defi nitely get you into the holiday spirit.

“A Christmas Story” (1983) fol lows a young boy named Ralphie as he is on the run from bullies, prepping for Christmas and daydreaming about the perfect Christmas gift. This past year, the actor who played Ralpie (Peter Billingsley) returned to screens in “A Christmas Story” Christmas (2022), now streaming on HBO Max.

This is not your traditional holi day movie, but contrary to popular be lief, “Die Hard” (1988) starring Bruce Willis is a Christmas movie. When a New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife, daughters and others that have been taken hostage by a group of terrorists during a Christ mas party, he realizes there is nobody coming to save the hostages - except for him. It is currently streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime.

“Elf” (2003) is one of the most treasured Christmas movies worldwide.

Buddy (Will Ferrell) is not your regular elf. After being raised on the North Pole by Papa Elf, Santa and other north pole elves, Buddy decides to travel to New York City to find his biological dad. We follow Buddy as he learns the way of the city, finds love and saves Christmas. Streaming on HBO Max.

“National Lampoon’s Christ mas Vacation” (1989) is all about the Griswold family. Clark (Chevy Chase) wants this Christmas to be perfect, but when things start to go horribly wrong, the Griswolds have to make the best out of unfortunate circumstances. This slapstick comedy is perfect to watch with your family. Streaming on HBO Max.

“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) is a Christmas classic. The film fol lows a man who goes by Kris Krin gle. When he has to fill in for Santa at Macy’s, he was so popular among customers that he began to appear regularly. When he startles the town of Manhattan claiming to be the real Santa Claus, a lawyer and little girl must prove he is what he says he is in a court case that will determine the state of his mental health and authenticity. Streaming on Disney+.

“The Nightmare Before Christ mas” (1993) follows the adventures of Jack Skeleton, the pumpkin king of Halloweentown. When he accidentally stumbles upon Christmastown, he plots to take over Christmas. This animated classic is my favorite Christmas movie and it is loved by many. It can be streamed on Disney+.

“The Santa Clause” (1994) star ring Tim Allen follows divorced dad Scott Calvin. When he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, he learns that he must take over as Santa before

the next Christmas. This film is also followed by “The Santa Clause 2” (2002), and “The Santa Clause 3” (2006), all streaming on Disney+.

“Krampus” (2015) is a horror comedy film that follows the Engel family. When family fights cause a young Max to lose his Christmas spirit, the European folklore Krampus unleashes its wrath on the town and family. Starring Toni Collette and Adam Scott, Krampus is one of the more interesting Christmas mov ies. It can be streamed on Hulu with a premium subscription.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) is an animated television spe

cial that follows Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and the other Peanuts as they learn the true meaning behind Christ mas. It can be streamed on AppleTV+.

“How the Grinch Stole Christ mas” (2000) stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch. Streaming on HBO Max and Hulu, this hilarious Christmas movie is all about realizing the meaning behind Christmas is not gifts, food and other materialistic items. Christmas spirit can be found in the hearts of anyone and everyone.

It is the most wonderful time of the year, and these movies are certain to bring you Christmas cheer.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Via IMDb

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” has been a holiday favorite since 1965.

Via IMDb

Mny classic movies are rewatched every holiday season.

Thompson’s playmaking giving teammates, himself opportunities

Trevino Sports Editor

The moment Bryce Thompson catches the ball, something is noticeably different.

The old Thompson would have ducked his head, went into his dribble and drove to the basket looking to score for himself. That version of him is all but gone now.

Instead, now as a junior at OSU, once his palms make contact with the incoming pass, he pops his head and eyes up, looking for a teammate before making one dribble.

“Playing with my teammates will open it up for me and open up for my teammates,” Thompson said. “The

whole flow of the game has been a lot better.”

He still often does drive to the hoop for a bucket after receiving a pass — because that’s what you do when you’re a 6-foot-6 former five-star guard who is touted for midrange scoring abilities — but Thompson knew his role and playstyle would have to change for his team and personal overall growth.

Last year, Isaac Likekele handled most playmaking duties for the Cow boys. While the Cowboys added JohnMichael Wright in the portal after Likekele left via the same tool in the offseason, it has become a more collec tive effort among the team to spread the ball around the court.

In OSU’s win over Sam Houston State on Tuesday, with 2:55 remaining

in the first, Thompson could have taken a three and an eight point lead along with it, but rather, drew a defender before kicking it out to an open Wright in the corner, who splashed the 22-foot jumper. Thompson also finished the game with three assists, something he only did four times last season. This season, he already has three such games.

Thompson on 2B

Popping off

Hutchens Staff Reporter

When making the video that eventually changed her life, Jaylynn Jarrell chose to film in a spot with a unique back ground.

A homework-cov ered wall.

“Engineering is in a staircase, you might say,” Jarrell said. “You have to take one step and then take another step.

You have to use the prior step. I have pretty much all of the math that I’ve ever used in college. I taped it to my wall so I can always look at my wall to see how I derive this equation from that equation.”

Jarrell, an aero space engineering student at Oklahoma City Community College, won $100,000 in the 2022 Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway at halftime of the Big Ten Championship game. She plans to use the money to attend OSU in the spring.

Cash for club

Smith was wrong. Now, Huston serves as president for Cowboy Wrestling Club. It emerges as a true presence on the freestyle wrestling scene. It won’t stop growing either.

Engel Co-Editor-in-Chief

Clay Hutson noticed a pat tern.

As a diehard OSU wrestling fan, he noticed other teams taking advantage of its club resources. Focused efforts for wrestlers to achieve Olympic and world cham pionship dreams.

OSU missed out.

Hutson’s experiences with other regional training centers fu eled the new-look Cowboy Wres tling Club platform. He golfed in Arkansas RTC and Little Rock’s tournament. The new organiza tion raised $60,000. Old friend ships led him to play at Oklahoma RTC’s golf tournament. Central Oklahoma, too.

All those programs took a risk to raise money. Not OSU. Club coach Derek Fix and Hutson approached OSU wrestling coach John Smith with the idea.

“He said, ‘You can do it, but you won’t make any money,’’ Hutson said.

On Sunday, red dirt music blared from speakers and dozens of fans sipped beer during a CWC tailgate before OSU’s dual against Minnesota. The club did the same before Final X Stillwater in June. Events to get the word out.

In 2021, the club raised $185,000 in its first Cowboy Wres tling Club golf tournament. That’s just from a day of golfing. Casino Night in February 2022 raised $40,000.

It’s more than the team itself who strives to bring the Cowboys back to national trophies.

Smith isn’t fully focused on the club. Just different priorities.

“The RTC is important, but I think more importantly that I think we’ve learned through the years with guys that are train ing for worlds and Olympics, you gotta take care of your program first,” Smith said. “Every one of those guys will tell you that. Whoever has an RTC. They don’t have an RTC because they love freestyle wrestling. They have an RTC because they want to create a better environment for recruiting.”

He’s focused on the college season and recovering from a “tough” season. Concentrated on winning and development.

That’s why he enlists Hutson and others to take care of those tasks.

CWC offers an opportunity for the wrestlers to train yearround. Travel and compete in extra matches.

Dustin Plott, OSU’s 174-pounder, won the U23 free style World Team Trials in June. CWC paid for entry fees and trav el for several athletes and coaches to compete in that tournament.

Carter Young, OSU’s 141-pounder, trained in France this summer thanks to CWC. Daton Fix, OSU’s star 133-pounder competes inter nationally with a CWC affiliation.

“The Cowboy Wrestling Club, it’s important for us,” Fix said. “It’s important for after my college career to make sure that I can stick around here. I want to stick around in Stillwater and be a Cowboy for the rest of my career. Even after my career if they’ll let me.”

See

Courtesy of Bruce Waterfield

Daton Fix (left) competes in freestyle events for Cowboy Wrestling Club, OSU’s Olympic style regional training center. His father, Derek

Fix (right) is one of the club’s main coaches.

See Dr. Pepper on

Gabriel

Sam

Courtesy: Instagram

Jaylynn Jarrell threw nine footballs into large Dr Pepper cans

halftime of the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game

Jaiden Daughty

OSU guard Bryce Thompson led the Cowboys with 17 points in their Tuesday night win over Sam Houston State.

Adam

hip-hop shaped Boynton

find his core group of artists.

“Fabulous grew up around the corner from me,” Boynton said. “Jay-Z, Biggie and Fab are all from Brooklyn.”

Ashton Slaughter Staff Reporter

Mike Boynton was just a kid in Brooklyn when he watched the film “Krush Groove.”

The 1985 film is based on the hiphop group, Run-D.M.C., and how they fought to become successful in the New York rap scene. Other stories from New York hip-hop pioneers such as The Fat Boys and Kurtis Blow are also told, as they too were trying to leave their mark on the New York music scene.

After viewing, Boynton was hooked, and suddenly introduced to a new culture, which he still carries with him to this day.

“That was kind of my first view to hip-hop,” Boynton said. “But then when I started listening to it, in terms of tak ing it in, it was more Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z was coming along, so those were the first guys I remember listening to music from.”

Even if Boynton wanted to get away from it, he couldn’t, as he was growing up in Brooklyn as hip-hop was beginning to take over not only the New York area, but nationwide. Even with the mainstream attention it was getting, Boynton didn’t need to journey far to

To this day, even in Stillwater, Boynton carries his love for New York hip-hop with him. The coach notably walks out to “Public Service Announce ment” by Jay-Z everytime he’s intro duced in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

“Every time he comes out of the locker room here they play that Jay-Z song for him so, hopefully they have their own little thing for him when he goes back down there,” said Cowboy big man, Kalib Boone.

Now though, removed from Brooklyn and nearly 40 years removed from the release of “Krush Groove,” Boynton sees how the hip-hop landscape has changed, but he’s still stuck to his roots from back home.

“It’s so different now obviously, the hip-hop culture has transformed itself in general, but I’m still very much a New York rapper fan,” Boynton said.

Although Jay-Z is Boynton’s fa vorite artist, he still listens to the “new guys” as Eminem, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar were all names he was quick to bring up regarding the new generation of rappers. Even with this new genera tion of artists, Boynton still tries to put his players onto his music, as when coach has the aux in practice, it feels like they’re playing in a Brooklyn gym.

“Most of them don’t listen to that stuff, but we play music in practice and if I’m on aux it’s a lot of New York City

rap coming up,” Boynton said. Although Boynton tends to lean toward his roots when he’s on aux, ac cording to his players, he switches it up

right way,” Boynton said with a smile. Anderson’s rebuttal?

“I’m the old-head on the team, so I don’t really listen to the new stuff,” said Anderson, agreeing with his coach. “I’d

As Boynton and his team travel to Brooklyn to face off against Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon, he may not be introduced to a JayZ song, but he’ll feel right at home, as he’s back where his love for hip-hop all started, which undoubt edly shaped him today. “Obviously it’s part of the culture that I’m very familiar with and comfort able with,” Boynton said.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Thompson...

Continued from 1B

Parker Gerl and Ashton Slaughter Staff Reporters

Prior to OSU’s Tues day night game against Sam Houston State, O’Colly reporters Parker Gerl and Ashton Slaughter spoke with OSU fans to gather their thoughts on the Cowboys season thus far.

With some highs and lows in the season, fans were quick to ob serve the early struggles the team has had, while not shying away from their belief in them mak ing a run in March.

“I’m excited for the rest of the season, because I think a common trend in the past few years is that the Cowboys will get off to a slow start, but then really push through in the end,” said OSU senior, Blake Bryant. “I feel like by March, coach Boynton and the rest of the staff are gonna have these boys ready to play and find their way to the postsea son.”

One of these strug gles fans were quick to point out were the Cow boy’s troubles from the foul line. On the season the Cowboys are shooting 71.4% from the free throw line, dipping as low as 50% in their loss against Southern Illinois.

“They need to do better at their free throw shooting… maybe settle down a little bit,” said Sherri Pearce, a Cowboy fan for 60 years now. “They’ve had to work hard for the wins they’ve gotten.”

These shortcomings from the charity stripe are in addition to the Cow boys untimely offensive struggles. In their loss against UConn on Dec. 1, the then No. 8 ranked Huskies went on a 23-3 run to end the first half, as a three-point Cowboy lead turned into a 17-point deficit in the matter of seven minutes.

Sophomore student Joshua Johnston pas sionately talked about his favorite team’s offensive struggles. “We have so much talent, but we tend to go on these like eight minute dry spells,” John ston said. “It’s kind of hard to watch.”

Next to Johnston was his friend, Kyle Cole man, another Cowboy sophomore, who called out the students and fans for their lackluster sup port this far in the season.

“I would say fan backing, I would say our games kind of lack in fans,” Coleman said. “To be honest what else are you doing in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on a Tuesday night?”

The support for Boynton hasn’t waivered in the eyes of fans though, as the Cowboy faithful are still behind their head coach.

“He has a lot of re spect from the school, and the fans,” Pearce said.

With the loss of a prominent player such as former Cowboy guard Isaac Likekele not far removed, Pearce also noticed that his miss ing presence has yet to filled on this years roster.

“I think he’s still trying to figure out who goes where, well. It’s been hard having to replace Isaac (Likekele), and I think they’re still looking for that fit.”

Luckily for Cow boy fans, their squad defeated the Bearkats 65-51 on Tuesday night, improving their record to 6-3 on the season. With some holes in the offense still apparent, the Cowboys came out on top, putting these fans in better spirits leav ing GIA then when they arrived.

“Maybe they’re just getting settled in… I’m looking for ward to Big 12 (play),” Pearce said.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

“(Playmaking) is part of his re sponsibility,” Boynton said. “It’s a part of his development. As he continues to progress in basketball, being a good decision maker and playmaker is going to be a part of that.”

In hindsight, Thompson could have shot the ball from behind the arc himself instead giving Wright his own. He exploded for a career-high 15 points in the first half and totaled 17. He’s led the Cowboys in scoring in four of the first nine games this season. Most of the success is in part to improving his

3-point shooting. After averaging 29% last season, he made 4-6 from deep on Tuesday, tied for the highest percentage in a game with as many attempts in his career.

The advanced analytics also love Thompson. In the same game vs Sam Houston State, he graded the highest among the Cowboys in net points and game score, and scored second in true shooting percentage and effective field goal percentage, all without an absurdly large usage rate.

Not only is Thompson becoming a more all-around distributor for his teammates, he’s been more efficient in creating his own shot, which is his premiere ability as a basketball player. And with the team’s overall experience playing together, Thompson and his teammates have the same level of trust in each other for scoring.

Thompson is the most aware scorer on the team, but he does not always have to be. An derson, although struggling right now, led the team in points last season, and transfers Wright and Caleb Asberry have become long range shooting threats for a team that lacked any last season. The Cowboys — Thompson included — now just need to play-make for each other and knock down shots, which they will need to continue in hopes of making the NCAA tournament.

“I gotta give credit to my teammates, a couple of (shots) I got is because they’re good players,” Thompson said. “Un derstanding how we can work off each other is how we begin success as a whole… As long as I keep working, keep trusting my teammates, I’ll knock them down.”

Jaiden Daughty

Chase Davis

Thompson didn’t only develop playmaking, but increased his scoring efficiency. sports.ed@ocolly.com

sports

Jacie’s Gems

Gina Foster Staff Reporter

Winning championships is a priority for coaches and athletes at OSU, but it’s not the only one.

While being placed in a high-profile position, women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt cre ated an organization for herself and her team to make a precise impact on the younger generation.

At every home game, young girls parade around GallagherIba Arena in an orange T-shirt with a gem on it that says “Ja cie’s Gems.” This is the name of Hoyt’s organization, but it’s also what all of these young girls are in her eyes, gems.

Girls who are in grades kindergarten to 6th can fill out an application to participate. The girls and their parents sit in a special area right behind the team and coaches. They experience a meet-and-greet with coach Hoyt, along with a tour of the women’s basketball facilities.

This tradition began while Hoyt was at Kansas City, and it became influential to all involved, so she couldn’t leave it behind.

girls to be able to be at games and see fierce competitors.”

Hoyt has already made an impact on many of the girls, and her aspirations continue when she meets every young girl who wants to be on the court themselves.

“I liked getting to be a part of the team for the day,” said Lexi Boone, a middle school basket ball player. “I want to continue to get better and hopefully play in college, so I really enjoyed it, especially meeting coach Jacie.”

Addi Lee, a basketball player in 3rd grade, hopes to play in college when she is older, like many of Jacie’s gems. In her first time being a ball girl, her smile could not have been wiped from her face.

“There were two other girls with me and we got on the jumbo tron so that was really fun, but I loved seeing them win,” Lee said. “(Hoyt) told us to bring the hype and yell really loud.”

Mindset refinement

Hoyt changing culture for Cowgirl basketball

ordinary games and events held on fun Fridays.

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Dressing up in granny outfits while playing kickball or depicting Adam Sandler’s ridiculous-looking outfits while playing softball, the OSU women’s basketball team had a lot of fun this summer. These activities were a few of the out-of-the-

Fun Fridays occurred throughout the offseason and were utilized as a teambuilding exercise. For a new team and new coaching staff, fun Fridays have played a small role in the changing culture that OSU coach Jacie Hoyt is instilling into the Cowgirl program, on and off the court.

It was obvious after a 9-20 season many things needed to change. First it was the coach, when OSU fired 11-year head coach Jim Littell and hired Hoyt in

March. Then, Hoyt brought in 10 new players via the transfer portal to comple ment the four players re maining from last season. Now, the culture is in the spotlight of change because the culture of a team and of a program is crucial to suc cess, something OSU hasn’t had consistently as of late.

“I mean, I’ve heard the stories of previous teams and it’s nothing like this,” said Southwestern Okla homa State transfer Makyra Tramble.

Milton leading OSU’s offense

Gerl Staff Reporter

A fast-paced offense isn’t complete without an equally intuitive and expe rienced playmaker.

After spending the past four seasons at UTArlington, where she was a 1,000-point scorer, Terryn Milton has since transi tioned into a new offense. And she’s been a huge help.

Now, serving as OSU’s starting point guard, Milton has been the hub of the Cowgirls’ new fast-paced offense under first-year coach Jacie Hoyt.

“Terryn is just such a natural point guard, she always has been and it’s been so fun to operate to her strengths,” Hoyt said.

Averaging four assists per game on the season with a 1.82 assist-to turnover-ratio, Milton has displayed great decision making in pick-and-roll opportunities and in halfcourt sets and transition, which has helped catapult OSU’s offense to a top-30 scoring offense in the na tion.

The Cowgirls also have the 11th highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the country.

When Milton re cords four or more assists, the Cowgirls have a 5-1 record, including notable wins over Florida State and Harvard in Cancun.

“Terryn just gives confidence to people, she gets them the ball in posi tions where they can score and obviously that helps our team a lot,” Hoyt said.

“I think it’s her setting the tone for what it looks like to share the ball and kind of making those cool things, that’s what she does for us.”

Other high-assist outings from Milton in clude two six-assist games against Oral Roberts and North Texas, where she dished off five first-half assists in the win over the Mean Green.

Backcourt mate Naomie Alnatas also spoke about what it’s like playing alongside Milton.

“She’s really fun to play with, if you look at the games in Cancun, I started them and she finished them,” Alnatas said.

“The coach I played for in college had a similar program and she impacted me in so many ways,” Hoyt said. “I think that as part of our platform and why I do what I do is because I want to impact people and give the little girls in our community and in this state positive role models that they can look up to. I want little

Experiencing Cowgirl bas ketball is not only an experience for the girls, but also the parents who are able to see their daugh ter’s face light up. Parents who played basketball are now seeing their daughters play basketball and being involved in the sport.

“I want to learn the chants and attend more games when we can,” said April Boone, Lexi’s mom. “The general atmosphere and excitement that comes with a college game was really exciting.”

Carson Toulouse

Terryn Milton is a fifth-year senior and played her first four years at UT Arlington.

Cole Gueldenzoph

OSU coach Jacie Hoyt took the job in the spring and has since changed the culture for OSU women’s basketball.

Abby Cage

Jacie’s Gems allows girls to get a close-up look at OSU women’s basketball.

Parker

Program allows girls to experience OSU

It’s all the extra training that can contribute to the college season and increase the team’s presence as a power house. A team that hasn’t won a national championship since 2006.

But how does all that happen? It starts with money. All of those Olympic style efforts aren’t university funded. It’s not NCAA-sanctioned. Separate styles. Freestyle wrestling. Not folkstyle. That’s the difference between Cowboy Wrestling Club and OSU wrestling.

With the funding, CWC will also pay athletes to move and train in Still water. That’s how club coach Zoheir El Qouarrqe, a former French senior world team member, moved to Stillwater. That’s just the start.

“If we bring other guys in, that’s not only gonna help the guys that are part of the Cowboy Wrestling Club but it could also help with the college team as well,” Fix said.

All funding comes from private donors. Hutson said CWC partners with the Tulsa Community Foundation so it’s a charitable entity.

“People get a deduction when they donate to it,” he said.

sports

Hutson and the CWC Board re cently concentrated on hosting fundrais ers and raising club awareness through social media and public visibility.

He said the club also receives monthly donations from members that totals nearly $1,200. There will be another Casino Night in February and indoor tailgates before big duals. There will be CWC events in March during the NCAA Championships in Tulsa.

“We’re renting out the COX Cen ter for our fans for the breaks and stuff,” he said. “A lot of it is first time stuff that we’ve never done but what I would say is that OSU wrestling fans are incred ibly supportive because we’ve not done these types of things.”

Many season ticket holders such as Jay List have poured in support for the club. There’s a sense of community that identifies with the consumer.

“When you come to these events, it’s just unlike any other sport because they’re welcoming,” List said. “Not only that. You’re like, ‘Oh, hi, Chris Perry.” John Smith trying to give me a hot dog. I think we also understand the impor tance of what’s going on in college wrestling and the need to enhance this when you look at what’s going on with Penn State and etc.”

OSU wrestling fans are latching onto the concept. If the school won’t do it, donors will.

Do the Cowboys have a top-10 defense?

with 30.

Braden Bush Staff Reporter

After another dominant defensive performance, this time against a Sam Houston team with the No. 7 NET ranking, OSU coach Mike Boynton didn’t mince any words.

Boynton has liked his team’s defense in each of its first nine games and thinks its prowess will only grow as the Cowboys dive deeper into the season. So much so that he put a ranking alongside his statements.

“In all honesty, I think we have an elite-level defense. Top10ish, maybe,” Boynton said. “I don’t know what the numbers say at this point, but I think we’ll be trending in that direction.”

He might end up being cor rect. So far, the Cowboy have made hay with their defense. But how good has the defense been, and can it crack the top 10 like Boynton predicted?

OSU held the Bearkats to a season-low 51 points on Tuesday. That’s a nice accomplishment by it self, but the Cowboys have held five of their nine opponents to season lows in regulation and were three

points away from holding No. 5 UConn to their lowest output. Eight of nine opponents have been held below its season average.

It’s becoming a defensive trend more than an outlier.

The style of defense contrib utes to the success on that end of the court. It’s a complex type of de fense that’s demanding and strenu ous for defenders because it’s full of constant movement, but it gives offenses multiple different looks and creates confusion. It can take a while to absorb, but it’s effective once grasped like this team has.

“I understand how coach Mike likes to do things defensive ly,” said guard Bryce Thompson, in his second year in the program. “So, I’m pretty good with it.”

And the players have bought into the system.

“That’s something coach Mike always emphasizes, you know, being a great defender and everything else, the offensive side, will take care of itself,” Thompson said.

Boynton said Thompson is a much-improved defender, and fellow guard Avery Anderson is averaging two steals a game. New comers Quion Williams and Caleb Asberry have brought intensity and tight defense to the perimeter, too.

But the OSU big men are key in setting the defensive tone. At center, Moussa Cisse terrorizes the lane and limits drives to the basket. Cisse leads the Big 12 in blocked shots and sits third in the nation

Factor in minutes played along with the blocks – Cisse blocks a shot every seven game minutes. At that rate, he doesn’t plan on giving up his conference lead.

“I don’t know if they’re gonna be able to catch up, because I ain’t stopping,” Cisse said.

Others in the paint, such as 6-foot-9 forwards Kalib Boone and Tyreek Smith inhabit the middle of the defense and are an effective counterpunch with the 7-foot-1 Cisse in the lineup.

“I can go get the rebounds with Moussa; me and him can protect the paint,” Boone said. “But also got you’ve got Tyreek coming off the bench that can do that too. So really, it’s just great.”

Heading into the 10th game of the season, the Cowboys are No. 10 in opponent shooting percent age (28.2%) and are allowing 62 points a game, a top-50 mark. All that against a strength of schedule ranked 58th out of 363 teams.

A schedule in one of the toughest conferences awaits, so Boynton’s self-proclaimedtop-10 defense will be thrown into the fire for testing. But for now, the results show a defense that can stack up with most.

“I think we have an elite defensive team,” Boynton said. “I haven’t seen a whole lot of teams that I will say, ‘Man, we’ve got a long way to go to catch those guys, defensively.’”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Dr. Pepper

Continued from 1B

Based on her video, Jarrell was select ed from a nation-wide pool of contestants to compete in a nationally televised contest where two college students throw footballs into a Dr Pepper can-shaped target for scholarship money.

She took eight hours to film it, me ticulously following the contest’s recommenda tions when introducing herself.

Dr Pepper looks for the brightest students in America. Perhaps the impressive video background helped, but Jarrell’s academic back ground was already con vincing. She holds a 3.5 GPA at OCCC and works two jobs, including tutor ing other students.

Greg Holland, an engineering professor at OCC, said Jarrell is a delight to be around.

“She is just so incredibly organized and driven to learn,” Holland said. “You know, I spend a lot of time outside of class just answering questions she has as she’s doing her home work. She has always been a really good team player working with either her classmates on their projects or just co ordinating on homework and studying.”

Jarrell has no background in sports. Not wanting to be caught unprepared, she bought a football the day after submitting her video. It was the first time she could remember touch ing one.

After she was selected as a competitor, Jarrell ramped up her practice. Like the Michi gan and Purdue players she shared a field with at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Jarrell and her husband, Shane watched film.

“Once we found out she was going to in the competition we watched the videos of the past contestants. There’s like 16 years of contestants to watch,” Shane said.

By watching past winners, Jarrell formu lated a plan. Chest pass ing was the most efficient method. They pored over replays to get the target’s dimensions. A Google search turned up a former football player’s height who happened to be pictured standing near the massive can. They used that number to estimate the size and height of the target.

“(Shane) drilled a Lowes five-gallon

bucket to a tree six feet in the air,” Jarrell said. “I would throw at that, which is a foot in diam eter. The real target is two feet in diameter.”

Whether calculat ing velocity or practicing throwing with the right velocity, Jarrell excels.

“She’s probably one of the most orga nized students that I’ve ever had 18 years down here,” Holland said. Jarrell turned her strong work ethic — usually reserved for complex engineering problems — to throwing practice. She tracked her progress.

“I ended up prac ticing an hour and thirty minutes a day until I left,” Jarrell said. “I had 12 balls to throw and I was 90% accurate. I could throw each ball in 1.3 seconds. So I was pretty good.”

Jarrell spent four days in Indianapolis with the other contestants.

“There’s a prelimi nary game,” Jarrell said. “On the preliminary game there are three contestants. One of them gets knocked out and two go to the live game. The very top number, whoever scores the most, is going to be the one who wins if there is a tiebreaker after the tiebreaker.”

Jarrell advanced to the final round, where she competed one-onone in front of more than 67 thousand fans, in addition to millions of FOX broadcast viewers.

“It was surreal,” Jarrell said. “Being out there on the field in gen eral blew my mind.”

The competition was a blur; she remem bers little. She success fully completed nine passes. Not her best mark, but it was enough to hoist the giant check for $100,000.

Jarrell will study Aerospace Engineer ing at OSU. She aspires to work for SpaceX. Winning the Dr. Pep per Tuition Giveaway will allow her to live on campus, eliminating a two-hour commute. In addition to the contest changing her life, Jar rell’s taste pallet also changed over the week end.

“The cream soda Dr. Pepper flavor is absolutely bomb,” Jarrell said.

“We’re just raising money to get back on top,” Huston said. Visit the Cowboy Wrestling Club

website for more information.

Molly Jolliff

OSU wrestling fans ate pizza and sipped drinks at Cowboy Wrestling Club’s tailgate before the Cowboys dual on Sunday.

Chase Davis

Moussa Cisse keeps guards wary of driving into the lane, where he averages more than three blocks per game.

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (12/09/22). Benefit through domestic harmony this year. Steady communication strengthens creative collaboration. Slow to navigate winter ob stacles with health and work, before falling in love again next spring. Revise plans privately next summer, before dancing with friends in celebration next autumn. Feed your family with love.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most chal lenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Your career flowers naturally, with Venus entering Capricorn for three weeks. Professional status and influence rise when you align your work and heart.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Investigation and exploration reveal treasure over the next three weeks. Venus entering Capricorn benefits re search and travel. Follow fascinating subjects. Study what you love.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — It’s easier to save. Shared finances can especially grow, with Venus in Capricorn for three weeks. Profit in collabora tion. Pull in a fruitful harvest together.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Share love, fun and romance. Com promise comes easier over the next three weeks. Partnerships flower with Venus in Capricorn. Energy lights up your collaboration.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Physical action gets results. Workouts energize and build strength. Your work is in demand over three weeks, with Venus in Capricorn. Have fun and move.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Creative inspiration harmonizes. Listen to your muses. With Venus in Capricorn, fun, passion and romance unfold. Artistic and romantic projects flower over three weeks.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Feather your love nest. Enjoy domes tic projects, with Venus in Capricorn. Home and family take priority. Beautify living spaces. Cook and light candles.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Dig into a fascinating story, with Venus in Capricorn. Research, write and express. You’re especially brilliant. Words flow easily. Capture insights and share.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — The next three weeks, with Ve nus in Capricorn, can get especially lucrative. Focus on making money. Conserve resources and stash savings. Keep in action. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Splurge on a new look or style. Over three weeks, with Venus in your sign, your luck improves. You’re irresist ible. Use your charms.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 6 — Plan and prepare for what’s next. Allow more time for imagination, dreaming and fantasies, with Venus in Capri corn. Guard secrets. Nurture seeds with loving care.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Enjoy the public spotlight. You’re especially popular, with Venus in Capricorn. Group activities go well over three weeks. Social activities benefit your career.

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

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Edited

John Smith stood in front of the bright orange wall in the Cowboy wrestling locker room.

OSU’s wrestling coach was poised and maintained a confident look and demeanor as he addressed the media prior to his team’s Bedlam dual in Norman this Sunday. While his answers and responses fluctu ated depending on the question, there was one phrase he mut tered and imputed on a consis tent basis.

“We don’t lose Bedlam.”

Smith reiterates this to his wrestlers every week — even when the nearest Bedlam dual may be months away. During Bedlam week, it’s more ram pant.

“I feel like when you see someone step out in orange you know that they’re gonna be a bad MOFO,” said senior wrestler Kaden Gfeller. “Coach

Smith lets us know we don’t lose to Oklahoma. It’s just not acceptable.”

A combined 41 national titles and 79 conference titles highlights the hostility and dynamic of the rivalry. When discussing the Bedlam rivalry people often think of the highscoring shootouts in football, the down-to-the-wire finishes in basketball and back-andforth contests in baseball and softball. But it all started with wrestling. Two historic pro grams with a number of pedi gree going head-to-head in one of the most prominent wrestling states in the nation.

Through 184 total duals, the Cowboys hold a 147-27-10 record over the Sooners. Since Smith’s inaugural season as head coach in 1991, OSU has lost a Bedlam dual just six times, including just one over the past 10 years.

“It’s a little bit more important to us than everything else,” Smith said. “Is it more important than the outcome of the season? No. But is it more important than any other match or dual we have at home or away? Yes.”

The importance of main

taining dominance in a fierce rivalry bodes well for not only both programs individually, but also for recruiting. Since 2017, the Cowboys have recorded the No. 1 overall class twice, in 2019 and 2022. Of course, 34 team national championships play a key role in the recruiting success over the years, Smith believes OSU’s dominance in the Bedlam rivalry plays a vital part not only on the national stage, but for reeling in Okla homa talent.

“Why is that important? You take the lead in recruit ing in the state,” Smith said. “Wouldn’t you love to get the best wrestlers in the state?

Every year there may be three or four that really can help Oklahoma State. But we want to get those three or four. So, it sure doesn’t hurt us by winning Bedlam so consistently.”

Twenty-one of OSU’s 40 wrestlers are from Oklahoma. Most of them already knew the aura of the Bedlam rivalry from experience. Gfeller comes from an OSU family. He knows the vitality of winning Bedlam meets, recalling instances as a kid where he’d be in attendance at either Gallagher-Iba Arena

or McCasland Field House for a dual.

“I grew up watching Bed lam games,” Gfeller said. “We gotta make sure that we hold it down on our end (in wrestling) and make sure that we continue to dominate the rest of the series.”

As Sunday’s dual draws near, most wrestlers find them selves in the week watching old footage of past Bedlam wres tling duals. It often serves as a reminder to the importance of coming out on the winning side in such a bitter rivalry.

With Oklahoma’s depar ture to the SEC likely becoming official in 2025, uncertainty lies

ahead regarding the future of the rivalry. There is the possi bility of the Sooners remaining in the Big 12 only for wrestling since the SEC does not compete in the sport. It remains certain for both the coaches and wres tlers that the dominance the Cowboys have displayed in the rivalry isn’t going away any time soon.

“Oklahoma is known for being a wrestling state,” said senior wrestler Daton Fix. “We want to make sure that we’re the best wrestling school in the state. To be that, you have to win Bedlam.”

“It’s definitely a family atmosphere here this year and we all share a bond on and off the court and you can’t really get that anywhere else.”

The culture for OSU women’s basketball has shifted for the better, into a more-family atmo sphere. An atmosphere Hoyt said is based on hard work, discipline and ac countability.

With a family-like culture comes love and respect between players and coaches, something that seems prevalent between Hoyt and Naomie Alnatas, a transfer from UMKC, where Hoyt was hired from.

“(Hoyt) is like a second mom,” Alnatas said. “She has taught me a lot, believe it or not I was

not a leader when I got to Kansas City, she kind of developed that. She’s a truth teller, she will tell me straight up like, ‘Mimie, you acting like a jerk right now.’”

The fun Fridays were used as icebreakers between the new players and coaching staff, but now with four-hour daily practices ramping up, new players are figuring out Hoyt and the culture she’s trying to instill is different from past experiences.

“I don’t want to cuss, but she gets on my ass,” Tramble said.

“She makes sure that I do things right and she doesn’t let me take any plays off. It shows that she has faith in me and that she holds me accountable and that’s something I enjoy.”

Players praise how straight-forward and upfront Hoyt is toward the instructing and coaching

of the players.

After a loss to Kent State, Alnatas said she sat in Hoyt’s office to discuss her not-so-great perfor mance in the loss and figure out how Alnatas can improve.

“She told me that we have better players here and told me I needed to step up in a way that doesn’t have to change who I am,” Alnatas said.

“She’s a truth teller, she’ll tell me the truth even if it’s comfortable or not.”

Whether it’s kickball in costumes or sit-down discussions on gameplay, the culture for OSU wom en’s basketball is chang ing, and with the Cowgirls sitting at 8-2, it’s already proving victorious.

Cole Gueldenzoph

File Photo

John Smith has lost just six duals to OU as head coach of the program.

Daniel Allen

Staff Reporter

Lardarius Webb Jr.

Back, junior Jones Junior College

Justin Wright Linebacker, fifth-year senior Tulsa

sports

Investigating Hypnotoad’s origin in college football

Ben Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor

Clayton Regian knew the answer was a psychedelic frog.

Regian, TCU’s Director of Ath letic Video Production, had to come up with something to display on the video board at Amon G. Carter Stadium to distract opposing kickers.

He went with the Hypnotoad.

The Hypnotoad, a character from the animated TV show “Futurama,” has become the unofficial mascot for the TCU Horned Frogs. In the show, the toad’s origins are unknown. It could be an alien, mutant or even a project of genetic engineering.

Regian is a big “Futurama” fan and thought the character made sense to use.

“Of course, it was not that big of a stretch to use something very popular on the internet, that had its own follow ing,” Regian said. “But it was actually being able to link it very loosely with our own mascot that made it a nobrainer.”

Hypnotoad his first appearance this season on Oct. 22 when the Horned Frogs hosted K-State. Fans went psycho when it popped up and KSU missed field goal and 55-yard TCU touchdown pass.

TCU coach Sonny Dykes rocked the animal on his sweatshirt at a press conference and is a believer in what it brings to the table.

“Strangely enough, for the first time this season, I noticed it,” Dykes said in his postgame news conference.

“I also noticed we made a bunch of big plays right after. I’m not a big believer in coincidence, you know what I’m say ing? I think there may be something to it. Hey man, the Hypnotoad is powerful stuff.”

The Hypnotoad’s origin in college athletics is much more straightforward than its origin in the show. In 2015, Re gian and TCU started using it at basket ball games as a free throw distraction and sparingly at football games. As far as Regian knows, OSU is the only other school to use the crowd prompt.

As trippy as it might sound, Jeremy Davis, Director for Orange Power Studios, said OSU came up with the idea independently in 2019, shortly after OSU debuted a 110-foot video board.

“It was very much an independent thing of ‘How can we use this board to our advantage?’” Davis said. “And that was probably one of the first two or three things we built,” Davis said. “It wasn’t one of the first things we used, but it was definitely one of the first things we built out to see what it would look like on this new board.”

Davis explained the creative video and graphics department has bor rowed themes from other schools and added its own tweaks, but has never straight-up stolen an idea from another

school. After all, where is the creative ness in that?

Graham Tewell, a video and TV producer at OSU, brought the Hyp notoad to Stillwater.

Just like Regian, he was thinking of a way to distract opposing kickers.

Initially, Tewell was thinking a hypnotizing black and white spiral would do the trick, but then he caught a random episode of “Futurama.”

“It was on and there was a seg ment on there where the Hypnotoad showed up and I was like, ‘Oh that’s kind of funny and can build off the hypnotizing spiral idea that I had but could kind of reference something.’”

Regian wasn’t offended to see the Hypnotoad pop up at an OSU game. He said he took it as OSU understanding

Hypnotoad is an awesome character. He said it’s not like he owns the character, so it’s nothing to be territorial about.

So why are people talking about TCU’s Hypnotoad seven years after its inception? Probably because TCU is in the middle of a 12-1 season and com peting in the College Football Playoff. Winning can be the difference between marketing success and failure.

“Winning tends to be the magic ingredient that makes a fanbase em brace wacky ideas,” Regian said.

“Whenever you have a good cool little idea and you tend to have a mixed season as far as wins and losses go, it’s hard to reach down and get excited about anything, let alone a Hypnotoad.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy TCU Athletics

TCU started using “Futurama’s” Hypnotoad character in 2015, but it didn’t blow up until TCU’s successful 2022 football season.

Former running back Miller inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

Braden Bush Staff Reporter

Terry Miller never heard a mailman or delivery driver pull up to his house. So, he thought the box left on his front porch must have been a surprise birthday gift. But it was even more special.

He opened the package and found a football from the College Football Hall of Fame. At that mo ment, Miller realized he would become the seventh representative of OSU to receive the honor.

“Once you got that, it was like, wow, what an honor,” Miller said.

On Tuesday, at the National Football Foun dation Awards in Las Vegas, it became of ficial. Miller, one of the most decorated running backs in OSU history, was formally inducted into the College Foot ball Hall of Fame.

Miller rushed for 4,754 yards and 49 touchdowns in his collegiate career, which twice earned him AllAmerican status and Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year. In 1976, Miller was fourth in the Heisman voting, then he followed that up with a runner up finish in 1977. He’s one of 23 running backs to finish in the top-four of Heis man voting twice.

He still holds numerous OSU records, such as No. 2 in career rushing yards and rush ing touchdowns, No. 3 and No. 6 for rush ing yards in a single season, most career 100-yard games (26) and most consecutive 100-yard games (19).

“Pretty amaz ing when you consider Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders played in the program,” Miller said. “I’m just the old man in the group. But it was pretty exciting.”

During his time, Miller helped OSU win two major bowl games and a Big Eight cham pionship in 1976. He graduated in 1978 and spent four years in the NFL with the Bills and Seahawks. His jersey number, 43, is one of only four retired num bers at OSU.

Despite his ac colades and honors, Miller said he was most proud of graduat ing in four years and getting to be part of those teams. And he’s always quick to credit his teammates for his success.

“I think it means that we did some things right – my teammates, coaches and what have you,” Miller said. “As far as for me, I’m just thankful that I had those other players and coaches around, because I’d never beat one-on-11. It’s a team; no ‘I’ in team. So, I’m excited about the induc tion.”

Courtesy of National Football Foundation

On Tuesday, former OSU running back Terry Miller was one of 18 players formally inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.