The O'Colly, Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Big 12 Baseball Tournament preview

Cowboys to watch; breaking down OSU’s

finishing 3-for-4 with five RBI and a towering two-run home run. Just as Schubart began his speech, second baseman Roc Riggio jumped in.

“Best freshman in the country right here,” Riggio said. “No question about it.”

numbers

Who: No. 18 OSU vs Oklahoma

What: Big 12 Baseball Tournament

When: Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Less than a week removed from the Bedlam series, the Cowboys take on the Sooners again in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament (May 24-28). OU, the No. 7 seed, won the tournament last season, while the No. 2 seed Cowboys last claimed the title in 2019. Here are some Cowboys to keep an eye on this week.

Nolan Schubart

Nolan Schubart grinned when he was asked about his emotions after winning a Big 12 title.

Schubart played a pivotal role in OSU’s 11-1 win over OU on Saturday,

As a first-year college player, Schubart ranks second on the team in home runs (15) and fifth in batting average (.348). Throughout the season, coach Josh Holliday has labeled him “unique” and “special”. On Saturday, the trend continued.

“I don’t pass out compliments very often,” Holliday said. “But (Schubart) just does a lot of things I don’t see very many young players do. He is a remarkable young player.”

Marcus Brown

Saturday, in a one-run game with a runner on second base, shortstop Marcus Brown fielded a ground ball hit by OU first baseman Sebastian Orduno. With just one out, Brown opted

Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas

How to watch: Big 12 Now/ESPN+

to throw out Sooner catcher Eastern Carmichael at third base rather than nabbing Orduno at first.

Instead of having a base runner 90 feet from home plate, the Sooners had no runners in scoring position with two outs. The play ended up being a footnote in a blowout, but it could have

Elijah Muhammad

13-year-old boy walks the stage as a college graduate

Elijah Muhammad has succeeded at becoming the youngest student at Oklahoma City Community College to walk the stage as a college graduate at just 13 years old.

Collegiate certified prodigy, Elijah Muhammad Jr., is currently a junior forensics cybersecurity major at Oklahoma State University and has just graduated from OCCC with an associates degree in computer science, specializing in cybersecurity. He began his collegiate journey during his junior year of high school at just 12 years old, in which he participated in dual-enrollment at OCCC. In addition to attending and graduating from OCCC, Muhammad Jr. completed hours at Langston University

to obtain his associate degree and is currently taking classes at OSU.

The young graduate has managed to achieve a number of different awards and certifications such as his degree in computer science: cybersecurity, 10 IBM certifications, one Google IT certification and four mastery certificates in computer science from OCCC. Although he has contributed countless hours toward achieving such merits, what is tireless work for most is a passion and an addiction for the pursuit of knowledge for Muhammad Jr.

“I love learning things, whenever I can learn something I really want to learn it,” Muhammad said. “So, anytime I get the chance to learn something I’m on it and that’s one of the things that has really helped me throughout my college journey as

well.”

The 13 year old is not the only admirable example in his family, as he has three other siblings that have graduated college at the ages of 15, 19 and 21 years old plus another sibling who is doing early enlistment into the army at age 17. Father of the five, who is also known as Elijah Muhammad, is grateful his children have a deeper understanding of the importance of education.

“I know with the African American community you see a lot of sports and entertainment that gets highlighted, so I’m glad that they get to be ambassadors for education on a bigger stage,” Muhammad Sr. said. “Visibility is important, so it’s really important to me that they have the opportunity to show that it can be done.”

See 13-year-old on 7

gifted the Sooners an early opportunity to strike.

“It was a heads-up play for sure,” Holliday said. “(Brown’s) defense was pretty good. I thought we played good defense here.”

See Tournament on 3

Cowgirl golf team’s season ends with 11th-place finish at NCAA Championship

As Round 4 of the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, concluded on Monday, the OSU women’s golf team’s season came to an end.

The Cowgirls finished 11th at the NCAA Championship, just four strokes out of the top-eight cut for a spot in match play.

The Cowgirls finished Round 1 of the tournament in second place after shooting a

combined score of 280, 8-under par. Not only did they have a successful team performance, but Maddison Hinson-Tolchard had a record-breaking score. Hinson-Tolchard led the Cowgirls, shooting 6-under, making her 66 score the best a Cowgirl has carded at the NCAA Championship. Rina Tatematsu shot 4-under, placing her in a tie for third. Clemence Martin tied for 36th after shooting even-par in Round 1. Thitaporn Saithip and HanHsuan Yu tied for 66th, shooting 2-over (74).

See Cowgirls on 4

Courtesy of Elijah Muhammad Sr.

OSU Athletics

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard led all Cowgirls at the NCAA Championship, finishing fourth at 8-under par.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Emilee Norton Staff Reporter

Gina Foster Staff Reporter

Schubart named All-Big 12 First Team, Co-Freshman of the Year; nine other Cowboys named All-Big 12

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Ten Cowboys were selected for All-Big 12 honors on Wednesday, with eight making first or second team, highlighted by freshman outfielder Nolan Schubart. Schubart was named First Team All-Big 12 outfielder and a Co-Freshman of the Year with Kansas’ Kody Shojinaga. Schubart sits second on the OSU roster in home runs (15) and first in RBI (66). He is the second Cowboy to be named Freshman of the Year, along with Matt Smith in 1998. Tyler Wulfert, a junior college transfer, was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and an All-Big 12 Second Team infielder. He is the fifth Cowboy named Newcomer of the Year. Second baseman Roc Riggio

(infield) and two-way player Carson Benge (utility) joined Schubart with First Team All-Big 12 selections, as well.

Four other Cowboys – catcher Chase Adkison, designated hitter Colin Brueggemann, utility player Nolan McLean and relief pitcher Isaac Stebens – were named to the All-Big 12 Second Team. Benge also earned Second Team honors as an outfielder and a spot on the All-Freshman Team.

Three more Cowboys – pitchers Ben Abram, McLean and Juaron WattsBrown – are listed as AllBig 12 Honorable mentions. In total, OSU earned 12 allconference and nine first- or second-team accolades.

Chase Davis

On Wednesday, Nolan Schubart was named Co-Freshman of the Year in the Big 12, and he earned an All-Big 12 First Team selection as an outfielder.

Tournament...

Continued from 1

Throughout the weekend, Brown’s defense was big, delivering a multitude of run-saving, diving stops on ground balls and throws from his knees or off his back foot.

“Brownie was clutch all weekend,” Schubart said. “He’s one of the many guys who keep this team intact and we’re lucky to have him on our team.”

Cowboys in the bullpen

The shortened week ahead of Bedlam altered OSU’s pitching plan and exposed other arms in the OSU bullpen.

sports

After spending much of the past two seasons as OSU’s closer, Nolan McLean made his first career start on the mound in the Cowboys’ Bedlam win on Thursday. A one-run, five-strikeout outing through three innings not only showed McLean – still rehabbing from an unspecified leg injury suffered against Texas on April 1 – is progressing well, but he is also a starting option.

Carson Benge – OSU’s usual Day 3 starter – didn’t throw against the Sooners and will have nearly two weeks of rest coming into Arlington.

Sophomore righty and BYU transfer Janzen Keisel, junior Brian Hendry and redshirt freshman Drew Blake have starting experience this season, as well.

“We’re in a good spot,” Holliday said. “We had some guys step up (on the mound against OU) and we’ll take that and move forward.”

Breaking down the numbers

57: OSU’s win percentage away from O’Brate Stadium

The Cowboys hold a 12-9 record away from home. Five of those wins came against the likes of Kansas and Michigan – both outside the RPI top 100. Without those games, OSU is 6-7 in true road games.

5.19: OSU’s team ERA, good for the fifth best in the Big 12.

From 2014-16, when OSU made two Super Regional appearances and a College World Series, none of Holliday’s teams held an ERA exceeding 3.29. Even in 2019, another season with a Super Regional appearance, the team’s ERA was 4.08.

OSU’s starting rotation, consisting of Juaron Watts-Brown, Ben Abram and Carson Benge, holds a 5.38 cumulative ERA.

.307: OSU’s team batting average.

The Cowboys, led by Tyler Wulfert (.355), Roc Riggio (.354) and Carson Benge (.349), sit 24th in the country and second in the Big 12 in team batting average. OSU has recorded at least 10 hits in 14 of its last 17 games.

8.7: OSU’s runs-per-game average, good for 10th nationally.

The offense has had no shortage of runs, plating double-digit run totals in six of the past eight contests, averaging more than 12 runs.

99: Home runs this season

The Cowboys’ 99 homers rank 15th nationally. OSU is 6-7 in games without a home run, 7-3 when only one home run is hit and 24-6 with at least two homers in a game.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Carson Toulouse

After earning a share of the Big 12 regular season title, OSU heads to Arlington looking for its third Big 12 Tournament title since 2017.

Cowgirls...

Continued from 1

In the second round, the Cowgirls shot 3-over par, a combined 291, dropping their team standing to fifth.

HinsonTolchard carded a 70, placing her two strokes behind Wake Forest’s Lauren Walsh for the lead through two rounds.

Tatematsu shot even-par to finish her second round tied for ninth, while Martin tied for 62nd after finishing 2-over par for her round.

Saithip and Yu

both continued on the same path, carding 3-over, tied for 91st.

Hin-

son-Tolchard continued to lead her team in Round 3, scoring 2-over par and finishing the round tied for third through three rounds.

Tatematsu also carded a 74, placing her in a tie for 16th. Martin completed her round tied for 60th after ending the day 3-over par.

Saithip carded a 77, tied for 100th, and Yu sat 125th after shooting 10over (82).

OSU’s combined third round score of 300

sports

and 12-over par was not enough to keep their top-10 position, and the Cowgirls sat in 11th place with 18 holes left.

In the final round, Hinson-Tolchard shot 2-under to finish the tournament at 8-under, in fourth place.

Tatematsu carded 2-over to tie for 25th at even-par.

Martin concluded the tournament 7-over, tie for 55th with a 2-over during her final round.

Saithip finished 13-over, tied for 65th. Yu concluded in 79th place, 24-over par.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt made an addition to her staff, she announced Monday.

Sierra Bone, who played for Hoyt at Kansas City, will join the Cowgirls staff as director of branding and player influence, a newly formed position among the first of its kind in the country.

“I want our athletes and recruits to know how serious we are about investing in them in this era of NIL. I am thrilled with the addition of Sierra and the skill set she brings,” Hoyt said. “She played for me on my first team at Kansas City and we have shared a special bond ever since.

“We want our players to have every resource possible when it comes to capitalizing on their name, image and likeness and Sierra is go -

ing to aid tremendously in that. She understands how to maximize branding opportunities, and I’m glad our players will have her to help manage all that comes with the success they will have as a team and individually.”

Bone will assist the program’s studentathletes with their brand development and will work with OSU’s NIL team to boost and increase branding opportunities.

A native of Flower Mound, Texas, Bone most recently worked as a graduate assistant at Arizona where she earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. In her time with the program, the Wildcats made a run to the NCAA championship game in 2021.

During her career at Kansas City, Bone played four seasons and appeared in 54 games. She went on to receive a degree in health science in 2017 and received academic all-conference honors in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU Cowgirl Basketball

Sierra Bone will assist student-athletes with brand development as the OSU women’s basketball program’s director of branding and player influence.

File Photo

The Cowgirl golf team places 11th in NCAA Championship.

Sierra Bone joins Cowgirl basketball staff as director of branding and player influence

Students face ADHD medication shortage

Emilee Norton Staff Reporter

Patients prescribed ADHD medications suffer the prescription shortage by lack of daily functioning abilities.

Over recent years, the rate of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses has had a consistent upward trend. ADHD is a mental health disorder that, when not treated properly, makes it harder for an individual to complete day-to-day activities. Generally, people who suffer from the condition have a hard time keeping their attention to the task at hand and often can’t sit still or keep things in order in their minds.

Fourth year physiology pre-med and psychology pre-med double major, Geovy Cajamarca, is one of those who are affected by the issue. He has been prescribed to take medications like Adderall (a mixture of the drugs amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) for as long as he can remember.

“Adderall is to be taken as needed, and yeah it helps a lot,”Cajamarca said. “I have been without that prescription for over a month since the pharmacy hasn’t had it due to the shortage.”

After prolonged use of any prescription medication, ceasing to take the drug abruptly or not taking it as it is prescribed on a regular basis can have physical consequences. Headaches, agitation, confusion and other cognitive problems are just a few of those consequences. Physical symptoms aside, not taking the medications patients with ADHD are prescribed can be debilitating for that person on a day-to-day basis. Students face loss of motivation and overall fatigue when attempting to tackle course work and college life as a whole.

“The last time I went to my routine doctor appointment,

they let me know that there was a shortage for my Adderall prescription and that there was a good chance I wouldn’t be able to refill it,” Cajamarca said. “I haven’t been able to find what I need at any pharmacy. During the last couple weeks of school, not having my Adderall made it a lot harder to study for finals and get any good work done, it has put some stress on my mental health for sure.”

Students are not the only victims of the issue at hand, as pharmacies across the nation are also being significantly affected. Jeff Morgan, a staff pharmacist at the Owasso Walmart Pharmacy, stated that the pharmacy he works for has

been under a lot of stress since the shortage.

“Since March 2022, the shortage has put significant stress on pharmacies and became a very relevant issue at any drug store. It creates a difficult situation for patients and pharmacy associates and demands a portion of our already limited time,” Morgan said.

Although the increasing number of attention deficit diagnoses is a definitive factor for the prescription shortage, pharmacists like Morgan have other opinions of why this has become a significant problem. They believe it is more than likely based on big companies submerged in the fear of losing

money. “In my opinion, by far the leading factor is the gigantic settlements against manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers imposed in the wake of the realization that people were dying due to the cavalier promoting and prescribing opioids,” Morgan said. “Manufacturers and wholesalers are limiting pharmacies’ ability to replenish non-opioid controlled substances by cutting them off out of fear of further judgements. Covid is not the reason.” No matter the reasoning, the shortage of ADHD medications or adequate substitutes has forced patients to shop around different pharmacies in

hopes of coming across what they need. Pharmacists like Morgan and his associates at the Owasso Walmart Pharmacy note that they work to do all they can to help people get the medications they need, even if it means losing money to rival pharmacies.

“This has become a nationally and locally significant problem requiring patients to forgo their medications altogether or, with the help of their pharmacies, chase prescribers and competing pharmacies to find their meds or a suitable substitute,” Morgan said. When exactly the issue at hand will be resolved is not foreseeable at this time.

Courtesy of Arielle Zionts

Some doctors and insurance companies require patients to be regularly drug-tested to continue receiving ADHD stimulant medication.

Celebrating a centennial

the library was a safe place for her as a child and the resources available allowed her to expand on her interests.

Stephanie Landaverde News and Lifestyle Editor

A staple of the Stillwater community turned 100 this year.

The Stillwater Public Library and Iron Monk will host StorySLAM and release “Library CentenniAle” to celebrate the library’s centennial at Iron Monk from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The event is a twist on slam poetry, and participants will prepare a five-minute nonfiction story they can tell from memory focused on the theme of “library adventures,” according to the library’s website.

StorySLAM is a competition with a prize, and the audience will choose the winner.

The “CentenniAle” is a keg of brown ale Iron Monk will provide specially for the event. All proceeds from the “CentenniAle” will support the Library Trust.

When the library first opened in 1923, the library served the basic function of providing the community with books. Now, 100 years later, the role is not so simple, according to a video the Stillwater Public Library made about the centennial.

Emily States, the library’s adult services supervisor, said

“I think that’s something people don’t realize is how much, especially young families, still use the library a lot,” States said.

People in the community who don’t have access to a computer or wifi can use a computer and the library’s wifi for free, States said.

“There’s a lot we that provide for bridging the digital divide for people,” States said.

“Even people who sometimes do have their own devices don’t know how to use them. Besides having books and resources and information (...), we also help people learn how to use devices so they can access information themselves. We help show them how to find the best resources online so they’re finding good information.”

States said hundreds of families and children come to the library for the summer reading program, which is back again this summer for the first time since Covid.

Participants can support the Library Trust, drink ale and listen to or participate in the story slams. Library centennial pint glasses will be available to buy. Participants must be at least 21 years old.

The library staff requests registrations prior to the event, especially from those who plan to participate in the StorySLAM. To register, fill out this form.

news.ed@ocolly.com

The HUB, Entertainment facility coming to Stillwater

Jacob Sellers Staff Reporter

The Stillwater Chamber of Commerce is working with the Tonkawa Tribe to open an entertainment facility in Stillwater.

The HUB will be opening its second location on Perkins and Airport Rd. Ground-breaking is expected to start within this summer.

Alane Zannotti is the president and CEO of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. She took on both of these roles this January. For Zannotti, this facility is not only one of the biggest projects she has worked on at the chamber but also something that she believes the community has been missing.

“There’s not an entertainment or quality of life venue in this community that can service the whole family,” Zannotti said.

The HUB will feature 16 bowling lanes, four movie theaters, an arcade, a bar and a food venue. It will also feature multiple pickleball courts, a sport growing in popularity among all ages.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re an OSU

student, a Stillwater community member or a retiree,” Zannotti said. “Anybody can enjoy this.”

The HUB is not only filling a hole for entertainment and recreation in the community, it’s also the start of a relationship between the Tonkawa Tribe and the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has not worked with another tribe as closely and on a development to the degree that they are with the Tonkawa Tribe now.

“We are proud to partner with the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce to create a family-friendly entertainment destination that will not only enhance the quality of life for our residents but also attract visitors from surrounding areas,” Tribal leadership wrote in a news release.

“The HUB will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and strengthen our sense of community. Together, we are building a brighter future for the Tonkawa Tribe and the entire Stillwater region.”

Reagan Mitchell is the Economic Development Coordinator for the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.

Zannotti credits Mitchell for most of the work done on the

development of this project so far.

Mitchell believes this venue will serve to keep people living in Stillwater, as well as boost the local economy.

“We’re losing money to other communities like Tulsa and OKC that people could spend here, if we had a facility that was what they were looking for,” Mitchell said.

Mayor Will Joyce broke the news about the facility last week on Twitter.

“This is the kind of facility that people in the community have been asking about and wanting to see for a long time,” Joyce said.

Joyce recalled his time growing up in Stillwater, and compared the HUB to the Cowboy Mall, which opened in the 1970s and shut down in 2020. Since the facility located on Monroe and Hall of Fame was turned into the Northern Oklahoma College building, Stillwater has lacked a large-scale center for family recreation.

“It’s been a while since we really had that kind of a facility,” Joyce said. “If this would’ve been around when I was a student, we would’ve spent a ton of time there.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Daniel Kim

The HUB will feature 16 bowling lanes, four movie theaters, an arcade, a bar and a food venue.

13-year-old...

Continued from 1

With both parents heavily involved in the collegiate education system, they had an understanding they would set the bar high for their children and celebrate good grades and educational success as if it were a sport.

“They also have competed in sports, but primarily we were creating that culture and environment to do well

academically” Muhammad Sr. said. “We were intentional about putting them in the right schools and in the right neighborhoods.”

Stressing the importance of education from early childhood has made it possible for Muhammad Jr. to succeed in his education, but just like any other 13 year old, he spends just as much time with his friends. He mentioned that finding time to participate in fun activities outside of school work is very doable when you put the work in first.

“I go outside, ride bikes, play basketball, go swimming, I do a lot of fun activities,” the 13-year-old said.

“One of my dad’s mottos has been ‘you work hard, you play hard’ so as much work as I do I play the same amount.”

When he’s not passing the time competing in one of his favorite leisure activities, playing Call of Duty, Muhammad Jr. is planning his future and setting goals he plans to achieve sooner rather than later. In addition to his educational aspirations, he plans on launching his own clothing brand, Smart Boy, by the end of summer and wants to start a pin-testing company that keeps users safe from hackers when browsing the internet.

Young Muhammad Jr. hopes to inspire other students and kids his age

to go after what they want to accomplish head on.

“You can do anything you set your mind to,” Muhammad Jr. said. “That’s one of the things that I hold really close to me because my dad taught me at a really young age that if I set my mind to it then I can do it. So, if I want to finish the semester with a 4.0 GPA then I’m able to do that as long as I put in the work that’s needed to reach my goal. To other students, if you want to win a state championship, if you want to have good grades, you can do it as long as you set your mind to it. Do the work that it takes to get there.”

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Elijah Muhammad Sr. Elijah Muhammad Jr., left, is currently a junior forensics cybersecurity major at Oklahoma State University and has just graduated from OCCC with an associates degree in computer science, specializing in cybersecurity.

Freshman year, expectation vs reality

Every incoming freshman dreams of the perfect college experience.

Some hope to make new friends, some are eager to begin their major and some are sad to leave home. Although the ideal freshman year doesn’t look the same for every student, each dream will eventually be met with reality.

Like many incoming freshman, Bryan Medrano dreamt of freedom when he pictured college.

Medrano moved out of his parents’ home and into Bennett Hall, eager to explore the opportunities college had to offer him. Immediately, Medrano found this freedom restricted by college expenses.

“I really didn’t get to have a lot of freedom, because I worked a part time job,” Medrano said. “After the first semester, I was working two part time jobs.”

Medrano said he had time for two things: work and school. He found himself saying ‘no’ to his friends each time they invited him to hangout, as he constantly had work. Halfway toward the end of second semester, Medrano recognized he rarely did anything for fun.

“You never you never saw me walking around campus just for fun,” Medrano said. “You never saw me going to the strip. You never saw me going to any SUAB events, anything. I didn’t realize how hard I was on myself for the entire year until the end.”

Medrano said he realized it was time to prioritize his mental health. He said he was not mentally prepared for the transition from high school to

college.

In high school, Medrano said he found himself finishing his homework early each week.

Once he arrived at college, Medrano, an applied exercise science major, quickly learned freshman year would take more of his time and effort than he expected. Unlike some of his peers, Medrano didn’t have the privilege of focusing solely on his course work. Managing two part time jobs as he adjusted to college life proved difficult, and Medrano said he didn’t expect his courses to require the amount of effort they did.

“I feel like freshman year is just seen as the beginning,” Medrano said. “It’s, ‘oh, it’s easy,’ or, ‘oh, it’s not that difficult,’ but I mean, it’s not like a synonym for slack off.”

Christian Jimenez faced similar struggles based off similar expectations as a freshman.

Jimenez said his classes were harder than he expected them to be, and it took time for him to transition from attending each of his classes daily in high school to attending each class two to three times a week

in college.

“Just take it one day at a time,” Jimenez advised incoming freshman. “Don’t try to do everything all in one day.”

Jimenez entered college with expectations about not only the workload of his classes, but his learning environment. As a political science major, Jimenez said he expected to disagree with classmates often. Although this expectation proved itself to be true, Jimenez said his peers left the arguments in the classroom.

“I thought when we disagreed, we wouldn’t talk to each other outside of class, but that is what’s false,” Jimenez said. “We talk all the time.”

Many freshmen like Jimenez and Medrano enter college with low expectations for classwork difficulty, but Avery McIntyre had reservations about her coursework months before she began her freshman year. The summer before her first semester at college, McIntyre arrived at her freshman orientation a double major in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering and

expected to enroll in engineering classes.

“My dad is a software engineer, so I was like, ‘oh, well STEM is something that will help me be successful later in life,’” McIntyre said. “But quite literally, I was at the computer, entering my O-KEY credentials getting ready to register, and I said, ‘you know what, I don’t really want to do this.’”

As McIntyre sat in front of the computer, she realized engineering was not for her, as she didn’t like math. She alerted an orientation leader that she wanted to change her major, and she was escorted to another building to make a drastic major change from engineering to political science.

McIntyre said she doesn’t regret her choice at all and advised incoming freshman to explore their options.

“Freshman year is your time to find what works for you before you have to really get into some of those nitty gritty upper-level courses,” McIntyre said.

McIntyre did not expect to change her major the day of orientation, and she didn’t have many other expectations for her

college experience, either. McIntyre was homeschooled her entire life and was unfamiliar with the classroom setting.

If there was any part of college that was familiar for McIntyre, it was band. McIntyre had participated in band since she was 8 years old, and she is part of OSU’s marching band.

McIntyre experienced many firsts at college, including her first football game.

“I expected watching football and like being at the games to be very similar,” McIntyre said. “But probably what made the most difference that was most impactful to me was being in the band and being able to be an active part of that college football experience.”

Like these three students, each freshman will face a set of realities once at college.

Medrano said freshman year can be as easy or as difficult as one makes it.

“If you just put in the effort, you can do whatever you set your mind to,” Medrano said.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Lethal fentanyl poisoning is real.

The drastic increase in opioid overdose deaths is largely due to fentanyl poisoning. Illegal fentanyl is cheaper than most other drugs on the streets and is being intentionally substituted into cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and drugs like counterfeit Adderall®, Percocet® and Xanax® as well.

Learn the facts and protect those you love.

Jaiden Daughty

College is hard enough as it is, and being new to it might seem dauting.

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on

121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown

Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University. Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown

Open 10-6 Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

Spacious 1100 sq. ft

2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood

floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.

Business Squares Business Squares Company Coming?

Check out “Cowboy Cabin”

550 steps east of Boone Pickens Stadium

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FOR RELEASE MAY 24, 2023

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black

Tribune Content Agency

Linda

Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (05/24/23). Creative inspiration flowers this year. Work backstage to shine in professional spotlights. Social connection opens new p Summer changes affect your work or health, before passion and fun light up the au tumn. Peaceful winter privacy fosters organization, planning and adaptation. Imagine dreams realized.

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 a 7 — Have fun without taking expensive risks. Keep a positive mindset. Don’t worry about the future; focus on here and now. Enjoy simple pleasures.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Focus on domestic matters. Communicate around a mess or surprise. Patience serves you well, especially with family. Clean and organize. Make practical repairs and improvements.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Solve a creative puzzle. You’re especially persuasive. Carefully edit messages before publishing or risk retractions. Look to philosophers, musicians and poets for inspiration.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — You may discover a financial barrier or structural problem. Grab lucrative opportunities now and clean up later. Don’t get pushy, though. You’ve got this.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Take advantage of unexpected personal conditions. Avoid risky business. Take charge for what you want to create. Rely on action and initiative rather than luck.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — Slow to reassess conditions. You’re especially sensitive. Don’t take things personally. Make a deeper spiritual or philosophical connection. Find peace and beauty in nature.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Talk with friends and colleagues for greater perspective. Share team support around obstacles. Deepen bonds of friendship and collaboration. Diplomacy works better than force.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Your professional projects are attracting attention. Review presentations carefully before going public. Build and grow from strong basic structures. Stay flexible and adapt.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Your exploration hits a temporary snag. Avoid risk. Pursue new threads without forgetting basic elements. Advance your research patiently, and adjust as you go.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate on joint financial ventures. Avoid arguments with patience and humor. Revise budgets for unforeseen expenses. Monitor conditions closely. Plan, coordinate and build together.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Actions speak louder than words, especially with your partner. Patience pays. Connect at a higher level. Discuss plans, ideas and possibilities for the future.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Prioritize your work, health and energy despite unreliable conditions. Slow around sharp corners. Keep your eyes on the prize, step by step. Flexibility pays.

ACROSS

1 Molecule

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

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