Friday, March 31, 2023

Friday, March 31, 2023

Stretched thin

Stillwater Animal Welfare exceeds capacity for dogs

Thirty dogs currently call Stillwater Animal Welfare home. The shelter has room for only 26.

The kennels that line the walls of the two dog rooms are full. In the cat room, a cat kennel holds a quiet, shaking puppy instead of a kitten. Above the puppy is a small dog whose neighbor is a cat wearing a cone around its neck.

Gaige Ellis, a Stillwater Animal Welfare officer, said Stillwater Animal Welfare is no stranger to this situation, as animals in need of homes arrive at Stillwater Animal Welfare almost every day.

“We stretch ourselves thin for sure, trying to make sure that we can help as many people as we can,” Ellis said.

The no-kill shelter rehomes neglected, surrendered or stray animals as an aid to the community of Stillwater. Now, as the shelter is overflowing

Students race for Garth tickets

connect with them,” Schimmel said.

with dogs, Stillwater Animal Welfare needs the community’s help. To make room for the weekly influx of new dogs, adoptable dogs must find homes.

Ellis adopted his dog from Stillwater Animal Welfare and encourages others to adopt.

“I mean, having a dog is the best thing ever,” Ellis said. “I went a long time without having a dog and I finally ended up getting one about a year and a half ago or so, and I mean, I do everything with my dog.”

After seeing thousands of dogs

go through the shelter and resisting adopting a few special dogs, Ellis brought home his dog, Moxie. Ellis said adopting a dog means you’re getting a good friend.

Although Moxie was surrendered for chewing up her previous owner’s valuables, Ellis said the only thing he’s ever seen Moxie chew up is a dog leash. Like Moxie, many of the dogs at Stillwater Animal Welfare are looking for a second chance at a happy life, if not a first one.

See Dogs on 4A

When Zane Schimmel’s parents were students at OSU, they watched Garth Brooks when he was only a student. Now it’s Schimmel’s turn.

On Tuesday, OSU students raced to reserve a spot for Garth Brooks’ concert and Schimmel said he is excited to see Brooks for the first time and share the experience with his parents.

“It’ll be a way to

The O’Colly published an exclusive article announcing Brooks would return to his alma mater, OSU, to perform a free concert for students.

To attend the concert, students had to fill out a registration form at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, bring their student I.D. and donate a nonperishable food or hygiene item.

Registration was open on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., but some students arrived earlier.

Olivia VanHootegem, a sophomore majoring in human development and family science, arrived at the center at 7:15 a.m. to ensure she got a ticket. VanHootegem said she expected a high turnout and estimated 65-75 people were already in line when she arrived. She said the line was wrapping almost all the way to the road at 9:45 a.m.

Carter Chase, the senior director of marketing at the OSU Alumni Association, said not all tickets were claimed Tuesday but the 900 tickets were gone on Wednesday.

See Tickets on 3A

Peterson, Albrecht win SGA presidential election

Amid proposed election violations, the new voice of the student body prevailed.

Ashley Peterson and Hilary Albrecht are the new president and vice president of the Student Government Association.

On Thursday morning, Peterson checked her email to prepare for her day. She was greeted with a message from SGA telling her she won the race for Student

Body President. Peterson said her first phone call was to one of the best leaders she’s ever met: her dad. Peterson said she had already planned to call her dad this morning to wish him a happy birthday.

“It was like ‘Happy birthday dad, we won,’” Peterson said.

After almost a month-long delay in election results, Peterson said it was surreal to receive the news of her win. After constantly meeting with other students and temporarily putting her social life on

hold, Peterson said it felt “weird” for the commotion to slow and for the election process to come to an end.

“It’s just so rewarding to have this moment where it’s like it was worth it,” Peterson said. “Every meeting, and every hour I spent doing this instead of working on my homework, it was worth it. It showed that people saw my intentions, saw my heart and got excited based on what I was saying and what we can do for OSU.”

Jaiden Daughty

The Stillwater Animal Welfare officer said the shelter tries to help as many animals as they can and said animals are in need for a home.

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Stephanie Landaverde Staff Reporter

Courtesy of Ashley Peterson

Ashley Peterson, left, and Hilary Albrecht won the 2023 Student Government Association presidential election and will begin the transition into office and shadow current SGA President Riley Pritzlaff and Vice President Maddie Dunn.

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which marks important holidays and events for Muslims (people who practice Islam). During Ramadan people fast, or refrain from eating and drinking, while it’s light outside. Once the sun sets, families meet for big meals that may include stew, rice, dates, lentils, and more. People also have a morning meal before the sun rises. For the hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world who observe Ramadan, the month is a time to focus on their faith and also perform generous acts. People raise money and donate supplies to help others in need. And many fast to remind themselves about those in the world who don’t have enough to eat.

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OSU’s Student Arts Alliance hosted a Canine Crafts Carnival on Wednesday

Kendall McGhee

Saves Lives’ informs students on how to navigate mental health struggles

Olivia Lane Staff Reporter

wide every 40 seconds. More

than 800,000 people commit suicide every year, according to the World Health Organization. Thousands of those people don’t have resources to find help.

Oklahoma State University hosts a weekly suicide prevention talk, Talk Saves Lives, that has a goal to change that statistic. The American Foundation for Suicide

Tickets...

Continued from 1A

There were 1,000 tickets available. The first 900 students to donate and register were guaranteed a ticket. After that, students were encouraged to donate and entered into a lottery for the chance to win one of the remaining 100 tickets.

“Garth was very interested in promoting philanthropy among the student body, which is why his concert for students is free,” Chase said. “We had an exceptional turnout today, so we know he’ll be really pleased with that.”

Jaylin Strub, a junior in architectural engineering, said she is most excited for the concert because it lands on the same night she and her friends planned to celebrate her 21st birthday.

“We’re going to go see him and then hit the strip,” Strub said. “I’m really excited. He’s going to make my night, that’s for sure.”

Miranda Krebbs, said she didn’t expect Brooks to perform a concert at OSU.

“I’m really excited to hear ‘Friends in Low Places’ and ‘Mama Loved Papa,’” Krebbs said. “And just to see Garth himself.”

Chloe Blood, said she has tried to

see Brooks multiple times and never been successful, until now.

Baylen Bayless, a marketing entrepreneurship senior, has never seen Brooks in concert and said he is most excited to see Brooks for free. He said he will be going with friends if they manage to get a ticket.

Reece Sconyers, a political science sophomore, is excited to see Brooks and hopes he shares stories about his time at OSU and how it has impacted him as an alumni.

“I know that Garth Brooks has a song that brings the whole community together,” Abigail Weaver, an elementary education major, said. “I think this is a really good community event for everyone at the university.”

Isabel Inman, a music industry freshman, and her friend Mallory Forgione, a public health major, said they had never seen Brooks and were most excited to be in the concert environment.

“ I love country music,” Kadence Gage, a biochemistry and molecular biology freshman, said. “It’s great because he’s a big name, but he’s an alumni here.”

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Prevention created the TSL training, Meg Baker, a Grief and outreach intern at University Counseling Services, hosts the training online every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

In the presentation, Baker describes suicide statistics, research done on suicide and how to prevent it.

“It is created by that foundation and, they use the latest data and research that they have on

suicide throughout the U.S.,” Baker said.

Baker’s training is meant to help people who have dealt with suicidal thoughts or know someone who has. Psychology student Luke Whatley said he knows what he wishes he received when he was struggling.

“All I was looking for was someone to acknowledge my pain and convince me I had a path forward,” Whatley said. “What got me out of it was my therapist encouraging me to push myself and not give up.”

Baker herself said that she learned a lot while working on TSL. Though she had been working with patients for years, there is a lot of research still being done around suicide prevention.

“I’ve learned a lot of things that I didn’t know,” Baker said. “With the Talk Saves Lives talk specifically, there’s a lot of risk factors and warning signs that I didn’t know about.”

For psychology student Samia Aguilar, suicide is a topic that she

has seen her whole life.

“I feel that for myself as well as others, suicide is a consistent problem we face with our peers, media and the anxiety on the daily,” Aguilar said.

Baker believes that there is a way to make suicide prevention more effective, and that is to release the stigma around the topic. She believes with talking about it more, people will feel comfortable seeking help when they are struggling.

“Being able to have open discussions about what people are dealing with is really important for preventing future deaths,” Baker said.

Along with TSL, there are several other mental health resources on campus for those who are struggling with suicidal ideation and/or grief. There is free grief counseling, a grief library and several more outreach presentations for people to learn more about how to take care of their mental health.

A new degree program awaits.

OSU will soon offer a fouryear Bachelor of Science in Nursing on the Stillwater campus during the 2023-24 school year. This is OSU’s first non-online Nursing program in Stillwater. OSU’s RN to BSN completion program is online.

This program mirrors OSU’s land-grant mission and will assist in meeting workforce demands and improved health care in Oklahoma, according to a press release. The state continues to deal with a nurse shortage.

“The shortage of qualified health care providers in Oklahoma is only going to intensify without a focused effort to provide pathways of opportunity for aspiring nurses,” OSU President Kayse Shrum said. Oklahoma ranks No. 46 among states for the number of registered nurses per capita, according to the Oklahoma Nurses Association. In 2021, Oklahoma was about 400 nurses below the average amount of nurses per 100,000 people. There were only about 700. In 2021, 35% of Oklahoma’s licensed nurses were nearing or at retirement age.

“As a physician, I learned firsthand the immense value nurses provide in patient care,” Shrum said.

“You cannot run a hospital or clinic without their expertise. Increasing the number of graduates in critical areas is a key tenant of our landgrant mission, and I’m excited about the impact this new program will have, certainly for students, but also for patients and health care entities across the state.”

This program will prepare nurses to meet the health care needs of families, individuals and communities. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited the program and it will be housed in the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Services, which is part of the College of Education and Human Sciences. The program will offer students the chance to concentrate on rural and underserved populations and to infuse prevention and total wellness practices in Oklahoma’s health care systems.

Jon Pedersen, CEHS’ dean, said about one-third of CEHS’ students pursue degrees related to nutritional, physical, mental or relational health.

“In adding this new BSN, we’re strengthening our work to

prepare graduates for high-demand jobs in the growing health care sector,” he said. “I’m excited about new opportunities to collaborate across degree programs and to expand on our existing partnerships with the health care partners.”

Students will have opportunities to participate in clinical experiences with health care partners in urban and rural settings. OSU is renovating campus space to create a fully equipped simulation lab for the program, aimed for completion in 2024.

Anna Cluck, the nursing program’s director, said students, parents and health care partners expressed significant interest in an OSU bachelor’s degree in nursing.

In the semester before finished the required 59 hours of prerequisite coursework, students will apply to continue coursework toward the degree. OSU expects to admit 50 students to continue with nursing labs, simulations and clinical experiences. The program will increase the students to 100 in the second year.

Applications for fall 2023 are open and students can learn more about admission requirements and how to apply on the OSU website.

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OSU announces four-year nursing degree program, expected to combat Oklahoma nurse shortage

Courtesy of OSU

Students can apply now for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing on the Stillwater campus. The program begins in fall 2023.

Being able to have open discussions about what people are dealing with is really important for preventing future deaths

‘Talk

Adam Engel Editor-in-Chief

Graphic by Sam Beebe

Meg Baker

Mr./Miss Hispanic pageant promotes cultural representation

New platforms, new reigns and new crowns.

On Saturday, Wilson LazoSalmeron and Michelle Salazar were crowned OSU’s 2023 Hispanic Latinx royalty.

The pageant showcases the diversity and culture of OSU’s students. This year there were four contestants: three women and one man.

“Of course it’s nice to win, but I would’ve loved to see more male contestants,” Lazo-Salmeron said. “For one, that representation of we’re here, we’re wanting to see differences.”

One integral aspect of the pageant competition is the platform portion. Contestants run on and present a speech for a platform that, should they win, they will enact throughout their reign.

Salazar’s platform is focused on a topic she holds close to her heart: criminal justice reform.

“My brother has been incarcerated for over a decade,” Salazar said. “I think being a person of color and interacting with the police, a lot of people don’t realize how much criminal justice affects everyone.”

Salazar wants to introduce the topic of her platform on campus and host workshops. She said factors such as literacy, finances and language barriers impact people when it comes to their knowledge of government.

Lazo-Salmeron’s platform is also focused on mental health.

“Unfortunately there’s a lack of representation of mental health issues in the Latinx community,” Lazo-Salmeron said. “It’s sometimes covered up or there’s just barriers in generals.”

Latinos may struggle with finding the appropriate therapist who will be non-judgmental, non-discriminatory and non-biased, Lazo-Salmeron said.

Lazo-Salmeron works at the Counseling and Counseling Psychology clinic and said while he is already in a position to provide counseling, it needs to go beyond counseling an individual client. He plans to advocate for accessibility and availability by organizing workshops for the community and recruiting Latinx individuals for research studies.

“In research the common population are usually white individuals, so it doesn’t really capture all of our experiences, especially with mental health,” Lazo-Salmeron said. “Being able to recruit Latinx individuals in those studies can definitely help explain our experiences more accurately.”

Contestants competed in several categories, both off and on-stage. For their talents, Lazo-Salmeron performed an original poem about his former eating disorder and Salazar performed a jump roping and dance routine.

“I knew a poem was going to be fitting for who I am as a person,” Lazo-Salmeron said. “This pageant reminded me of who I am as a person and what I’ve struggled with in the past, so it felt natural to talk about my eating disorder from when I was younger.”

For the cultural wear portion, they each wore clothing representative of their countries: Salazar’s being Mexico and Lazo-Salmeron’s being El Salvador.

Lazo-Salmeron wore a shirt with tecomates, pants with symbols of maize, a sombrero, a waistband that said “El Salvador” and a bag used to store food. Tecomates are bowls used for storing water. He also carried the Salvadoran flag with him during his cultural wear walk.

Salazar dressed as an Aztec warrior.

“I felt so empowered,” Salazar said. “I felt so connected to my family, to my roots, to my ancestors.”

Salazar won the People’s Choice for evening wear, cultural wear, en-

trepreneurship and interview awards. Wilson won the academic excellence and talent awards. “It is important for Latinos to make themselves be present, to have

their voices heard,” Salazar said.“We are such a small part of this community here at OSU, and it’s important that we represent ourselves, our culture and what we stand for.”

Dogs...

Continued from 1A

Taylor Weier, a senior psychology major, gave her dog his first chance. She adopted her dog, Rico, from Stillwater Animal Welfare in February.

“As soon as I saw him and I took him for a walk, I was just like, ‘Okay, I can’t leave,’”

Weier said. “I’m gonna take him.”

Weier took Rico home and said he quickly adjusted to his new environment. Weier said Rico loves to cuddle and follows her everywhere she goes.

For a Pitbull mix such as Rico, first chances can be hard to come by. Because of the breed’s violent reputation, many refuse Pitbulls when making an adoption decision.

“People just have this image in their mind like ‘Oh, they’re aggressive, they’re going to hurt someone,’” Weier said. “I’ve had no issues with it. Like I said, the only thing he would do is probably lick you to death.”

Owning a dog offers many benefits to college students outside of a loyal friendship.

Furry creatures converge at OSU’s Canine Crafts Carnival

Kelley said. “It would be a good way to bring people together because everyone just loves dogs and who doesn’t love a good craft?”

Weir said owning Rico encourages her to get out of bed in the morning, as she knows she must care for him.

“It gives me a purpose,” Weier said.

Before adopting a dog, Ellis recommended students consider the work that goes into owning a dog, as all dogs have quirks. For example, Weier said Rico is a slow learner when it comes to practicing commands as simple as “sit or “lay down.”

Ellis said students must also consider if their apartment complex or home allows dogs or what they will do for dog care over school breaks. Many animals are returned to Stillwater Animal Welfare because of changes in one’s living situation. With the shelter being over maximum capacity for dogs, returns have grown increasingly difficult to manage. For those who are unable to adopt a dog but want to help, Ellis said Stillwater Animal Welfare relies heavily on the work of volunteers. Volunteers are responsible for duties such as taking dogs outside and spending time with dogs in need of socialization.

A puppy party made its way on campus.

OSU’s Student Arts Alliance hosted a Canine Crafts Carnival on Wednesday and partnered with the Humane Society of Stillwater to help gather donations for animals in need.

Gathered on the Classroom Building Lawn, there were many stations for students to bring their furry friends to enjoy an afternoon of dog-themed activities. The activities included puppy polaroids, ruff-reshments, paw print paintings, T-shirt toys and caricatures.

Zoe Kelley, SAA’s vice president of outreach, was one of the event’s creator “I wanted to focus on community, and I immediately wanted to work with the Humane Society,”

SAA volunteers manned many of the activities and all were dog themed. The caricature stand proved to be extremely popular, as a caricature artist created drawings of students with their pets. The T-shirt toy making stand was also popular, though most dogs gravitated to the stands with treats.

“I have six committee members, and we just brainstormed ideas for this event,” Kelley said. “It was a conjoined effort between all of us for this to happen.”

The Humane Society is always welcoming donations to help the many animals in need that they help care for. This event, one of many that the Student Art Alliance puts on, is a thoughtful way to help the Stillwater animals in need.

Andy Crown

Many dogs and their owners attended OSU’s Student Arts Alliance’s Canine Craft Carnival on Wednesday afternoon.

Jaiden Daughty

The Stillwater Animal Welfare relies on the work of volunteers, who are responsible for taking the dogs outside and spending time with them.

Courtesy of Michelle Salazar

Wilson Lazo-Salmeron (left) and Michelle Salazar (right) were crowned OSU’s 2023 Hispanic Latinx royalty.

Stephanie Landaverde Staff Reporter

Madison Melton Staff Reporter

CowboyThon raises money for the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Foundation

Reagan Decker grew up constantly making visits to the hospital.

On her fifth birthday, her brother, Brandon, was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at 9, which left them making frequent trips to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. Brandon needed colectomy surgery, and the fundraising from an organization CowboyThon made it more accessible.

Through CowboyThon, OSU’s largest on-campus philanthropic organization, Brandon underwent surgery in-state at 13. Reagan, a sophomore at OSU, who is now the vice president of operations at CowboyThon, said the organization she’s now part of was crucial to her family.

“All of the (CowboyThon) fundraisers have been around for years, and without all those funds my brother

probably wouldn’t have had his surgeon here in Oklahoma,” Reagan said. “He probably would have had to go out of state and recover out of state and having him 30 minutes away, it kept my family together, and that’s huge.”

CowboyThon is an OSU organization that raises money for the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Foundation, culminating in a dance marathon every March. Each person learns parts of a long dance throughout the 10-hour fundraising event. The dance marathon is not just about dancing, but also the children in the hospital, referred to as miracle children. The families share their stories and explain how the money raised through the organization and event impact their families.

Dayle Winslow shared the story of her son, Graham, and his diagnosis with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, a birth defect. When he was in the womb, his diaphragm had not formed, and Graham’s internal organs went into

his chest cavity, with a 60% mortality rate if doctors could not stabilize and operate on him.

Graham was on a ventilator for 30 days and on oxygen for 45 days. Once his lungs deflated, his organs moved down, and he had several surgeries to make sure everything worked. Graham underwent five or six surgeries during his 109-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Dayle said Graham was put on a lifesaving ECMO machine, had a feeding tube and hydrocephalus, which caused neurological damage.

CowboyThon has many activities for everyone to join. Bracelets are made with beads, with each color possessing a different meaning – for example, peach represents chemotherapy and light purple represents lumbar puncture. The miracle children’s art paintings are auctioned at the event, and participants pay anywhere from $20 to $75 per painting.

SGA...

Continued from 1A

Reagan participated in cutting her hair nine inches for the event – the needed length for donation – raising $2,000. Nishi Gandhi, the director of individual fundraising and an OSU student, joined because her cousin does treatment at the Children’s Hospital in Indiana. She helps Reagan set up the event and find ways to raise money year-round.

The money raised at the event goes to the Children’s Hospital Foundation in Oklahoma Foundation, which distributes it around the state, besides the $100,000 given to Stillwater Medical Pediatrics. Most of the CHF funds are given to the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City and used to recruit premier medical personnel for new treatments and surgery options, purchase specialty equipment and begin new research projects.

Peterson said she expected the chaos surrounding the election to end the day the polls closed. Instead, the process of selecting the new leaders lasted almost another month because of two proposed election violations. Peterson said the two violations were anonymous student submissions.

In an official press release, SGA stated “On March 21, 2023, the SGA Supreme Court held a hearing regarding alleged violations brought against one of the candidate pairs in the race for Student Body President and Vice-President. In a split decision of the body, the Court finds the Peterson/Albrecht candidate pair to not have violated Title X of the SGA Bylaws.”

“Additionally, there was another hearing held by the SGA Supreme Court on March 28,

Shattering the glass ceiling

Women in the workplace panel

On March 23, Career Services partnered with the Office of Multicultural Affairs to host a panel discussion with women who are thriving in male-dominated fields.

The panel consisted of four women who were happy to share their experiences in the workplace, their leadership styles and advice for those looking to expand their professional careers.

The panelists included Jawauna Harding, Emily Quinn, Dedra Ibañez and Imani McGill. All are connected to OSU and they are passionate about women feeling like they have a place and belong working in male-dominated fields.

“I need to be in these spaces [the workplace] because I have someone that is another generation, or next year, that’ll be here and needs to understand that they can be in these spaces

too,” Harding, the associate athletic director of OSU, said. “That’s what I have to tell myself as I’m doing this because there’s someone else who doesn’t think they belong here, who absolutely belongs here.”

Topics such as negotiating salaries when it comes to getting jobs, overcoming self-doubt and advocating for yourself were discussed.

Moderator Ramya Chandrashekar, career coordinator for diversity, equity and inclusion, asked the women crucial questions, leading a discussion where viewers were able to learn from them.

Meg Clowers, a sophomore secondary education major with a focus in history and geography, said she has aspirations to become a men’s basketball coach and she took the time to ask the panelists a question of her own during the Q&A at the end of the panel.

“I was very excited to see somebody who was in athletics on the panel because education itself is

a pretty female-dominated field so I feel like there are not a lot of barriers there,” Clowers said. “But when you add on coaching, especially a men’s sport and then also history, it’s mainly men. So it was really nice to see women in education and women in athletics, both here today.”

The tone of the panel was extremely uplifting and encouraging. All of the panelists reminded those who attended that they are capable of doing anything they set their mind to in the workplace.

“Advocate, advocate, advocate all the time,” Ibañez said. “I have had women that have advocated for me and I will continue to advocate for them through mentorship and organizations making sure that their voices are heard and that they know that they need to take that role. You need to go for it.”

“I just know I’m leaving here feeling better, my spirits are higher,” Clowers said.

2023, in regard to alleged violations. In that hearing, the Court determined that the evidence needed to support the claims made against the Dedmon/Kopang candidate pair, could not be provided and therefore have determined that no action shall be taken against said team.”

Peterson said she expected to receive election results the day voting closed over dinner with friends.

Although Peterson wasn’t able to celebrate results with friends over dinner the day the polls closed, she said receiving results today was perfect timing. Peterson said her parents and grandparents already planned to visit Stillwater and have dinner at Rancher’s Club for her dad’s birthday.

Peterson and Albrecht will officially take office at the beginning of the fall 2023 semester. The two will begin the transition into office by shadowing current SGA President Riley Pritzlaff and Vice President Maddie Dunn.

Taylor Carroll

The money CowboyThon raises goes to the Children’s Hospital Foundation in Oklahoma Foundation, which distributes it around the state, besides the $100,000 given to Stillwater Medical Pediatrics.

Jaiden Daughty

Shattering the Glass Ceiling held panelists Jawauna Harding, Emily Quinn, Dedra Ibañez and Imani McGill. The women talked about how they will always advocate for other women. Courtesy

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Taylor Carroll Staff Reporter

It’s spring in Stillwater

Outdoor

Prank war

OSU students share April Fools’ stories

With April Fools’ Day, get ready for a prank war and expect the unexpected.

April Fools’ Day is an annual holiday where people scheme tricks and ideas to prank their peers in hopes of getting a laugh out of everyone involved.

Sure, embarrassing your friends and family or poking fun at your peers on any normal day might be seen as annoying or even a little cruel. However, on this underrated day, anything and everything is fair game.

Freshman biology, ecology and conservation major Zashri Cocheran said she remembers when her teachers pranked her and her peers as a kid and said she believes April Fools’ is an underrated holiday.

“Teachers would say, ‘OK, we have like a pop quiz’ and then hand you the paper and it just says, ‘April fools,’” Cocheran said.

Freshman zoology pre-vet major Levi Radford is always looking forward to the holiday. Its exact origin remains a mystery today, despite all the rumors you will find online.

“I feel like most of the months have a designated holiday, you know, we have Easter but it’s not always in April necessarily,” Radford said.

Labeled as an unofficial holiday dating back as far as 1582, April Fools’ Day pranks have been said to

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insist that a person is gullible which they would poke fun at another person. Paper fish, referred to as April fish, secretly placed on someone’s back who had been labeled as gullible. These paper fish symbolized an easily caught fish and a gullible person.

Sofie Swink, human development family science major, said she gets enthusiastic for April Fools’ Day, a date she used to orchestrate pranks as a child and perfected up to today.

“You take the saran wrap and you put it over the toilet, and then whenever you go to the bathroom, you know... yeah,” Swink said.

According to History Channel, historians have found that there are even links between April Fools’ Day and ancient Rome. This has been said to look like citizens dressing up in disguises to mock other citizens and even magistrates.

“And then you know, like the other cliché ones of the toothpaste in the Oreo, and then you eat the Oreo and there’s toothpaste in it,” Swink said.

Modernized pranks today are characterized in the media such as TV stations and websites that trick people into believing out-of-thisworld stories, whether it be about mainstream celebrities or anything else to trick their audiences.

For more information on the history of April Fool’s Day, visit https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/april-fools-day.

Spring is coming, and Stillwater is ready.

Throughout April, Oklahoma State University will host events where students can enjoy the beginning of spring.

Tradition Interrupted is keeping the tradition alive with modern-day artistic inspiration. On Saturday starting at 11 a.m., students can explore this international exhibition on its final day here in Stillwater at the OSU Museum of Art.

Free of charge, students can view internationally inspired pieces made with contemporary ideas that are aimed towards utilizing traditional style art. Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts organized the event. Yoga in the Plaza gets those creative juices flowing for a busy week of classes. Students can enjoy a stress-free atmosphere on Monday at 5:30 p.m. This happens every Monday outside of the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts. In the

case of inclement weather, the group will typically meet inside the lobby of the McKnight Center.

Certified yoga instructor Laurielle Prema welcomes anyone and everyone to join her for a free vinyasastyle yoga class under the evening sun. No prior experience is needed to take part in these sessions, although, bringing your own mat and block is recommended.

The Botanic Garden and OSU Writing Center hold the annual Nature Walk at the OSU Botanic Garden from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 8 in light of celebrating National Poetry Month. Snacks can be purchased at the bake sale hosted by the English Graduate Student Association, and make sure to say hello to the furry friends from the Humane Society. Admission is free and open to the community.

The Doormats and More Workshop event at AR Workshop Stillwater provides the opportunity to get in touch with your creative side and learn something new. On April 14, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., AR Workshop is offering a quality experience and will provide the

materials to make personal door mats and door hangers to decorate. There is an admission fee of $35.00+.

It’s time to put the gardening gloves on, spring is here.

The OSU Annual Spring Plant Sale will be held at the Greenhouse Learning Center on April 15. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., students can join the Horticulture Club students to take a look at a variety of plants they can purchase to be sure their living space is looking nice and ready for the season. For some students, finding the time around a busy schedule or getting out of their comfort zones can be easier said than done. Finding inspiration to go outdoors and enjoy the warm weather in between tasks can be essential for a healthy mind and spirit during the stress of day-to-day life. Biking, running, hiking and even taking yourself on a nature walk are activities that get the blood pumping and can be done with easy access to Stillwater’s recreational parks and trails For more events and additional information go to visitstillwater.org

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Andy Crown

Oklahoma State will host events throughout April where students can enjoy different activities outside.

Emi Norton Staff Reporter

Emi Norton Staff Reporter

Perfection in the chaos

‘Daisy Jones and the Six’ season finale review

Jaden Besteda Staff Reporter

After nine episodes of a close look inside the band that had far more layers than the “sex, drugs and rock & roll label,” ‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ gave the world a satisfying conclusion to the series that deviates from the source material in extremely intriguing ways.

Now, the first question that will be asking is whether Billy and Daisy finally get together and leave sweet Camilla in the dust. The answer may be the same as it was in Taylor Jenkins’ book. However, the how is slightly dif-

ferent in ways that shape these characters in the show’s unique way.

The Billy-Daisy-Camilla love triangle is at full center of the finale and plays a driving force in why the band ultimately breaks up. Still, every single band member gets their own story closed. Graham and Karen perhaps receive the short end of the stick in terms of stories that need more exploring on screen. That leaves the viewers with more time to see the band in their last performance. It’s a wonderful sight because the finale shows their phenomenal last performance.

There’s something so sad to know that Warren can’t be seen drumming anymore looking like the coolest guy

you’ll ever meet. Or that Daisy won’t have the dynamic energy on stage. The show definitely plays into that and so do the characters’ performances. We see each character’s emotions through this final Soldier Field performance and it leaves no doubt that it will be their last.

In a mini series, it’s hard to tie up character arcs because there is not enough time. This show has the pleasure of getting the account of our main characters to tell us exactly how their lives are going in the end because it’s partly a fictional documentary. I do think everyone except for Graham gets to say they had a satisfying arc. The love triangle is handled with decisions that are no doubt controversial

but much in line with every character involved.

In the end, “Daisy Jones and The Six” did a fantastic job of making me root for every character to get the happy ending or life they wanted. I wanted to see the band go on and perform years and years of new music on tour. Even though these were things we knew would not be a possibility. That’s good storytelling. Even though the show leaves hints of a season two if greenlit, the show should stand as is. The final frame is perfect. The show wasn’t necessarily the same but still an amazing time, I won’t forget. Just like the band.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Sam Claflin (center) and Riley Keough (right) in “Daisy Jones & The Six,” deliver fantastic performances and incredible on-and-off-stage chemistry. (Lacey Terrell/Prime Video/TNS)

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ review

Michael Clark Staff Reporter

Blue Lock

it’s also available

Baylor Bryant Staff Reporter

Among all the controversies in the anime world, sports anime is the hardest one to beat.

Anime has a wide variety of genres and ways of portraying narratives and with similar tropes to many of the series and not much room to expand on the real-life equivalent sport to keep the story semi-realistic, sports anime can fall into a stale, lifeless and repetitive story that loses viewers after a couple of seasons.

“Blue Lock” does not have this problem.

“Blue Lock” is a sports anime done right, with animation from Eight Bit studios and illustration from Yusuke Monura, the anime was based on the manga of the same name written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro.

In “Blue Lock,” instead of the main character trying to become a better teammate and take his team to victory like in typical sports anime, the main character, Isagi Yoichi, is focused on becoming an egoist in order to become the world’s greatest striker. Every character in the series shares the same goal, which makes for a cast of characters that at times are friendly

with one another, but at their core are enemies and seen as obstacles or stepping stones.

“Blue Lock” takes place in Japan after Japan’s soccer team loses in the 2018 World Cup.

Without a striker capable of taking the team over the top, the Japan Football Union alongside Jinpachi Ego, a young coach with a plan to turn around Japanese soccer, constructed the “Blue Lock” plan.

“Blue Lock” takes the best young strikers in Japan and pits them against one another to find Japan’s next ace.

The series produces some of the best characters in recent anime and manga, and the dynamics between them are just as strong and compelling.

“Blue Lock’s” matches, unlike other sports anime, feel more high stakes and have more variety within them because every player on the field has the same goal while being a completely different style of striker. Unlike many sports anime as well, “Blue Lock’s” matches are not like real soccer because every player on the field is a forward and fights against one another for goals.

“Blue Lock” comes with its flaws. The series is still a sports anime and its climactic moments are still just soccer matches. The games are interesting

though, filled with their own storylines and each match showcases new and unique strikers with their own style and narrative they bring to the story.

The animation leaves room for improvement. The animation has its moments, but with players moving around the field playing a game of soccer, it’s not always clean and crisp. When looking at the visuals it is apparent that the manga excels better with “Blue Lock’s” highs. Though the animation has its limitations, if you want a more comedic watch, and don’t tend to read manga, then the anime would be more enjoyable.

Despite its flaws, “Blue Lock” continues to prove time and time again that it stands as one of the top new anime alongside “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “My Hero Academia” and “Black Clover” Season one of “Blue Lock” has concluded with 24 episodes with season two and a movie now being confirmed for the series. The “Blue Lock” movie will be titled “Episode of Nagi” and follow fan favorite character Seishiro Nagi before he joins the “Blue Lock” program. The entirety of the first season of “Blue Lock” is now available on Crunchyroll.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Although there was hardly any doubt toward this being the case, “John Wick: Chapter 4” has finally solidified the franchise in the pantheon of the greatest action films of all time.

This movie has elevated everything that made its predecessors great, while adding a hearty dose of new characters, set pieces and locations that make for an instant classic.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” follows the titular John Wick (Keanu Reeves) as he travels to Paris in hopes of ending his excommunication. On his bloody path of redemption and vengeance, he meets several new and old faces. Introducing new characters this late into the game can be a risky move; almost every new character in this film is instantly memorable.

Across the nearly three hours of runtime, hardly a single second is wasted. Right when the film feels like it might be slowing down, it hits you in the face with another incredible action sequence or exciting plot development. The pacing is simply phenomenal, and the runtime flies by quicker than some films that are half of this length.

While Reeves delivers a typically stiff performance, he makes up for it with his excellent stunts

and choreography. Although the rest of the cast shines strongly as well. Particularly Donnie Yen, who plays Caine, and Bill Skarsgard. It is a consistently well written and entertaining ride, even if the dialogue can get a bit redundant at times.

What truly makes “John Wick: Chapter 4” shine is just how grand and thrilling its action scenes are. This film does not pull a single punch with its fight scenes, and several of the lesser fights in this movie could pass as a climax in a weaker film.

There is jaw dropping direction and cinematography at work here, making the entire movie feel like the spectacle to end all spectacles. Director Chad Stahelski is pulling out all the stops here to deliver an action-packed, gruesome and elaborate experience.

There is a scene during the Paris segment that had me covering my mouth with delight over just how epic the events that were unfolding were.

By the end of the film, it feels just as satisfying as finishing a hearty meal or a long book, which is a feeling most films fail to capture these days. “John Wick Chapter 4” is undoubtedly the best movie of the year, and easily one of the best action films in recent memories.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Blue Lock Wiki

was released on Blu-ray and DVD in four volumes from January 27, 2023 to July 28, 2023 and

on Crunchyroll.

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Armed with an ancient pair of nunchaku, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) takes on hordes of attackers in a glass-shattering assault on the Osaka Continental in “John Wick: Chapter 4.” (Murray Close/ Lionsgate/TNS)

‘Blue Lock’ review: Season one sets a high bar for sports anime

On a brisk Stillwater Tuesday, Kenny Gajewski enters Aspen Coffee on Western Road at 7:05, continuing his morning routine.

Gajewski, whose No. 2-ranked OSU softball team is 30-2 and on track to becoming the seventh-year head coach’s best regular season squad, sports a black OSU softball hoodie, black pants and a pair of Air Jordan I Lows.

A chai latte is waiting for his arrival. He always preorders his drink. Usually, he drinks an americano with sugar-free vanilla and no cream, straight up. But a friend recently bought him a chai. Since then, he changed his order.

After acquiring the latte, Gajewski saunters toward the northeast corner of the coffee shop, where a spot at a wooden table awaits him.

Same spot. Same table.

Accompanying the Cowgirl softball coach at the table are seven other men. Unlike Gajewski, they don’t preorder their drinks, but the baristas know their order by now.

Two of the eight don’t even drink coffee, but still find themselves pulling into Fountain Square Shopping Center every morning they can.

One member, James “Jamie” Murray, is a Stillwater-native lawyer. Another is Ethan Collvins – the youngest at the table, who’s affectionately called “puppy,” – a John Deere dealership sales manager. There’s also Kenneth “Kenny” Nolting, the Faculties Support Contributor for OSU’s athletic department, who has lived in Stillwater for 44 years. He also drinks a chai latte, describing it as “Christmas in a cup.”

This only begins to describe the diversity within the crew. Some played little league baseball together, others met through mutual friends and family. Despite their different backgrounds, the men all have one shared interest.

“Our common glue is Cowgirl

How Johnson, a Division-III receiver, wound up in Stillwater

for Gundy’s 2023 squad.

Morning Brew

How a Stillwater coffee crew supports Gajewski and OSU softball

softball,” Kevin Ehlers, a retired USDA worker said. “We’re all in.” Gajewski – a prominent coaching figure in collegiate softball, who could fill his morning in various other fashions – is with his community. This tight-knit group throughout Gajewski’s tenure has helped elevate his program to the elite level it’s at now, just over morning coffee.

Marlin Trissel stood in the lobby, waiting to be called into Gajewski’s office.

Trissel, who is now known around the program as a close friend of Gajewski’s and a paramount figure in the improvement of the fan experience at Cowgirl Stadium, wanted to talk to the firstyear head coach.

“Our director of ops said, ‘Hey, there’s a guy with a cowboy hat in here wanting to talk with you,’” Gajewski recalled. “And I said, ‘Well, let him in.’”

Brian Hendry’s road to recovery from Tommy John surgery

Never heard of George Fox University?

OSU coach Gundy didn’t either. He even had to ask reporters last week because he forgot.

“What’s the name of that school?” Gundy said. “Did anyone know there was a George Fox? I’m good with schools, I honestly didn’t know there was a George Fox.”

Wide receiver

Leon Johnson III, a fifth-year senior who played his first four seasons at the Division-III university in Newberg, Oregon, is one of OSU’s newest assets.

Whether Gundy knew about the private university, Johnson showed up to spring practice as one of the biggest question marks

Gundy said he’s intrigued because he has the measurements and stats to play at the Power Five level, he’s the tallest wideout on OSU’s roster, but he continues to ask why Johnson was at George Fox and will figure out what he has in Johnson through the spring. “It’ll be interesting to watch Johnson,” Gundy said. “He’s 6-foot-5, he’s already gained 15 pounds and I think his vertical was 36 inches. He was a basketball and baseball player. So how is he at George Fox? And we will find out, that’s what’s intriguing about him.”

Johnson’s initial plan was to attend a local D-I pro day and see if there’s a chance for the NFL. If there wasn’t, then either a return to

See Johnson on 8B

Boynton anticipates roster turnover in 2023 offseason

After their season ended with a 65-59 loss to North Texas in the NIT, Cowboy basketball players met individually with coach Mike Boynton.

No conversation went exactly the same. “Each situation is a little different in regards to whether they are even

capable of being back, or whether it’s in their best interest or the interest of the program to be back next season,” Boynton said. “Not all of those decisions are necessarily mine or theirs.”

The Cowboys finished 20-16, earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NIT after being the first team out of the NCAA Tournament. The team will look different next season.

See Boynton

OSU pitcher Brian Hendry said he knows the gut-wrenching feeling of a doctor saying, “no baseball for at least 10 months.”

Hendry, a junior at Saint John’s in 2021, had occasional right elbow pain – his throwing arm – since the preseason. It had been noticeable for him, yet, not enough to cause concern. Little did he know, it was the commencement of a season and a career-altering dilemma.

The elbow pain gradually increased weekly. Still, he said nothing to his team trainers. He hoped it was a minor tweak, one that would dwindle as time progressed.

Midway through a start, Hendry said he began to feel a pinsand-needles sensation in his throwing arm. It didn’t minimize his ability to pick up a baseball nor throw it. The unorthodox sensation dwindled his velocity each throw, making it gradually intolerable to pitch.

“I remember it made my arm feel like jelly toward the end,” Hendry said. “It didn’t necessarily hurt to throw a baseball, it just felt weird, too weird.” He managed to conclude the inning and voluntarily withdrew himself from the action. Days later, he got an MRI at a nearby hospital. The moment the results came back, the inevitable was confirmed.

Hendry suffered a torn UCL, and Tommy

Jaiden Daughty

Kenny Gajewski and seven other men meet for morning coffee Monday through Friday from 6:30-8. They sit in the same spots at the same table every day. All the members have one shared interest: supporting Cowgirl softball.

See Gajewski on 4B

Ashton Slaughter

Staff Reporter

Jaiden Daughty

Kenneth “Kenny” Nolting works for OSU’s Athletic Department and describes his chai latte as “Christmas in a cup.”

The Cowboys just missed the NCAA Tournament in 2023, instead earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NIT.

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

On Wednesday, OSU hosted its Pro Day for players to work out before NFL scouts. The O’Colly Sports caught up with three of OSU’s top prospects while they are on their journey to the NFL.

OSU’s Pro day

Hembrough navigating difficult, limited NFL draft process for special teams players

Gabriel Trevino

Sports Editor Vertical jump results

The NFL draft experience is much different for special teamers.

There’s only one spot per specialist position on a team, and if a front office and coaching staff has players they are satisfied with, they won’t draft another one.

And for long snappers, such as Matt Hembrough — a finalist for the Patrick Mannelly award for the top long snapper in college football and who worked out at OSU’s pro day on Wednesday — the road to the league contains more bumps.

The NFL combine invites only one long snapper, compared to the seven kickers and punters who attend the event.

“Snappers get the short end of the stick,” Hembrough said. “They took Alex Ward this year, he did a good job, but it would be nice if we got that exposure as well. Maybe two or three snappers.”

Hembrough found a way to get his name out to teams, though. In February, he attended the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas, where he practiced with and played for the Arizona Cardinals’ and New England Patriots’ coaching staffs for a week, and interviewed with every team. Two weeks later, he went to Gary Zauner’s specialists combine in Arizona, another place he could train in front of scouts.

In interviews at the Shrine Bowl, Hembrough said teams told him he needed to add more weight so he could be a better blocker. In his senior season at OSU, he weighed 226 pounds. On Wednesday, he was 236.

He also jumped 36.5 inches in the vertical and hit 22 reps of a 225-pound bench press, both marks second among the 11 players who participated in

WR C.J. Tate: 38.5 inches

WR Braydon Johnson: 37.5

inches

LS Matt Hembrough: 36.5 inches

DT Brendon Evers: 32 inches

LB Lamont Bishop: 31.5 inches

DE/DT Tyler Lacy: 31 inches

DE Brock Martin: 30.5 inches

DT Sione Asi: 27.5 inches

Bench press reps (225 pounds)

DT Sione Asi: 26

LS Matt Hembrough: 22

DE Brock Martin: 17

WR Braydon Johnson: 16

LB Lamont Bishop: 16

WR C.J. Tate: 13

OSU’s pro day. Still, he said 235 pounds is the minimum teams look for in a long snapper, as average NFL linemen are much bigger, stronger and more athletic than typical college players. And each has a different preference for their long snappers.

“Some teams want someone who’s 240, some want someone who’s 265,” Hembrough said. “Some people want someone who doesn’t run downfield very well, but they’ll never miss a block because they’re heavy. Other people want someone smaller that will get the

Taylor II excited to fulfill lifelong dream after improving draft stock

Jason Taylor II wasn’t nearly as nervous on Wednesday; he’s been through it before.

While most participants in OSU’s Pro Day didn’t get an invite to the NFL Combine, Taylor did, and the former Cowboy safety showed out in Indianapolis. Now, almost a month later, he said he felt more comfortable in front of NFL scouts.

“It’s a little weird,” Taylor said. “Everybody quiet, everybody looking at you, but it’s a great experience. Been dreaming about the combine (since) I was a little kid.”

Taylor didn’t participate in all the OSU Pro Day testing and drills, only the pro agility test and three-cone drill. At the combine, he turned those nerves into results, turning heads and improving his draft stock.

Comparing his results to the rest of the safety position group, Taylor posted the sixth-best 40-

yard dash (4.50 seconds), second-best vertical jump (43 inches) and third-best broad jump (10-feet9-inches).

When deciding what to skip and what to participate in on Wednesday morning, Taylor talked with his family and his agent, figuring out which times needed to improve, and which ones will be good enough for late April come draft time.

In preparation for the combine and OSU’s Pro Day, Taylor trained with Bommarito Performance Systems in Florida, where other football stars such as Rob Gronkowski, Von Miller and Tyreek Hill have trained.

Taylor showcased his talents in more places than Stillwater and Indianapolis, though. He participated in the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, before accepting an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

In conversation with former Cowboys gone pro, Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper, Taylor has been

given advice to not put too much stock into which teams talk to you a lot and which teams don’t.

Because after all, it only takes one call. Much like the one Rodriguez got from the Detroit Lions, whom he had only talked with one time before.

“(Rodriguez) talked to so many other teams several times and boom, he gets the call. He’s going there,” Taylor said.

No matter what team gives Taylor that phone call, he knows it will be a dream come true. And the progress made over the last month or so, at both the NFL Combine and OSU’s Pro Day, puts him in a better position to hear his name called.

“You always have aspirations and dreams... just going through the process I feel nothing but blessed,” Taylor said. “I can’t even explain how it’s going to feel, I just can’t wait.”

block, they might get pushed back a little, but they can go make a tackle. So depending on what a team wants, you have to fit in that role.”

Training for the draft and getting on teams’ radars was one challenge, but making a roster is another.

From 2015-21, at least one long snapper was drafted, including two in the sixth round in 2021. But with the limited spots, many specialists don’t get drafted and have to go from team-toteam until they have a shot.

Most teams have three, four or five players on their roster at each position. But with only one for specialists, long snappers like Hembrough must be prepared for the life that comes with playing a unique position.

“It’s really hard to get your foot in the door,” Hembrough said. “You have to have really good timing and show what you can do once you’re there. A lot of people don’t get drafted as specialists. You have to get into camps and earn the job. Sometimes you get cut midseason, sometimes you get called midseason and you have to show up.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Lacy showcasing versatility at Pro Day after season-ending injury

Tyler Lacy looked to his left and right and saw something he hadn’t seen in almost five months.

Sione Asi, Brock Martin and Brendon Evers – fellow OSU defensive linemen – were lined up beside Lacy for drills at OSU’s Pro Day on Wednesday morning at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center.

“I was like, ‘Wait a minute, this kind of feels a little bit too normal,’” Lacy said. “That was the starting lineup.”

The four were staples on the defensive line during Lacy’s five seasons in Stillwater. Martin and Evers spent six seasons at OSU. Asi was there for four. But after a lower leg injury during the Kansas game on Nov. 5, Lacy’s season and career at OSU ended earlier than expected.

His focus shifted to rehab for the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.

Lacy said he was back to 100% at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, where he earned an overall score that ranked fourth among defensive ends. Next was the OSU Pro Day.

On Wednesday, Lacy recorded a 31-inch vertical jump, which was almost three inches higher than his jump at the combine a month earlier. He didn’t participate in the bench press but took part in other drills, such as the 40-yard dash and 3-cone drill. Lacy played at around 290 pounds during

the season and 283 at the combine, but slimmed to 279 on Wednesday, which he said helped in areas like the vertical.

“I felt like it helped me with my agility, especially getting in and out of breaks,” Lacy said. “I felt like I was lighter on my feet.” Maybe even more than he expected.

“That shocked me today,” Lacy said of his vertical. “I guess I was just motivated today. I was ready to jump. So, I guess that’s what happened. I woke up on the right side of the bed this morning.”

Lacy said he wanted to show his versatility with the experience he

has playing throughout the line from the five to the three and even nose tackle. He said teams have expressed interest in playing various positions along the front, but he has no preference.

After missing the end of his final year in college, Lacy just wants a chance to get back on the field. “To me, wherever they want to put me, wherever I’m able to win games at, that’s where I want to play,” Lacy said. “I just want to be on the field playing.”

File Photo

Matt Hembrough jumped 36.5 inches and repped 22 times at 225 pounds on the bench press during Wednesday’s pro day.

File Photo

Jason Taylor II can’t wait for late April to come, as he awaits a phone call from an NFL team. “I can’t even explain how it’s going to feel, I just can’t wait,” Taylor said.

Ashton Slaughter Staff Reporter

Braden Bush Assistant Sports Editor

File Photo

After a season-ending lower leg injury in November, defensive end Tyler Lacy showed NFL scouts his versatility at the OSU Pro Day on Wednesday.

Mia Ledbetter

Presley provides perspective of brother’s transfer

Gabriel Trevino Sports Editor

The Presley brothers’ lockers were side-by-side at OSU for almost a year. But not anymore.

In December, Braylin Presley announced he would enter the transfer portal, then committed to Tulsa 11 days later. His older brother, Brennan, OSU’s leading receiver in 2022, said he never thought about leaving and is entering his senior season.

On Monday, the start of the second week of OSU’s spring football practices, Brennan offered his perspective of Braylin’s decision to leave.

When Braylin, a former four-star from Bixby, joined OSU in 2022, Brennan said he wanted to allow his younger brother to live his own life and make his own decisions.

Brennan said Braylin didn’t tell him he was going to transfer, but he respects his decision.

“He didn’t have to talk to us,” Brennan said. “He probably talked to my parents

about it, but whatever he thinks is best for him, I’m not gonna fight it. It’s what he wants to do. He’s been mature like that since he was 15. He’s always wanted to mature early and do his own thing.”

In seven games, Braylin caught five passes for 26 yards. He told the Tulsa World in December that he wanted to be used in the backfield and said the coaches did not tell him he would not be used as a running back.

The Presley’s weren’t the only brothers to split from OSU in the offseason. Bryson Green — who led the team in receiving touchdowns in 2022 — transferred to Wisconsin while his brother, Blaine, stayed in Stillwater.

Although Brennan won’t be seeing his brother on a constant basis anymore, his relationship with Braylin and wanting to see him succeed prevail over his own feelings.

“You share a personal connection, but you also share a connection (on the field),” Brennan said. “You want to see them do everything they do. I want to see him do as well as me. It hurts a lot, but at the end of the day, I have to move on.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

Scotland David sat back in the deep water, clung tight to a ski rope and resolved to wakeboard one more time before heading to shore.

What happened next on that 2020 summer day after her freshman season started an unrelenting wave of injuries that led Cowgirl softball coach Kenny Gajewski to offer David, whom he calls one of the most talented players he’s ever coached, agonizing advice.

“It’s crazy. I tried to talk her out of playing. I tried to talk her into retiring,” Gajewski said.

David tore her right meniscus while wakeboarding, shredding the ligaments in her right knee when it buckled while she picked up speed in the surf.

But after three meniscus tears, a broken thumb and some teary-eyed calls with her parents home in Florida, David is fully cleared and working her way into OSU’s lineup.

Those who thought David would quit don’t know the grit that defines her family.

Scotland’s father, Dallas, has had open heart surgery. Christie, Scotland’s mom, has battled cancer. And on November 3, 2016, when Scotland was in 7th grade, her older sister Savannah died in her sleep.

Savannah’s death was unexpected. Though she was two years older than Scotland and old enough to take care of herself at home, Savannah chose to attend as many of Scotland’s softball games as she could.

“I feel like that’s why (surgery) wasn’t very hard for me,” Scotland said. “There’s been so much more. We’re still here. We still have another day.”

Her second and third meniscus tears were freak accidents.

Just before the 2022 season began, Scotland and her teammates were doing backward hip skips, a routine warm-up drill. Her left leg landed oddly and she immediately recognized the familiar pain. The recovery, a six-month stint, robbed her of the entire season.

David felt back in form in the fall of 2022, feeling ready to compete for a starting role. She was essentially starting softball from scratch, so Scotland was entirely on board with new hitting coach Whitney Cloer’s hitting program.

A practice in Cowgirl Stadium stonewalled those goals.

“And then in the fall, we were just taking balls in left (field) and I go to throw it throw it to third and my knee just pops,” Scotland said.

“It’s stuck. And so it’s my right one, like the first one.

“I think that was the most heartbreaking one, just because I was so close.”

Scotland’s parents flew in from Florida for each surgery.

All three times, Scotland and her family opted for the six-month repair, instead of a trim that would be more detrimental to Scotland’s long-term health but could get her on the field in six weeks.

David’s Injuries

-Broken thumb (Spring 2021)

-Right meniscus tear (Summer 2021)

Cristie said Gajewski kept Scotland’s best interest paramount.

“None of these surgeries ever had to do with Kenny’s perspective,” Dallas said. “He was more concerned about her well-being than his softball team.”

Through it all, David never considered transferring.

“I feel like ever since I came here a whole new family adopted me,” Scotland said.

Small gestures were impactful, like when Marlin Trissel, Gajewski’s friend and devoted OSU softball fan, called David’s parents for permission and gave Scotland flowers on the 2021 anniversary of Savannah’s birthday.

Stacie Pestrak, the OSU softball director of operations, continually checked in with Scotland and her parents. Assistant coach Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher was among others who the David family leaned on.

Scotland even adopted a therapy cat. She taught it to sit on command, and Kelly Maxwell, David’s roommate, taught it how to fetch like a dog.

“I was never down because I had so many people around here,” Scotland said. “Like, there’s so many people helping me and supporting me through everything.”

Even when burdened with crutches that felt more natural every day, she remained a team leader. Scotland is one of the players on OSU’s leadership team that emerged in the fall. It took stoic endurance to remain invested and encouraging when she couldn’t

-Left meniscus tear (Spring 2022)

-Right meniscus tear (Fall 2022)

swing a bat.

Scotland, who was used primarily as a pinch runner her freshman year, had just four plate appearances before.

On March 19 against UCF, she popped a single to left field, the same turf patch where she tore her meniscus for the third time. It was her first career hit. Two days later, against the same team, she belted a ball over the right field fence that she hardly remembers.

Scotland said tears welled in her eyes as she made her first college home run trot.

“(The home run) it was really awesome to see,” said catcher Taylor Tuck. “I started crying in the dugout because I was so happy for her…She’s never given up.”

Scotland’s parents watched her home run live on their TV out back by their swimming pool. Dallas said he was so happy, he cannonballed into the pool, soaking his clothes.

Gajewski doesn’t expect Scotland’s impact to be a fluke.

“She’s one of the most talented kids that has ever walked through that door,” Gajewski said. “She can run, she can throw, she can hit for power. She’s probably the fastest kid here, when healthy. It’s a freak show. To be able to see her persevere. The toughness she shows. It’s crazy. It’s the Cowgirl way.”

Brennan Presley’s younger brother, Braylin, transferred to Tulsa after one season at OSU.

Carson Toulouse

After all Scotland David has been through, three meniscus tears couldn’t derail her softball career.

Through injuries, family’s past, David represents ‘the Cowgirl way’

Gajewski...

Continued from 1B

In walked Trissel, cowboy hat and all, who explained that his daughters played softball, and he was a fan of the game who wanted to help in any way possible. He also extended an invitation to the newly hired OSU coach, telling him he was in a coffee group that met every day at the Aspen on Western and that he’d be more than welcome to join.

Gajewski wasn’t quick to accept.

Regardless of his hesitation to go, Trissel was recruited in a similar fashion to the Aspen Coffee group. It was his way of paying it forward.

Murray and Rod Brakhage started the group over 10 years ago, sitting at the same table 25 steps from the front door of the building where the eight men meet now. Next came Ehlers, expanding the duo into a trio.

Then, one morning, the three men saw Trissel sitting at a nearby table and invited him over. Trissel always read the newspaper and sat alone at Aspen until joining the group.

Now, he was aiming to grow the group even further, and it didn’t pay off till six months later.

Gajewski drove on Western often, passing the coffee shop multiple times throughout the day. One morning, he decided to stop by and grab a coffee, and as he pulled into the parking lot he thought:

“I wonder if that coffee group is here.”

Sure enough, they were; including the man that stood in his office with a wide cowboy hat and an echoing country accent. Gajewski walked in, grabbed a coffee and finally took Trissel up on his invitation.

Since then, he’s been a cornerstone member of the group. All thanks to the unexpected visitor in the cowboy hat several years ago.

There aren’t many boxes to check when joining the Aspen Coffee group, they’re a rather inclusive bunch.

They don’t tolerate mediocre individuals, won’t accept drug dealers and only look for good, kind-hearted people.

Most important, though, is the passion and unwavering support for Cowgirl softball. If it’s not there, chances of making the cut are slim to none.

“You got to be willing to serve and support Cowgirl softball,” Trissel said.

A ninth member has recently been voted into the group, but is still in a “probation period,” Gajewski joked. The newest addition is still getting acclimated to the expectation of serving the Cowgirls.

Although a humorous moment for the table, there’s an undeniable truth that goes along with all the jokes. You’re either all-in, or you’re out.

“He’s not a member yet,” Murray said, with a smile. “I really haven’t seen him sweat yet for us.”

While the group has added members, there have also been

some departures. Whether it’s a long commute or schedule conflicts with a job, there are some friends of the group still come around occasionally but aren’t in the everyday swing of things like the eight members. Some visitors are brought in for coffee by the men, ranging from Gajewski’s OU college baseball teammates to recruits’ fathers and even star pitcher Kelly Maxwell’s dad, Mark, who Trissel is close with.

Jokes aside, the members need to see hopeful outsiders “sweat” for any chance of joining the core group. That’s how much pride they have in Cowgirl softball. And they must refrain from dealing drugs. That’s important, too.

It’s more than a morning coffee group, it’s a community. The guys can ask for any kind of help or advice from each other. Opinions on what electrician or plumber to hire are always welcome, and if anyone needs help around the house with a project, everyone’s a text in the group chat away.

Well, maybe not every project.

“If I need some help at the house, I know any of these guys will help,” Collvins said. “Except if you gotta paint a house, then we’re all out.”

The group has been through it all over the years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their mornings were spent outside, where they continued to see each other despite the unusual conditions. These highs and lows over the last 10-plus years have molded the men into becoming the truest of friends.

“Over the years we’ve been through so many things,” Brakhage said. “Terrific things, health problems, celebrations, heartbreak, you name it.”

The clique may only expand, as none of its members are shy about inviting an individual if they fit the criteria. Even if they’re a stranger, if someone’s at their table when 6:30 on a weekday morning rolls around, they better get ready to make some friends.

When you’re as busy as Gajewski is, making it to Aspen every morning is impossible. Due to away series, recruiting trips and other head coach duties, he may not make it to that table 25 steps away from the front door.

But it’s evident that if it were up to him, he’d be with his guys, drinking a chai latte or an americano, and talking about anything from softball to farm animals.

This is where he feels at peace.

“On the days I don’t come, my day doesn’t get started like I’m used to. This is important to all of us,” Gajewski said. “I’m like, ‘Man, I wish I could get some Aspen Coffee and hang out with those guys.’”

Continued from 1B

John surgery. Yet in retrospect, he said he believes the process is so unique from the standpoint of the sheer level of uncertainty that comes with it.

“It’s such a complicated process in determining if (the players) should even get it,” Williams said. “Then who’s to even say they’ll ever fully recover?”

For position players, the rehab process for Tommy John surgery tends to last anywhere from eight to 10 months. For pitchers, it typically lasts closer to 12 months.

For eight of those months, a process known as ligamentization transpires, when the surgery takes place, doctors take a nerve from anywhere in the patient’s body and put it in-place of the defunct tendon, allowing it to adapt and gel into its new role within the body.

Once he feels the process has been mostly completed, Williams clears his patient to begin throwing drills – usually around nine to 12 months. After that comes simulations of live-game action.

For Hendry, he was fortunate enough to have

already been deep into his rehab. So, putting the finishing touches and clearing him to pitch in games was an easy decision for Williams.

For others, such as two-way piece Carson Benge, the intangibles for making a decision of whether to actually send a player through surgery and rehab is a far more complexed decision.

“Carson was throwing 95 to 98 miles per hour on his fastball when he came here and his spin rate on his breaking pitches were insane,” Williams said. “At time same time his power hitting was off the charts. So, Carson really checked off all the boxes on making it such a complicated decision to make.”

With players presenting such a level of uncertainty to the consequences of the surgery, as Benge did, Williams prefers the conservative method – letting a player sit out five weeks and then

come back rested. However, when Benge’s injury transpired, his UCL tear was so severe, his options were limited.

Benge since rehabbed enough to find a role as a midweek starting pitcher for the Cowboys.

“It’s been good being back,” Benge said. “Missing all of last year was hard on me mentally, especially finding out about my UCL tear days before the (Vanderbilt) series last year.”

Through four starts, he has struck out 10 and posted a 5.11 ERA. His innings have been minimal, and his fastball velocity is still not back to what it was.

“Kudos to Carson for sticking with it,” Hendry said. “I know for me I was hesitant (to get surgery). I wanted to get better but the thought of being away so long, possibly not even being able to pick up a baseball and then obviously the thought of not being back to where

I was production wise, made it difficult.”

That’s nearly a full year of no baseball for kids who have been engrossed within the sport for almost their entire lives. It’s not even assured the surgery will even work accordingly nor is it certain players even be fully back in swing, as Hendry said. It’s one of the bevy of factors that make UCL tears and its rehab one of the medical anomalies in baseball.

“It’s hard to pinpoint how someone will be after surgery,” Williams said.

“It’s hard, even for (doctors), to determine whether or not it’s even worth it. Even then, there’s no guarantee it’ll work and that’s what makes the procedure so difficult.”

Mia Ledbetter

Brian Hendry went through Tommy John surgery and recovery from 2021-22, missing a year of baseball.

Courtesy of Eli Williams

A set of statistics OSU trainer Eli Williams uses to show players how frequent and where UCL injuries affect baseball players.

Carson Toulouse Recovery for Tommy John surgery on pitchers typically lasts a year.

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

Help Wanted

Yost Lake (private lake located northeast of Stillwater) is hiring certified lifeguards to work Saturday-Sunday from May 25th –September 3rd and July 3rd-4th. $15/hr with bonus and paid uniform. Call/text Cathy at (405)788.6435 to apply.

Business Squares Business Squares Company Coming?

Check out “Cowboy Cabin”

550 steps east of Boone Pickens Stadium

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda

Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (03/31/23). Beat your personal best this year. Prioritize private reflection, imagination and planning to recharge. Develop new springtime talents and capacities. One summertime financial door closes and another ope partnership and romance heats up. Winter collaboration generates shared financial gain. You’re a shining star.

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 — Find and follow a passionate connec tion. Invent enticing possibilities together. Let others know how much you appreciate them. Kindness goes a long way.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Nurture yourself and family with home comforts. Discover another’s brilliant idea. Align on solutions. Positive results ener gize your efforts. Share delicious flavors together.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Follow creative muses where they lead. Dreams come true with disciplined efforts. Express your heart in words and images. Sing out. Share your message.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Seeds you planted are beginning to fruit. Get support to pull in a fine harvest. Generate positive cash flow. Luck amplifies your own initiative.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Personal dreams come true with action and luck. Confidence comes in handy. Honor your word as yourself. Share encouragement with someone who could use it.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — You’re especially sensitive, creative and inventive now. Clean and organize. Strategize and prepare for what’s ahead. Imagine perfection and put the pieces together.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Get together to develop team strategies. Help propel a community effort for common gain. Actions now have long-term benefits. Have fun with friends.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Your work is getting attention. Imagine exciting career possibilities. Go for it. You have the wind at your back. Figure out the details.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — It’s adventure time. Explore and investigate. The time for experimentation is now. Study, listen, and learn. Make amazing discoveries. Organization lets you travel light.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Contribute energies to reduce debt and build wealth together. Surge ahead. Find clever ways to reuse and repurpose things. Collaborate for shared gain.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Teamwork can accomplish the seemingly impossible. Listen to another’s view. Support each other. There’s freedom in commitment. Share the load and the rewards.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Practice your moves. Work for satisfying results. You’re growing steadily stronger. Exercise energizes you in a positive feedback loop. Physical labors reap rewards.

FOR RELEASE MARCH 31, 2023

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS 1

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Rena Cohen

Complete

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

Blackmon and Fowler headline OSU Athletics 2023 Hall of Honor class

earnings are more than $50 million.

Justin Blackmon (Football, 2009-11)

Cowgirl duo making improvement

Gina Foster

Staff Reporter

Maddison HinsonTolchard and Thitaporn Saithip have both had memorable seasons for different reasons. Hinson-Tolchard has made substantial improvement in her game and is ready to fight for a postseason win, while Saithip has focused on small improvements during her freshman season.

“My expectations for the season were just to improve myself a little bit at a time,” Saithip said. “I think my game has improved a lot and I’ve mentally improved a lot.”

Hinson-Tolchard has played a substantial amount since she’s been on the Cowgirls, while Saithip is a freshman, who started dipping her toes in the water during the fall season, which is not always the case for freshmen. However, Saithip has been able to earn playing time due to the qualifying structure the team has.

“I feel like my game is definitely in a really good place at the moment, and I’ve been doing a lot of hard work on little things to sort of make the little improvements that make up the scores,” Hinson-Tolchard said. “I know I’m close to where I want to be. I definitely want to have a win by the end of the year. I feel like I’ve put myself in a good position to fight for a couple of wins.”

Looking ahead

The Cowgirls are left with Big 12 match play, a Big 12 Championship and possibly NCAA matchups. As a whole, the team’s full potential has not been unlocked, and to make the rest of the season a success, consistency is the key.

“They are all showing glimpses of brilliance, but what we need is just that consistency,”

OSU coach Greg Robertson said. “They all have provided it in the past, so it’s not something new we’re looking for, it’s something they’ve provided before so we know it’s there. They are

Notebook

showing bits and pieces of putting it together and playing some good golf, so hopefully we can get it all put together by the end of the year.”

The next few tournaments are going to show a different aspect of the team because they have not played against many Big 12 teams. Making improvements and working on consistency is the main goal for the team as the season comes to a conclusion in a couple months.

“I feel like we haven’t played against too many of the Big 12 schools recently. We’ve sort of been playing against a pool of different schools, which is good to see where we’re at post season,” Hinson-Tolchard said. “I think we’re in a good place heading into match play and conference tournament, but its interesting it see where we go but I think were up for the challenge.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Remaining Schedule:

Big 12 Match Play (Scottsdale, Arizona): April 7-9

Big 12 Championship (Dallas): April 21-23

NCAA Regionals: May 8-10

NCAA Championship (Scottsdale, Arizona): May 19-24

Cordova Staff Reporter

Six more legends will be honored and immortalized in OSU’s Hall of Honor.

On Thursday, OSU announced the 2023 Hall of Honor class, which includes Rickie Fowler, Justin Blackmon, David Arndt, Yolanda Odenyo, Ann Pitts and Shelby Wilson. They will be inducted with a formal ceremony on Sept. 15 in Stillwater.

Rickie Fowler (Men’s golf, 2008-09)

Rickie Fowler had one of the best freshman golf seasons ever as he won the Phil Mickelson award, which is given to the top freshman nationally, and the Ben Hogan award, given to the best golfer nationally, in 2008.

Additionally, Fowler was named an All-American in his two seasons as a Cowboy and won two Big 12 Golfer of the Year awards.

Fowler moved on to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2009, then the PGA Tour later that year and has since won nine worldwide events.

Fowler is thought of as one of the best golfers to never win a major championship. In 2018, Fowler finished one stroke behind the winner in The Masters and in 2014, had three topthree finishes in the other majors.

Fowler’s career

Blackmon is considered to be one of, if not the best, wide receiver in OSU history.

Blackmon is a twotime Biletnikoff award winner, which is given nationally to the best wide receiver, and was chosen twice as a unanimous All-American in 2010-11.

As a sophomore in 2010, Blackmon racked up 1,782 receiving yards and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. He holds the seventh-best season mark in NCAA history with his 20 receiving touchdowns that season.

In 2011, Blackmon caught 122 passes, which is the 13th-highest total in a season and had 1,522 receiving yards with 18 touchdowns.

In the 2012 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Blackmon with the fifth overall pick.

David “Buddy” Arndt (Wrestling, 194146) Arndt won three national titles, but one followed his services in World War II.

Arndt won two national titles in his first two seasons (1941-42) and was awarded the 1942 Outstanding Wrestler award. Following that season, Arndt entered World War II.

From 1943-45

Arndt flew more than 100 missions as a P-38 fighter pilot over Italy with the 15th Air Corps.

As a pilot, he was awarded with the Dis-

tinguished Flying Cross with four clusters and also collected six Bronze Battle Stars for action in major battles.

After his service, Arndt returned to the mat for then-Oklahoma A&M and won another national title.

Yolanda Odenyo (Soccer, 2005-08)

Odenyo is the first All-American in OSU soccer history and she did it three times.

Odenyo from 2006-08 was selected as an All-American by SoccerBuzz. Odenyo was also a two-time finalist for the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top college player.

Ann Pitts (Women’s Golf Coach, 19732000) Pitts coached the Cowgirls to 15 conference championships, five NCAA Championship and five AIAW Championship appearances. Pitts was inducted into the 1995 National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2008. She also won a collection of conference and regional coach of the year honors. She coached 19 All-Americans during her tenure.

Shelby Wilson (Wrestling, 1957-59) Wilson claimed a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics and also earned two All-American honors as part of two national championship squads with OSU. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1982.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy OSU Athletics

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard worked on her swing with a biomechanist in Australia this offseason.

File Photo

Justin Blackmon is among six people who’ve been selected for OSU’s 2023 Hall of Honor class.

Davis

Boynton...

Continued from 1B

“There’s going to be a lot of fluidity in the roster, honestly,” Boynton said.

Guard Caleb Asberry and forward Bernard Kouma are the only Cowboys who have exhausted their eligibility. And to be clear, Boynton said none of the players who can return to OSU said they did not want to in their meeting with Boynton.

And yet, Boynton and his staff aren’t naive about college basketball’s current landscape.

“I don’t expect

Transfer targets for OSU basketball and Boynton’s needs

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

The season may be over, but OSU coach Mike Boynton is still working.

With many players already in the transfer portal, Boynton said he’s keeping an eye out.

“Constantly (watching film),” Boynton said.

“I went up to Wichita to watch my son play and took my laptop with me and between games I sat in the corner, put headphones on and watched some kids in the portal.”

So, who could the Cowboys snag?

Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky guard

Spending the past two seasons at Kentucky, Wheeler put his name into the portal Monday, quickly becoming one of the highly coveted available players.

Considering his previous ties to OSU, Boynton would likely do his due diligence on Wheeler. After playing his freshman and sophomore seasons at Georgia, he entered the portal and chose the Wildcats and John Calipari after considering OSU, LSU and Kansas.

On Monday, Boynton said, “we need more playmaking” when discussing the current roster and what he will look for. Well, the 5-foot-9 point guard averaged 5.6 assists per game

this season and led the SEC in the category in 2021-22 with 6.9. He is also a previous All-SEC selection.

DJ Horne, Arizona State guard Horne told 247 Sports’ Dushawn London that the Cowboys have reached out since he entered the portal. After beginning his career at Illinois State, the soon-to-be fifth-year guard spent the past two seasons at ASU and shot 39% from 3-point range in his time with the Sun Devils, an area in which the Cowboys hope to improve. OSU ranked last in the Big 12 in that category at 29%.

In 34 starts, Horne averaged 12.5 points and grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game. Horne also put forth a couple of impressive performances in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 20 points in a win over Nevada and 17 more against TCU in a two-point loss.

Quincy Olivari, Rice guard

An Atlanta, Georgia, native, Olivari spent the past four seasons at Rice and has become highly sought-after since entering the portal.

He was Conference USA’s leader in points per game, posting 18.7 per contest on 41% shooting. Olivari told The O’Colly that OSU has contacted him since announcing his intentions to transfer.

Olivari is the Owl’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made and showcased a knack for scoring and self-creation. The 6-foot-3 guard did plenty of work on the boards, too, averaging 5.9 rebounds per game.

Javon Small, East Carolina guard

Appearing in 18 games last season, Small was an all-around contributor for the Pirates. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Small has multiple years of eligibility left, having played two seasons of college ball.

Travis Branham of 247 Sports reported Monday that Small would have a virtual meeting with OSU.

Denver Jones, Florida International guard Schools will look to Jones for an immediate scoring boost after a careeryear with the Panthers. He averaged 20.1 points per game (second in Conference USA), while shooting 37.1% from the 3-point line and 84.5% from the freethrow line.

On Sunday, Joe Tipton of On 3 Sports reported that Jones would have an in-home visit with the Cowboys this week.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

everyone that’s eligible (to return) to be back, in all candor,” Boynton said.

It’s why Boynton took his laptop to Wichita when traveling to watch his son play basketball. Between games, he sat in the corner, put headphones on and watched film on players in the transfer portal. He had the laptop out when eating dinner recently, evaluating potential Cowboys while a women’s game played in the background.

“We’re going to continue to make sure we are aggressive in the recruiting space,” Boynton said. “A lot of it will be through the transfer portal. We’ve already

made a lot of contacts.”

Still dealing with NCAA-imposed scholarship reductions, Bonyton said he has more flexibility when assigning scholarships for next year. He may use all 13 if the right player mandates it, or he could stick to using just 12.

It is all about the fit, as his team evolves.

“What’s glaring, from my perspective, we need more playmakers,” Boynton said. “We’ve got to get deeper. We’ve got to get probably more dynamic in terms of playmaking front court, obviously, we got to get more skilled there.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Andy Crown

Caleb Asberry is one of two Cowboys who exhausted his eligibility and cannot return for

Mia Ledbetter

OSU coach Mike Boynton said he constantly keeps an eye out for options in the transfer portal.

Johnson...

Continued from 1B

George Fox or a transfer portal entry was likely.

The Los Angeles Chargers were eyeing Johnson as a possible undrafted free agent, but George Fox coach Chris Casey said Johnson received word not to play his last year at George Fox.

“He had many possibilities,” Casey said. “There were many variables like whether he was going to play baseball again, come back to George Fox for graduate school, pursue the NFL or transfer. He’s a loyalty guy, he’s not going to just leave to take the best deal, but he talked with other people outside the George Fox circle, and got advice to go ahead and enter the portal.”

Johnson entered the portal early January and it didn’t take long for OSU to make an offer. Johnson committed to OSU on Jan. 10, just four days after his official visit.

What some might ask is if Gundy didn’t know what or where George Fox was, how did OSU discover Johnson?

Well, former OSU graduate assistant Brayden Kearsley is the answer.

After three of OSU’s top wide receivers – John Paul Richardson, Stephon Johnson Jr. and Bryson Green –entered the transfer portal, OSU needed to find experienced replacements.

In comes Kearsley, who scoured through the list of portal entries and recognized the name George Fox next to Johnson’s name.

Kearsley is from Oregon, but knew more about the program because his Aloha High School coach, Casey, is the head coach at GFU.

From there, it was simple.

“Brayden (Kearsley) said ‘If that’s George Fox in Oregon, I played for their head coach and staff. And if he’s from that school, then I can tell you, he’s a very good football player,’” Casey said. “So Brayden contacted me, then they flew him in for a visit and that’s how the whole thing went on.”

Last season, Johnson hauled in 14 touchdowns on 1,156 receiving yards, which earned him AFCA D-III FirstTeam All-American honors.

Johnson adds size and length OSU doesn’t see from its receivers too often. Johnson is the tallest receiver since Dee Anderson in 2020. Casey said Johnson provides leadership and dedication to the team, something that’s a driving force in OSU’s ‘Cowboy Culture’.

“He led by example,” Casey said.

“He’s a guy that took some brutal shots over the middle of the field catching balls. He’s like rubber man. Most of the time he would jump right back up. He has toughness and had people’s respect. He’s a total team guy, teamfirst mindset and was a huge part of our program.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Andy Crown

Leon Johnson III hauled in 14 touchdowns last season at George Fox.

Mia Ledbetter

Leon Johnson III transferred to OSU from George Fox, a Division-III program in Oregon.