Monday, Feb. 6, 2023

Monday, Feb. 6, 2023

OSU dominate with takedowns in win against Michigan

Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter

ARLINGTON, Texas — Mason

Parris scored the first takedown for the Wolverines— after seven bouts.

OSU wrestled stingy in every single bout. Takedowns were not given, and they surely weren’t earned

for the sixth-ranked Wolverines. For the Cowboys, they came at ease. OSU outscored Michigan in takedowns, which was the deciding factor in OSU’s 24-15 victory.

Carter Young set the tone to start the dual at 141 pounds. In his match over Pat Nolan, Young scored three takedowns. Victor Voinovich, OSU’s 149-pounder, followed by scoring a

takedown in his match. Then the bonus points came.

Wyatt Sheets was slated to wrestle the No. 5 wrestler in the country at 165 pounds, Cameron Amine. However, Amine did not weigh in. In fact, three ranked Michigan wrestlers did not participate, neither did Amine’s backup at 165 pounds. Joaquin Consuelos was the draw for Sheets.

ARLINGTON, Texas —

Daton Fix stood firmly along the edge of the home dugout.

Eyes closed, head bobbing, legs remotely churning, ready to wrestle.

As his name was called, it echoed through the stands of Globe Life Field, he trotted towards the stage as a remixed version of “A Sky Full of Stars” blared through the sound system.

Fireworks erupted, flames burst and grey haze greeted OSU’s 133-pound wrestler as he met his opponent. It was go time in a pivotal point in the dual. The final match — a potential dual-deciding one.

For the majority of the evening, No. 11 OSU’s 24-15 win over No. 6 Michigan appeared to be almost guaranteed through seven bouts in the Bout at the Ballpark. That, however, would not be the case. After clinging to a 12-point advantage, a decision and pin later almost diminished the Cowboys’ once double-digit lead. Surely even for a wrestler with the pedigree and notoriety Fix holds, he felt the abundance of pressure compiling.

His reaction?

“No pressure,” he respond-

ed. “In the end, it’s just a wrestling match. This is what I love to do.

So, why would I put any more pressure on myself than I needed to.”

After the initial whistle by the nearside official, utter dominance ensued. The Cowboys led, 18-15, and were needing at least a win by decision from the standout wrestler. A quick takedown by Fix less than a minute into the opening period led to a grasp of the shoulders of Michigan’s Dylan Ragusin, compressed firmly against the edge of the mat. Fix knew it was coming but didn’t want to let up. He watched the official swipe his arms through thin air, counting down the seconds to the end of the bout. Moments later, the final whistle blew as Fix rose from the mat, smiled and pumped his fist.

OSU assistant coach Chris Perry’s emotions said it all.

“Pinned,” he cried, clapping his hands rapidly out of excitement.

Now, it was official. Fix’s late heroics captured a pivotal win for OSU, recording the team’s second ranked win by chance over the past three duals.

“Oh, that (pin) fired me up,” 165-pounder Wyatt Sheets said with a chuckle. “That was probably the best part of the dual.”

Nearly Naked Mile strikes again

J.R. Churchill Staff Reporter

In 1986, a group of students from the University of Michigan founded the Nearly Naked Mile.

The event spread like wildfire, quickly becoming popular with universities nationwide. The event gathers donated clothes from students and donates the clothes to those in need in local communities.

This year’s race at OSU featured cold weather, which as a participant, made me want to finish as fast as possible. One major factor leading up to the race was the ground itself, as the night prior to the race it had iced over. The conditions were not ideal, however, a race must be run. Thankfully, the ice melted and the water evaporated

just in time for the race.

Before the race began, I was lucky enough to interview a freshman, Kyle. Kyle was kind and fun to talk to before the race. He was dressed in all green, wearing Ireland boxers and a green fedora, which went great with his scorching red beard.

It was his first year running the race, and he seemed excited and determined. Kyle ran a hard race and finished in fourth place with a time close to five minutes. I can only assume that he was blasting Genesis’

“Dancing with the Moonlit Knight,” his go-to running song.

The competition was great all around. There were people from all sorts of organizations, all shooting for different goals. Some people wanted to say they ran a mile, while others were looking to break a certain time

stamp. Personally, I wanted to run below a six-minute mile and finish in the top five. After clocking in at 4:51, it was safe to say that I was dog tired. The bitter cold dissipated, and I could no longer feel my legs or my hands.

The first and second-place runners were kind after the race. After a brief conversation with the two, I found out that they ran cross country and track in high school, too.

My favorite part of the race came after I had already finished. All the runners waited at the finish line for everyone else to finish. The runners were cheering everyone on until the very end, in what I would describe as a prime example of Cowboy culture. Despite the sub forty-degree wind chill, Cowboy pride was at an all-time high.

Chase Davis

Carter Young scored three takedowns vs Michigan’s Pat Nolan in his win at Bout at the Ballpark.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Fix’s Pin...

Continued from 1

“Reece (Witcraft) just got pinned, and I was devastated for Reece. Then (Fix) goes out there and sticks the guy and I was just ecstatic.”

Even in the matches dropped – whether it be Konner Doucet’s narrow loss to No. 1-ranked heavyweight, Mason Parris, or Witcraft’s

extra-period defeat in his first start of the season -Smith finds silver lining in the negatives. On a day where the Cowboys outscored the Wolverines 15-2 in takedowns, it came down to the last bout. This time, OSU found a way to win.

“The difference was we were the aggressors early in the match,” Smith said. “We were the ones outscoring early in the matches, for the most part, and then definitely in the end in the matches we needed to win.”

Takedowns...

Continued from 1

Sheets was the aggressor from start to finish, which concluded during the second period after he picked up a 18-0 technical fall against Consuelos. Sheets picked up two takedowns in the match in addition to a two-point nearfall and three, four-point nearfalls. A lack of finishing-takedowns has plagued Sheets, among other wrestlers. Coach John Smith stated that finishing takedowns was what won the match for OSU on Friday.

“I thought we were aggressive, I thought when we got to the legs, we scored,” Smith said. “We did a lot better job with finishing takedowns after scrambles, and that’s what happens when you

start finishing your takedowns. It’s really important that we know the scrambles are going to be the difference in competition.”

Heavyweight Konner Doucet has relied on his defense throughout the year to win matches. As he took on the No. 1 heavyweight Parris, he needed to generate offense. He did just that. In 22 undefeated matches, Parris allowed four takedowns. Doucet scored the fourth takedown on Parris Friday night. However, it wasn’t enough as Parris defeated him 5-3 with 2:21 riding time.

Seven Cowboys scored takedowns in the dual and three earned bonus-point victories. No.

6 Dustin Plott defeated No. 26 Max Maylor with five takedowns en-route to scoring a 12-4 major decision. Plott scored the most takedowns of any wrestler in the dual.

As for the wrestlers who

didn’t score a takedown, Smith stated he was pleased overall with the effort at the weights that lost or didn’t score many points. For No. 14 Kaden Gfeller, he dropped the 157 match in rideouts to No. 10 Will Lewan, 3-2. No. 9 Matt Finesilver got the best of No. 11 Travis Wittlake 2-0 in his first dual back after missing the Iowa trip. Smith had high praise for Gfeller and Wittlake’s opponents.

“Normally, (Gfeller) is pretty solid there, but make no mistake, the kid he wrestled is good,” Smith said. “That kid’s likely going to be on the stand at the NCAA Championships… At 84, we were in on the leg a couple times and didn’t get the score. But, again, I think that’s just credit to the Michigan wrestler for defending really well.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Chase Davis

Victor Voinovich scored a takedown and shut out Michigan’s Fidel Mayora in his win at Bout at the Ballpark on Friday night.

Chase Davis

Daton Fix’s pin against Dylan Ragusin clinched the team win for OSU at Bout at the Ballpark on Friday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

OSU’s win against No. 8 Missouri highlights development

Since the preseason, John Smith had been keen on development.

In the early stages, it was apparent the Cowboys were nowhere near a national championship — or even conference championship — contention caliber roster. A loss to lower-ranked Minnesota at home, along with narrow duals with unranked teams like in Oklahoma, Oregon State and Columbia pinpointed it.

Nearly one month later, No. 11 OSU earned its eighth win in the past nine duals in a 17-16 victory via criteria over No. 8 Missouri. It also marked the Cowboys’ second consecutive top 10 victory, after a 24-15 win over No. 6 Michigan in Friday’s Bout at the Ballpark.

So, taking all logistics into consideration, where is OSU in terms of overall team progression and development at this point in the season, as opposed to less than a month ago when it was churning out wins with the skin of its teeth to unranked foes? Are the Cowboys finally turning the corner and meshing into a national contender?

“I definitely think so,” OSU fan, Richard White said. “What a win for these guys. Not too long ago (OSU) had its highest ranked (wrestlers) losing to unranked guys and now (OSU) has beaten back-to-back top 10 teams.”

Throughout the season, Smith has found various things to gripe and stress about – and rightfully so. Whether it be his wrestlers’ inability to escape the bottom position, not finishing feasible single-leg takedowns, settling for low-scoring victories-by-decision as opposed to a bonus-point win, or other compiling issues, Smith has voiced his frustration on many different occasions.

After Sunday’s win over Missouri, he stated the exact polar opposite.

“The only two matches that were really separated was 165 and 133,” Smith said. “The rest of (the matches) were barn burners that came down to the third period and ultimately the end of the match.”

One of the primary reasons, as Smith mentioned numerous times, is the

general awareness of his wrestlers.

Luke Surber, OSU’s 197-pounder, attacked No. 1-ranked Rocky Elam, from various positions and took advantage of a lower-leg injury his opponent had missed time as a result of.

Daton Fix, at 133-pounds, wasn’t told he needed to win by 10 or more points in his bout to earn his team a criteria point until midway through the first period. OSU trailed 16-12 heading into his match — the final one of the day.

“It’s just my job,” Fix said. “I think that was a big reason we started at 141 today. If it came down to it, I was at the end and if I needed to get bonus points, then we’d have a chance to get

those bonus points. That’s just my job. Going out there and just doing what my team needed me to do.”

Smith voiced his admiration for Fix’s late heroics.

“I’m sure glad we’ve got Daton,” he said.

Carter Young, who started the dual at 141, earned a 4-2 victory against his opponent with a 2:35 advantage in riding time. Two months prior, Young’s recurring struggle was his inability to escape the bottom position, which even led to him being pinned by a lowerranked foe against Columbia earlier in the year. Fast forward, Young has now won his past five bouts – three of which came against ranked opponents.

The development is finally coming into fruition. OSU is displaying far more success than it did when it dropped a dual to Minnesota in front of a home crowd in just its fourth dual of the season. Now it comes down to sustaining and building upon it moving forward.

“We’re taking (good teams) into deep waters and we’re the ones that are surviving,” Fix said. “All of the grinding that we’re doing, it’s finally starting to show. When you work hard, good things happen.”

“We’re just finally starting to put it all together.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Molly Jolliff

After struggling earlier this season, especially escaping bottom, Carter Young has now won his past five duals.

Daniel Allen

Staff Reporter

Wright takes over final minutes, fends off TCU rally

my coaches came to me in the huddle and was like, ‘Just be the voice out there, slow everything down, make sure we get a good shot, if you have a gap –attack,’” Wright said. So, he did.

the key to take the lead back. Wright extended the advantage on the next play with a layup.

This time, the Cowboys weren’t giving up the lead.

final five minutes, finishing with 17, his third most this season.

John-Michael Wright acted instinctively.

Moussa Cisse blocked TCU guard Damion Baugh’s layup, sending it to the baseline. Wright barely grabbed the rebound while teetering on the out-ofbounds line, and he hurled it over his shoulder without looking.

Caleb Asberry caught it at midcourt and threw it to Kalib Boone for a dunk.

That heads-up play was one of many by Wright, who took over in the final minutes of OSU’s 79-73 win over No. 15 TCU in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Saturday afternoon.

From the stands, Wright’s pass looked like it was intended for Asberry, who caught it in stride. Coach Mike Boynton said his team is taught to throw the ball as far from the basket as possible in that scenario, but he praised Wright for the wherewithal to connect with Asberry.

Wright would have liked to take credit, but he said he didn’t even see Asberry when he threw it.

“I was just hoping somebody was there,” Wright said. “I just wanted to get it past half court, so I threw it as hard as I could.”

In the first half, Wright scored nine points, all 3-pointers, and Boone, who finished with a career-high 25, had 12 in the opening half. By early in the second, the Cowboys (14-9, 5-5) built a 19-point lead.

Then here came TCU (17-6, 6-4) and turnovers.

The Horned Frogs went on a 20-3 run in less than seven minutes and cut the lead to two. Over that stretch, the Cowboys committed six turnovers and shot 1-for-6 from the field.

At the 5:09 mark, TCU took its first lead.

“Honestly, the message is stop turning the ball over,” Boynton said.

But for Wright, the coaches had a personal message.

“When they started making runs,

Wright immediately helped tie the game with an assist to Boone for a dunk, then Wright hit a jumper the next time down the court to force another tie.

“(Wright) was a little bit hesitant earlier in the year to do those type of things,” Boynton said. “Part of it is coming in and embracing his role as a secondary scorer. Probably took it too far. We still need him to find his aggressive points in the game.”

Braden Bush Assistant Sport Editor sports.ed@ocolly.com

A point guard’s job varies. Sometimes it’s points, other times it’s facilitating. But on a night when guards Bryce Thompson and Woody Newton combined for seven points in 57 minutes, it was Wright who had to score late.

“Just trying to control the offense was what I was really trying to do,” Wright said.

Next possession, it was Wright again. He hit a three from the top of

Wright scored eight points in the

Chase Davis

John-Michael Wright (51) “controlled the offense” and scored eight points in the final five minutes of OSU’s 79-73 win over No. 15 TCU on Saturday in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Wrestling vs. Missouri

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Learn the facts and protect those you love.

All photos by Carson Toulouse and Molly Joliff

Project ECHO receives $4.5M to improve rural health care

and connect with specialists at academic medical centers through a digital platform for discussion and training.

Marshall Snipe is the chair of the TSET Board of Directors and said the access to quality health care is vital.

OSU Center for Health Sciences was awarded $4.5 million over the span of three years for the growth of Project ECHO.

The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Board of Directors bestowed this award as a partnership with OSU and will aid the program that is designed to enhance health care in rural areas.

The Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes model and project allows health care providers in underserved and rural areas to contact

“TSET is excited to partner with OSU to increase the impact of Project ECHO around the state,” Snipe said. “Access to quality health care is key to improving the overall health of all Oklahomans.”

Because of hospital closures and provider shortages, rural communities, which account for nearly 34% of Oklahoma’s population, struggle to supply strong access to quality health care. Oklahoma ranks No. 47 in active primary care physicians per 100,000 people and No. 48 in the number of active physicians.

Restriction of access to constant, quality health care leads to higher rates of death because of more advanced

diseases diagnosed at later stages and unregulated chronic illness. With limited options for specialists and fewer providers, complicated medical cases can be hard to manage in rural or small hospitals.

With the expansion of Medicaid and an aging population, the system is expected to burden additional strain in the upcoming years.

Dr. Johnny Stephens, president of OSU-CHS, said this partnership will allow a larger expansion to the areas of Oklahoma that need it.

“We are grateful to partner with TSET to expand access to health care with the goal of improving health outcomes in rural areas of our state,” Stephens said. “With this generous funding, Project ECHO will expand lines of care to support more health providers and physicians across the entire state of Oklahoma. Our mission and passion at OSU-CHS is to train health profes-

sionals to serve rural and underserved populations, as well as to provide innovative solutions to support Oklahoma health providers.”

In the last six years using the ECHO model, OSU-CHS has reached over 70,000 participants in all 77 counties. The new TSET funding will help reinforce and support the growth of new lines of ECHO care, such as pediatric obesity, diabetes and hypertension management.

Project ECHO strengthens rural health systems by decreasing provider isolation and increasing retention in rural areas. It also shows the magnitude for effective and safe treatment of common, complex and chronic diseases in underserved and rural areas. For more information regarding the partnership between OSU and TSET, please visit medicine.okstate.edu.

Courtesy of OSU

Megan Claybrook (left), Kelly Murray, Tessa Chesher and Ana Mazur (right) take part in a Project ECHO session at Legacy Plaza in Tulsa.

Mallory Pool Staff Reporter

“Attack on Titan’s” final arc preview

Baylor Bryant Staff Reporter

2022’s Anime of the Year comes back with one final arc.

The anime series “Attack on Titan,” based on the manga series of the same name, is making its return on March 4 with the final arc of the series.

“Attack on Titan’s” final season was released in multiple episode parts since 2021. The first part was released with 16 episodes and the second part released in 2022 with 12 episodes.

Part two of the final season won the Crunchyroll Anime of the Year Award of 2022.

The final part of the final season for “Attack on Titan” will be released in two separate parts of its own. The first part will be released in March with the rest of the series wrapping up before the end of 2023.

However, there is not much content left to cover to wrap up the story.

Some fans are worried about this decision to split the final arc into two parts considering there are only nine chapters left in the manga that have not been animated. Some speculate that with a not well received ending to the manga, Mappa Studios could possibly animate a new ending to the story.

Though it is unlikely they stray from the source material, there does

not seem to be enough story to last 12 episodes, which is the lowest amount of episodes a season of “Attack on Titan” has had back in season two.

Mappa could go for animating the first half of the new part as a series of episodes with the last half being a “special episode” that could be more closely to the length of a movie.

Despite the uncertainty with pacing or length of the season, Mappa Studios in the short time with the series has done a phenomenal job with the animation and overall flow of the narrative.

Taking over after Wit Studios left after three seasons with the show, Mappa Studios has done a great job

of adapting the series with their own style of animation, usage of colors and choice of music.

Mappa Studios is on a streak of two years animating the Anime of the Year. They animated Jujutsu Kaisen, which won the award in 2021 and Attack on Titan in 2022. With the final arc of “Attack on Titan” having a high chance of contending for the award, along with Mappa Studios animating Vinland Saga season two and Jujutsu Kaisen season two, Mappa Studios has a high chance of extending that streak to three years.

Courtesy of Rotten Tomato

The anime series “Attack on Titan,” based on the manga series of the same name, is making its return on March 4 with the final arc of the series.

Review: ‘On Your Feet!’ congas to the McKnight Center

Michael Clark Staff Reporter

In the opening moments of “On Your Feet,” the audience is immediately pulled into the action with a wave of gorgeous, flashy lighting, catchy music and meticulously crafted choreography.

The 2-hour-and-15-minute musical ends in a flash with beloved pop music, emotional solos and exotic Cuban sequences all the way through. Making “On Your Feet!” a varied, fulfilling and exciting ride through the life of Gloria Estefan.

On Thursday and Friday, the Tony award-winning Broadway musical finally came to the McKnight Center,

and based on the audience’s reaction, was a massive success. Thursday night was a perfect example of how theater can bring everyone together. There was a blend of elderly, middle-aged and younger audience members all enjoying a great performance. Naturally, “On Your Feet!” received a standing ovation that lasted through an encore, curtain call and long after the end of the show.

During the act one finale, in which the Estefan couple finally hits gold with their hit single ‘Conga,” the energy was palpable in the theater as people clapped along to the iconic beat of this beloved song. Many scenes got hearty laughs from the audience, and many friends and families alike chatted after the show about how much fun they

had.

Gaby Albo, the actress who plays Gloria Estefan, captures her showmanship and vocal talent to an impressive extent. While Samuel Garnica doesn’t share as much of the spotlight, his charm and charisma makes for fantastic comic relief.

Francisca Tapia, who plays Gloria’s mother, has an impressive amount of range. Showing musical prowess, excellent comedic timing and sass, and a conflicted and layered character through the scenes she appears in.

While “On Your Feet!” is mostly style over substance, Tapia carries a lot of the emotional beats as if they are nothing.

Katie McCollum, who plays Gloria in her teenage years, is an Oklahoma

City University alumna. For her national tour debut, this was a strong start and shows she has a promising career ahead. Although, the real stars of the show must be the dance captains, Marielisa Lugo and Rodolfo Santamarina, and all the other choreographers who helped these impressive dance sequences come to life.

There was no doubt that the McKnight Center delivered and brought a fantastic performance to Stillwater. “On Your Feet!” has something that anyone can enjoy, whether it be visual spectacle, some great comedic moments or plenty of music, it’s a well-rounded and fun experience.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of The McKnight Center

Audiences enjoyed a two-night performance of “On Your Feet!” at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday and Friday.

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

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 li quor 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

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Check out “Cowboy Cabin”

550 steps east of Boone Pickens Stadium

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes (TNS)

Today’s Birthday (02/06/23). Communicate and connect to grow this year. Consistent routines grow your skills and confidence. Resolve winter domestic challenges for exciting springtime creative collaborations and connections. Making a professional change this summer leads to autumn educational adventures. Put your heart into your art and it flowers.

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

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Listen to your heart. Prioritize health and vitality. Changes could redirect romantic or creative plans. Discuss what you’re learning with your inner circle.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Reinforce basic household infrastructure. Discuss domestic dreams and make improvements, especially regarding plumbing and water. Invest in home and family. Adapt with new circumstances.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Gather information. Ask the tough questions. Follow the money trail. Prepare a presentation. Interweave facts with poetry and symbolism. Your idea catches on.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Dig for bargains and find them. Avoid scams or tricks. If something sounds too good to be true, maybe it is. Stick to practical plans.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Discuss dreams. When you want something, ask for it. Research options. Make relevant connections. Express inspiring possibilities. Apply honey, not vinegar. Share sweet possibilities.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — Retreat to your private sanctuary. Recharge, rest and consider options. Illusions entice. Read between the lines. Secrets can get revealed. Savor peace and quiet.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Contribute to a team effort. Friends lead to valuable connections, ideas and encouragement. Share dreams, suggestions and advice. Lead by example. Stay positive.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Address changes with a professional project. The good work you’re doing reflects you well. You’re gaining status and respect. Discuss dreams and possibilities.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Monitor conditions closely and proceed with caution. Beware illusions and stick to practical routes. Chaos or complications could disrupt. Keep digging. Ask probing questions.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Stick to the high road, especially where money is concerned. Discuss dreams for the future, and advance shared goals. Your credit rating is going up.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Follow your partner’s suggestion. Discover amazing potential in conversation. Imagine, envision and invent new possibilities together. Listening can be more powerful than speaking.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Practice to improve physical performance. Increase efficiency. Set goals to raise the level of your game. Work with a coach to get farther, faster.

Patti Varol