Thursday, April 6, 2023

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Cowboys drop offense-filled game to Wichita State in midweek loss to Shockers

Phillips, a left-handed freshman Oklahoma State pitcher, put himself in a jam that featured loaded bases and Wichita State’s Brock Rodden taking his at-bat in the fourth inning with two outs to go. Directly after

Phillips’

mound visit with pitching coach Rob Walton, Rodden ripped the first pitch he saw to center field for a grand slam home run.

Rodden’s grand slam set the tone for the Wichita State Shockers in its 13-6 mid-week victory against the No. 16 OSU Cowboys in O’Brate Stadium. Consider it a revenge game for the Shockers, for on March 22, the Cowboys were victorious in Wichita. But on Tuesday, Wichita State showed

OSU Theatre Council hosts showcase with scholarships and performances

party and performance since 2020.

up to Stillwater ready to answer for its last loss to the Cowboys and started off the game doing just that.

Rodden’s grand slam was what separated the Cowboys and Shockers, but it occurred in the middle of the game. The Shockers were ready by the first inning.

Ryan Bogusz started on the mound for the Cowboys, but it didn’t take long for him to get pulled after he gave up a two-run homer by Peyton

Tolle. Bogusz was replaced by Phillips, who combined, allowed seven earned runs.

The Shockers and Cowboys bats were both active as both teams had more than 10 hits each, but it was Wichita State’s ability to score consistently throughout the game that made the difference. The timely hitting was contagious up and down the order for the Shockers, for they had four batters with two or more RBIs.

See Shockers on 3

The Spirit of Gallagher Iba

Band members look back on their basketball season

their team in their own way.

“It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Proctor. “It was this huge moment of hesitation before we finally realized.”

Savannah Harrod woke up Monday thinking her day would hold no surprises.

But at the end of the day, she had a new scholarship.

On Monday, OSU’s Theatre Council hosted its first donor

The event, which was open to those who donate to the theater department, students and staff, offered food to its guests before the scholarships started being distributed. “I was just here to enjoy the night,” Harrod said. “I wasn’t part of the extravaganza.” Harrod said was just excited to see her friends perform and to mingle. Different people handed out the scholarships, including Lee Brasuell and Sandi

DeVore, who worked behind the scenes to make the event happen. This was the first year that donors were able to meet again in person since COVID-19 put an end to it in 2020. “As the interim head of the department of theatre, I’ve been working with the team, especially Sandi DeVore, to get this done,” Brasuell said. “The theatre circle is even creating a scholarship for the fall of 2023. We’ve got the first funds to deliver this next year to freshmen.”

Jacob Proctor stood in the Oklahoma State Spirit Band’s designated section in Municipal Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. OSU Cowgirls were locked in an intense match-up against West Virginia. With a chance at progressing in the Big 12 Tournament and only three seconds on the clock, Proctor knew the Cowgirls had to act fast.

Proctor held his trumpet tightly as OSU’s No. 21 Terryn Milton received the ball. She sprang into action driving forward through West Virginia’s defense. Milton made the shot, and Proctor raised his trumpet in the air, cheering her on. The ball landed on the basket’s rim. Jacob and his bandmates fell silent as the ball circled the rim for an agonizing second.

Proctor hesitated anxiously, tapping the keys of his instrument, not knowing whether to celebrate or pack up. The ball came to a stop tilting before falling through the basket. The buzzer sounded, and Proctor and his fellow members exploded into a wave of OSU’s victory, celebrating with

Proctor and his spirit band members devoted their spring break to traveling with OSU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams for their Big 12 and NCAA runs. They spent the trip recreating the spirit of Gallagher Iba on the road.

“Being the biggest spirit group on campus, we definitely brought a lot of that spirit and made the whole trip worth it,” Proctor said.

The recognition and inclusion from the OSU basketball program in bringing the rowdy to Gallagher Iba arena was an important take away for the band.

The OSU Spirt Bandis comprised of over 70 students and performs at every regular season game making its members view themselves as a pivotal part of gameday activities. Members from the marching band, the student body and alumni take part in the band. The band shows out in a mighty force playing the OSU fight songs and stand tunes for the team and fans while distracting the opposing team.

Luke Swanson, a sophomore at OSU, plays the clarinet and said he works hard to find the perfect pitch to break through the weak points of an enemy huddle.

Brennan Phillips faced a difficult task that warranted a mound visit.

Luke Tolbert

OSU pitcher Ryan Bogusz made the first start of his season on Tuesday night at O’Brate Stadium.

Isaac Terry

Savannah Harrod receiving her scholarship from the OSU’s Theatre Council.

Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter

Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

Isaac Terry Staff Reporter

Shockers...

Continued from 1

The Cowboys’ bullpen rolled out eight different arms against the Shockers, including BYU transfer Janzen Keisel. Keisel hasn’t seen the field since Mar. 14 due to arm soreness. In the sole inning Keisel pitched, he allowed four earned runs. Despite the taxing day for the Cowboy pitchers, Cowboy coach Josh Holliday said that it is important that Keisel and the rest of his bullpen make takeaways from such performances.

“It’s important to learn from the mound time,” Holliday said. “Mound time is valuable if you learn from it, and Janzen will, he’s a good kid, got a great arm. Mound time is a great teacher, it’s the ultimate teacher. Mound time is one thing, but quality mound time and growth from the mound experience is where we’re trying to go.”

OSU had 13 hits, but so did the Shockers. The Cowboys also left 12 runners on base compared to Wichita State’s six. OSU struggled to drive in the runs that Wichita State didn’t struggle to do, and Holliday said it came down to the Shockers’ pitching.

“We didn’t quite get some of the bigger hits that we needed, but the young men that pitched for them, there was some good arms on the mound,” Holliday said. “They threw some balls with some pretty good life. They definitely did their part to make it tough on us. They deserve a lot of credit, they played well today. They beat us.”

Carson Benge, OSU left fielder, had two of the 13 hits for the Cowboys and went 2-5 at the plate. Benge said that timely hitting was one of the areas OSU struggled in, but he said that was because of something else.

“I just don’t think we got timely hits,” Benge said. “I don’t think we were as locked in as we should be for the whole game. But, we’ll get better at that as we move on”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Luke Tolbert

David Mendham and the Cowboys dropped a Tuesday night contest to Wichita State.

OSU softball drops third game of season to No. 23 Wichita State behind 14 hits allowed

with No. 2 Oklahoma State.

The Shockers took down the Cowgirls 8-7, earning 14 hits along the way, giving OSU their first loss since March 10.

down after multiple innings.

No. 23 Wichita State earned its namesake during a midweek matchup

The floodgates opened during the second inning when WSU scored three runs off freshman pitcher Kyra Aycock, along with one run off Ivy Rosenberry, giving themselves a 4-0 lead and putting OSU in a position they haven’t been in often this season,

Aycock’s early struggles put OSU in a bind. With an important series with Kansas coming up this weekend, the Cowgirls ideally would save the pitching duo of Kelly Maxwell and Lexi Kilfoyl, but with the freshman allowing seven hits in just 1.2 innings pitched, a change was necessary.

The Cowgirls took back the lead during the fourth inning, but the Shocker quickly took it back, with

errors from Megan Bloodworth and Tallen Edwards both directly leading to runs.

WSU has one of the most potent offenses in the nation, led by its leadoff hitter Sydney McKinney, who is batting .541 on the season. This loss will surely sting for OSU, but the Cowgirls still have an opportunity to make it a good week if they can dispose of the Jayhawks this weekend.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

SINCE

Calif Poncy Staff Reporter

Molly Jolliff

Kyra Aycock allowed seven hits in 1.2 innings in OSU’s loss to Wichita State on Tuesday.

Gordon’s goals

Ollie Gordon spent first offseason building body, relationships

his teammates build close bonds. Four backs from 2022 departed: Dominic Richardson, Zach Middleton, CJ Brown and Andre Washington. Elijah Collins, a super senior transfer from Michigan State with more than 1,500 career yards, seems in place to be the key addition to OSU’s running back room in addition to Gordon, Jaden Nixon and Deondre Jackson.

fill out his 6-foot-1, 211-pound frame.

Gordon gets steak — always medium rare — weekly with his roommates; second year quarterback Garret Rangel, receiver Talyn Shettron and tight end Tabry Shettron.

“I want us to be closer together,”

Gordon said. “Last year we were close. But I feel like we should build a bigger, better bond this year.”

room.”

He said he sits next to Collins during film sessions. Sometimes Collins, who has played in 41 games for MSU, will point out something to his younger counterpart. Occasionally Gordon returns the favor, helps Collins with pointers tailored to the OSU offense.

Ollie Gordon had a few goals for his first college offseason.

Between offseason film study, lifts and trips to Texas Roadhouse, OSU’s burgeoning sophomore running back made progress on his itinerary.

“I wanted to gain weight,” Gordon said. “That’s really what I wanted to do. And then learn the game even more. I learned last year, but you can’t learn too much. Those two things, for sure.”

He also said he wants to help

Gordon is in a unique position. Despite coming off his true freshman season, he had the most carries last season (62) of any returning Cowboy. Working at those offseason goals gives Gordon a chance to lead the OSU backfield in 2023.

With a reshuffled offensive line, there are new faces all around. Speaking about the entire team, Gordon made it a point before the spring to familiarize.

That’s where Texas Roadhouse comes in. It’s not just a hearty meal to

After getting invaluable experience in the second half of OSU’s 2022 season, he has knowledge to lean on and pass along.

“I feel like this year I’m more into it,” Gordon said. “I know what I’m doing, since I had a season last year. I can thank all the running backs last year for taking me under their wing. Now this year we have new faces in the running back room. I feel like I have to play my part in bringing them under my wing. Even though I’m still one of the youngest backs in the

Coach Mike Gundy said he had some things in mind for Gordon, too. Manage physicality. With padded practice underway, Gundy said he was looking forward to seeing Gordon’s downhill style in live reps.

“There’ll be more contact over the next two to three weeks than what he’s been accustomed to,” Gundy said. “And as he adjusts to the physicality, which he should be fine, he has to do that and he hasn’t proven that to us yet. We haven’t given him that chance yet.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Mackenzie Janish

Ollie Gordon emerged as an OSU fan-favorite in 2022 after playing in every game as a true freshman.

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

Look back...

Continued from 1

“I think it’s an underrated home-field advantage when you have a band that can get way into the game,” Swanson said. “We’ll just turn and play as loud as possible at the other team as they’re in their huddle drawing up a play.”

Swanson said the spirit band members see themselves as part of the team and their support never flinches.

“We are very ride or die with our team,” Swanson said. “We celebrate hard, and we go crazy if we win. If we lose, you know, we are just as upset as the team is.”

The coaching staff has not let the band’s devotion go unnoticed. Junior Cayden Clark has noticed a defiant change in the three years since joining the band.

“The only interaction we had with the coaches was the women’s coach when we would play Hawaii, the women’s coach would step out and listen because that was his favorite stand tune,” Clark said.

Jacie Hoyt and Mike Boynton are changing the standard and Swanson and his other bandmates feel the difference. During the season, both coaches sent videos to the band, expanded the spirit band section to make room for more member and acknowledged the band whenever they could. “They don’t have to go out of their way to do the things that they do, like expanding our band section and acknowledging us in postgame stuff,” Swanson said. “It feels like the basketball teams really value what we do and the job we do.”

Clark sees their renewed involvement as an acknowledgment of the band’s role in returning the Gallagher Iba arena to its former glory.

“They actually care about us, and we’re a part of that rebuild of bringing everybody back to Gallagher Iba,” Clark said. “They want

us to be there and to bring the energy.”

The woman at the center of this revival is Head Coach Jacie Hoyt. Hoyt has led the women’s team to many victories this season and propelled the team into the spotlight on the national stage. However, she has never forgotten the band.

“She is incredible. She brings a whole lot of spirit

to the team and to the spirit band,” Proctor said.

Before the Big 12 Tournament, Hoyt climbed onto the band bus to personally talk to the spirit band. She took time to make sure the band knew how much she appreciated their involvement.

“I’ve never had a coach get on the bus with us and tell us that they value our impact,” Swanson said. “Jacie Hoyt

is a great advocate for band involvement.”

The connection she fosters continues to grow in the off-season, and the band members are excited for the coming season.

“I’ve seen more connection between the coaches and the spirit band than ever before,” Proctor said.

The spirit band finished their season with unyielding

support for both teams in the face of the end of their tournament runs. Proctor, Swanson, Clark and the other members said they are eager to play their part in a winning Cowboy season. “Band is the coolest place to be because everyone’s completely into the game,” Proctor said. “Everyone wants to be there.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU Spirit Band

The OSU Spirt Band performs at every regular season game making its members view themselves as a pivotal part of gameday activities. Members from the marching band, the student body and alumni take part in the band.

Showcase...

Continued from 1

After the scholarships were handed out, the Evening Extravaganza began. A member of the Theatre Council group took the stage and, with a shaky voice, pulled an April Fools’ prank on the entire audience by announcing the council would be shutting down due to a copyright issue with a previous play that had been performed this school

year. Shortly after, all members of the group jumped out on stage, shouting “April fools!”

Acts included everything from monologs, bad dating advice, dancing duets, a singing man and muppet, a recycled fashion show, rivaling auditioners and a drag queen performance.

The 2022-23 TCO President Liliana Cudly was in charge of getting the acts to flow together.

“I was basically the executive producer of this,” Cudly said. “I was also in charge of a lot of the communi-

cation between all the students and the tech side of things.”

They posted a casting call of sorts on their Instagram account, tco. okstate, asking for people who would like to perform for the donors to try out and sign up.

“We wanted it to be a huge showcase of everything that we are doing in the theatre department,” Cudly said.

“Instead of just like a cabaret style where it’s all songs. Before COVID-19, it was formally a thing called ‘The Mistcast,’ where girls would sing

guys’ songs or people perform things that they never would have performed in a million years, stuff like that. We wanted to take that and focus it on showcasing the talents that we’ve been honing this past school year.”

The performers worked on their own performances, on their own time. They started working at the beginning of February and only had a month of rehearsal time before they would perform live on the Vivia Locke stage in the Ceretean. news.ed@ocolly.com

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Isaac Terry

OSU’s Theatre Council hosted Evening Extravaganza on Monday and showcased the different things the theatre department does.

OSU students commemorate new nursing program

grade.

“I stayed at Bennett Hall, and when the camp was over that week, I told my mom, ‘Take a pic with Pistol Pete because I am coming to college at OSU someday,’” Street said.

Alana Cluck dreamed of being a nurse, but she could not achieve that at OSU.

The director of the nursing program said she came to OSU to get her prerequisites but had to leave to finish her degree somewhere else because her school still didn’t offer a nursing program.

“It’s very exciting for me to be able to offer this for the university for the students, and even for Stillwater,” Cluck said.

OSU’s four-year nursing program will enable students to get their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at OSU’s Stillwater campus, a degree pre-nursing students had to complete online or relocate to receive in the past.

Cluck received her BSN from the University of Oklahoma and returned to OSU in 2017. In 2018, Cluck contributed to an effort to introduce a four-year nursing program to OSU that was not granted approval at the time.

Students are equally thrilled about the opportunity, as Cluck said the introduction of the program has already increased enrollment for the College of Education and Human Sciences significantly. Cluck said one student, Faith Street, has shown interest in the program since she was still in high school.

Street, a freshman psychology nursing/pre-med major at OSU, said she knew OSU was where she belonged after attending a basketball camp at OSU in 6th and 7th

As Norman natives, Street said her parents didn’t take her claim seriously. Street stuck to her plan and announced to her parents she wanted to go to OSU when she was a senior in high school.

Street’s plan had one flaw: OSU did not offer a fouryear nursing program.

Similar to her passion for OSU, Street knew she wanted to be a nurse practitioner since she was young. Street said her passion for nursing began with doctor’s appointments with nurse practitioners and physician assistants when she was younger and progressed as she became a lifeguard in 9th grade, where she took courses in CPR/AED for the professional rescuer and first aid.

Street reached out to Cluck and other faculty members at OSU who told her they had high hopes for a four-year nursing program at OSU. Street said her parents felt choosing a college that already had a four-year program would be the more practical choice, but Street said she had faith the nursing program would be approved.

Just before Street enrolled in her first semester of classes at OSU, she saw an Instagram post announcing the nursing program’s approval.

“I just knew in my spirit that OSU was the place for me and that the nursing program would be approved,” Street said. “Now it’s all working out in perfect timing, and I am planning to be one of those people that they approve.”

The program’s establishment reflects OSU’s land grant

mission and aims to improve health care in Oklahoma and satisfy the state’s nursing shortage. According to the Oklahoma Nurses Association, Oklahoma is ranked 46 among all states for the number of registered nurses per capita. Students who have grown up in Oklahoma or surrounding states are familiar with the need for nurses. Rienna Franks, a sophomore animal science pre-vet/premed major said she thinks the program is amazing. “Nursing is a profession that is in high demand,”

Franks said. “It’s a lot of bang for your buck with a great career outlook.”

Cluck said the program will offer clinical experience in both urban and rural settings, which provides students with a broad perspective on health care. OSU is renovating an area on campus to create a fully equipped simulation lab for the program that is expected to be completed in 2024. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. To apply for the program, students must com-

plete 59 hours of prerequisite coursework. In the semester prior to completing those 59 hours, students must submit a competitive application to continue professional coursework toward the nursing degree. OSU plans to admit 50 students this fall and grow the program the number to 100 students by its second year. OSU also offers online RN and BSN degree programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU

OSU’s four-year nursing program will enable students to get their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at OSU’s Stillwater campus, a degree pre-nursing students had to complete online or relocate to receive in the past.

Bella Casey

Staff Reporter

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (04/06/23). Follow personal passion this year. Attain prizes with steady practice, planning and coordination. You’re on top of the world this spring. A shared financial twist requires summer resolution, deepening aut and partnership. Discover new income sources next winter. Love inspires greatness.

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 — Make adjustments together. You’re reaching a Full Moon turning point with a partnership. Collabor mitments. Adapt for solutions. Love provides foundational strength. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Begin a new physical fitness phase. Adapt practices for changing conditions illuminated by this Ful over two weeks for growing health.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Express your heart, imagination and artistry. This Libra Full Moon shines on a transition. Adapt directions with a romance, passion or creative endeavor. Shift perspectives.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Make repairs. Renovate, remodel and tend your garden. Domestic changes require adaptation under this Full Moon. Enjoy a two-week home and family phase.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Start another chapter. A two-week Full Moon phase highlights communications, connection and intellectual discovery. Consider news from another perspective. Write, edit and share.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Make a shift around income and finances. Discover profitable opportunities in new directions under this Libra Full Moon. Redirect attention toward fresh potential.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — A challenge reorients you. This Full Moon in your sign illuminates new personal directions. Expand boundaries over two weeks. Develop an inspiring possibility.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Review priorities privately. This Full Moon illuminates transitions. Begin a two-week introspective phase. Balance old responsibilities with new. Meditate on dreams, past and future.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — One social door closes and another opens under the Full Moon. Adapt with community and team changes over two weeks. Share appreciation and salutations.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Consider an exciting career opportunity. Make professional changes under this Full Moon. Redirect efforts over the next two weeks toward your talents, passions and purpose.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Your exploration changes and adapts. The Full Moon illuminates a shift in your educational direction over a few weeks. Experiment with new concepts.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Collaborate on family finances after this Full Moon. Shift directions with shared finances over the next two weeks. Work out the next phase together.

6

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

By Trent H. Evans

Solution to Wednesday’s puzzle

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