Friday, March 3, 2023

Pi Kappa Alpha faces investigation, out of Homecoming 2023

Recent issues

Pi Kappa Alpha is out of Homecoming.

In an email sent Thursday evening, Shelby Roberts, the Director of University Engagement announced the removal.

“Based on [the] outcome from a recent conduct investigation hosted by the Office of Student Support and Conduct, the men of Pi Kappa Alpha have been removed from Homecoming 2023 as a result of their suspension from campus activities,” the email stated.

Pi Kappa Alpha’s president, Hayden Hurst, commented on the situation.

“We are currently in discussions with the university about our participation at Homecoming 2023,” Hurst said. “As of today, nothing had formally been agreed upon. Until those discussions have been formally concluded, we have no further comment.”

In a clarifying email, Roberts reiterated the removal is a consequence of an investigation from the Office of Student Support and Conduct and/or Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.

Pi Kappa Alpha was paired with Delta Delta Delta for this year’s Homecoming festivities. Because of Pi Kappa Alpha’s removal, Delta Delta Delta is eligible to

pair with any existing pairing.

In a message to the participating chapters, Thursday’s email also stated, “We encourage you to consider forming a grouping of three chapters with the women of the chapter.”

This removal marks the third year in a row a fraternity has been removed from Homecoming.

Friday, March 3, 2023

SGA presidential debate to highlight candidates’ campaign platforms

The opportunity to represent OSU is within reach for two teams. Student Government Association presidential candidates Ashley Peterson and Austin Dedmon are set to compare their intentions for the student body in a debate Friday at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre. Vice-presidential candidates Hilary Albrecht and Olivia Kopang will also present their hopes for the student body. Team PetersonAlbrecht said they are excited about the debate and the opportunities it offers.

“There’s only so much exposure we can get outside by ourselves, so having this opportunity to talk and discuss our platform points and what we’re about in front of a crowd is super beneficial for our campaign,” Albrecht said.

Toke Time? Oklahoma to vote on recreational marijuana

the details of what they are voting for.

“I’m not necessarily against it, weed will eventually become recreational,” McKinnis said. “But the question is, ‘Are we OK with the current laws and taxes in place?’ If not, we can try again some other time when it’s suitable.”

Oklahoma is faced with a decision.

On Tuesday, Oklahoma voters will decide the future of marijuana in the state.

If passed, State Question 820 will legalize, regulate and tax recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older.

In 2018, Oklahoma voters approved State Question 788, which allows residents with a doctor’s recommendation to purchase and possess cannabis.

Ethan McKinnis, an OSU graduate, works at Likewise, a cannabis dispensary in Stillwater, and said he believes people should know all

McKinnis said making marijuana recreational could possibly take the credit away from its medicinal purposes.

“For a lot of people, it’s medicine just like any other prescription,” McKinnis said. “It’s not just to get high.”

State Question 820 will allow individuals to possess up to 8 ounces of marijuana, six mature marijuana plants and six seedling plants, in addition to making recreational purchases in certain dispensaries.

See Vote on 3A

SGA presidential candidate Ashley Peterson, left, and vice presidential candidate Hilary Albrecht plan to speak from the heart at Friday’s debate.

Courtesy of Ashley Peterson

Jaiden Daughty

Pi Kappa Alpha will not participate in OSU’s Homecoming as a result of its suspension from campus activities.

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Graphic by Rebekah Cleary

Letter to the editor: Remember the Ten for just $10 this year

Chris Halligan

On Jan. 27, 2001, Oklahoma State suffered a terrible tragedy when a plane carrying 10 members of the Cowboy community crashed near Strasburg, Colorado. Shortly thereafter, more than 10,000 people came together to mourn the loss in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

On that day, Dr. James Halligan, the President of the University, said this: “Let us resolve that we shall never forget them.”

James Halligan was my father.

Last October, my dad passed away after a long and

Events happening this weekend at OSU

Saturday Wrestling @ Big 12

Championships

Horse Owner’s Workshop, 9 a.m. — Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Center

Baseball vs Austin Peay, 1 p.m.

Equestrian @ Fresno State, 1 p.m.

Cowgirl basketball vs Oklahoma, 2 p.m.

Softball vs South Dakota State, 2:30 p.m.

Cowboy basketball at Texas Tech, 5 p.m.

Softball vs Tarleton State, 5 p.m.

Editor-in-Chief

Graphic design capstone exhibition reception, 5 p.m. — Bartlett Center for the Visual Arts

Flights of Whimsy, 7 p.m. — Endeavor

Sunday

Cowboy golf @ Cabo Col legiate

Softball vs South Dakota State, 12:30 p.m.

Baseball vs Austin Peay, 1 p.m.

Cowboy tennis vs SMU, 1 p.m.

Cowgirl tennis @ Pepper dine, 3 p.m.

Boots and Boogie, 5 p.m. — Colvin Recreation Center

Editorial board

Adam Engel editorinchief@ocolly.com

Sports editor Gabriel Trevino sports.ed@ocolly.com

Assistant sports editor

Braden Bush sports.ed@ocolly.com

Design editor

Sam Beebe design.ed@ocolly.com

Kennedy Thomason news.ed@ocolly.com entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Photo editor

Mackenzie Janish photo.ed@ocolly.com

Adviser John Helsley john.helsley@okstate.edu

part of his world.

On Saturday, April 15th, Oklahoma State will continue the longstanding tradition of celebrating the lives of the Ten with the 17th annual “Remember the Ten” Run.

My dad loved the “Remember the Ten” Run. Not only is it a great event for the campus and the community, it helps us all continue to be mindful of the people OSU lost on that terrible day.

This year, our family decided to make it easier than ever to run and remember by sponsoring a simple discount code you can use when you’re registering.

In the month of March, if you use the discount code

10K Run will be reduced to only $10 total (including taxes and processing fees). What an amazing opportunity! You get to save money, run or walk in honor of our ten fallen cowboys, receive a really cool t-shirt, and a commemorative medallion. You need to be one of the first 100 people to use the code, so visit the website today. I hope you’ll use the code, enter the race, do your best, have fun, and always Remember the Ten.

Baylor Bryant

Michael Clark

Rebekah Cleary

Micah McKamie

Jaycee Hampton

Isaac Terry Bella Casey

JR Churchill

James Jones

Stephanie Landaverde

108 Paul Miller Stillwater, OK 74078 (405)-744-6365

Ashton Slaughter

Daniel Allen

Rowdy Baribeau

Payton Little

PJ Tikalsky

Parker Gerl

Gina Foster

Calif Poncy

Bradley Cook

Ben Hutchens

Tessa Dorrell

Chase Davis

Michael Clark

Karlie Boothe

Ethan Hilbert

Paul Houston

Carson Toulouse

Cassius Davis

Ava Whistler

Brittney Purcell

Andy Crown

Mia Ledbetter

Ben Holieway Newsroom

Kendall McGhee

Vote...

If passed, the new law would be costly for consumers as a 15% excise tax for recreational marijuana would be more than double the tax medical users currently pay (7%).

Tax revenue from marijuana sales would be used to finance the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority’s initiative to implement the funds as follows:

Thirty percent to the state general fund; 30% to grants for public school programs to support student retention and performance, after-school and enrichment programs and substance abuse prevention programs; 20% to grants for government agencies and nonprofit organizations to fund drug addiction treatment and overdose prevention programs; 10% to the state judicial revolving fund and 10% to the municipalities or counties where the marijuana is sold.

Corbin Wyatt, owner of Likewise, opened his first dispensary in November 2018 and said the industry was like the wild west when State Question 788 was approved.

“It was like being the good guy and the villain and everything in between,” Wyatt said. “Everyone knew

eventually we would have a recreational market in Oklahoma.”

Wyatt said Oklahoma has the easiest process for getting a medical license and several people use it as a recreational resource. He expects a change in the business depending on how legislators deal with the transition.

“If State Question 820 passes, we will get more customers who are interested in giving legal dispensaries a try instead of the black market,” Wyatt said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt addressed the election on his first weekly press briefing of the 2023 legislative session and said he was against recreational marijuana.

“The big reason for me is it’s illegal federally,” Stitt said. “There shouldn’t be a patchwork of states doing different things. We need to let the feds tell us if it’s legal or illegal, we shouldn’t let the states tell us that. And then secondly, we already have medical to meet the medical needs of Oklahomans that need this as a drug.”

Stitt said the industry grew undoubtedly fast when it was legalized for medical use and the legislature had to play catch up to try to control the industry.

“We’ve had to adjust, we’re just now getting our arms around medical marijuana. Recreational marijuana is a

whole different story,” Stitt said.

State Question 820 would go into effect June 5, giving legislators three months to adapt to the changes. Possession of paraphernalia would not be illegal for people 21 or older and having cannabis in multiple containers within the possession limit will no longer be considered evidence of drug trafficking. Police officers can cite drivers for intoxication, but SQ 820 includes some protections, such as the basis for a search cannot be the smell of marijuana. Drug testing would remain in place for employment screening and landlords could restrict tenants from cannabis use inside their property.

Aaron and Lindsay Hammer had a purpose when they decided to join the industry. The Hammer’s daughter, Zoe, was born with FGS, a rare genetic syndrome that causes physical anomalies and developmental delays. Zoe’s journey was challenging from the beginning. At 5, Zoe, who is non-verbal, was put on strong anti-psychotics to prevent her from hurting herself during moments she felt frustrated.

“We tried it all,” Aaron said. “Nothing worked. Pharmaceuticals did not work. The more medication we added, the more she looked like a zombie. Never smiled, never laughed.”

When marijuana was made legal for medicinal purposes, the Hammers,

who are OSU alumni, started to consider it as an option for their daughter. Zoe is allergic to anything that is not organic or fairly natural, so the couple decided, with the help of a friend, to look into starting their business, Zoe Bud’s, and growing an organic product that could improve Zoe’s health.

“When we gave her an organic gummy it was an almost instant overnight success,” Aaron said. “She was happy and commuting with us. She actually said ‘no’ six months into the treatment.”

With their goal to help special needs kids through organic marijuana, the Hammers grew their business into a 12,000-square-foot indoor grow, 3,000 square foot greenhouse and multiple dispensaries spread around Oklahoma.

If Question 820 is approved, the Hammers will file for a recreational license. Hammer said the state is better prepared now to switch from medical to recreational marijuana than it was in 2018 when it became recreational.

“People who are anti-marijuana need to know 99% of people don’t need marijuana,” Aaron said. “But the ones who do should have access to it. It should not be a stigma.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Aaron Hammer

Aaron and Lindsay Hammer (middle) started their business as a way to try to help their youngest daughter Zoe (left) who was diagnosed with FGS.

Continued from 1A

Comic by Annemarie Chaney

Pete’s Pet Posse standing proud

Isaac Terry Staff Reporter

Statue series

Pete’s Pet Posse has a statue outside Edmon Low Library that you may have never noticed. The statue that is relatively new was unveiled on National Dog Day on Aug. 28, 2018. Construction of the piece took two years. The statue features a bronze bench and two women, a student with her backpack on the ground and Kendria Cost, a dog

handler with Pete’s Pet Posse. There is a bronze miniature schnauzer therapy dog jumping up into the smiling student’s arms.

The figures are accompanied by a small garden and two curved paths with benches, which serves as a small and quiet spot to sit and relax or work on studies. Above them, many oak trees give heavy shade for people to sit under.

“The pet therapy garden is a celebration of the special bond that the teams of dogs and owners have with our OSU students, faculty, staff and

visitors,” according to museum.okstate.edu.

Jim Franklin made the piece of art using a lost-wax bronze process. It also hosted many people at its unveiling. One of the most notable was Ann Hargis, the former first Cowgirl and the founder of Pete’s Pet Posse. While she witnessed the unveiling, she cried slightly and said it embodied what Pete’s Pet Posse strived to do for people.

Hargis’ husband, former President Burns Hargis, was also present and spoke. The former president recently had the

SGA...

Continued from 1A

Although the presidential and vicepresidential candidates will rival one another on stage, Peterson compared the debate to a presentation. Candidates are given the platform to answer questions and elaborate on their plans for OSU in front of the students they hope to represent, and there will not be rebuttals between candidates.

Albrecht said their preparation for the debate was based on one goal: speak from the heart.

Peterson and Albrecht described their biggest strength entering the debate as their genuine passion for OSU. The two candidates have spent time reviewing their platform points with the debate and OSU’s future in mind.

“We’re excited to not only be able to talk in front of students and whoever else comes to watch the debate, but we are able to express points that not only we think will be beneficial for Oklahoma State University, but also we as students are really, really passionate about,” Albrecht said.

The opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of their opponents’ hopes for OSU intrigues team Dedmon/ Kopang. Dedmon said

Peterson’s priorities and plans for OSU intrigues him, and Kopang is interested in Albrecht’s plans for her passion project.

Although neither Dedmon nor Kopang has participated in a debate before, the team feels prepared.

Kopang said she considers her ability to think quickly and answer thoughtfully as a strength that allows her to build a connection with her audience. Dedmon said his history with SGA has provided him with an understanding of the debate process that sets him apart from the other debaters.

The pair reviewed past debate questions to prepare for the debate and spent time asking each other questions they predict will be used at the debate and discussing their answers.

“It’s been so easy for us to formulate answers that we genuinely mean, and I think that’s where we’ll show our strength in the debate, is that we truly mean every word that we say, and we truly are just here to help the students,” Dedmon said.

Voting begins Tuesday at 8 a.m. and ends Wednesday at 5 p.m. Students can vote at oncampus polling stations located on Greek Row, in front of Ag Hall, under Chi O’ Clock, on Library Lawn or online at https:// campuslink.okstate.edu/

news.ed@ocolly.com

newest statue on campus revealed based off of him, standing at 10 feet tall and looking out across the grass beside the Classroom Building. Today you can sit and enjoy the weather, walk your dog or work on assignments whenever you like on one of the benches and celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Pete’s Pet Posse. You can also check out one of the many Pete’s Pet Posse events and dog sightings by checking out their social media. The accounts are @pets4pete on Instagram and Twitter.

Greek life performers compete in skits and song

Brittney Purcell Staff Reporter

Varsity Revue opened for four nights of performances, marking 94 years since the first show.

This year, 25 fraternities and sororities partnered with each other, creating 12 groups. Each group performed a satirical, comedic and drama-filled skit while singing and dancing from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25.

Phi Mu and Delta Tau Delta were partnered this year, performing their show titled “Seventeen Seventy Switch” where Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton time travel 300 years into the future to Panama City Beach, Florida. Phi Mu and Delta Tau Delta put together a crowd pleaser that had the audience engaged in laughter and won the Most Comedic Award. However, it doesn’t take just comedy to put on a successful show.

Zoe May, a junior marketing major and member of Phi Mu, served as a choreography director for their show. She explained the groups began rehearsals in November and practiced about 20 hours a week from Sunday through Thursday.

“I feel like people don’t realize how much of a time commitment it is,” May said.

“It takes a lot to make a show and for cast members to learn it and the directors to come up with it.”

Show directors are in charge of creating entire performances from scratch, which

means they have a long list of challenging responsibilities.

Peyt Sosnowski, a member of Delta Tau Delta and a senior sports management major, directed alongside Zoe May and eight others for the “Seventeen Seventy Switch” show.

“As directors, we have to make sure everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing,” Sosnowski said. “We are in charge of putting the script together, coming up with the theme of the show and writing song lyrics.”

The directors are also in charge of choreography and making the vocal notes for their opener. May said they had a two-hour meeting at least once a week to pick out costumes, order them, figure out budgets and make the idea come to life on stage.

The students play a big role in bringing Varsity Revue to life. Even though it was the first time singing and dancing for many of the participants the long practice hours led to a professional show. Sosnowski said it’s a great way for students in Greek organizations to get out of their comfort zone and try something new.

“Students build lasting relationships with others from their House pairings,” Sosnowski said.

All 12 groups put on quality shows for Varsity Revue. May and Sosnowsk said they agree that in the end, getting to perform their show makes it worth all the hours put in and the long nights rehearsing.

Cassius Davis

Pete’s Pet Posse represents the bond that the teams of dogs and owners have with OSU students.

Courtesy of Austin Dedmon SGA presidential candidate Austin Dedmon, left, and vice presidential candidate Olivia Kopang said their goal is to help students.

Courtesy

Lifestyle

Sabor: A Taste of Venezuela

Stephanie Landaverde Staff Reporter

Sabor is the Spanish word for flavor or taste, and the Venezuelan business certainly lives up to its name.

Sabor is a family enterprise committed to sharing Venezuelan food and culture with the Stillwater community.

The origin of Sabor is as interesting as its food is delicious. Gabriela Torres, the community manager of Sabor, came to Stillwater in 1981 with her family. Her first English teacher in the U.S., Debra Shores, is the owner of Linking Horizons, an initiative to help the Hispanic community nagivate the American system.

After Torres’ father completed his bachelor’s degree at OSU, the family returned to Venezuela. Torres finished her education, married and raised a family. She said her family had an economically healthy life until the regime change a few years ago.

“Our country is run by delinquents who only do whatever they have to do to get power,” Torres said.

Ian Munsick to perform at Tumbleweed

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Tumbleweed

Dance Hall will be the venue for Ian Munsick and Ashland Craft on their Love Live Cowgirls Tour. Performing live on Friday, the doors will open at 8 p.m. and the show will begin at 9:30 p.m.

Since opening in 1981, Tumbleweed has turned into a well-known venue for all kinds of musical artists, no matter the popularity or status of the performer. Events such as Battle of the Bands and Calf Fry are held at the venue as well.

Jasmin Watson is a junior animal science major from LaCrosse, Washington. Watson has always been a fan of live music, and when she heard about Munsick coming to Stillwater, Watson said she was ecstatic.

“I do love their music and I’m happy to hear they will be playing locally,” Watson said. “Not only will that bring positive attention to Stillwater and Tumbleweed, but it also gives us students something to look forward to attending. Considering they are rather popular, this will give others an opportunity to meet more friends to share memories. I’m going with friends and I’m most excited to be able to spend carefree time with them enjoying good music.”

Tumbleweed is one of Stillwater’s most popular spots in town. Online reviews say it is a great atmosphere and the staff is always aiding to the community, making sure those who attend are certain to have a positive and safe experience.

“The first thing I noticed about Tumbleweed was the good security and entrance getting into the place,” Watson

said. “They seemed on top with checking IDs and valuing their customers safety. The drink menu was good and service was even better, they were quick and friendly.”

When debating on where to spend time on the weekends, there are different options in town.

Popular bars on the Strip such as J.R. Murphys, Willies Saloon and Outlaws are close enough together it makes a night on the strip easy, but a night at Tumbleweed can a memorable experience.

“[Tumbleweed]

It’s set up pretty open, so no matter where you are standing you have view of the stage,” Watson said. “You can either stand in front or sit in the stools along the railing, which is a good option for people who might not be able to stand for long periods of time. It’s also wheelchair accessible, which many bars aren’t. This is the type of place anyone can enjoy, but add a concert and it’s an even bigger hit.”

The show will be open to all ages, alcohol can be purchased at the bar and admission is $20. To hear popular songs such as “Long Haul” and “More Than Me” live, tickets are on sale at www.calffry.com.

“I have attended Tumbleweed one time casually with a couple friends,” Watson said. “It had a good atmosphere, the lighting was good and they were playing ‘in’ music. I enjoyed how open the place felt and there was multiple things to do and have a good time, like dancing and playing pool or just sitting around having a drink with friends. I would definitely recommend this bar over others in Stillwater as I feel it gives the best representation of the area and what it has to offer.”

Their quality of life deteriorated. Torres said everything in Venezuela got worse each day day so she decided she needed to bring her family to the U.S.

After two rejected visas, Shores reached out to Torres about working with Linking Horizons. With the help of immigration lawyers and the business in mind, the family has now been in Stillwater since July.

Sabor does not have

its own location or food truck and all its services are offered on the back patio of Stonecloud Brewery Co. On Mondays and Tuesdays it serves from 5:30 p.m. until sold out and on Tuesdays from 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sabor hosts Latin dance. There are 30 minutes of instruction followed with an open dance floor. On weekends, Sabor distributes orders for customers who have pre-ordered.

I visited Stonecloud on Monday and Tuesday. Sabor offers a rotating menu, serving different dishes each day.

On Monday, I tried tequeños, a traditional Venezuelan food. Torres said tequeños are essential at any Venezuelan social gathering. They can be eaten at any time of day,

as a meal or snack.

Tequeños are made of flour dough and filled with cheese. They are not quite like mozzarella sticks, but if you enjoy those, chances are you will enjoy tequeños.

I tried a cachapa next. The outside was made of corn flour and was sweet, while the inside had “queso de mano,” a Venezuelan cheese that will not melt. The design was similar to that of a quesadilla. The cheese was excellent, I wish I could buy it for my own cooking.

When I returned on Tuesday, I ordered bollitos and a cachito. I thoroughly enjoyed the bollitos.

If you’ve tried Mexican tamales, the texture is similar. They are topped with sauces and filled with

chicken.

A cachito looks like pigs in a blanket. It was filled with diced ham and perfectly warm. I don’t like ham much, but if you do, this would be a great dish to try.

The cachito was served with tequeños and tostones. Tostones is a dish of crispy fried plantains and the only reason I did not order them was because I have eaten fried plantains my entire life and wanted to try new foods. Plantains are a variety of bananas and Latinos often cook them as a sweet treat. Sabor can be found on Instagram @Sabordaflores and on Facebook as Sabor Daflores. To place an order for weekends, call (405) 894-3806.

Courtesy of Netflix

Going for gold: ‘Outer Banks’ season 3 review

Taylor Carroll Staff Reporter

“Outer Banks” season three keeps you on your toes.

Netflix released the season on Feb. 23, and it doesn’t have a recap of the previous seasons. Instead, it put the recap in the first episode and doesn’t go into what happened like other recaps have done. It hardly describes the previous seasons.

There are four directors who contribute to the new season: Jonas Pate, Valerie Weiss, Darnell Martin and Gonzalo Amat. The directors did a good job of keeping the intensity and using the camera angles to draw people in. This season makes it clear that more death and destruction will occur around the Pogues when looking for the new treasure.

The directors made a good choice to have different lighting in certain places such as the Outer Banks and the Caribbean. The hometown was shown as a dark and gloomy area with a harsher white light, and the Caribbean has golden lighting with more colors surrounding it.

The original treasure of the first season was gold that Denmark Tanny owned and was lost on the Royal Merchant shipwreck. It was later found in a well in the Outer Banks. The second season’s treasure was a golden cross that was hidden in the ceiling of an abandoned church. The third season treasure is a place called El Dorado that is rumored to be the lost City of Gold.

The treasure keeps evolving over the seasons to be bigger and more valuable. The only bad thing about this was the

original treasure seems unimportant next to the new treasure. It would be good, but they risked their lives for one treasure that has hardly any worth next to the new treasure.

A new villain, Carlos Singh, played by Andy McQueen, was cast and happened to be worse than the previous one, Ward Cameron. Singh has more resources than Cameron and has a country at his fingertips.

It is refreshing to see a new bad guy since Ward Cameron and his son, Rafe Cameron, have been villains in season one and two. Singh is on the hunt for the City of Gold and is willing to kill or harm anyone who gets in his path.

McQueen is known as “Kingfish” and has connections with people who are willing to go across the country for a paycheck. His nickname

ties into the society of the Outer Banks, represented by fish the series has already established.

Drew Starkey, the actor who plays Rafe, does a good job of showing how his character believes he’s a victim. Starkey makes Rafe a compelling bad guy who doesn’t know he is one and constantly blames everyone for his choices. The season has also provided more love interests instead of only Sarah Cameron and John B., played by Madelyn Cline and Chase Stokes. The previous seasons had their love story as a focus, with the treasure, and now there is more room for other romances to blossom. The show’s last three episodes have characters acting in ways they would not normally do.

Stephanie Landaverde Cachapa, a dish made with a Venezuelan cheese called “queso de mano” and corn flour.

Treasure hunting continues in season 3 of “Outer Banks,” which can be streamed on Netflix.

Molly Jolliff

Open since 1981, Tumbleweed has turned into a well-known venue for all kinds of musical artists.

‘Dedication and excitement’

OSU Flying Aggies celebrate its 75th anniversary

with the group. He connected with the Flying Aggies during an organization fair freshman year and never looked back.

Kennedy Thomason Assistant News & Lifestyle Editor

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Flying Aggies.

A historical group on campus, the Flying Aggies made a name for themselves nationally, winning multiple national championships.

However, the awards aren’t the only special part of the Aggies.

The involved alumni network makes the organization unique.

“Obviously, plenty of other organizations will help you get far in your career, but I don’t think that many other clubs or organizations at OSU have so many alumni come back and really help them out,” alumni Preston Shoemaker said. “ It’s kinda special. No one comes back to help you out as much as the Flying Aggies.”

Shoemaker served as the president and vice president during his time

This experience is similar to Rick Gladden’s, who joined the Flying Aggies in 1967. Gladden joined the group because of his interest in aviation but found an organization he would forever be part of.

After graduation, Gladden returned to Stillwater to coach the Flight Team from 197278. In 1974, Gladden was named the Head of Aviation Education at OSU and served as the Flying Aggie’s faculty adviser.

Gladden returned again in 2012 to volunteer as a coach for the Flight Team for four years.

He has seen the Flying Aggies through its ups and downs. As a coach, winning multiple national championships, to building the dwindling club back up upon his return.

“I consider myself to be an active Flying Aggie to this day,” Gladden said. The comradery he experienced on the team encouraged Gladden to pursue his aviation teaching career. The community formed between his

Cartoon Callbacks: ‘China, IL’

James Jones Staff Reporter

For all the 2000s babies out there, remember those times watching classic Cartoon Network shows such as “The Misadventure of Flapjack”or “Samurai Jack” with all sorts of childish glee, until one fateful night in a groggy state you awaken to the beautiful nightmares and fever dreams of the Adult Swim broadcast?

former teammates and fellow Aggies is a unique aspect of the group, Gladden said. They still ask about his children, who he frequently brought to events. The sense of dedication and excitement have historically set the Flying Aggies apart from their competitors. The group was known for its awards and spirit, Gladden recalled.

“When we would go to regional air meets or national air meets, other clubs would try to find out where the Flying Aggies were because they knew that’s where they would have a good time,” Gladden said. His dedication to the group reflects the sentiments of other alumni. At the annual banquet, alumni travel to celebrate that year’s accomplishments.

Throughout generations, the organization binds individuals together, evident through the active alumni. The Flying Aggies is a community that stretches past OSU’s four years.

To learn more about the Flying Aggies, visit https://www.flyingaggies.com/.

news.ed@ocolly.com

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

Some viewers have heard the constant re-runs of “King of the Hill” and watched the uncanny stop-motion animation of “Robot Chicken” out of morbid curiosity, don’t lie. One such show that people might remember is Brad Neely’s “China, IL.” “China, IL” is one of those Adult Swim shows that viewers can vaguely recall, but just can’t fully grasp the idea whether it even existed or not. Well, it definitely did exist, and I took the initiative to re-visit it out of nostalgia and curiosity of what the show was about. Let me tell you I was both shocked and amused with what I witnessed.

The overall setting of the show is based within a fictional college campus. Because the majority of the plots take place within the campus, the usual shenanigans that occur usually involve some pretty relatable issues college students and professors deal with. These range from making tuition payments for an upcoming semester to even the fear of failing a class. With this being an Adult Swim show there’s going to be some outlandish scenarios. Some

dealing with a time traveling Ronald Reagan and others being a parody on biblical texts. The characters are the main focal point as each one, newly introduced and reoccurring, are uniquely psychotic and sociopathic. These characters either cause or are involved in the most messed up scenarios possible because of their dangerously overinflated hubris. The main brothers and teachers, Frank and Steve Smith, are constantly at odds for brother superiority. Whether that’s through bets of who can get their classmates laid first or who can give the best lecture than the other. Although they are always at each other’s necks, they have that brotherly respect and love if either were to be

in a difficult situation. Another character Pony, who is the teacher’s assistant for Steve, is just the pinnacle of a psychopathic sociopath. Finally, Baby Cakes is my alltime favorite character as he is generally just the more light-hearted out of the characters, but still demented in a hilarious way. There are more characters to talk about such as the Mayor, the Dean and more, but that will be a long discussion. Overall, I recommend “China, IL” for those that are interested in a somewhat relatable college-based show with a good blend of absurdity and vulgar humor. You can check it out on HBO Max.

Courtesy of Ryan Austin

Courtesy of IMDB

“China, IL” was televised on Adult Swim and the defunct show can be viewed on HBO Max.

Dean of Libraries impact on Edmond Low far-reaching

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Women’s History Month is a time to remember and honor impactful women and their contributions to history, working toward gender equality.

Sheila Grant Johnson never had original intentions of becoming a librarian. But to OSU’s luck, she took the job to be the Dean of Libraries in 2004.

Since 1978, she has been a proud member of the Cowboy family and has served the Stillwater community in various ways. Johnson has overseen the transformation of Edmon Low Library and is looking for ways to aid students’ needs on campus as it adapts to the future of technology, while still respecting tradition and services.

“Edmon Low Library is a research library,” Johnson said. “All research libraries are changing and adapting, and they have been since the mid-1990s.”

Johnson said to remain relevant to the university, the library had to rethink how it was doing things. Edmond Low Library adapted to the technology for the online catalog and circulation.

“Changing our attitude toward our service to faculty and students was a little slower,” Johnson said. “My predecessor began moving in those directions and thinking a little bit more broadly about what services our students want. As opposed to what kind of services we can traditionally provide.”

With technology evolving and with COVID-19, the library adapted to a different way of studying. Johnson said group projects have become more popular, and having areas to group study at the library has made it more inclusive for any study environment.

Johnson graduated from Amarillo Junior College with an associates and from Baylor University with a bachelor’s in history. She values education

and is thankful for opportunities that have been presented to her over the years.

“My mother was a strong woman,” Johnson said. “She had a hard youth growing up but she loved education, she loved learning things.”

Johnson said her mother wanted her children to have a college education. She worked her whole life and when the family lived in Syracuse, New York, she was executive secretary for Carrier Corporation.

“I know for a fact that new men would come in and she would show them the ropes and train them how to do different things,” Johnson said. “So, she never had an opportunity to do anything other than secretary work, which I’m not demeaning in any way. She’s great at it. But as an example, I thought about that a lot. That was in retrospect, even more so such a limited opportunity that she had, and she made it possible that what I did was not limited

in that way.”

There are multiple floors with a variety of studying tools and available resources. Laptops, tablets and different kinds of AV equipment are available to every student to check out, including access to a 3D printer. With the spring semester almost halfway done, Johnson encourages students to use the resources the library has to offer and to finish strong.

“Push through,” Johnson said. “That’s easy to say to me, I’m not facing deadlines and papers and things of that nature. But it’s worth it. Push through and see this semester to an end. Just go one month, one week at a time. Lean on whatever friends you have for support, commiseration and encouragement. If you can, find a good study group that you could gather about you. I think that would help as you go through the rest of your undergraduate program. Come to the library and study.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU

Members of the Cimarron Chapter of the DAR, Connie Tate, Mary Woods and Sheila Grant Johnson, joined granddaughter of Jessie Thatcher Bost, Beverly Golden, to recognize the legacy of OSU’s first female graduate.

Courtesy of OSU Sheila Johnson has served as the Dean of Libraries since 2004.

Crowned Miss Black OSU plans to start Black Student Government Association

Stephanie Landaverde Staff Reporter

Two contestants, one crown.

On Saturday, Kerri Benard was crowned OSU’s 2023 Miss Black.

The annual OSU Miss Black pageant was held in the Student Union Theatre. Benard, a psychology pre-med sophomore, and Daisha Blation, a biology freshman, competed for the crown in seven categories.

Contestant No. 1, Benard, presented her platform titled “the melanin movement.” She explained her platform aims to represent and preserve Black culture and identity on campus. Benard said Black culture makes up less than 5% of OSU’s student body and that she would like to start a Black Student Government Association as well as work with the current SGA to ensure Black students’ thoughts and opinions are heard.

Contestant No. 2, Blation, ran on a platform focused on substance abuse. Blation said 37% of college students abuse illegal drugs and alcohol. She planned to work with OSU’s mental health services and substance abuse center to combat the issue.

After their platform statements, the contestants competed in the cultural wear portion. Both portrayed Black icons; Benard chose Whitney Houston and Blation represented Serena Williams.

Prior to the pageant starting, Azariah Lang, a junior majoring in psychology and political science with a concentration in pre-law, said she did not know the contestants, but was excited to see and learn about them and what they could bring to OSU’s campus.

The two women performed an opening dance number. Afterward, the masters of ceremony, cousins Micheala Purnell, a pre-med biology senior, and Toni Purnell, a screen studies freshman, quizzed the audience on Black history trivia.

When the contestants returned, they each presented a speech over their platforms. They were judged on their speaking ability rather than the content

of their speech.

Privately, they were scored on their professionalism during the months of pageant preparation and an interview with the judges that morning.

The Langston University Essence Dance Ensemble performed a dance while the contestants prepared for their talents. Afterward, Langston University’s Legendary Models Modeling Agency had its own performance.

Maryah Brookins, a sophomore majoring in business management at Langston, said this was the first time the groups had worked with OSU’s Miss Black pageant.

Next the contestants presented their talents. Benard performed a science experiment: the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. More commonly known as elephant toothpaste. Blation’s talent was speedpainting. She created the silhouette of a woman with curly hair on a blacked-out canvas.During intermission the audience had the opportunity to vote for people’s choice.

Post intermission, the two women donned evening wear and walked the stage. The extemporaneous question portion of the competition started right after that. Bobbi Jarmon, OSU’s 2022 Miss Black, presented the contestants with sealed envelopes, of which they chose one. She opened the envelopes and read their chosen question aloud.

Benard was asked whether skills or education were more important. “Skills,” she said, because neither of her parents have a collegiate education and they provided her and her siblings a beautiful life.

Blation was asked what steps or measures need to be taken to eradicate poverty. Blation said education and helping others were the steps needed to help this issue. Jarmon did one final walk on the stage and gave a speech before awards were presented. Benard won the people’s choice, entrepreneurship, interview and talent awards.

Blation won the academic excellence, evening wear and cultural wear awards. Blation was named the first runner up in the competition. Benard was crowned.

Summer-Rose Allensworth, a

freshman majoring in agriculture education, attended the pageant because her agriculture leadership class wanted them to explore OSU’s diversity.

“I thought this pageant would be perfect,” Allensworth said.

Faculty members Karen Wilson, Kirstin Sylvester and Devan Moore were the pageant’s judges. Sylvester is a third year Ph.D. candidate in counseling psychology and serves as the president of the Graduate Black Student Association. Wilson is the program coordinator at the Center for Africana studies.

“I am most excited to have her (Benard) visit the Center for Africana studies to meet students and collaborate on events,” Wilson said. “As you know, only two contestants were able to compete this year. It is my hope that the new Miss Black OSU will drop by

the Center to share her experience with other students who may be curious about participating next year.”

Neither Wilson nor Sylvester had experience competing in OSU’s Miss Black pageant or judging previous pageants. Sylvester said the collaboration and support the contestants and pageant committee had for one another impressed her.

“I am excited about how Miss Black OSU will play an intentional role in bolstering unity among the Black community at OSU and continue critical conversations of diversity, equity and inclusion with university administrators,” Sylvester said.

Graphic Designers Wanted

The O’Colly Media Group is now hiring Advertising Designers for our ad and marketing departments. Duties include working on layouts, designing ads and assisting marketing department with media campaigns. Must be able to work part-time during the summer. Remote work hours possible. Hours are flexible, we will work around your class schedule. For more information contact Lori@ocolly.com or call 405-744-7355.

Jaiden Daughty

Kerri Benard was crowned OSU’s 2023 Miss Black.

OSU’s Athletic Vision Plan can fulfill its purpose and potential for all with spending

this is the beginning of the process. And it showed with the first question the media asked, as Weiberg revealed there is no timeline for the plan’s execution, nor is there any priority for addressing which of the nine projects comes first. That’s for donors to decide with the athletic department committed to achieving its $325 million goal through donations, rather than incurring debt. That’s fair. But without much internal spending, nobody knows how long the plan may take.

Looking at the layers

Where are OSU fans with Cowboy Basketball?

brate a 64-56 win over No. 11 Iowa State, a high point in a streaking Cowboys surge.

Fast forward to Monday night, Boynton and his Cowboys sat solemnly answering questions about the funk of a five-game losing streak.

On a night not long ago, OSU basketball coach Mike Boynton hurled himself into a swarming student section to cele -

For Cowboys fans, it’s become an all-toofamiliar narrative for the team, leading to a range of emotions when checking

Young’s, Smith’s personalities contrast throughout strenuous season sophomore

Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter

In late January, OSU coach John Smith became the reporter during his weekly meeting with the media. He asked a single question.

“Have you met 7-8?”

Um, who? Carter Young. “Call him 7-8,” Smith said. “You were 6-8 before that last match.”

As Smith jokingly yelled Young’s dual record at him, Young walked back into the locker room. It was just before his match with Northern Iowa’s Cael Happel, ranked No. 8 at the time.

Young upset Happel, 15-7, for a majordecision win. He then toppled Iowa State’s No. 19 Casey Swiderski two days later.

Now, Young’s record stands 13-10. He also owns top-10 upsets

over Missouri’s Allan Hart, Oklahoma’s Mosha Schwartz and Minnesota’s Jake Bergeland. Young has shown he can win against elite competition. He has also shown he can have lapses on the mat.

OSU needs him to be consistent during this weekend’s Big 12 Championships. For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys are not considered favorites in the Big 12 title race. Young could elevate their chances with a strong run in the bracket.

Young started the season at No. 10 in the 141-pound rankings. Because of his inconsistencies, he fell as far as No. 33. Now, he’s worked his way back to No. 15.

Since Smith’s “78” nickname, Young is 6-2. Young seemed to have taken it personally, enhanced

their pulse on the program. Is it fair to judge the Cowboy basketball program on its play in the recent weeks? The last year? The past decade? Truth is, it’s complicated, and layered.

Before Mike Gundy, OSU was viewed as a basketball school. Two national championships, four Final Fours and 29 NCAA Tournament appearances

built that reputation. OSU’s two national championships in the 1940s, courtesy of Henry Iba, are all but faded from living memory and two other Final Four appearances under Eddie Sutton came before today’s college freshmen were born. And outside of the Iba and Eddie years, measurable success is limited, including recently.

See Layers on 4B

OSU’s postseason hopes start with unheralded leader

play the rest of the game and I don’t play the rest of the session.

I was ready to quit.”

Wright’s parents, Eddie Lee and April Hightower, convinced him to keep playing.

giving up. But I gutted it up. Said something good has to come out of it. I’m going to put in the work no matter what opportunity I get.”

On a 2018 summer day in Indiana, a 100-strong legion of college basketball coaches surrounded John-Michael Wright’s EYBL team at a showcase tournament.

It was a chance for Wright, 17, to generate a desperately needed offer. Go in, ball out and pique in-

terest from the watchful cohort of coaches with Power Five logos emblazoned on their polos. While Wright warmed up, a coach from Memphis approached, saying he heard about Wright and would be paying close attention. But Wright didn’t leave the court with a scholarship after the game. He left with an urge to give everything up.

Wright led High Point, a Big South Conference school in his home state of North Carolina, in scoring each of his three years as a Panther. Now he initiates the offense for a Big 12 team fighting for an NCAA Tournament bid. With an injury to Avery Anderson, Mia Ledbetter

“We’re playing the game and I get in for 30 seconds,” Wright said. “I don’t

Five years after that game, the most discouraging moment of his career, Wright has completed a roundabout route to the nation’s best conference and has started every game for OSU.

“I pride myself on not quitting anything,” Wright said. “That’s why it was really tough, because I was really close to

File Photo

OSU basketball watched the Cowboys go on a five-game winning streak and five-game losing streak this year. It is the latest chapter in the Mike Boynton era of Cowboy basketball.

Chad Weiberg made it clear when he formally announced OSU’s Athletic

File Photo

Coach John Smith and Carter Young have opposite personalities on the mat, which makes the two a unique pair.

Carson Toulouse

OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg unveiled plans of multiple facility upgrades on Monday.

Gabriel Trevino

Sports Editor

Ben Hutchens Staff Reporter

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

Elevated Big 12 challenges Cowboys historical dominance

same phrase repeated through the season. Peak in March. A time where everyone wrestles for the leaderboard.

Editor-in-Chief

Times are changing in the Big 12.

OSU’s margin of dominance dwindled, and the Big 12 Championships are no longer an OSU vs everybody fest.

Welcome to Big 12 wrestling in 2023. A mighty No. 9 Missouri squad seeks a title repeat with its national champion and other All-Americans. No. 5 Iowa State powered through injuries and everyone else boasts some major achievement.

The Cowboys don’t cling to a favorite label at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa on Saturday and Sunday. Missouri would win, based on placement points for the top-eight seeds. A healthy 24-point margin over projected runner-up OSU.

That’s all probability. A word that, in March, can be replaced with chaos. It’s tournament time and everyone attempts to perform the

“It’s the part that most people judge you by and rightfully so,” OSU coach John Smith said.

OSU’s streak of nine straight Big 12 championships ended in 2022. Missouri dominated the MAC in that time. Missouri, who left for the SEC, joined the MAC as a wrestling affiliate in 2013. For years, OSU needed to beat out only three teams in the conference tournament. Not anymore. OSU defeated Missouri, 17-16, in February. A time that showed the importance of team wrestling.

“I know for me, and I know for a lot of other guys especially like Daton (Fix), he had to go out and score 10 points in order for us to win the dual,” OSU’s 184-pounder Travis Wittlake said. “There is a time like that where he can’t be selfish. He can’t go out and just win for himself. He has got to go out and perform us.”

In 2015, the Western Wrestling Conference folded and its members

joined the Big 12. Now Northern Colorado boasts the nation’s top ranked 141-pounder, Andrew Alirez.

“Could that have happened if they weren’t in the Big 12?” Smith said. “They got a great coach. I don’t know but it hasn’t hurt. It definitely hadn’t hurt us by bringing them in.”

Other teams elevated, too. In 2022, Air Force heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson won his program’s first Big 12 title. Teams are developing.

Sixty-five Big 12 wrestlers will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships — second most of any conference. Smith said he remembers the years where some weights qualified only two or three. Now the conference takes eight in some weights. Nine Cowboys would automatically qualify if they wrestled to their seeds.

“The more competitive you are, the tougher the schedule is during the season and it’s always preparing you for NCAA Championship,” Smith said.

3 wrestlers to watch for OSU’s postseason

What: Big 12 Championships

When: Saturday and Sunday

Where: BOK Center, Tulsa

TV/Stream: Finals on ESPNU, all other rounds on ESPN+

Saturday

10 a.m. (CT) Session I (Preliminary matches)

p.m. (CT) Session

5 p.m. (CT) Session

7:30 p.m. (CT) Session

(Second round consolations) 8:30 p.m. (CT) Session

Sunday

p.m. (CT) Session III

1:30 p.m. (CT) Session

(3rd and 5th place matches)

Previewing OSU wrestlers in the Big 12 tournament

Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter

It won’t get easier for Wyatt Sheets in the 165-pound bracket.

There may not be a deeper conference at 165 pounds than the Big 12. Sheets likely has the most daunting task in the tournament, with potential rematches against Iowa State’s David Carr and Missouri’s Keegan

O’Toole, ranked No. 1 and No. 2. However, he’s one of five Cowboys with a bye. Travis Wittlake, Carter Young, Dustin Plott and Victor Voinovich are the others.

Daton Fix is the only Cowboy favored to win the tournament, as he received the No. 1 seed at 133 pounds. Dustin Plott (174) and Kaden Gfeller (157) have No. 2 seeds, and Gfeller will wrestle in the first round against Tyson Humphreys from Utah Valley. Plott has a bye.

Konner Doucet exceeded expectations this year at heavyweight and

earned the No. 8 seed.

Doucet will have Chris Island from California Baptist in the first round.

Gfeller will have won the Big 12 title at three different weights if he wins it this weekend. He has won at 141 pounds and at 149 pounds. This year, he’ll vie for the 157-pound championship, but it isn’t an easy road ahead for the “old goat” of OSU wrestling.

Plott has the potential to rematch Peyton Mocco from Missouri, who defeated Plott earlier in the season. Plott didn’t have the brightest finish to the season, and a Big 12 Tournament victory would provide a solid confidence boost heading into the NCAA Championships.

If Travis Wittlake wins a Big 12 title at his new weight, 184 pounds, it would be significant for the Cowboys in the team race, which is expected to be headed by Iowa State and Missouri. Wittlake didn’t wrestle during the trip to Iowa, so matches with Marcus Coleman and

Parker Keckeisen will be his first.

OSU coach John Smith talked about stealing a national seed at 125 pounds. Reece Witcraft will likely need to win two championship-bracket matches to get into the NCAA Tournament. However, that will be no easy task, as the weight is headlined by 2022 Big 12 Champion Killian Cardinale from West Virginia. Smith also talked about Luke Surber not just defeating the No. 1 wrestler in the nation but going out and winning the 197-pound Big 12 title. Surber could have

rematches with Tanner Sloan and Yonger Bastida, both of whom he wrestled while dinged up.

OSU isn’t expected to make a splash in the Big 12 title race because of heavy favorites Iowa State and Missouri.

Carter Young will help OSU’s chances if he wins the 141-pound bracket… which is unlikely. Young has defeated many of the opponents in the Big 12 bracket, but he will likely have to rematch Andrew Alirez in the final.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Witcraft is the seventh-highest ranked wrestler in the Big 12 at 125 lbs. Witcraft looks for throws and will go upper body into 50/50 positions with anyone who is willing. The Big 12 only has one wrestler ranked inside the top 10 at 125, and for this reason, the weight is relatively wide open.

Molly Jolliff

Sheets is No. 23 nationally and seventh in the Big 12 at 165, one of the deepest weights in the Big 12, with David Carr and Keegan O’Toole. The reason Sheets can make a run is he is a good leg rider. Leg riding is a difficult skill to learn and implement, especially in college wrestling, but if used correctly it can trap opponents in the bottom position and leave them in a lot of pain for the next two minutes.

Andy Crown

Voinovich can make a run at the Big 12 in a similar way to Sheets; he can leg ride, which he did against Oklahoma’s Mitch Moore. If Voinovich can find a way to generate points from leg riding, he can neutralize someone who may be better than him on paper. The Big 12 automatically qualifies the top seven placers from the Big 12s, so Voinovich’s chance to qualify for the NCAA tournament is high.

Andy Crown Wyatt Sheets will face a deep 165-pound bracket in Big 12 tournament.

Adam Engel

Jesse Myers Staff Reporter

Reece Witcraft

Wyatt Sheets

Victor Voinovich

performance on the mat. Instead, it didn’t have as personal of an effect on him as one might think.

Young’s mother, Christina Young, said Carter’s performance the past eight duals has been attributed to something else Smith said to him.

“Coach Smith pushes him and pushes him to teach him, ‘You’re gonna be just fine,’”

Christina said. “‘You can get through this.’ And by working him so hard, [Carter] is like, ‘Oh, I guess I can do this, I can work through this.’ It’s more about persevering whatever strife comes up.”

Smith and Young are a compelling coachathlete duo. Their personalities clash, which makes their relationship unique. Smith was a vengeful wrestler who held onto his losses.

Carter doesn’t let negativity get to his head, Christina said. Carter has learned to let things roll off his back, unlike his coach. He doesn’t take things too personally. He is a nonchalant person, and Christina said it is how he was raised. Young doesn’t need to walk onto a mat angry to be victorious. His stoic demeanor after wins and losses makes him hard to read.

“He’s the most even person and wrestler, he always has been,” Christina said. “He is confident, but it’s a quiet confidence because he knows he’s worked so hard, not just in college, but his whole life. He’s been every-

where in the world wrestling, which is more than most people at his age, so he’s not worried about wrestling.”

Contrasted to Carter’s mindset, Smith wants his athletes to feel something when they lose, especially Young. Smith said he would like some aggression from his second-year wrestler.

“He’s just kind of la-la,” Smith joked. “I’d like for him sometimes to just cuss at me. Not cuss at me, he doesn’t need to cuss at me. But just get angry with me. Maybe even push me. He’s a good kid. I just think to get your best out of yourself, I want him to feel pain when he loses.

“I want him to feel disappointed. I want him to be driven off those losses. I think he does it in a quiet way a little bit, but not as much as I want.”

Christina said Smith hasn’t pushed Carter to the point of anger. Instead, Carter has been driven to a point of getting back at his coach with jokes, much like he did to Carter.

“I know (Smith) was doing what he thought to make him get a little angry,” Christina said. “I don’t think he ever necessarily reached the anger point, but I do know he has made a few jokes with him in the room now. (Carter) listened to coach’s interview, so he said he went into practice and said, ‘You want me to push ya coach? I can push ya.’”

Daton Fix, a threetime All-American at OSU, has known Carter since Fix was in seventh grade in Sand Springs. Their relationship goes

beyond wrestling, but wrestling brought the pair together. Growing up, Christina said Carter would annoy Fix with how much he wanted to learn from Fix. Fix said it might have gotten annoying at times, but he saw the drive inside a young Carter, which brought them together. Eventually, Fix taught him everything he knew.

“He was a little kid who wanted to get better,” Fix said. “I’m sure there’s times when it would get a little annoying. But you don’t see that very often in young kids, that they just want to get better. There was a point where I showed him pretty much everything I do, that’s how much I worked with him. I would learn something; I’d be wrestling with Carter a couple of days later.” Fix has been with OSU since 2017 and has known Smith for even longer. Fix is aware of what Smith tried to do with Carter and said it’s for a reason.

“He’s the type of coach that if he’s on you all the time and he’s messing with you, he’s just trying to get more out of you,” Fix said. “Really, that’s all he’s doing. He knows that Carter has a lot of potential and he’s just trying to get that out of him.

“There was a point in the year where Carter had to make the choice, right around that time when he was 7-8, he needed to pick it up. I think he made that choice on his own and started to wrestle a lot better.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

‘Mama Claire’

How Chastain became a vocal leader for a hungry Cowgirl team

practice, or maybe just outside the lines, but she just does it all the time.”

Calif Poncy Staff Reporter

Claire Chastain’s teammates give her a number of nicknames.

Some call her “Mom” others call her “Mama Claire,” but no matter what she’s called, the reason behind the name is the same.

Chastain, a fifthyear transfer from UTArlington, has become the vocal leader for OSU this season, and her impact is felt up and down the roster.

“We call her ‘mom’ for a reason,” OSU guard Naomie Alnatas said. “When you think about Claire, she’s really helpful, and on top of that she’s the woman that will calm you down, but she also is the one who brings the fire.”

Teammates and coaches gush about Chastain’s ability to rally the team, in the locker room and on the court. “I think that first of all, she just has a really special ability to bring people together and connect the dots,” OSU coach Jacie Hoyt said. “I think the fact she never stops, it’s not like some players where they might just lead in

While at UTA, Chastain established herself as a solid contributor on a good team, averaging at least nine points in each of her three healthy seasons for the Mavericks, including last season when she helped UTA reach the NCAA Tournament for just the third time.

While developing her game, Chastain blossomed into the impactful leader she has become.

“I would say it’s always been an innate thing within myself, but really, it came to light my senior year at UT-Arlington, just because I was a senior and I kind of needed to take on that role, and now I’ve taken on that role and I’ve really been able to lead our team,” Chastain said.

Chastain’s fiery leadership style mirrors the way she approaches the court. As a guard, Chastain leads the Cowgirls in blocks per game and isn’t afraid to take a defender into the post, as about 75% of her field goal attempts have come inside the 3-point line.

Her willingness to go low is reflected in her free throw attempts, where she ranks second on the team despite missing two games.

“She’s crucial to

our team, she rebounds it, she facilitates, she sets screens, she is really that blue-collar player for us that does a lot on the floor,” Hoyt said.

While Chastain has proved to be an important piece of Hoyt’s rotation, her leadership ability is what stands out from her teammates’ perspective. She is always the first one up to greet a teammate when they are subbed out, slapping their hands each time.

“She has a sense of urgency right now as a fifth-year senior that I’ve never seen, ever, so she’s playing really hungry and urgent and it’s showing up in everything that she does,” Hoyt said.

The impact that Chastain has on her teammates has been second to none this season, and with the Cowgirls’ regular season coming to an end, Chastain’s leadership will be as important as ever going forward.

“Once you get a taste of it, you just want more and there’s nothing I want more than to finish out my career, finish out this chapter of my life, than making it to the NCAA Tournament and making some noise,” Chastain said.

Jaiden Daughty

Claire Chastain has become a vocal leader as a fifth-year senior for an OSU team looking to make the NCAA Tournament.

Molly Jolliff

John Smith (left) said he wants to see more emotion and fire in Carter Young during duals.

Layers...

Continued from 1A

From 2007-17, Sean Sutton, Travis Ford and Brad Underwood combined for six NCAA Tournament appearances, managing but one Big Dance win.

In his five seasons before this one, Boynton directed one NCAA trip, managing a first-round win. His overall record: 103-87.

But again, Boynton’s tenure is complicated, maybe more so than any in the program’s history.

Fran Fraschilla, a former coach and current ESPN analyst, said Boynton’s peers view him as a good coach. He added that at times Boynton has been out-talented, but never out-coached.

Boynton’s debut offered promise, with a 21-15 record and a trip to the NIT quarterfinals.

But in his second season, Boynton dismissed three players after an off-the-court incident, leaving just eight scholarship players remaining. Those Cowboys finished 12-20.

The next season started better, but the Cowboys couldn’t maintain momentum, partially due to a long-term illness that hampered point guard Isaac Likekele. Still, OSU may have made the NCAA Tournament, except COVID struck, ending the season abruptly.

In June 2020, the NCAA delivered a oneyear postseason ban and scholarship reductions associated with a former assistant’s part in an FBI investigation into the college game. OSU appealed, then waited for the NCAA to rule, essentially extending a cloud hovering over the program; a period marked by negative recruiting against the Cowboys.

“It absolutely affects your recruiting because the way this business is,” Fraschilla said. “It’s just a cutthroat business.

“So, if you can use something negative against your opponent in recruiting, you’ll absolutely do it.”

Somehow, Boynton, known as a strong recruiter, landing the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Cade Cunningham, in the 2020-21 class. And Cunningham led the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament in his lone season. OSU won 11 conference games, marking its only time above .500 in the Big 12 since 2012-13.

Two days before an exhibition matchup to begin the 2021-22 season, Boynton wept in the Gallagher-Iba Arena media room, after the NCAA rebuked OSU’s

appeal and declared OSU ineligible for the 2022 postseason, enforcing a three-year probationary period and cutting three scholarships.

“We’re looking at two or three more years of dealing with the repercussions of this decision,” Boynton said through tears.

Are those repercussions at play in the current struggle?

Entering Saturday’s game at Texas Tech, OSU, once 7-5 in the league, finds itself 7-10 and seventh in the Big 12 standings, needing some sign of life to rekindle any NCAA Tournament hopes.

The pulse of the program?

For fans, too, it’s complicated.

The frustrated: OSU fans remember the Final Four trips in ‘95 and ‘04 and yearn for those days to return. They are disappointed with the lack of success and seem weary of seeing similar mistakes cost the team games.

Fraschilla said there are three ways to count success in the Big 12: Competing for regular season titles. Competing for conference tournament titles. Making noise in the NCAA Tournament.

The frustrated fans point out that OSU isn’t hitting those benchmarks.

Expectations from those fans suggest the Cowboys should perennially be in the top-half of the league.

Fraschilla said a reasonable expectation is to be in the top-half of the Big 12 more often than not, make an NCAA Tournament three out of every four years and settle for an NIT spot the fourth year.

The Loyal and True: Faithful OSU fans are more understanding. They look at the layers and recognize the obstacles thrown in Boynton’s and the Cowboys’ path.

“I do think that Mike (Boynton), at least for the time being, is the guy to get us to where we need to be,” OSU fan Layne Turner said. “And I say that in recognition of all of the roadblocks he’s had to get over to where we are now.”

The Boynton Bunch:

Fans enjoy connecting with Boynton on a personal level.

Cowboys fan Logan Martinson said he “honestly, couldn’t give a crap” about basketball until Boynton flipped pancakes in the Student Union for him during his freshman year on campus.

Another fan, Art Anderson, said he’ll run into Boynton at Sprouts and he’ll have to break off the conversation because Boynton is so gracious

OSU’s 2023 recruiting class

-Brandon Garrison four-star, center, from Oklahoma City

-

Wright...

Continued from 1A

Wright’s backcourt mate, expectations are mounting. Playing in environments such as Allen Fieldhouse is a substantial change from the Millis Center, High Point’s now-replaced 1,750-seat arena where an indoor swimming pool sits to one side.

“We need more of the High Point JohnMichael as far as looking for his shot as opposed to the facilitator-minded guy when you have Avery out there,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said.

For OSU to reach March Madness, it needs Wright at his best. He’s aiming to exceed expectations again.

“When there is doubt, there’s room to prove,” Wright said. “You hear the things that people say. You don’t want it to be true, so you work on it.”

Eric Dailey, four star, power forward, from Bradenton, Florida

-Justin McBride, three star, power forward from Plano, Texas

-Jamyron Keller, three star, combo guard, from Killeen, Texas

-Connor Dow, three star, small forward, from Broken Arrow

with his time.

These fans believe in Boynton, the person.

The cynical:

Some fans are ready to move on from Boynton.

“Waiting until we can buy out Boynton’s contract,” a fan on Twitter said. “We’re going nowhere with the dude.”

Some aren’t so extreme, but are growing restless.

“Love Boynton as a person and face of the program,” John Rowland said. “Still hopeful he can get it done, but year six and so far, no better off than the Ford years. NCAA punishment hasn’t helped, but need consistency.”

Twitter user Big Hoss said, “The program has done nothing in almost 20 years. No expectations, no results.”

The Optimistic:

Optimistic Cowboy fans believe OSU’s upcoming recruiting class, ranked No. 9 nationally, will bring impact.

Boynton’s 2023 class is the second best in the Big 12, behind Iowa State, and features two four-star and three threestar prospects, according to 247 Sports.

“I think the program is this close to taking off,” Anderson said. “You add the recruiting class, the talent that’s there…”

Fraschilla said a best-case scenario for next season begins with OSU players with eligibility returning and aggressive additions through the transfer portal, joined by the incoming freshmen.

Then, Fraschilla said, the Cowboys “have a chance to be very good next year.”

Is a breakthrough on the brink? Can Cowboys fans find hope?

Depends, it seems, on the fan.

were already crippled with foul trouble, had no sub.

Strong said Wright, a sophomore, calmed him down in the huddle. It was a rivalry game and Wright was determined Harrells Christian would not beat him for a third time that season.

“(Wright) was so phenomenal that night,” Strong said. “They were triple and double teaming him from getting the ball. But when he got it, they couldn’t stop him.”

Wright, who scored 32, threw down a ferocious slam in the final minutes to help the Eagles win by two.

“I looked up in the sky and I said, ‘He’s here,’” Strong said. “In all my years of coaching I’ve never seen a kid do that.”

was only 6-foot-1,” Smith said. “You don’t have to be big. You just have to have a big heart. (Wright) is as tough and hardnosed as any kid I’ve coached.”

Smith coached Wright at High Point for three years. Wright said he loved his time as a Panther and benefitted greatly from Smith’s coaching. When Wright decided to transfer, some 100 coaches called to express interest — ironically, about the same number of coaches that watched Wright play for 30 seconds in 2018.

Wright’s size always drew concern. He is self-described 6-foot-tall on a good day. Coaches would tell Eddie Lee, who coached and trained Wright, his son was too small.

It was frustrating.

Coaches saw a number, and not the latenight gym sessions where Eddie Lee held up tennis rackets for his son to shoot over.

Coach James Strong fully grasped Wright’s potential shortly after a whistle.

It was 2017, and the six-point lead Strong’s 2A Fayetteville Academy Eagle team built seemed doomed. With six minutes left in the conference championship game against Harrells Christian, his team’s leading scorer committed his fifth foul while defending a drive.

The Eagles, who had only six players and

It was that type of scoring ability that attracted college interest. Wichita State and University of Maryland Baltimore County had Wright and his family out for a visit and quite a few coaches promised to stay in touch.

“They would always say ‘we like you,’ but they would never throw me an offer,” Wright said. “That hurt me at the moment because I knew I could play at that level.”

For most of high school, Wright’s only offer was from Marshall. But even then, coaches there rarely communicated, and Wright started questioning his ability.

“It was kind of discouraging,” Wright said.

“Asking myself, ‘Am I actually good enough to play?’ That’s when the doubts started to creep in.”

Coach Tubby Smith, who directed a national championship at Kentucky, was not scared away. He coached similar players and recruited Wright to come to High Point.

“Even Rajon Rondo

“If anyone called me about him, I knew that I had nothing but great things to say about him,” Smith said. “Oklahoma State wasn’t necessarily taking a chance. You could see what he was capable of. He could play anywhere in the country, I felt that all along.”

Maybe it was the many hours spent watching cowboy TV shows such as Bonanza with his stepdad, or his proclivity for playing as OSU in video games as a child, but Wright always had liked OSU and it made his transfer destination easy.

“When (Wright) was little, we would always say, ‘John, we don’t know anybody in Oklahoma. We’re not from Oklahoma.’ But he said, ‘No. This is my team. You know, one day I’m gonna go for that school,’” Hightower said. Wright’s post-college goal is making the NBA, but he hasn’t ruled out staying at OSU for his super-senior season. It took a few extra years and a torturous 30 seconds to reach OSU, but Wright appreciates the journey.

“I didn’t let it bring me down,” Wright said. “I just let it fuel my fire.”

Chase Davis

OSU is on the bubble of making the NCAA tournament after five straight losses.

Courtesy: Coach Greg Bonds Wright won the Fayetteville Elite alumni dunk contest in high school, but joked he’s too old to throw down like he once could.

Daily Crossword Puzzle

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 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

Business Squares Business Squares Company Coming?

Check out “Cowboy Cabin”

550 steps east of Boone Pickens Stadium

Airbnb.com/h/cowboy-cabin

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR BOTH SUMMER SEMESTER 2023 and FALL SEMESTER 2023

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Applications for both Summer Semester 2023 and Fall Semester 2023 Editor-in-Chief of The O’Colly will be accepted from now thru Friday, March 3, 2023.

Applications are now available in the Paul Miller Journalism and Broadcasting Building, room 106. Applicants must return their completed applications to room 106 no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023.

This application process involves two separate positions, EIC for Summer and EIC for Fall. Applicants can apply for one or the other, or both positions. Be sure to indicate which position(s) you wish to be considered for on the application form.

To be eligible for Editor-In-Chief, the applicant must be a student on the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University, be in good academic standing (i.e., not on academic probation), have a grade point average of not less than 2.5, and have completed at least 60 hours toward a degree. Applicant must show evidence of having worked one semester in an editor position on The O’Colly. Students serving as an Editor-in-Chief may take up to 6 credit hours of independent study in consultation and approval of their major advisor.

An internship on a newspaper in a newsroom capacity may be substituted for one semester of service on The O’Colly. The internship must meet the requirements of the School of Media and Strategic Communications’ current internship course.

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (03/03/23). Prepare for a fruitful harvest this year. Grow through regular private meditation, planning and contemplation. Winter changes require a rewrite, before a profitable springtime develops. Rerouting summer itineraries for new conditions leads to a lucrative autumn with shared gains. Conserve resources for later.

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 an 8 — Follow your heart. Advance a passion project. Take advantage of favorable conditions. Creativity, laughter and romance spark with relaxation. Have fun with someone interesting.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Energize a domestic project for satisfying results. Organize, sort and put things away. Give away what you no longer need. Clear space for new possibilities.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Words come easily. Shape your story. Make a persuasive point. You’re especially witty and clever. Use diplomacy to avoid an upset. Share, chat and banter.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Go for the gold. There’s money to be made and conditions look good. Focus for high performance and excellence. Wait for the best timing to jump.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Love gives you strength and stamina. Keep cool and stay flexible to adapt with surprises. Pursue personal objectives and get farther than expected.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — You can get especially productive by reducing distractions to a minimum. Privacy and peacefulness let you think clearly.

Organize plans to realize a long-held dream.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Teamwork can accomplish miracles. Community involvement wins more than the prize you’re all after. Pull together and a difficult job becomes easy. Connect and collaborate.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Take charge for the results you want. Listen to intuition and discover interesting opportunities. Your work is gaining recognition. Infuse it with love.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 5 — Enjoy the journey. Investigate possibilities. Expand your exploration. Take a big picture view. Context is decisive. Clarify objectives and routes. Follow a passion.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Leave nothing to chance. Negotiate and bargain for the best deal. Manage paperwork and administrative details with shared accounts. It could get lucrative.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Share support, fun and romance with your partner. Together, you’re a powerful force for good. Collaborate to advance your common objectives. Love is the answer.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Physical action gets satisfying results.

Nurture your health and strength with good food, rest and exercise. Put love into your work. Nature and beauty inspire.

1 PC shortcut key

5 __ Jansen: kid-lit detective with a photographic memory

8 More than a few

12 Seehorn of “Better Call Saul”

13 Repaired, maybe

15 Facial tissue additive

16 God of war

Amie Walker

Solution to Thursday’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

What are OSU’s plans for the new softball stadium? Plans...

Continued from 1B

Gabriel Trevino Sports Editor

The lack of a new softball stadium isn’t eating Kenny Gajewski’s thoughts, but he’s waiting.

The Cowgirl Stadium is 23 years old. And it shows. For a team that’s been to the Women’s College World Series in threestraight seasons, there’s only 300 chairback seats and one concession stand for fans, and lacks quality for all players.

The visiting bullpen is a strip of dirt behind an old gate, and the away team must walk through the concourse to get to their locker room outside the stadium. And while renovations have helped, a new stadium can only be beneficial.

“It’s not consuming me, we’re winning without it,” Gajewski said. “Do you have to have this state-of-theart stadium to win? No. Does it help? It really helps.”

A new stadium was first talked about two years ago, with Gajewski saying he and then-athletic director Mike Holder wanted “a mini O’Brate” — OSU baseball’s stadium that opened in 2021 — and said it could happen in 2-3 years.

The conversations continued with current Athletic Director Chad Weiberg but there is not yet a timeline. The project would cost an estimated $25-30 million, and OSU hopes most of the funding will come from donations. It is no longer a matter of when the project will begin, rather, when the donation will come in.

On Monday, OSU unveiled its Athletics Vision Plan, which included renderings of a new stadium. While not much was revealed other than the look of the field and seating, Gajewski expects more to be built; primarily focusing on player development that will aid the team in the future.

“I’ve seen some things that are pretty cool,” Gajewski said. “Some things that are like, ‘Woah, this is big time.’ We seem to built things to last. The

development piece will be second to nobody. I want that more than I want more seats. That’s how I recruit. It should help attract younger elite athletes.”

Eighty miles south, a $42 million stadium will be constructed at Oklahoma.

The title sponsor, Love’s Travel Stop, and other donors raised $30 million for the project. But with OSU’s reliance on donors, how long will it take for the Cowgirls to match the Sooners?

“The first thing people ask is, ‘What’s the timeline?’” Gajewski said. “Well, I don’t know. That’s not the answer they want to hear, but the more people we get [the plans] in front of, the more people who get to watch us play, that’s when they get excited and things happen. We have people out there that if they want to be a part of this, they have a dream, and they can dream along with us. But my focus is solely on our team and this journey. I’m not losing any sleep.”

The athletic department paid for the $55 million renovation to Boone Pickens Stadium that began in the offseason — a project it was able to support with the revenue it could generate in return. As for the nine upgrades announced, OSU is reliant on donors since it won’t be able to earn money back on the projects, despite the want for world-class amenities.

“We set out to build some of the best collegiate athletic facilities in the country,” Weiberg said.

If OSU wants the best, and wants its plan to be accomplished in an appropriate time, it should open its own checkbook a bit.

In 2018, the OU’s athletic department announced plans for Love’s Field, a $27 million softball complex. The stadium then became $42 million and in 2021, the OU board of regents approved the budget. Although $30 million of it was raised through donations as of September, OU was ready to spend for its successful programs.

In April 2021, OSU softball coach Kenny Gajewski said a new stadium was on its way. Now, two years later, there’s still no timeline nor known donor to make it happen. So when will the Cowgirls see an improvement? That’s what

OSU wants, right? The current stadium only has 300 seats for its ever-growing fanbase. The visiting bullpen is a strip of dirt behind an old gate. The visiting team’s locker room isn’t even connected to the stadium. And Gajewski said he has been waiting for a modern space that can aid in the development of his players and attract highlevel recruits.

Dave Smith, OSU’s director of track & field and cross country, has been with the school for 21 years. And for most of these years, he’s waited for an indoor practice facility. OSU is the only program in the Big 12 without a domed, temperature controlled space, which affects how often his more than 120 athletes can practice and compete for national championships.

“I think two-thirds of our program is explosive runs and throws, and those athletes have nowhere to go right now,” Smith said. “We have to tell them, ‘Hey, you just don’t get to practice.’ And our competitors are in some nice warm facilities.

“I feel like we’re a cycle or two behind. And that’s always been a challenge in recruiting.”

When relying on only donor support, and not beginning construction until all of the resources are available, it could be years until any of the key performance areas are ready.

Yeah, OSU doesn’t have the athletic budget

larger schools possess, and it’s unrealistic to say OSU should financially trip itself, but announcing nine blueprints totaling a third of a billion dollars that will be mostly fundraised immediately sets expectations. Donors are free to support any of the projects, and the ones with backing first will be the first to start. Some will have to wait.

Most may not be ready for a decade or longer.

The announcement is the beginning of the plan, yes. But the economy can change, plans can alter, and sometimes, projects are scrapped. OSU’s done it before.

But it’s also succeeded before. If it wants the vision to be seen to its fullest one day, it should think about paying up so its teams may further compete for championships.

In April 2021, Kenny Gajewski first said a new Cowgirl softball stadium was on the way.

Holliday irritated with new pitch clock rules

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Bewildered and slightly disgruntled, Bayden Root looked around for answers but was met with the nearside umpire directing the Arkansas runner toward home plate.

Pitch clock violation. This time, with the bases loaded and the count full.

OSU coach Josh Holliday exited the visitor’s dugout of Globe Life Field, baffled, yet understanding of the new rules.

Pitchers have 15 seconds to pitch with the bases empty, and 20 with runners on. A ball will be added to the count after the initial infraction.

In 2022, 13 of OSU’s 64 games were less than three hours. Through eight games this season, six have been less than that.

Holliday, a self-proclaimed baseball traditionalist, believes the urge to dissect and change a long-standing set of rules is foolish and unconventional.

“It’s not so much drastically different but at times, there’s moments where the minutia of the rules looks silly,” he said. “I think it actually creates a longer game by enforcing the penalties or violations than if the game were allowed to be played within a range than stopping it at various times and having to minister play.”

Holliday compared the recent rule changes to that of tweaking the traditional rules of basketball.

“I think that would be like raising the basket in basketball an inch or two,” Holliday said. “How would that change the game? What purpose would that serve? How would it change the rebounds, blocked shots or free throw and 3-point percentage?”

For OSU pitchers, it’s changed preparation. Sophomore Janzen Keisel notes the enhanced pace he and his teammates practice under is noticeable.

“We’ve worked on it a lot through practice, so I think we’re used to it now,” Keisel said. “But initially I could feel the change in pace. It hasn’t impacted us or any of our guys too badly yet, but we’ll see.”

Baseball is modernizing, and to sustain success in the modern era is to play within the rules. Holliday knows this, yet still disagrees.

“Regardless of the rule changes and whether or not we agree with them we have to play with them,” Holliday said. “I think the point of it is to move efficiently. But to stop and create outcomes on the brink of a second is a bit counterintuitive for me. So, we’ll see how it goes. But I hold a lot of uncertainty myself.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Carson Toulouse

OSU coach Josh Holliday compared the effects of a pitch clock in baseball to that of basketball changing the height of the rim.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION