Friday, Jan. 6, 2023

Friday, January 6, 2023

Books for the Break Students talk about their winter break classes

Payton Little Staff Reporter

Winter break may seem like it is all about resting until the upcoming spring semester, but for some, it is warming up for classes to come.

With students spread all across the country during winter break, re -

laxation is on the brain. Students have more than a month off to do as they please, an opportunity not always present during the semester. However, some students use this break from classes just to take even more classes. Everyone has varying reasons for this, but nevertheless, here are a few students hitting the books over break.

For students like Addison Darby, a sophomore at OSU taking “Exploring North American Diversity” during the break, winter break classes are an opportunity to jump ahead and grab that diploma as fast as possible.

“I decided to take it so that my other semesters won’t be too over-

whelming since I am planning on graduating a semester early,” Darby said. “It is obviously way lighter than a normal semester, but still a decent amount of work since the course is so condensed.”

While winter break courses are a great time to get ahead, the classes can also interrupt part of what makes winter break so special, a time to escape. For sophomore Sarah Teeman, multitasking needed to be done to get the most out of her vacation time.

“I’m taking ‘HIV/ AIDS’ because it isn’t offered as a course during the spring semester,” Teeman said. “It altered my schedule because I went on a

vacation and had to spend a significant amount of time on it while I was there.”

A similar circumstance occurred for Jasmine Husain, a junior at OSU, as not only did she bring in the new year with a class, but she is finishing an essay before her birthday.

“Now in the break, it’s getting a little hectic because we have two papers and an exam due in the span of five days,” Husain said. “On a personal note, one of the papers is due on my birthday, and I do not want to do a paper that day so I’m rushing to do it before.”

See Break on 5A

Q&A with Leon McClinton, OSU’s director of housing and residential life

Luisa Clausen News and Lifestyle Editor

The arctic temperatures in Oklahoma during the last two weeks of 2022 caused facility issues in the OSU residential halls.

The O’Colly talked to Leon McClinton, the director of Housing and Residential Life. McClinton shared some of the challenges during this period and emphasized how much work is being done behind the scenes to get everything in order for the student’s return in two weeks.

Q- How long have you been the director of housing and residential life?

A-For 7 ½ years.

Q-What are some of the most challenging things about your job?

Arctic temperatures caused facility issues in the OSU residential halls

Luisa Clausen News and Lifestyle Editor

Freezing weather and pipes are not best friends.

The arctic temperatures in Oklahoma during the final two weeks of 2022 caused facility issues in the OSU residential halls.

Oklahoma State Housing and Residential Life announced frozen pipes resulted in water damage and caused issues with the fire panels and electronic door access.

Leon McClinton, the director of housing and residential life, has

worked during winter break to help students get situated.

It’s not the first time resident halls had flooding due to pipes bursting in cold weather, but it is the first time it has happened during winter break. The majority of the students were not staying in the dorms to respond to the incident. McClinton said him and his staff have been communicating with the residents affected.

“Our departmental leadership team, community mentors, full-time staff, and graduate student staff worked non-stop throughout the break to accommodate students that needed a temporary living space while we remediate affected spaces,”

McClinton said. “I’m so fortunate to be working with such a dedicated and committed team.”

McClinton has worked as the director of housing and residential life for 7 1/2 years and said he considers his job energizing because he is able to impact student’s lives in and outside of the classroom.

As of Jan. 3, Wentz, Village E and Village F are all closed. OSU Facilities Management is working to repair the panels and is coordinating with vendors should parts need to be replaced.

A-I would not consider it a challenge. I think it’s energizing to be able to impact students’ lives in and outside of the classroom. I can be in a meeting about how academic initiatives can be implemented in living-learning communities and then the next hour, I’m meeting to figure out how to physically modify a living space that will encourage students to spend time with each other. As I reflect on my career, I think it is more challenging to get students off of their phones and spend time with students in their

residential communities.

Q-Can you tell me a little bit about how dealing with the weather issues was for you, as a director? Were the students mad or understanding?

A-It’s not the first time we’ve had flooding due to pipes bursting in cold weather. The main difference this time is that it happened during the winter break. The majority of the students were not here to respond to the incident. We have been communicating with residents of rooms that have been impacted by water and have encouraged them to retrieve their belongings. Villages E and F and Wentz Hall had several days where the fire panel was not functioning, so our departmental leadership team, community mentors, full-time staff and graduate student staff worked non-stop throughout the break to accommodate students that needed a temporary living space while we remediate affected spaces. I’m so fortunate to be working with such a dedicated and committed team.

Q- Were you scared at any moment while trying to get everything figured out? A- We had staff on duty throughout the break. I was not scared, but I had to provide

File photo

Damaged water pipes impacted several residential halls, including Village B, throughout winter break.

Apple Tree Day Technology Day

On Jan. 6, National Technology Day is celebrated, made to honor the technological enhancements that have made the way humans live. The scope of technology is beyond imagination, from the creation of electricity to the internet, mankind cannot imagine a life without it. Staying updated with the latest technologies and learning about technology’s history are ways to celebrate the date.

Via Cleveland Clinic

Via Pequot Library

The OSU Housing and Residential Life said residents of these buildings have received an email detailing the situation and their goal is to have the buildings reopened before the beginning of the spring semester.

The email sent out to Wentz’s residents said fire safety professionals

have inspected the fire panels at , and steps are being taken to restore them to full service. Until that time, the building cannot be occupied. Students may return to the hall to assess or retrieve your personal items, and staff will be available every day through Jan. 13, from noon to 5 p.m. to grant you access to the building. Students were asked, if possible, to delay their return to living on campus until classes resume on Jan. 17 to give ample time to complete the repairs. However, if they need temporary housing before the building reopens, they are encourged to contact

OSU alumna receives Women in the Arts Recognition Award

Kennedy Thomason Assistant News and Lifestyle Editor

OSU alumna, Anita Fields, was recognized for her artistic work.

Fields will accept the Women in the Arts Recognition Award from the Cimarron Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, per an OSU press release. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at the OSU Museum of Art.

Fields was selected as the recipient of this award for her clay and textile works, based on her native Osage culture. She identifies as Osage and Muscogee.

Her works have been displayed across the country, including locations such as the Smithsonian and the Museum of Art and Design in New York City. She draws inspiration from her heritage.

“Much of the work I create reflects the early Osage notions of duality, such as earth and sky, male and female,” Fields said. “We live in a time where there is a disconnect from the natural world with little regard to the importance of our environment. By articulating the concepts of balance and the symbiotic relationships found throughout life and nature, I hope to deepen our understanding of the intersection of all living things.”

Fields creates art that expresses her native culture. You can find distorted writing and other symbolic elements in her art that represent the distortion of indigenous history. She heavily utilizes themes of nature in her pieces.

Fields said her art is a representation of modern indigenous life.

“The work I make signifies a continuum of thought, knowledge, and the essence of who we are as indigenous peoples living in a modern, chaotic and challenging world,” Fields said. “I want to convey the beauty and importance of other cultures and the thought that there are many ways of looking at the world.”

The Cimarron Chapter, located in Stillwater, partnered with the OSU Museum of Art to nominate Fields for the award. The Women in the Arts Recognition Award is given to women who demonstrate exceptional achievements in nonperformance arts. This includes textile arts, music composition, literature and many other forms. Recipients are chosen because of their contribution to the artistic world.

OSU Museum of Art Director, Vicky Berry, said this award is a celebration of Field’s accomplishments.

“Fields’ resume features an extensive list of exhibitions, publications and highly-coveted artist residencies for which she has been invited to participate,” Berry said.

“As an Osage textile and ceramic artist, she portrays her cultural influences through her highly textured and layered works. In addition to her work as an artist, Anita is recognized as an advocate for the Osage community and is an accomplished and highly sought-after teaching artist. Fields’ achievements are welldeserving of such an award.”

For more information on Anita Fields, visit https://www.anitafieldsart.com/.

reslife@okstate.edu

The fire panels were restored at villages E and F. Residents with impacted rooms have been contacted directly and reassigned permanent housing locations for the spring semester.

Village A, Village B, Village C, Zink-Allen, Morsani-Smith, Bost, Young and Carreker West Halls were also affected by the weather. These buildings remain open, and OSU Housing and Residential life contacted directly the residents who were impacted.

Blackmon Mooring began full remediation and repair of affected spaces

on Monday.

McClinton said the housing and residential life staff are having daily meetings to discuss the current situation and to discuss preventative measures.

“It can happen again,” McClinton said. “But we will continue to assess our spaces and identify opportunities to modify potentially vulnerable spaces.”

Students are encouraged to email reslife@okstate.edu if they have any doubts about the situation.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Our departmental communications team worked in conjunction with University Communications to provide updates.

for more information, please visit ocolly.com

guidance and support remotely. While visiting family during the holidays, it was unfortunate that I could not be on campus assisting in person. The staff did an amazing job mitigating this crisis, while also working with Facilities Management.

Q- Were there students who did not have anywhere else to go during the holidays and had to leave the dorms? If yes, how were those cases addressed?

A- We were able to accommodate every single student with a temporary space if they requested one.

Q- Did you talk to the students in person? Were they scared?

A- Since the incidents occurred, I have talked with several students and parents about how we are responding to this situation.

Q- Of course, what happened is not the school’s fault. However, are there any plans so this doesn’t happen again?

A- Yes, as you can imagine, we are having daily meetings, which involve reacting to the current situation, but also discussing preventative measures.

Q- Were you able to enjoy the holidays with all the workload?

A- It definitely impacted my holidays, but I was still able to create some fond memories with my family.

Q- Can this happen again this year, considering winter isn’t over?

A- It can happen again, but as mentioned earlier, we will continue to assess our spaces and identify opportunities to modify potentially vulnerable spaces.

Q- This has been a challenging year for Residential Life

between not having enough space for all the upcoming freshmen in the fall and now this situation with the pipes and the weather. Will the school try to avoid these issues next year?

A- Absolutely, this past year, we had an above average of nonfreshmen wanting to live on campus. So, combining that increase with a record number of first-year students enrolling at OSU, made it challenging to make sure everyone had a space. We are proud to say that everyone was provided with a permanent space. Considering first-year students have to live on campus, we will closely monitor our returning student applications this year.

Courtesy of OSU

Leon McClinton, the director of Housing and Residential Life. McClinton worked during the holidays to help solve the incidents caused by the weather.

Courtesy of OSU

Anita Fields creates art that expresses her native culture.

Lifestyle/news

OSU geology professor receives highest groundwater water research award

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Scans aren’t just for medical patients.

A year for the movies

The most anticipated movies of 2023

Michael Clark Staff Reporter

2023 is looking to be an incredible year for cinema. From horror movies like “Scream VI” and action hits like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” here are some of the most promising movies this new year has to offer.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”

The “Ant-Man” franchise has always been something different in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A simple, entertaining series of films to break up the tension between the bigger releases.

“Quantumania” looks to break that streak with a darker tone, as well as officially ushering in Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) into the MCU. “Quantumania” buzzes onto the big screen on Feb. 17.

“Scream VI”

“Scream” has to be one of the most consistent horror franchises ever made. With five released movies and fans only viewing one as truly mediocre, the excitement for the newest release is through the roof in the horror community. While the removal of series

staple Sidney Prescott may be concerning, a new location in New York City is exactly what this franchise needs for a breath of fresh air. “Scream VI” slices its way into theaters on March 10.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”

The first trailer of James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” promises an emotionally devastating and exciting ride. With this being the final film in the MCU for the Guardians of the Galaxy, it will be interesting to see how they conclude the stories of these beloved characters. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” blasts off on May 5.

“Across the SpiderVerse” 2018’s “Into the Spider-Verse” was a surprise hit and is considered to be one of the greatest animated films ever made. The upcoming sequel, “Across the Spider-Verse” seems to up the ante in nearly every single way. Tapping into a whole multiverse of Spider-Men who are seemingly going to war, the potential of the Spider-Verse is truly being realized. “Into the Spider-Verse” swings into theaters on June 2.

“Oppenheimer” Revered direc-

tor Christopher Nolan is taking over the big screen again in his new film, “Oppenheimer.”

The movie covers the life story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his invention of the nuclear bomb.

Christopher Nolan’s incredible track record of films, the ominous marketing behind the film and the all-star cast lead us to believe it’ll be another home run from this beloved director.

Oppenheimer premieres July 21.

Dune Part Two With “Dune” being an unexpected hit in 2021, the hype for its sequel has been through the roof ever since. Dennis Villeneuve is slowly proving himself to be the greatest sci-fi director of this generation. If “Dune: Part Two” sticks the landing of its source material, it will be sure to solidify the duology in the hall of fame of excellent novel adaptations. “Dune: Part Two” will spice up cinema on November 3.

With these hits coming to theaters in 2023, it’s a no-brainer that this year will be an excellent time to be a fan of movies.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Oklahoma State geology professor, Todd Halihan, received the Charles V. Theis Award from the American Institute of Hydrology for his MRI-like method of groundwater research.

“This award is the highest groundwater research award presented by the AIH and is similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but for groundwater research,” Halihan said. “Clean water has provided the biggest difference in human health over any other achievement and should be celebrated.”

More than 98% of Earth’s available freshwater is stored underground. Therefore, drilling is required to reach the majority of Earth’s water supply.

Halihan’s scanning method aims to identify areas worthy of drilling and prevent time and resources from being wasted on unworthy areas.

“In the environmental industry, the go-to approach is to drill until you figure out an answer. This has repeatedly been proven to be ineffective,” Halihan said. “I focused my work on ‘scan first, then drill’ approaches.”

Halihan’s method is modeled after the medical industries’ patient scanning procedure, which allows medical professionals to determine the nature of a patient’s injury or mass before proceeding with treatment.

“I’m the X-ray technician or the MRI guy for your environmen-

tal surgery, but instead of a broken leg, you need clean water or to clean up a contaminated site,” Halihan said.

“I provide an image of the subsurface to target your surgery.”

Halihan said OSU is known as the home of groundwater and subsurface fluid research since the Boone Pickens School of Geology’s founding.

OSU geology alumna and retired chief geoscientist for ExxonMobil, Patty Walker, said Halihan’s national recognition represents the commitment and quality of the professors at the Boone Pickens School of Geology.

“The respect and recognition that Todd is receiving from his peers in the hydrogeology community speak to his position as a thought leader in the industry, his well-respected research, the quality of the students

he educates and sends into the workforce and his commitment to the mission of a land-grant university like Oklahoma State,” Walker said. The American Institute of Hydrology recognizes accomplishments in the fields of groundwater, surface water, water quality and institute development. Halihan accepted his Theis Award at the American Water Resources Association conference in Seattle on Nov. 9. Groundwater is crucial to the sustainability of life. Halihan’s work not only considers the future of groundwater but the future of humanity.

To learn more about what OSU is doing in the field of groundwater, visit geology.okstate.edu and cas.okstate.edu/ngwa.

Courtesy of Tribune

Kathryn Newton, left, as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang in Marvel Studios’ “AntMan and the Wasp: Quantumania.” (Jay Maidment/Walt Disney Studios/TNS)

Courtesy of OSU

Dr. Todd Halihan (left) receiving the Theis Award in November.

HTeaO Grand Opening Texas Tea chain comes to Stillwater

Mak Vandruff Staff Reporter

HTeaO, a Texas-based company, expanded to Oklahoma and is opening a new location in Stillwater today, on 1004 N. Boomer Rd.

HTeaO is known for its wide variety of teas with flavors ranging from mint to mango fresco. Teas can come sweet or unsweet, and any flavors can be combined to create something new. For example, customers can combine coconut tea with almond green tea to create a secret flavor called almond joy. One of the favorites is sweet blueberry green tea because of its strong, sweet blueberry flavor.

There are also seasonal rotations of different teas, such as peach cobbler during the fall and strawberry passion during the summer.

Not only can customers order tea, but coffee is available as well. Hot

and cold coffee can be purchased, with regular hot lattes and fun iced horchata coffee on the menu. HTeaO also has Texas Chai Lattes, which is its signature take on the classic chai.

On top of the drinks, merchandise is also inside the store. Clothing and accessories are on display, plus plenty of snacks. HTeaO has a wide variety of items for purchase.

HTeaO is a quickly growing franchise, with the first being opened in 2018. Now, there are around 50 locations and 400 franchise-signed agreements. CEO Justin Howe said HTeaO was on top of the trends, and it was one of the only tea companies “innovating in this space” according to World Tea News.

Stillwater tea lovers have also hopped on board with the company. HTeaO’s Stillwater Instagram reached more than 1,000 followers before its grand opening. The company has gone around the city giving tea to different establishments. Places such as

BancFirst, Best Western, and Integrity Audiology & Hearing Center have all received tea from HTeaO and appeared on its Instagram posts. First responders have also been given free tea, and any first responders in uniform will be given free tea at HTeaO in the future.

Even students outside of Stillwater have been excited about the business opening.

“I drive up to Stillwater every so often to see my friends,” said Oklahoma University student, Luke Dewbre. “I’m excited to try HTeaO next time I come up.”

HTeaO has been a hit around Texas, and now it’s sure to strike Oklahoma as well. Partake in tea in sizes as small as 32 ounce to as large as 51 ounce in a wide variety of flavors. Visit the company’s Instagram at @hteaostillwater to learn more about the grand opening.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Continued from 1A

Semesters can be stressful times for the average college student. With classes abound, extracurricular activities and the curveballs that life throws, it can be hard to balance time as a college student. This is exactly why students, like sophomore Lily Chavez, are choosing to take courses over the winter break.

“I’m taking ‘Regions & nations in the global context and Russia & its neighbors’,” Chavez said. “It’s an easy six hours to get out of the way, but it also lets me take fewer hours in the spring with the same heavy hour load result. It’s a lot of

work, but I think it’s worth it.”

Classes are hard enough on their own, but what if the course hits as a complete surprise? For OSU student Kait McKinley, that is exactly what happened.

“I did stick with it, and I chose the course because I was looking for a relatively interesting natural science,” McKinley said. “The workload isn’t horrible so it hasn’t really altered my dayto-day schedule much.”

There are many reasons to take a winter break class. While it may not seem like the most ideal way to spend a break day, these students find it rewarding to keep on the course.

Courtesy of HTeaO Instagram

HTeaO, a Texas-based company, has its grand opening in Stillwater on Friday at noon.

Luisa Clausen

Some students use this break from classes just to take even more classes. Winter break is a time to rest and a time to study.

Spring semester shows at Tumbleweed

Adam Engel Editor-in-Chief

Music never stops at the Tumbleweed.

Stillwater, the birthplace of red dirt music, consistently attracts the genre’s top talents for shows and the annual Calf Fry music festival.

As of Jan. 1, five shows are set for the spring. Some of red dirt’s biggest names are Stillwater bound.

This is not the final list for spring shows. Tumbleweed will add more throughout the semester along with the Calf Fry lineup.

Cam Allen and Wyatt Flores — Jan. 21, 8 p.m.

Two local talents return to a familiar stage.

Allen and Flores played at Calf Fry in May but will head to the indoor venue this month.

Allen and his Moore-based band mix bluesy hints into its red dirt-infused Nashville sound. Allen emerged into prominence through a viral Twitter video and an appearance on season 19 of “American Idol.”

Flores graduated from Stillwater High School in 2020 and immediately moved to Nashville to pursue his musical dreams. He’s a simple singer-songwriter who entertains with his guitar and vocals. Though he hasn’t released a full album, his nine tracks generated more than 1 million all-time plays on Apple Music.

Catch these guys before a potential breakthrough.

David Adam Byrnes and Curtis Grimes — Feb. 3, 8 p.m.

These Texas entertainers will shine with their old-school sounds.

Byrnes and Grimes played an intimate, acoustic Christmas set at Tumbleweed in December 2021.

February’s show should have a different vibe with full bands and amped-up guitars. Byrnes, an Arkansas native, plays a traditional country style that sounds a lot like his influences — Mark Chesnutt, Keith Whitley

and George Strait.

It’s a classic western sound in 2023. Byrnes never forgets the fiddle.

His bass heavy, Arkansas-accented voice creates an unmistakable sound. You’ll know Byrnes when you hear him.

Grimes remains a veteran in the Texas country music scene. Seven albums and a healthy body of work filled with steel guitar and strong vocals. Some of Grimes’ hits such as “From Where I’m Standing” and “River Road Dream” combine for more than 15 million Spotify listens.

Carson Jeffrey — Feb. 11.

Real Texas. Real Cowboy. That’s Jeffrey and his music. He’s a young guy, 25, who earned his start in classic college bars in College Station and Lubbock, Texas. He’s published three albums and a handful of singles. Red dirt mainstays, The Lowdown

Drifters, will join Jeffrey for a night at the ‘Weed.

Ian Munsick and Ashland Craft — March 3

Munsick, one of the hottest Nashville musicians, brings his act to Stillwater.

He pays homage to his Wyoming roots with heavy fiddle and western sound. He creates almost a hybrid of western/Nashville music. He’s one of the biggest names to hit Tumbleweed this semester. He averages 2 million monthly Spotify listeners and continues to entertain.

Ashland Craft, one of the top up and coming female country musicians, will share the stage. CMT named her to the 2021 Next Women of Country class.

Her hits include “Make it Past Georgia” and “Your Momma Still Does.”

Get your tickets to this show now

and avoid a potential sell-out.

Kolby Cooper and Logan Jahnke— April 1

In May, Cooper rocked Calf Fry as the prelude to Zach Bryan. He’s a familiar name, who like Munsick, recently emerged as a top young talent. He stepped onto the scene with singles such as “Fall” and “Boy From Anderson County.”

Cooper recently released a 13-track album, “Boy From Anderson County To The Moon.”

Jahnke, another Texas musician, graduated high school in 2021. He’s fresh to the professional music scene but plays a serious, rock inspired set. Jahnke created four only singles but will continue to rise.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased at calffry.com.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

File photo

Some of red dirt music’s biggest names are Stillwater bound for shows in the spring semester. Rising names such as Ian Munsick and Kolby Cooper headline a few of the venue’s spring shows.

Hoyt’s intensity and relationships key in her Cowgirl coaching style

Alnatas into her office to talk.

This happens weekly for the pair, but this discussion was different.

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Hoyt wanted to correct Alnatas’ mistakes following OSU’s 59-56, late-November loss to Kent State and help the sixth-year guard find a way to play true to herself.

The conversation worked.

Alnatas found her stride, and

in the three games following that discussion, she averaged 20 points per game, shot 47% from the field and drained 11 three-pointers.

Hoyt tends to produce that kind of impact on her players.

Who knew in the spring that when the end of 2022 rolled

See Hoyt on 2B

Scuffle win shows anomaly in Smith-coached teams

pion AJ Ferrari ended his season from injuries sustained in a car accident. Middleweight starters

Adam Engel Co-Editor-in-Chief

John Smith stays quick to remind you about the circumstances of this season. Plenty of guys at different weights and a quickly changing college wrestling landscape.

Smith, OSU’s wrestling coach, will often use one word to quantify progress. Development. That’s what he saw this weekend in OSU’s win at the Southern Scuffle. But here’s the thing. Scuffle success doesn’t automatically equate to March success.

Injuries happen. Take last year for example. National cham-

Travis Wittlake and Wyatt Sheets wrestled through injuries. A torn left ACL for Wittlake. Ribs for Sheets. Nothing like that has happened with OSU’s starters so far. It’s a start that made Smith comment about the difference in a year.

“Much better,” he said.

The Cowboys (4-1 overall, 2-0 Big 12) roll into Sunday’s battle at Oregon State. Only one starter, Carter Young, owns a losing record (5-6). It’s been a repeat motto from Smith. Improvement. That’s what he wants to see from his guys. Not necessarily pins and tech falls. Decisions? He said he can live with those.

At the Southern Scuffle, Smith said the team found ways to win but also found ways to lose in matches that looked like an OSU win. It’s the main thing holding the team back from its full potential.

It’s a team, that in a lot of ways, trends away from one from Smith’s past.

A one-off from the rosters littered with All-Americans of OSU’s past. With this team, he’s just looking for progress.

Consider this: Konner Doucet, OSU’s top heavyweight, never wrestled in a college dual until this season. Luke Surber, OSU’s starter at 197, bulked to stay alive at heavyweight last year. Kaden Gfeller moved from 149 to 157. Sheets, a multi-year starter at 157, bumped to 165. Wittlake, OSU’s former starter at 165, jumped to 184. Ferrari left the program this summer.

Over the years, Smith talked about his guys wrestling for bonus points. Find ways to extend scores. Usually, the guys are developed enough to the point where they can do that. Now, for the first time in years,

All is Wright

Change of approach at point guard proving beneficial for Cowboys

Braden Bush Assistant Sport Editor

John-Michael Wright never played in front of more than 2,800 fans in a conference road game last season.

High Point, where senior guard Wright transferred from in the offseason, plays in the Big South Conference, against the likes of North Carolina A&T, Campbell and GardnerWebb. Places far from the prestige of the Kansases and Texases of the Big 12.

But in his first Big 12 game, Wright found himself as the opposing point guard in front of a crowd of more than 16,000 in Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse. On top of that, it was his first big test as the Cowboys’ main point guard after coach Mike Boynton moved him there to lighten the load of guards Avery Anderson and Bryce Thompson to get them more involved offensively.

Nineteen points, four rebounds and three assists later, Wright broke the ice in his conference debut in one of the loudest environments of his career, showing he’s adjusted to major college basketball and can help lead the offense from the point.

“When you go into Lawrence for the first time and you play as well as he did in that game, that’ll kind of make you believe a little bit more,” Boynton said. “And so, there’s a little bit of an advantage to having that be your first game and to see how he responded there to give him some confidence going through the rest of it.”

The 19 points and four made 3-pointers were season highs for Wright, who came to OSU averaging 18.4 points per game. Then, against West Virginia two days later, he hit two 3-pointers and finished with 11 points and four assists.

Up until the latest couple of games, Wright was still finding his rhythm, averaging half as many points as a season ago and sharing the point position. But since the switch, he said he’s found his role.

“I feel like I’m being able to get more in flow and controlling the offense,” Wright said. “I’m getting better looks. At the beginning of the season, I was kinda forcing some stuff. But the coaches cleared up everything offensively for everybody on the team. So, once we all figured that out, we kinda learned how to play off each other a lot better, and I think that’s just opened the rim a little bit more for myself.”

Jacie Hoyt pulled Naomie

Jaiden Daughty

OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt took over in March and instantly made an impact with her intense, relationship-oriented coaching style.

Mackenzie Janish

John-Michael Wright is now the main point guard for this OSU team, and the numbers and results show it’s working.

See Wright on 5B

around, the Cowgirls, who went 9-20 last season, had 11 transfer exits and hired Hoyt following former coach Jim Littell’s firing, would have one of the best records so far among all OSU’s winter sports teams?

The men’s basketball team sits near the bottom of the Big 12 with a 9-5 record, while the wrestlers are 4-1. The Cowgirls are 10-4, with quality wins over Florida State, UNLV and Harvard, who is an Ivy League contender.

How did this rapid change occur? It’s simple, Hoyt and the way she coaches her players.

***

Hoyt was hired as OSU’s women’s basketball head coach in March, after a five-year stint at UMKC where she posted an 81-65 record and secured a bid into the 2020 NCAA Tournament.

Before her time as head coach, Hoyt held assistant roles at Nevada from 2011-14 and Kansas State from 2014-17. But her blooming coaching passion dates further back than her one-year stint as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State, it goes back to her time playing for her mom in high school and growing up around a coach.

Hoyt’s mother, Shelly, is a coaching legend in Kansas, ranking second in all-time wins by a female, with over 550. As for coaching styles, like mother, like daughter.

Hoyt said they have a ‘very similar’ coaching style, they thrive off defense and relationships with their players.

“I think the best thing that my mom does that I’ve got to learn from her is just building relationships with players and just creating buy-in,” Hoyt said. “Getting people to achieve things that maybe other people thought that they couldn’t do and maybe even what they thought they couldn’t do but just getting them to play at that higher level and pulling the most out of them.

“Outside of schemes and on-thecourt stuff, that’s what she’s taught me, and I think that I’ve got a strength in it as well.”

Shelly still coaches at the high school level in Kansas, and the two offer suggestions and advice to one another on their teams. After the Kent State loss, the mother-daughter duo talked in Gallagher-Iba Arena, and Shelly visibly instructed Hoyt on dribble moves for

the Cowgirls to possibly use.

sports

“She does that all the time,” Hoyt said. “That was one of 10 million interactions that we have. We talk almost daily and I’m trying to help her with things that I see in her team, and she helps me and sometimes when you’re so close to it.

“You don’t really see it clearly. I think we both can help each other and so she’s always giving me advice and telling me areas I need to be better at.”

The way Hoyt treats and coaches her players rubs off onto others, too, such as assistant coach Taelor Karr.

Karr, in her second year at OSU, wants to one day be in a similar position Hoyt is in: head coach. Karr said she looks up to Hoyt in every way, especially the coaching style that has turned around the program.

“It’s really fun for me as a mentor to have her as a mentor,” Karr said. “I just want to pick her brain about how to go about being in this business, being successful as a female in this industry, wanting to be a head coach at some point, seeing what she’s done at such a young age and how successful she’s been has been awesome.”

For Karr, she coached last season’s team and witnessed many of the things that went into OSU’s worst season since 2005-06.

Now, since being retained to Hoyt’s staff, Karr witnesses the everyday things Hoyt does to change and elevate the program in the span of nine months. Karr said the biggest difference from last season to this season is Hoyt’s energy and the new excitement she brings.

“I give coach Littell a lot of credit for what he did here, but it’s just been a lot different,” Karr said. “I think with her energy our players feed off of it better and then for myself, to help build this program and to help coach Hoyt kind of take it to where she wants to go, but then also having her in my corner as a mentor is the best.”

***

Energy, relationships and straightforward conversations are a few of the key things Hoyt does to elevate the play of her players. Hoyt talked straight-up with Alnatas, told her how she felt and gave Alnatas advice on what and how to change to optimize her play following the Kent State game.

“She told me that I have to step up in a way that doesn’t have to change who I am,” Alnatas said. “She’s just a truth teller, she tells me the truth even if it’s comfortable or not. She told me that we have better players here, obvi-

ously, and we have so many threats. So, I’ve just kind of focused on that.”

Those one-on-one discussions occur often for Hoyt and her players. It’s how she’s able to build and maintain relationships with them. To Hoyt, she utilizes these conversations to check in on each player, see where they are at with their performance, academics and mental health.

“I’m just constantly in their ear and helping them keep a positive mindset and making sure that I’m really clearly outlining expectations for them,” Hoyt said. “I think it’s really important for people to know their expectations and I really pride myself in being a great communicator and constantly helping them understand those expectations and then helping them know I believe in them, that they can fulfill those expectations.”

These simple conversations help facilitate a key thing she had to do in the offseason – convince players to buy into her and the program.

The single-digit win total from a year ago matched with a new coach isn’t that attractive to recruits and transfers. But with Hoyt’s energy and competitiveness, it was hard for players to turn her down.

“When she came in, the words that she spoke were so intentional and so passionate,” said junior guard Lexy Keys. “You can’t get anything but excited about the future when she talks about her willingness to win and that she will do whatever it takes to win along with her intensity, like the way she said those things.

“She said the chemistry with this team is so special. Our bond is just very special and the trust we have with each other and with coach Hoyt on and off the court is really what makes us good.”

For returning players, such as fifth-year senior center Kassidy De Lapp, the environmental shift was

“You get excited when you hear somebody’s plan for you and your team,” De Lapp said. “I think having someone hold up a mirror in front of you every day in practice, like you can go harder and you do have more to give. You feel like you’re going really hard but there is always something else that you can do.”

Now, sitting a win over last season’s mark, Hoyt coaches a team that has a chance to do something no one really thought the Cowgirls could do: make the NCAA Tournament in her first year.

The team is filled with experienced players who can score, something Hoyt’s schemes and game plans have no shortage of, which can be an issue for a coach to manage, considering all players are expecting to play and be a key contributor to the offense.

That can be a challenge.

“I think we knew going into the recruiting process with all the scorers we brought in that we would have this challenge,” Hoyt said. “Just keeping everyone in a good headspace where maybe they’re not the go-to person, but that challenge is also a beautiful thing. We have a lot of balance, we’ve got a lot of depth and so we are working on we over me and just knowing that any night could be your night and just celebrating your teammates when it’s not you.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

noticeable early in Hoyt’s arrival. The intensity and desire from Hoyt gave excitement and drive to De Lapp, which ultimately went into her decision to use her extra COVID-eligibility year and return to OSU.

Jaiden Daughty

Jaice Hoyt low fives Anna Gret Asi after a made basket.

Jaiden Daughty

Jacie Hoyt ecstatically rallies the Cowgirls after an offensive stretch.

Houses for rent

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (01/06/23). Home and family shine this year. Build financial strength with steady daily practices. Your heart shifts direction this winter, before spring adorns and beautifies your spaces. Social changes affect your summer, leading to a professional prize next autumn. Generate household harmony with love and attention.

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

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Make repairs. Renovate, remodel and tend your garden. Domestic changes require adaptation under this Cancer Full Moon. Enjoy a two-week home and family phase. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Start another chapter. A two-week Full Moon phase highlights communications, connection and intellectual discovery. Consider news from another perspective. Write, edit and share.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Make a shift around shared income and finances. Discover profitable opportunities in new directions under this Full Moon. Redirect attention for fresh potential.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — A challenge reorients you. This Full Moon in your sign illuminates new personal directions. Expand boundaries over two weeks. Develop an inspiring possibility.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 6 — Review priorities privately. This Cancer Full Moon illuminates transitions. Begin a two-week introspective phase. Balance old responsibilities with new. Meditate on dreams, past and future.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — One social door closes and another opens under the Full Moon. Adapt with community and team changes for two weeks. Share appreciations, goodbyes and greetings.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — 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.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Your exploration changes and adapts. Tonight’s Cancer Full Moon illuminates a shift in your educational direction over a few weeks. Experiment with new concepts.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6 — Collaborate on family finances after tonight’s Full Moon. Shift directions with shared finances over the next two weeks. Work out the next phase together. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Make adjustments together. Reach a Full Moon turning point with a partnership. Collaborate for shared commitments. Adapt for solutions. Love provides foundational strength. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Begin a new physical fitness phase. Adapt practices for changing conditions illuminated by this Full Moon. Shift practices over two weeks for growing health. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Express your heart, imagination and artistry. Tonight’s Full Moon shines on a transition. Adapt directions with a romance, passion or creative endeavor. Shift perspectives.

Scotch drinker who complains about a small pour?

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

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

Edited by Patti Varol and

Geoff Brown

Smith doesn’t have that luxury. He’s on par with a lot of other coaches in that regard.

“Eventually, I hope that we’re having a lot more takedowns,” he said. “I have really not prepared in the room the stretch the scores out. I’ve had to do more focus on development and get better. That means from a skill standpoint, I think we’re gonna see a lot matches still won by decisions. I don’t think we’re at that stage yet.”

The guys are buying into Smith’s school of thought. The conditioningheavy practices and hard drilling show late in matches. But a lot of the issues aren’t talent related. At least Smith

thinks so.

“These guys at this level have wrestled long enough,” Smith said. “It’s attitude. When you go down and something goes wrong and mentally it’s breaking you down in the middle of a match. You need to stay strong.”

Take 125-pounder Trevor Mastrogiovanni for example. Struggles on bottom and riding time encapsulated his first half struggles. He avoided that in Chattanooga. Until his last match.

Stanford’s Nicco Provo controlled Mastrogiovanni 9-3 with riding time in the third-place match. It was a rematch of the quarterfinals where Mastrogiovanni scored a takedown as time expired to win, 3-1.

Last year, aside from Bedlam, OSU’s starters never had an opportunity for rematches until March. That’s what happens when no starters participate in regular season tournaments. Development can occur against com-

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

petition not normally seen. That’s what the guys got out of the Scuffle.

It’s the only regular season tournament on the Cowboys’ schedule. Much different compared to other teams and past OSU squads. You want to find development? Wrestling multiple matches in two days will do that.

“When I woke up this morning, I felt like I got hit by a truck,” Wittlake said. “You’re gonna have that in those first tournaments. As soon as you get warmed up and get the nerves out, you feel better.”

The Cowboys won the tournament in 2020 and 2017 with a full set of starters. Penn State won all but one other Scuffle that it entered in. The Nittany Lions tied Cornell in 2010.

When the Nittany Lions aren’t in, it’s a Cowboys show and vice versa. Come March, Penn State will be heavily favored with its four returning national champions.

Missouri finished third without three of its All-Americans — Brock Mauller (149), Keegan O’Toole (165) and Rocky Elam (197). O’Toole, a 2022 national champion was supposed to be a three national champion bracket in the Scuffle. Only Stanford’s Shane Griffith showed.

It’s easy to imagine the ‘what-ifs’ with those factors. Like anything, you never know until it happens.

“We’ve seen guys that couldn’t get off the mat last year,” Smith said in October. “That can’t happen this year. Those are things that within our own self as individual, we gotta be determined and gritty that I’m gonna see the improvement. I’m not gonna accept anything but that.”

Molly Jolliff

OSU’s 184-pounder Travis Wittlake, is one of many Cowboys at different weights this season. Before this season, he wrestled at 165 pounds.

With many weight changes and lower expectations, this year’s OSU wrestling team is different from ones in OSU’s past. Cowboy coach John Smith remains positive after a Southern Scuffle championship.

Cole Gueldenzoph

Predicting OSU’s 2023 opponents

Gabriel Trevino and Braden Bush

Because the Big 12 2023 football schedule has not yet been released, O’Colly Sports sports editor Gabriel Trevino and assistant sports editor Braden Bush each wrote a prediction for what OSU’s schedule could look like next season and why.

Trevino’s predicted schedule (nonconference is already decided):

Week 1: vs Central

Arkansas Week 2: at Arizona

State Week 3: vs South Alabama Week 4: at Houston Week 5: vs Baylor Week 6: at Texas

BYE

Week 8: vs TCU Week 9: at Iowa

State Week 10: vs Kansas State Week 11: at Texas Tech Week 12: vs UCF Week 13: vs Oklahoma

For what could be the only year of a 14-team Big 12, the conference may want to capitalize on getting the big brands and schools playing against each other; such as OU, Texas, BYU and Cincinnati. The new teams coming in may not have room in its Big 12 schedule to

play the smaller brands, like OSU. At least not in Stillwater maybe.

But for OSU, Houston is a possible opponent in the 2023, with Cougars coach Dana Holgorsen being a former Gundy coordinator, and trying to create new rivalries within the conference. UCF is the other new team to play OSU, as I could see OU traveling to Orlando to play the Knights in Florida, while UCF plays its game in Stillwater.

As for the remaining Big 12 teams, this may be the last chance for teams to play Texas and OU, which OSU is surely to play both. To finish out the schedule, home games against Baylor, TCU and Kansas State, which could represent the new Big 12 top teams, and away at Texas Tech and Iowa State for some good ole fashion Big 12 football.

Bush’s predicted schedule (non conference is already decided): Week 1: vs Central Arkansas Week 2: at Arizona State Week 3: vs South Alabama Week 4: vs Kansas State Week 5: at Central Florida Week 6: vs Kansas Week 7: at Texas Week 8: BYE Week 9: at Texas

Tech Week 10: vs Baylor Week 11: at Iowa State Week 12: vs BYU Week 13: vs OU

I don’t think there will be a rush to match up the big names in the conference, as the two biggest names, Texas and OU, aren’t going to get any special treatment from the Big 12 as they are on their way out. It’s a nine-game conference schedule, so each school will likely play at least two of the expansion schools and probably one of those at home.

Someone has to travel all the way to UCF, so it might as well be OSU. I think the Texas schools will all play Houston in year one, so that leaves OSU playing either Cincinnati or UCF in the eastern time zone. I don’t see both. BYUOSU could be an annual fight for the top of the league, so that could be a potential matchup in Stillwater.

For the rest of the schedule, trips to Texas, Texas Tech and Iowa State, and home stands against Kansas, Kansas State, BYU, OU and Baylor – a schedule consisting of all original Big 12 opponents, and subs of 2012 expansion teams West Virginia and TCU for current expansion teams UCF and BYU.

Wright...

Continued from 1B

It’s also helped the play of Anderson and Thompson and allowed them to move without the ball more and create better shots.

At KU, Thompson made seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 23, while Anderson scored 13 against West Virginia (on 6-of-10 shooting) -- his highest output in nearly four weeks.

Anderson is shooting 20.9% from distance, so defenses haven’t worried much about that shot from the point. But moving Anderson off ball has bettered his shooting percentage and opened

the game up for Wright, who is shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. The Cowboys now pose a 3-point threat.

“We weren’t confused about what we were supposed to do, but there would be times I would bring the ball up, and Avery would, and Bryce would,” Wright said.

“So, once they just made me the primary point (guard), and BT and Avery was able to just be able to score, once the defense folds on them, then I become available, and it just flows off like that.”

Thompson said he likes both bringing the ball up playing off ball, but he sees the value and recent results with Wright running the point more frequently.

“But for the sake

of this team, JohnMichael is a really good facilitator, point guard, that can score and, you know, I’m able to excel at the two,” Thompson said. “So, I think that goes hand in hand.”

Two games into conference play, the physicality has lived up to what the coaches and teammates told Wright. He is no longer a newbie in the Big 12, and he hasn’t played like it. The senior has brought in a ball-handling and scoring element that the Cowboys needed –and he’s done so in big environments.

“Got a couple of bumps on the face, but that’s part of it,” Wright said.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Mackenzie Janish

Wright has brought shooting to the point, making 37.1% of his 3-point shots.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Mackenzie Janish

With 13 possible Big 12 opponents next year, OSU will not be able to play each team in the conference next season.

sports

Covering OSU football in 2022 was more exciting than last

Gabriel Trevino Sports Editor

Every Monday at 11:30 a.m. from mid August to late November, I opened my catered turkey sandwich, spread a bit of mayo from a plastic tube and placed chips on for extra crunch on the just refrigerated turkey and dry bread. This lunch never altered.

The only change would be what chips I discovered after opening the cardboard box. If it wasn’t the kettle chips, I usually traded for a pack with another reporter in the room. I didn’t mind the consistency, although most got tired of the same meal by week three. I like the familiarity in my life.

But not in my writing.

By noon, OSU coach Mike Gundy stood behind the lectern to talk with some 20 reporters about the week. A few of those talks were exciting, but after the 30-minute luncheon, nothing had really changed. On Tuesdays, most of those same reporters waited outside the team’s training center to talk with four players for another half hour. It was usually the same 10 or 12 players in rotation, and we didn’t know exactly who it would be every week.

There wasn’t much variation. And it was the same last season. OSU finished 12-2 with a Fiesta Bowl win in 2021, but it was the same sandwich on Monday and the same player availability on Tuesday — except then it was in the team room and the players present were announced prior.

Game days this season is where it became completely different from last. Where fans lamented in the team’s 7-6 struggles — with losses including beatdowns or embarrassments, and wins of multiple scores and to the wire closeouts — I found alleviation after each game.

Every Saturday night in 2021

played out similarly. The first half would be rough for everyone, then the defense built a late game wall and OSU somehow won. But that was the story of every game. It became a strenuous task to write each week about the Cowboys defense saving the team like Superman saving Lois Lane. It transpired like clockwork.

Yeah, some games, such as the Baylor one-yard short loss in the Big 12 championship last year were different, but from week one to the Fiesta Bowl, it was difficult to write stories any differently week-to-week.

I was a much younger and inexperienced freshman writer in 2021, and looking back now as a more experienced storyteller, I still don’t know if I would have enjoyed it. I don’t know how reporters covering Alabama and Ohio State do it every year. As journalist, we get to travel to amazing places when we’re lucky enough that the teams we cover go to big bowl games, and I’m sure those writers enjoy knowing

they’re going on a trip at the end of every season, but I would loath the 13 weeks of stagnant headlines.

Every week this season was something different. In week one, Spencer Sanders scored 44 points in the first half, not even two months later they scored zero in the entire game in one of the worst losses ever, and a month after that he was in the transfer portal. The defense allowed 379 passing yards to Texas Tech and won, then lost to Kansas for the first time since 2007 when the same defense allowed 364 yards rushing.

There was variation on the field and because of it, below my byline.

The early season skating by Central Michigan, Baylor and Texas Tech allowed me to write about the possibility of this OSU team’s issues coming back to bite them. Then those issues came back and the team imploded. Not bad enough for coaches to be fired and players opting out midseason, but enough to write some unique stories in

my eyes once the ignition blew.

After what some felt like was a turning point in the program when the Cowboys rode into the end of season sunset with a New Year’s Six bowl victory and 12 win season, looking on to repeat the success, I sit now writing about a team playing its bowl in the same city and media opportunities held in the same venue, but this time, OSU’s bowl logo is underneath the other one’s on signs, signifying the importance of one over the other. Will this be the new norm for OSU if things can’t turn around, or will this be a one-off and success is again near?

I’m not sure yet, nobody is. But as a writer, I want next season, when I unwrap the same sandwich again, spread the mayo and add the chips like I have for two years now, for it to be during a season as erratic as this one. Because I enjoyed telling different stories every week. And I hope you enjoyed reading them this season.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Cole Gueldenzoph

The view from the Boone Pickens Stadium press box, where we watched OSU win close games and lose for the first time at home in two years.