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Trinity Media Group, LLC 12330 E. 60th St. STE A. • Tulsa, OK 74146 All rights reserved. Publisher Austin Chadwick • Editorial Director Brad Heath • Director of Operations Rod Coulter Three Rivers Director Bill Huddleston • Editor at Large Kyle Kendrick • Associate Editor Cal Ross Oklahoma Sales Director Roscoe Migloire Southeast Oklahoma Sales and Marketing Director Kelly Marsaln • Partner Mark Rodgers Contributing Writers Bill Huddleston, Kelly Marsaln, Brad Heath, Kyle Kendrick Contributing Photographers Kristi Lindley, Holly Hackler, Brad Heath, Mark Emmons Photography, Erica Lee Photography, Jennifer Curliss, Vickie Tincher, Brett Rojo, Bill Huddleston Contact Information Website: www.VYPEOK.com • Phone: 918.495.1771 • Fax: 918.495.1787 VYPE is published monthly by Trinity Media Group, LLC. Reproductions in whole or in part without permission are prohibited.
6 | All-VYPE Wrestling From the winter sport of wrestling, VYPE gives the kids of Southeast Oklahoma their due as we tally the All-VYPE SEOK Wrestling Team.
7 | Mr. & Miss Basketball The votes are in and the King and Queen have been crowned. But one player from the SEOK area walked away with the People’s Choice Award.
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13 | Hartshorne Baseball Head coach Justin James and the Hartshorne Miners are making another run at the state tournament.
30 | Idabel Track The boys and girls track teams at Idabel are reaching new heights. VYPE editor Cal Ross caught up with both squads.
Chase Hass - McAlester man, on and off the field, that any coach would welcome to their team. I’d take a roster full of players just like Chase.” One of the role-model opportunities Hass enjoys is the Buffaloes Big Brother campaign where upper classmen are hand picked by the coaching staff to serve as mentors to the young kids on the team, everything from extra time in the batting cages after practice as well as keeping in constant and positive contact with the underclassmen. “I made a decision when I was a freshman that when it came my turn in the lineup, I was going to be the one guy that could make a difference,” said the Buffaloes right fielder while recalling his first days in the McAlester baseball program. “When coach chose me to be a Big Brother, I jumped at the chance. I knew it was my duty to be an example.” And, in his own way, Hass admits sometimes that requires being straightforward and to the point. “I can be blunt if necessary,” chuckled Hass, “but if it’s worth having, sometimes hard work is the only way to reach your goal.” “Players like Chase make changes happen more efficiently than a coach trying to do it,” said Bond.
Character is often described as doing what’s right when nobody’s looking; making the right choices even when it’s not the popular or easy way. Through his daily efforts and with a commitment of always putting others first, McAlester High School senior Chase Hass is exemplary in the impact of walking your talk and making Character Count. “Young people today need a true friend, someone they can rely upon through thick and thin,” said Hass, a member of the Buffaloes varsity baseball team. “There are so many options and temptations for kids to choose from today and many times the right thing is not always fun thing to do.” McAlester baseball coach Justin Bond agrees and points to three traits including strength, sacrifice and humility as the foundation for Hass being an example for everyone to follow. “Chase is a young man that has the confidence and fortitude to not just make the right decision but also the ability to get his teammates to follow his lead,” said Bond. “He’s the type of young
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A member of the National Honor Society, McAlester’s Promise and National Academy of Future Physicians, Hass also examples his character in the classroom where his achievements in AP Honors classes and concurrent college credits have produced a 4.06 GPA, a trait he credits his mom (Susie) as a driving force to be the best. “Mom’s been a teacher in all aspects of my life,” Hass said with gratitude. “She’s taught me so much and has always been in my corner supporting me and challenging me to take it to a higher level.” With college in the near future, Hass plans to pursue a degree in biological science on the path to an eventual career as a pediatric ophthalmologist and continuing his faith-based commitment to helping others. And, if his efforts of moving from the dugout to the starting lineup are any indication of future accomplishments, one can rest assure that Chase Hass will continue to put others first and jointly achieve victories on the road to success and making sure that Character Counts. (Photo courtesy Mark Emmons Photography)
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Locust Grove star Rylie Torrey and Owasso sensation Shake Milton win Shelter Insurance Mr. and Miss Basketball awards. Atoka’s Bobby Johnson is the People’s Choice Award Winner It started with the Top 100. Oklahoma’s top 50 boys and top 50 girls basketball players. Throughout the season, that list was narrowed down to the 20 semifinalists and then the 12 finalists for VYPE’s Shelter Insurance Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards. After tabulating votes from fans online, media members, coaches, and administrators across the state two players finally emerged as the award winners in both awards’ closest race of all-time.
Mr. Basketball – Shake Milton: Owasso Shake Milton has been a force his entire career in a Rams jersey and this year was no different as he led the state in scoring averaging 30 points per game. Shake also improved his game in other areas this year and averaged six rebounds and three assists a night guiding the Rams to a state tournament appearance. Shake is committed to play for legendary coach Larry Brown and SMU next year.
Miss Basketball – Rylie Torrey: Locust Grove
After helping take Weatherford to the Class 4A state tournament last season Torrey moved to Locust Grove this year when her father, Dusty, became the head boys coach for the Pirates. Torrey again led her team into the Class 4A state tournament this season but wouldn’t settle for anything less than a gold ball. In the semifinals she helped spearhead a second half comeback and upset defending champ Ft. Gibson. In the finals Torrey put on a show and scored 28 points to push the Lady Pirates past Anadarko. Overall Torrey averaged 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals per game. Rylie is committed to play at ORU next season. Mr. Basketball People’s Choice – Bobby Johnson: Atoka
One player from the Southeast area of the state did receive more fan support than anybody in this year’s poll and quite frankly more than any athlete has in the three years that VYPE has done the Mr. and Miss Basketball awards. For that reason Bobby Johnson of Atoka prompted the creation of a new award, the People’s Choice Award. After receiving thousands of online votes in each stage of the poll VYPE congratulates Bobby Johnson as the first People’s Choice Award winner.
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McAlester in search of another Class 5A State Golf berth. with any PGA player on any course, what would be your choice? Brown: I’d like to play Amen Corner at Augusta National with Jordan Spieth.
Carrion: There’s nothing like the tradition of the Masters at Augusta National. I’d choose Jordan Spieth and have Coach Zike as my caddie. Justice: I’d do anything to play 18 holes with Jordan Spieth at Augusta National. Nothing could be better. McAlester boys golf coach Chris Zike hopes that warmer weather brings winning results for the Buffaloes boys golf team in search of the Class 5A state tournament. “Because we’re young in tournament experience we need to be able to play,” said Zike referencing the impact of Mother Nature to this spring’s golf schedule. “Our program has qualified for state seven of the past eight years. The time is NOW for us to continue to lower our scores. Dexter Brown, Garrett Carrion, Brady Justice and Layne Boswell continue to fill the scorecard with solid results. VYPE visited with the Buffalo foursome discuss their approach to golf, tee to green.
VYPE: At what age did you start playing golf? Brown: I was only 5 years old when I went to my first golf camp. Carrion: I played my first round of golf with my cousin when I was 10 years old.
Justice: It was the summer before my 8th grade year, I was 13.
Boswell: I don’t know but I was really young when I went to the course with my
Dexter Brown
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grandpa.
VYPE: What club in your bag is your “never-miss MONEY club”? Brown: My 52-degree wedge is my most consistent club for sure. Carrion: If I need to pull off something special, I’m reaching for my 8-iron. Justice: When I have my 6-iron in my hands, I’m confident the result will be good.
Boswell: My driver is the one club I know I can trust for the best results. VYPE: Do you have a specific routine before each round of golf?
Brown: Time on the range with all clubs, then specific chipping and putting practice. Carrion: It’s more of a mental coaching session; “don’t mess up and have a short memory.”
Justice: Nothing specific. Just make sure I only have 14 clubs and practice putting. Boswell: Hit the driving range then take extra time chipping and putting. VYPE: If you could play a round of golf
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Brady Justice
Boswell: I’ve dreamed of playing Amen Corner at Augusta National. And, why not play with the champ-Jordan Spieth. Dexter Brown Grade: 12th GPA: 4.4 Nickname: Dex Twitter: @dexter_brown41 Favorite Food: Steak Something You’re Afraid Of: Snakes Garrett Carrion Grade: 11th GPA: 3.5 Nickname: Gunther Twitter: N/A Favorite Food: Steak Something You’re Afraid Of: Snakes Brady Justice Grade: 11th GPA: 4.46 Nickname: N/A Twitter: @BradyJustice2 Favorite Food: Mac ‘n Cheese Something You’re Afraid Of: Snakes
Layne Braswell Grade: 10th GPA: 3.4 Nickname: Braz Twitter: N/A Favorite Food: BBQ Ribs Something You’re Afraid Of: Spiders
(Photos courtesy Mark Emmons Photography)
Layne Boswell
Lady Buffs trio enjoy playing golf seeking wins while having fun. Rodebush: Ricky Fowler. He’s not just good at golf; he’s good looking too! VYPE: Which player on the team wins a putting contest? Who wins the longest drive?
Nix: I’ll win the putting contest while Johanne would be the best off the tee box. Kalin: Madalyn is money with a putter in her hand but I’ll win the long drive competition.
McAlester girls’ golf coach Jenni McMurray may have a young squad, but the Lady Buffs continue to step to the tee with a smile signaling their confidence of success. “Three is always a good score in golf,” chuckled McMurray, “no matter what hole you play. And, I like the trio of talent we have on this team. They’ve all worked diligently to improve their scores while keeping the competition lots of fun.” A trio of sophomores including Madalyn Nix, Johanne Kalin and Destiny Rodebush continue to require opponents to produce low numbers while playing a round of golf with the Lady Buffs. Nix has won two events this spring while Kalin has two top10 finishes on a spring schedule that has been challenging, more with the weather than the golf course layouts.
VYPE discussed the Lady Buffs approach to playing golf in search of qualifying for the Class 5A state tournament. VYPE: What is your “go-to club?
Madalyn Nix
Nix: My pitching wedge gets me the most consistent results. Kalin: My rescue club is my 6-hybrid. I know I’ll always hit it good.
Rodebush: My 5-iron is my favorite. Whether from the fairway, rough or the tee, I hit it good. VYPE: Do you have a specific routine before each round of golf?
Nix: I like to check out the course, take some practice swings & putts while singing in my head to relax. Kalin: I have to eat the very same thing for breakfast before every tournament.
Rodebush: When I’m out on the course, it’s two practice swings then let it rip. VYPE: Who is your favorite pro golfer? Nix: I’ve always liked Ricky Fowler.
Kalin: Ricky Fowler is my favorite; his game is solid and he always wears “America’s brightest Orange –Go Pokes!”
Johanne Kalin
Rodebush: Johanne is our best long-ball hitter but if you want a putt to win a tournament, my money is on Madalyn, hands down. Madalyn Nix Grade: 10th GPA: 4.0 Nickname: Mady Twitter: @MadalynNix Favorite Food: Pineapple Something You’ll Never Eat: Sushi Something You’re Afraid Of: Spiders
Johanne Kalin Grade: 10th GPA: 4.0 Nickname: Jo Twitter: @johanne_louise Favorite Food: Bread Something You’ll Never Eat: Fish Something You’re Afraid Of: Rollercoasters Destiny Rodebush Grade: 10th GPA: 3.6 Twitter: @MusicIsLife__15 Nickname: Des Favorite Food: Bacon Something You’ll Never Eat: Spinach Something You’re Afraid Of: Society
(Photos courtesy Mark Emmons Photography)
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28 and Counting – In Search of Gold Red Oak seeks to continue its consecutive state tournament appearances
Paige Campagna
Bailee Davis
The outfield scoreboard at Red Oak speaks loud and clear. Five fast-pitch state titles and two championships (1992, 2012) in slowpitch plus four runner-up finishes. Currently, it’s a run of 28 straight state tournament tickets between the two sports. So, it’s no surprise this year’s Lady Eagles softball team is focused on continuing the winning ways.
“We’ve had our share of success,” said head coach Casey Butcher. “We attribute that to hard working kids, community support that’s unbelievable and the fact that our kids grow up expecting to win and believe they should win every time we take the field.”
Four seniors make up the Lady Eagles outfield including Paige Campagna, Bailee Davis, Savanna Lovell and Brenna Shae Coffey, who have won three consecutive fastpitch state championships plus a slow-pitch crown as sophomores. Combined with an eager and talented group of underclassmen, Butcher and the Lady Eagles aren’t going to shy away from continuing the “Red Oak Way” of winning.” “Every player on our team understands the Red Oak tradition because many of the kid’s parents are a part of the winning history,” admits Butcher. “We all know about the 28 straight trips to state and no one wants to be “that group” that breaks the string.
Butcher’s philosophy of playing a schedule filled with top ranked teams from Class 6A and Class 5A may not result in an undefeated record; however Butcher’s approach has proven successful.
“You only get better by playing people better than you everyday in order to push you to improve in every part of the game,” said Butcher pointing to the Lady Eagles schedule. “Unbeaten in the regular season doesn’t mean a thing if you’re not unbeaten that one day when it matters most at the state tournament.” While some coaches and teams’ approach to slow-pitch is playing long ball producing lots of runs, the key to Red Oak’s success will be playing one inning at a time.
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Savanna Lovell
“We feel like we’re good enough defensively to be in every game,” Butcher confirmed. “So if we can put at least one run EVERY inning on the scoreboard, we should be OK. We’ll try to do that by stringing a bunch of hits together and keep the nest (bases) full of Eagles.”
During pre-game warm-ups, VYPE asked the four seniors, all members of Red Oak’s fall and spring lineups, their approach to continuing the winning tradition.
VYPE: What’s the biggest difference between slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball?
Campagna: Slow-pitch is more of an offensive game requiring patience at the plate. Davis: Base running. In slow-pitch you have to follow the ball off the bat to try and get an extra base. Lovell: Because you can’t bunt in slow-pitch, it’s the speed of the game. You have to stay alert all the time. Coffey: The difference is offense and make sure that in slow-pitch you hit behind the base runners.
VYPE: Are you superstitious or have a particular pre-game ritual? Campagna: I always have a braid in my hair and I wear the same bow every time. Davis: I can never wear a bow in my hair or eye-black when we play.
Lovell: It sounds a little crazy, but I actually eat a “pinch of dirt” off the field before a game. Coffey: I have two pair of Under Armour socks I never leave at home. I always put my left sock on first. VYPE: Red Oak has won 3 straight fastpitch state titles plus a slow-pitch title your sophomore year. How does that success help this year’s team?
Campagna: We know the feeling of being the champion. It’s something we love and want to carry on. Davis: After last year getting bumped out in
Brenna Shae Coffey
the first round, it makes us hungry to bring home the gold.
Lovell: Red Oak is success and we’re determined to make sure we continue winning – the Red Oak way!
Coffey: We’ve got a run of success like nobody else and that requires everyone not to be complacent in order to keep it going. #2 – Paige Campagna Grade: 12 GPA: 4.0 Nickname: Paigey Twitter: @Paige_Campagna Pos: OF Throws: R Bats: R Favorite Food: Chocolate Something You Won’t Eat: Fruit Something You’re Afraid Of: Spiders
#5 – Bailee Davis Grade: 12 GPA: 4.0 Nickname: B-D Twitter: @2Bailee0 Pos: OF Throws: R Bats: R Favorite Food: Fish Something You Won’t Eat: Not much Something You’re Afraid Of: Absolute Nothing! # 8 – Savanna Lovell Grade: 12 GPA: 4.0 Nickname: Squirrel Twitter: @Savanna_Lovell Pos: OF Throws: R Bats: R Favorite Food: Steak Something You Won’t Eat: Spaghetti Something You’re Afraid Of: Snake
# 16 – Brenna Shae Coffey Grade: 12 GPA: 4.0 Nickname: Squirrel Twitter: @CoffeyBrenna Pos: OF Throws: R Bats: R Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo Something You Won’t Eat: Tomatoes Something You’re Afraid Of: I’m Afraid of the DARK!
Experienced and talented lineup has Hartshorne baseball in the race for state. Hartshorne’s skipper also feels confident in his pitching staff noting the talents of Tyler Akins and Colton Tubbs to keep opponents in check. “Tyler has great command of his pitches,” James said, noting the crafty righthander’s 1.96 ERA. “He’ll make you hit his pitch and Colton can run it up there as well.” Hartshorne’s road to state remains to be traveled as the Miners seek a berth in the final eight team bracket of Class 3A. But with the combination of talent at all nine positions in the order, expectations for a chance to “mine for gold” are more than just a wish for this year’s team.
(Photo courtesy Kristi Lindley Photography)
Entering his 13th season as head coach, Justin James felt good about the moves his Hartshorne Miners would make in a race for the state tournament despite having just two seniors on the roster. “We returned seven starters from last season’s 26-9 team,” said James with confidence. “And with the overall talent in our lineup, we expected to continue our winning ways.” One of the biggest moves for Hartshorne this season was one the coach didn’t have to make but the OSSAA did as re-classification moved the Miners up a division into Class 3A, where currently Hartshorne has earned the respect of opposing coaches in the polls with a number eight ranking. “We’d been competing against a lot of schools that play baseball year round,” notes James. “Now, the move to Class 3A is no piece of cake because the teams at the top of the rankings are loaded with talent.” When asked to describe the Miners style
of play, James complimented his team’s abilitiy to play defense and take advantage of its opportunities. “Our defense’s ability throughout the team keep us in every game,” said James. “Our team speed playing small ball gets runners moving on the base paths; then, we get the big bomb and you’ve got a big inning.” According to James, success begins at the top of the batting order where shortstop Tyler Lindley, Hartshorne’s quarterback in football, leads the team in hitting with a .403 batting average. Second baseman Dru Barrier is a stellar defensive player with a consistent bat averaging .361 this season while Troy Ray, a wall behind the plate at catcher, doubles as a threat to run with 16 stolen bases. The “brothers Tubbs”, Blake and Colton, swing for power and extra bases while playing first base or designated hitter positions. The outfield is quick to react to balls off the bat with speed as Shay Wilcox, Ledgen Angeli and Braxton Curliss can track things down in the gap holding opposing hitters to singles.
“It’s one of the deepest lineups I’ve had in my 13 seasons at Hartshorne,” admits James, “and 1-9 there’s an expectation to win every time we cross the line.” Hartshorne Miners Baseball # Name Pos. Gr 1 Troy Ray C Jr. 3 Shay Wilcox OF So. 4 Dru Barrier IF Jr. 5 Ian Brown IF So. 6 Ledgen Angeli C So. 7 Blake Tubbs IF So. 8 Chance Parker IF So 9 Braxton Curliss OF Sr. 10 Tyler Lindley IF Jr. 13 Blake Lindley OF Fr. 14 Tyler Akins IF So. 15 Colton Tubbs IF Sr. 16 Jax Mendenhall IF Fr. 19 Gage Dunkin OF Jr. Head Coach: Justin James Asst. Coach: Michael Martin
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The Ada girls soccer team is right where they want to be headed to the postseason.
Coming into this season the Ada Lady Cougars, still a very young soccer program, had not only never won a championship, but they had never made a postseason appearance. That is all set to change this year though with the Lady Cougars currently enjoying their best season in history. Through 10 games this year Ada sat at 7-3 and 4-0 in district play. The Lady Cougars started the year with some extremely challenging games playing Class 5A power Durant twice in the first three games and yet another 5A power in Noble directly after the second contest with Durant. After a 1-3 start however, Ada ran off six wins in a row, three of which came by shutout.
Ada head coach Cole Jones said that he couldn’t feel better about where his team is at with the postseason rapidly approaching. “I feel really good. We started off against some tougher teams but
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we met the challenge and the girls continued to grow as a team. We are playing our best soccer right now and that’s exactly what you want to happen, we are peaking at the right time,” Jones said.
Helping to lead the team this year on the defensive side have been senior central defender Kyler Gilliam and junior goalkeeper Fisher Fulton. “Kyler has been a key part of our defense and a true leader on that side of the ball. Fisher has also played extremely well and played extremely confident all year,” coach Jones said.
For the offense, junior midfielder Cassidy Walsh has been crucial and a great asset to the team according to coach Jones while sophomore forward Rumor Lejuene has also been key to the success of the team. “It has really been an amazing team effort. It is almost impossible to single out any one player, it has really been about all 11 girls on the
field,” Jones said. “I’ve never been a part of a team like this, a team who is so team-oriented and only caring about the good of the team.” Lady Cougars Roster Fisher Fulton Kyler Gilliam Rumor Lejuene Maddison Feezel Kate Pottebaum Devon Brown Addison Rhynes Taylor Hodges Mercedes Lafleur Avery Anderson Cassidy Walsh Jessica Honeycutt McKenzie Sockey Maycee Bottoms Mackenzie Bratton Iridian Bennett Taylor Skillern Grace Pottebaum Sadie Criswell
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Sulphur Baseball The Sulphur Bulldogs, led by coach Corey Cole, are ranked No. 18 in Class 4A with a 14-8 record. The season began with three rainouts for the Bulldogs. They were supposed to play their first game on March 6, but didn’t get to play until almost a week later on March 12. They started out the season
scorching hot. The Bulldogs began the season on a seven game winning streak, where they were averaging almost 10 runs a game. After suffering their first loss of the season on March 27, Sulphur responded by going on a five game winning streak to push their record to 12-1. During that five
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game winning streak, the Bulldogs were averaging 11.6 runs per game. Since the start of April, the offense has gone cold. The Bulldogs suffered a five game losing streak that pushed their record to 12-6. During that stretch, they scored a total of five runs. In the past two weeks, the Bulldogs are 2-2. They are only a couple of games away from the playoffs, so they are working on fine-tuning their game in time to compete for the title. The Bulldogs have faced some tough opponents this season. They have faced ranked teams in multiple classes. They beat Tupelo, who is No. 10 in Class B, three times this season. When the playoffs come, the competition will be stout each game they play. Sulphur is hoping to be on top of their game once May rolls around, and the district playoffs arrive.
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Baily King - Stringtown Baseball
Carissa Moore - Tushka Softball
Senior Baily King is a do-it-all type player for coach Heard and the Stringtown Tigers. He is a pitcher, and he plays shortstop as well. This month, King is 10-25 at the plate, and he holds a .400 batting average overall. When King gets on base, the Tigers have a much better chance at winning. His base running ability is top notch. He has 16 stolen bases and 10 runs scored. He is a tremendous contact hitter, and he has the ability to hit the ball to all areas of the field. King has one double, and has driven in 16 runs this season. He’s an allaround offensive player, and he always gives Stringtown a chance to compete. For all of his hard work this season, Baily King is the Atoka Area Athlete of the Month.
Carissa Moore plays slow pitch softball for coach Durbin at Tushka. She is the catcher, and she is arguably Durbin’s best power hitter. This season, she is proving that her power hitting is something to look out for. So far, Moore is hitting .654 with five homeruns and 15 doubles. She has proven that she has the ability to hit the ball out of the park. Her impressive numbers don’t stop there. She also has two triples and 34 RBIs. Moore’s play has helped the Tigers reach No. 1 in the Class 3A rankings. As of April 20, Tushka had a 23-8 record, and are looking like the best team in 3A. Moore plays a major role in that. Moore’s numbers and hard work have earned the title of Atoka Area Athlete of the Month.
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Soccer Taking Hold in Durant Soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in Durant with a big fan base and steadily growing participation numbers.
Soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in Durant with a big fan base and steadily growing participation numbers.
and 6-1 defeat of Tulsa East Central.
The Lady Lions have consistently been playoff participants and sport one of the best defensive units in head coach Jeff Garrett’s tenure. Overall, Durant has yielded just four total goals while throwing seven shutouts. Their lone defeats both came 1-0 in defensive struggles on the road at Tulsa Edison and Tahlequah.
outs while making 80 saves. Alissa French had added a pair of shutouts and 17 saves in two contests.
The Durant squad, which won the prestigious Rose Rock TourThose numbers have helped feed nament in Noble earlier this season, has also been solid on one of the most successful seasons in recent years as the Durant the offensive end of the field by High School boys and girls teams regularly putting up 20 shots on have combined for a 16-6 overall goal or more. record while both be strong post- In nine games, junior goalkeeper season competition. Riley Andis had posted six shut-
The brother combination of senior Alberto Vazquez and sophomore Jose Vazquez have set the tone while leading the scoring production. Alberto has a team-high seven goals while Jose is close behind with six. Nick Orozco, Ulises Gudino and Evan Armor have each contributed three goals. Midfielder Chandler Fernandez has added two and Alfredo Osorio and Raul Trevino one apiece.
On the offensive end, Alexus Coxsey was the Lady Lion leading scorer with 16 goals with Shaya Claxton contributing 12. Emily Acuna posted six, Brianna Cedillo had five and Jatelyn Wallace three.
Defense has been stellar most all season for the Lions, pitching five shutouts and allowing less than one goal per game on average.
Although they have gotten outstanding goalkeeping, Garrett is quick to point out the tremendous play of his defenders. Outside of the Lady Lions’ two defeats the only other scores they have allowed were a 2-1 win over Noble
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fensive approach while posting a 7-4 record thus far.
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After struggling a year ago with consistency and youth, the Durant boys’ squad has flourished in 2015 with a veteran cast which has shown a more aggressive of-
Senior goalkeeper Blake Whittington has been a virtual wall with Steven Cole, John Harper, Hilario Sanchez and Jake Smith blanketing foes on the defensive end on a regular basis.
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Durant Character Counts
A Champion of Character Award winner, sophomore Bertram Su is a straight A student with a perfect 4.0 GPA. His course load includes Pre-AP Math along with Science and Reading. He has been an honor roll student in addition to earning perfect attendance honors. Su is a stalwart on the Durant High School tennis team with the highlight of his career so far playing #1 singles for the second-ever junior high state event. Along with tennis, Su also spends much of his time working with the school’s Debate squad. He is a volunteer for the Durant Main Street organization in his spare time.
She gets her hair from her mom...
Her eyes from her dad...
...and her drugs from her grandma’s medicine cabinet. It is time to clean out your medcine cabinets and properly dispose of unused or outdated prescription medications. Disposal boxes are located at the Durant Police Department and the Bryan County Sheriff’s Department. 24
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Emily Acuna - Durant Soccer Junior Emily Acuna is a standout on the Durant Lady Lion soccer team while carrying a 3.5 grade point average with a course load that includes Algebra 2, Forensics, AP English and World Geography. Acuna has picked up soccer awards for Most Versatile, Most Improved Team Player and Team Captain. She considers her best quality to be her personality and is also a member of the school’s HOSA program. In addition to volunteering as a little league soccer coach she has also traveled on several church missions. Acuna’s future plans are to go to college and study forensics before eventually becoming a criminal investigator.
drugfree@durantisd.org
Bertram Su - Durant Tennis
The Savages are starting to put it all together on the diamond under head coach Tony West. communicator when he deals with our pitchers,” West said.
Overall West said that while his team is improving he is continuing to preach the fundamentals, good situational baseball and discipline at the plate.
When he took over the Wynnewood baseball program last year Tony West inherited a program that returned just three players with any varsity experience at all. West then asked all three of those players to change positions to help the team, leaving the Savages with a team that was in a desperate search for an identity.
That lack of a true identity showed in the team’s record from last year as the team finished 5-20. This year as players have become more accustomed to West’s coaching style and more experienced at the varsity level the Savages have begun to turn the corner according to west and sit at 8-12 through 20 total games.
“I knew coming into this year we would still be young. We start four or five sophomores and at times play one or two freshmen. We still make some freshmen and sophomore mistakes but
they are coming together and starting to turn the corner,” West said. Leading the team this year is senior Ty Durbecq. Durbecq, who has been a leader offensively and defensively is primarily a pitcher but will play on the corners of the infield when he isn’t on the mound. Sophomores Keegan Moore and Baron Odom are also key pitchers for the team and while they aren’t on the mound Moore starts in centerfield while Odom plays first base. All three players also have racked up a nohitter this year; something the Wynnewood team didn’t have any of last year. Junior catcher Taylor Peters has also been a huge contributor this year according to West.
“Taylor hadn’t caught at the varsity level before last year but he has become a really strong catcher and handles our staff very well and is an excellent
“We are still working on all of those things but we are better at them now than we were. We still aren’t what I would call a great bunting team and aren’t great at moving runners but we do it better than we did last year. We still strikeout way too much for my liking too but that is something that has gotten better as well,” West said. “Overall we have a good bunch of kids who work hard and understand what it takes to get better everyday.” Wynnewood Baseball Ty Durbecq Coby Carter RJ Corliss Jacob Garza Kyle Roberson Kody Roberson Chase Grove Taylor Peters Casey McBroom Michael McCann Cody Weeks Baron Odom Zac Levy Keegan Moore Jamey Williams Cameron Casteel Brody Odom Tyler Weeks A p r i l - M ay 2 0 1 5
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Dallas Donaldson – Valliant High School Most of the time it isn’t a freshman that is the first player a coach names when asked about a strong leader with high character. Ask Valliant head girls basketball coach Patrick Nix though and he will buck the trend and tell you that his freshman point guard Dallas Donaldson fits that description perfectly. Along with basketball, Donaldson is also is a faithful member of her rodeo association SWAHSRA. Donaldson competes in both barrel racing and pole bending when it comes to rodeo and says she would like to pursue both rodeo and basketball at the college level. When asked about who have been her role models in her athletic career Donaldson did what most great leaders do, turning the focus to her teammates and coaches.
“This year’s seniors were definitely role models for me along with Maggi and Mariah, two sophomores on my team, but my entire team is also a definite inspiration,” Donaldson said. “I also owe all of the credit given to me to coach Nix and my assistant coach Kraig Sundberg.”
For her effort in athletics and in her community to be a true leader Dallas Donaldson is the McCurtain County Leader of the Month.
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vages and r the Lady Sa tt plays golf fo e of sports. Off the ue Pr lie ol M junior es outsid g in Broken Bow other activiti be competin ed in several CLA and will iaFC rl of Pa r e be is also involv th em is also a m . Pruett is also e History course Pruett at nationals this summer th of rt pa l, ci ts coun the star even Bow student two years. r the Broken r mentarian fo en a football manager fo t be 02 grade poin Club and has rr ca ying a 4. ar st AP a eso Pr al m Pruett is ses including In the classroo also takes several AP clas logy. io tt ys ue Ph Pr s e. or ag aver d Hon but would U.S. History an yet on a major Tulsa. Calculus, AP re su t n’ is e of sh ty id si sa er at the Univ hool Pruett After high sc reer, possibly ca lf go r lie Pruett he ol ue classroom M onth. like to contin se and in the M e ur th co lf of e go et e on th ic Athl For her effort male Academ tain County Fe is the McCur
Submit your nomination for the Whitten Academic Athlete of the Month to: Oklahoma@VYPE.com
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Idabel track coach Sanda Gambol and her team have their work cut out for them this season. The Lady Warriors have a talented group of athletes, but the competition is stiff in Class 3A. Gambol knows her team will need to stay healthy throughout the season in order to compete at the end of the year. Gambol has the talent to compete for the state title in 3A. She has talented athletes on both the track and field side of things. Senior Mila Haynes is a long distance runner, and is the leader of Gambol’s team. Last year at the state meet, she placed third in the 800 meter run. Senior Keyia Green is a hurdle runner, and she serves as a leader along with Haynes. During the 2014 state meet, Green placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdle race. These two are the headliners for Gambol’s
team. This season, they have been doing their best to get back to the state meet and hopefully place higher than last season. On April 3, the Lady Warriors competed in the Tishomingo High School Invitational. Overall, coach Gambol’s team finished in second place with a total score of 90. In the 4x100 relay, the Lady Warriors were fractions of a second away from taking first place. They finished with a time of 52.71, while Purcell finished with a time of 52.58. Freshman Neriah Wharry showed that she could compete for a long time to come. The freshman won the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.13. In Keyia Green’s marquee event, the 300-meter hurdles, she finished second behind freshman Haylee Swayze from Purcell by less than a second. It was an impressive performance that surely built the confidence of Gambol’s squad. Less than a week later at the Poteau Invitational on April 7, Green dominated the 300-meter hurdle race. She finished in first place with a time of 49.66. That number is impressive on its own, but coupled with the fact that
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the runner who finished second had a time of 52.10. Finishing almost three full seconds ahead of somebody is always impressive. At the same meet, Gambol’s relay teams showed they had potential to make a lot of noise toward the end of the season. Her 800-meter relay team came in second with a time 1:50.86. They were not far behind Spiro, which finished in first. Her 1600-meter relay team also finished second at the Poteau meet, finishing behind Spiro in that event as well. They finished with a time of 4:19.25.
With track season coming to a close, Gambol and her team will aim to make a run for the state title. Keep an eye out for the Idabel Lady Warriors.
Mila Haynes
philosophy of sports.”
This season, the Warriors have struggled. But that is not to say they haven’t made progress. It will take some time for Cheney’s athletes to fully develop. Sophomore Tyriq French proved he could become a talented jumper for Cheney. At the Tishomingo High School Invitational, French came in sixth. He jumped a 5’08.00”. He has the ability to compete at a high level. The future is bright for the Idabel Warriors. Now that Cheney is settled in, he will be able to build his team around his philosophies. Keep an eye out for Idabel in the future.
KJ Wells Bill Cheney became the new Idabel boys track coach before the 2015 season kicked off. However, this isn’t his first year at Idabel. Six years ago, Cheney was an assistant for the boys’ track team before he decided to switch to straight teaching. This season, they were searching for a new coach, and Cheney was the answer they had been looking for. Now, with a small team, Cheney is working on building Idabel back to the powerhouse they once were.
“Track has always been a big sport here in Idabel,” Cheney said. “So expectations are always extremely high.” Luckily for Idabel, Cheney has been coaching track for many years. Most of his years as a head coach took place in Texas. He coached at West Hardin and Mabank, among others. The transition to a new coach was easy on the athletes since they are familiar with Cheney.
“The athletes already knew me from my time as an assistant,” Cheney said. “So the transition hasn’t been difficult.” Now at the helm of the team, Cheney has the ability to instill his coaching philosophy. He has the ability to build his team from the ground up, starting with the young guys. He knows their development is important. He wants his kids to come to practice with the same attitude every day. “I don’t have a large team,” Cheney said. “The ones I do have work tremendously hard and come to compete, which is my
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