Cover Photo by Wes Sharp
Kyle White - Anadarko Honest Dangerfield - Duncan Kobe Powell - Chickasha Caleb Ross - Chickasha Andrew Sinn - Chickasha
Athlete theYear of
S C H O L A R S H I P
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Bank SNB has teamed up to grant a $1,000 Scholarship to be presented in the June issue of VYPE. Here is how it will work: • Each month, VYPE will take nominations for an Athlete of the Month and a boy or girl will be elected the Bank SNB Athlete of the Month. This will be a chance for boys and girls of all sports to be recognized for their performances. • Nominees can be mailed to Oklahoma@VYPE. com. Give the nominee’s name, school, sport and reasons you believe the athlete should be awarded the scholarship. • The nominees will need to be seniors this season but keep in mind that their accomplishments as juniors will be taken into consideration as well. • Each monthly recipient will be a candidate for the scholarship that will be awarded in June. • All sports will be eligible to have a nomination. • The male and female athletes who are chosen each month will have a pictured bio, highlighting their accomplishments, placed on this page. Nominees will be profiled in VYPE magazine, but it is not necessary to be profiled in order to win the scholarship.
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Bank SNB Scholar Athlete of the Month Jonah Roberson - Chickasha High School
Jonah Roberson is a senior soccer player at Chickasha High School. Jonah played forward for CHS his freshman year and then started as a defender his sophomore and junior seasons. Now in his senior year, Jonah will take on the role of keeper for the CHS squad. He received the most improved player award his sophomore year. He also ran cross country his senior year. Sports is just one aspect of Jonah’s life at Chickasha High School though. He has earned the award of Eagle Scout, Boyscouts highest honor. He held every office in his local troop over his 11 years of scouting. He is also active in Key Club at CHS and he has performed in theatrical performances for both CHS drama and Chickasha Community Theatre. Jonah has also been on the CHS scholastic team and academic team while in high school. Roberson has been selected for Oklahoma Honor Society all four years of high school and is the scholarship warden for National Honor Society. He has been number one in his class for his four years at CHS. He has a GPA of 4.30 and has taken 5 AP classes and 4 concurrent college classes. Finally, Jonah is also a member of Holy Name Catholic Church. Jonah plans to attend either Creighton University or the University of Oklahoma in the fall and he is planning to double major in History and Journalism while participating in the Honors Program at college. A self-motivator and a young man that gives 100 percent to all his endeavors. This dedication earned him the nickname of “Freshman Captain” his freshman year on the soccer team. For his dedication to academic excellence and his leadership both in scouting and on the playing field Jonah Roberson is the Bank SNB Academic Athlete of the Month.
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Trinity Media Group, LLC 12330 E. 60th St. • 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 • Oklahoma Sales Director Roscoe Migloire Associate Editor Cal Ross • SWOK Associate Editor Sarah Dewberry • Sales Executive Gary Noske Contributing Writers Kyle Kendrick, Autumn Matthews, Andee Beth Fitts, Bill Huddleston, Brad Heath, Cal Ross Contributing Photographers Kyle Kendrick, Brett Rojo, Wes Sharp, Sharon Moffat, Melissa Jones Graphic Design Kerri Conner 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.
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6 | Mr. Football
A Season to Remember The Altus Bulldogs conquered the Class 5A field this fall and achieved their dreams of a state title. Check out our extensive recap here.
The Shelter Insurance VYPE Mr. Football Oklahoma Award has been announced. Check out some of the top vote-getters.
14 | Overcoming Adversity
44 | From Hunter to Hunted
Elk City’s Paige Boyd hasn’t had the ideal senior year but the obstacles she has overcome are only making her stronger.
The Plainview wrestling team is in a little different role this year but don’t expect that to stop them from defending their state championship.
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VYPE
2015 Shelter Insurance Mr. Football Award Cooper Nunley
An incredibly talented field of athletes began this Mr. Football journey in June with the announcement of the VYPE Top 100. During the season the top 100 players were cut down to 15 finalists that included Roger Barcheers of Poteau,
Calvin Bundage of Edmond Santa Fe, Keats Calhoon of Victory Christian, Mason Fine of Locust Grove, Matt Harmon of Cashion, Nathan Herring of McAlester, Justice Hill of Booker T. Washington, Jeremy Lewis of Lone Grove, Jaeston Nelson of Seiling, Cooper Nunley of Jenks, Colton Penrod of Bartlesville, Logan Roberson of Harrah, Jamall Shaw of Broken Arrow, Rylan Stephens of McAlester and Micah Wilson of Lincoln Christian. Votes from members of print, radio and television as well as athletic directors were counted and the winner of the 2015 Shelter Insurance Mr. Football Award is……. 2015 Shelter Insurance Mr. Football Oklahoma COOPER NUNLEY – JENKS As the starting quarterback for the Jenks Trojans Nunley led the team to their fourth Class 6AI title in a row, Nunley’s third title as the starter. This season Nunley passed for more than 2,800 yards, 35 touchdowns. He became the all-time touchdown leader with 86, the all-time leader in wins, all-time leader in yardage and ended his career with 22 straight games with a touchdown pass. He also beat rival Union five times as a starter. Offensive coordinator Dub Maddox said of Nunley, “he does things on the field that very few high school quarterbacks can do. The school that picks him up is getting a true competitor.” Nunley was selected to the East All-State team as the 1st team quarterback. 2015 Shelter Insurance Mr. Football Oklahoma Runner-up
Jeremy Lewis
MICAH WILSON – LINCOLN CHRISTIAN Wilson threw for more than 3,500
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yards and 54 touchdowns on his way to competing for a Class 3A state title. Wilson also rushed for over 500 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground. Wilson has committed to play football for Boise State next year and was recently selected to the East All-State team as the punter. JEREMY LEWIS – LONE GROVE 2015 was an amazing year for Lewis. He rushed for nearly 3,000 yards (2,966) and 47 touchdowns finishing his career at Lone Grove with 6,917 yards. He averaged 14.2 yards per carry on 221 attempts. Lewis committed to Arkansas State University. MASON FINE – LOCUST GROVE The 2014 Mr. Football award winner experienced another great season at Locust Grove High School. Fine set the all-time yardage record in Oklahoma throwing for 12,403 yards in his career. This season Fine threw for 4,168 yards and 53 touchdowns. He was also named Gatorade Player of the Year for the second year in a row. JAMALL SHAW – BROKEN ARROW & JUSTICE HILL – BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Tied in the voting, Jamall Shaw of Broken Arrow and Justice Hill of Booker T. Washington both had tremendous seasons for their schools. Shaw rushed for over 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, setting a new rushing record at Broken Arrow. Shaw helped the Tigers to the 6AI title game. Hill was the workhorse for the Hornets this season. He rushed for 1,858 yards and 30 touchdowns this season averaging 10.3 per carry. Hill has committed to Oklahoma State University.
Southern Oklahoma Classic Tournament Washington Plainview Ardmore Cache Sulphur
Lindsey Craig
OJ Walker
Adam Arredondo
Nevada Denton
Ariel Brogdon
Brooke Grimes
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Lawton Young Guns
Joe Brewer RJ Fisher: Lawton Eisenhower. Sophomore. Point Guard. Why you should watch: RJ has been a two-year starter for the Eagles. Can play all five positions. Great basketball IQ. Usually draws the other team’s best player on defense. DJ Sims: Lawton Eisenhower. Sophomore. Point Guard. Why you should watch: A very quick guard with a scorer’s mentality. Very good off the dribble and a very good shooter. Kenyan Parker: Lawton Eisenhower. Sophomore. Guard. Why you should watch: At 6-2, Parker is a strong and very athletic player. A slasher on offense that can get to the rim but can also score on the outside. Also a very strong defensive player. Jaeda Reed: Lawton Eisenhower Lady Eagles. Sophomore. Center. Why you should watch: Jaeda Reed is a 6-2 sophomore that is an upand-coming player in the Ike Eagles basketball program. She has been one of the team’s leaders in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. “Jaeda has an awesome attitude and is very coachable. She will be the foundation of our program in the future,” Eisenhower head coach Daniel Wall said. Delecia Brown: Lawton Eisenhower Lady Eagles. Sophomore. Combo Guard. Why you should watch: Delecia is a very talented ball handler, shooter, and her strength is getting to the rim. Delecia is also very coachable and is a great kid according to coach Wall. 8
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Marquetta Rogers: Lawton Eisenhower Lady Eagles. Sophomore. Guard. Why you should watch: Another very athletic sophomore that shows much promise for the Lady Eagles. She is quick and is a good defender that will help in the future of the program. Cody Smith: Lawton Eisenhower Wrestling. Freshman. 106 pounds. Why you should watch: Not only is this Cody’s first year, but he didn’t even start until mid-November. In his short time on the mat thus far, this freshman with natural ability has already amassed a 5-2 varsity record. Rory McPherson: Lawton Eisenhower Wrestling. Sophomore. 113 pounds. Why you should watch: A returning conference placer, this second year wrestler’s sheer athleticism is second to none according to Eisenhower head coach Trebor Myers. As his technique improves daily, so do his total number of wins. Definitely a name to watch for.
Why you should watch: Starter on the high school team this year as a freshman. Gabriel placed fifth last year in the OKWA state tournament as an eighth grader. Also starred on the LHS cross country team. Marcus Spencer: Lawton Wrestling. Freshman. 195 pounds. Why you should watch: Marcus starts on the high school team at 195. Marcus placed third last year in the OKWA state tournament as an eighth grader. Marcus also started at linebacker for the Wolverines and participates in track. Mark Berry: Lawton Wolverines. Freshman. Forward/Center Why you should watch: Berry currently is getting limited time at the varsity level but starts on both the freshmen and junior varsity teams. “If he works hard you could be watching him on the next level,” Lawton head coach Eric Wiley said. “I always tell him he is a play away from starting at the varsity level. He is raw right now but with hard work the sky is the limit.”
Joseph Brewer: Lawton Eisenhower Wrestling. Sophomore. 138/145 pounds. Why you should watch: Coming of a fantastic freshman year, Joe took home plenty of varsity hardware last season. Joe is currently rehabbing a broken hand, but by early January, he is expected to pick up right where he left off last season. A true potential state qualifier. Jayden Garcia: Lawton Wrestling. Sophomore. 160 pounds. Why you should watch: Last year placed sixth at the high school regional tournament as a freshman. Jayden is a fierce competitor and also plays football and baseball. Gabriel Mendelson: Lawton Wrestling. Freshman. 126 pounds.
RJ Fisher
For her efforts Ciara Cardona Cardona also walked away with As a senior at Frederick High School several postseason honors this year. this year Ciara Cardona became a She was named to the All-Region team definite player to watch on the softball and was an honorable mention Alldiamond. Cardona started at catcher State selection. for the Lady Bombers, just as she had done her sophomore and junior seasons, and helped Frederick to a 30-12 overall record and a trip to the Class 2A state tournament.
The Lady Bombers run to a title was cut short however with a extra-inning loss to the Drumright Lady Tornadoes. Despite the loss however, Cardona and the rest of her teammates had nothing to hang their heads about when they walked off the field for the last time at the American Softball Association Hall of Fame Stadium.
Along with being an outstanding softball player Ciara carries a 3.57 grade point average at Frederick and is planning to get a head start on her college degree this semester by taking several concurrent enrollment classes at Western Oklahoma State College in Altus. It doesn’t stop there however, Cardona is also enrolled in classes at Great Plains Tech as part of its Health Careers program. With that
VYPE
Great Plains Tech Student of the Month Ciara Cardona education Cardona hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a nurse.
“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse. I definitely want to help people and my mom is a nurse and I’ve seen how passionate she is about her job and her patients and it has always inspired me,” Cardona said. After high school Cardona said she plans on attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University to obtain her nursing degree.
For her amazing efforts on the diamond, her all-around performance in the classroom and her dedication to her studies at Great Plains Tech, Ciara Cardona is the Great Plains Tech Student of the Month.
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VYPE
Leaders in Life Tatyana Ndekwe Zaria Worthington
Lawton Christian Lady Crusaders basketball players Zaria Worthington and Tatyana Ndekwe are leaders both on and off the court Fans of the Lawton Christian Lady Crusaders basketball team know about the type of players Zaria Worthington and Tatyana Ndekwe are on the floor. The type of players that head coach Kevin Barr heaps praises onto. When asked to describe Worthington Barr couldn’t say enough good things. “Zaria is a senior and co-captain of our team. She plays both guard and small forward. She leads the team by a calmness that she brings when things get hectic. She is a pure shooter with a soft touch,” Barr said. “She is always in teaching mode to the under classman, and displays kindness, compassion when times get tough for the team or I get upset.” Barr described Ndekwe with the same amount of high praise.
“Tatyana is also a senior and cocaptain of our team. She plays center, but can play and has played all five positions in the past, as she is talented in many ways. She is the teams go to player,” Barr said. “All the girls look to Tat when games are close, and when we need a basket, rebound or a defensive turnover. She displays confidence that I have not seen at this level in over 30 years of basketball. She is the team’s overall leader, and does so by example with her toughness, and her determination not to let us lose.”
said. “I’ve known a lot of the girls on the team since we were little so I’m comfortable being more of a vocal leader with them but I also try to make sure they see my words in my actions as well.”
Both Worthington and Ndekwe have also played on the Lady Crusaders volleyball team that has been very successful in the past several years and both said they think that success should help them achieve their goals on the hardwood. Both players know that isn’t a given though and Ndekwe said as much when asked about it.
Despite what they do on the floor though both players have plans for what they want to accomplish off of it though. Worthington said she would like to attend the University of Central Oklahoma next year and study to become an Art teacher then return to Lawton Christian after obtaining her degree to help restart the school’s art program. Ndekwe meanwhile hasn’t narrowed down what school she would like to attend next year but does know that she wants to study Biochemistry and Research.
“I hope the success can translate over but I’m not relying on that aspect. I know I will have to work harder for my success in basketball because I haven’t had enough experience,” Ndekwe said. Both players are also very comfortable in their leadership roles and both said they try to lead both vocally and by example. “I try to do a little bit of both,” Worthington
Ndekwe shared similar thoughts about her style of leadership. “I try to do both. Encouragement, even for me, a captain, helps tremendously. Leading by example does help some but not as much as the vocal leading; our team needs to grow and some of our abilities haven’t touched that visual learning yet.”
With amazing student-athletes leading the way for the Lady Crusaders it’s easy to see why coach Barr thinks so highly of his senior co-captains and it’s even easier to tell that Worthington and Ndekwe are bound for success no matter where life takes them.
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Jacob Butler: Elgin Owls Wrestling. Sophomore. 120 pounds. Why you should watch: “Jacob is an amazing young wrestler. He’s Elgin “star wrestler” and I see him competing for state titles for the next three years,” Elgin head coach Todd Osborn said. The coach went on to add that Jacob is special and he makes Elgin’s entire wrestling room better. Jacob began the year 12-0 and placed first at the Putnam City Tournament. Jacob also has big early season wins over
Montorie Bridges from Altus and Zach Bibb from Capital Hill. Kailah Ballou: Elgin Lady Owls. Freshman. Forward. Why you should watch: Kailah is basically playing the sixth man role and providing strong minutes and a scoring punch off of the bench for the Lady Owls this season. Kailah has tremendous quickness, ball skills and strength for a big girl at 5-9 and a solid muscular frame make her tough inside and out according to Elgin head coach Miles Thompson. “Once she figures out how to play the game better and develops more perimeter shooting she will be a force to be reckoned with as she matures,” Thompson said. Izzy Cummins: Elgin Lady Owls. Freshman. Combo Guard.
allou
Kailah B
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Elgin's Rising Stars
Why you should watch: Cummins is the leading scorer on the Elgin JV team. According to Elgin head coach Miles Thompson, Cummins shows
Chase DeFilippo good confidence and poise, a great scoring knack and can be deadly from the three-point line when she is on. Chase DeFilippo: Elgin Owls. Sophomore. Post. Why you should watch: A 6-5 big man, Chase comes off the bench to give the Owls some quality minutes spelling Elgin’s starting big forwards. The Owls have played well this season with multiple hard-fought contests and DeFilippo figures to play a big factor if that is to continue.
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VYPE
Merritt/Sayre Young Guns
Ryann Richardson Jaden Patterson: Sayre Lady Eagles. Sophomore. Guard. Why you should watch: Jaden is a very athletic, physical player who has the ability to play inside or out. She is Sayre’s leading scorer off the bench and is still adjusting to the high school game defensively according to Sayre head coach Brian Richardson. She recently won the Sixth Man Award at the Mooreland Holiday Tournament were Sayre finished runner-up.
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“As you watch Jaden, you can see flashes of what she is going to bring to the table in the near future. Jaden comes from a long line of great basketball players at Sayre as her mom and aunt were both star players for Jim Crabb on his tradition-rich six on six teams,” Richardson said. Ryann Richardson: Sayre Lady Eagles. Freshman. Point Guard. Why you should watch: Ryann is coming off her second ACL tear (same knee) from playing travel ball this summer and should be released in January. She has great instincts and the ability to make those around her better. She is very quick and physical and plays the game without any regard for her body. Her ability to shoot the three and penetrate make her tough to guard outside even though defense is where she is the strongest. She averaged around 15 points a game in junior high her
eighth grade year. Because of her injuries, she has had little exposure. She will be a player that will start to really come into her own the next couple of years as her knee reaches full strength. Tyler Fowler: Merritt Oilers. Sophomore. Guard. Why you should watch: Fowler is averaging seven points per game through the early portion of the season and is really improving day by day according to Merritt head coach Donnie Husband. Dalen Smith: Merritt Oilers. Freshman. Guard. Why you should watch: Smith has been coming off the bench and giving some big minutes to the Oilers this season. Averaging five points per game through the first block of games Smith is definitely a player that is not only a crucial piece now but will likely develop into a leadership role in the future.
Kenlee Crouch Kenlee Crouch: Elk City Elkettes. Sophomore. Guard. Why you should watch: Kenlee is contributing to the Elk City varsity team this already according to head coach Tim Ellison. “I look for her to continue that and also to grow into a dominant player over the next two years. She sees the floor well and she can also take you off the dribble as well as shoot the three,” Ellison said. Trent Lewallen: Elk City Elks. Sophomore. Guard.
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Why you should watch: Trent is the younger brother of former VYPE Top 100 player Luke Lewallen who is currently playing for the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs. While his older brother was a very talented player, Trent is a very talented player in his own right. As a freshman Trent averaged seven points per game and as he moves through high school Trent is also likely to be asked to shoulder even more of the burden as the Elks look to get back to competing for a state title, just like they did when Trent’s older brother wore an Elks uniform. Chipper Skelton: Elk City Elks. Sophomore. Guard. Why you should watch: The Elks are a young team in general and Chipper
VYPE
Elk City's Youth Movement
helps to head up a very talented sophomore group. Already being asked to play crucial minutes this season look for Skelton to be asked to carry a bigger and bigger portion of the load as his high school career progresses. Cooper Rogers, Shyler Thornton, Payton David and Diquan Bradford. Elk City Elks. Sophomores.
Why you should watch: These four players round out Elk City’s super sophomore group. All four have already cracked Elk City’s varsity rotation but as this year progresses and as time progresses into the next several seasons expect all four of these players to shine on the hardwood. Outside of Thornton all of these players are guards which should mean a great deal of depth on the perimeter for Elk City in the future.
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VYPE
Overcoming Adversity Paige Boyd
Elk City’s Paige Boyd saw her athletic career as an Elkette come to an end early this winter but through it all she is trying to stay positive Coming into this season Paige Boyd was set to be the Elk City Elkettes starting point guard and lead a team that had state tournament aspirations on the hardwood. That all came to an abrupt halt early in the year when Boyd went up for a shot and came down to the sound of several loud pops and a lot of pain. When the dust settled Boyd found out that she had torn her ACL, MCL and her meniscus. That news is tough to swallow for any athlete but for a senior it’s that much worse, especially when you find out that the injuries also mean you will miss the spring sports season as well. Dealing with all of the changes since the injury haven’t been easy for Boyd
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but the senior said she is trying to stay as upbeat as possible.
that I’m there for them every step of the way.”
“I’ve definitely been very emotional. I’ve been mad, I’ve been sad, I’ve even been happy at times. I’ve done a lot of praying to God, asking him why this had to happen, and I’m still not sure but I’m hopeful that some good will come of this, that He had a plan for me,” Boyd said. “Even now when people ask me how I feel I don’t know how to answer because I’ve felt so much of a different range of things.”
And as for her own personal journey Boyd has already begun physical therapy, something that is helping to keep her spirits up.
Boyd’s plan for being optimistic starts with her status as a member of the Elkettes basketball team.
The journey isn’t over and nobody knows what will occur in the future but with such a great outlook in dealing with adversity and overcoming a tough situation, you can easily predict big things are in store for this Elkette.
“I’m still going to every practice. I just want to try to be out there to support them and help them out every chance I can,” Boyd said. “I still think we are a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs and go to the state tournament and I want the rest of the team to know
“It’s so nice. After my surgery date I had six weeks of no pressure on the leg but even three weeks into that I was at physical therapy doing some things, a lot o cardio and it has just been great to get back out and do something again,” Boyd said.
despite there not being a lot of shot opportunities on that group with two all-staters on it.
Kellen Hines Kellen Hines: Ft. Cobb-Broxton. Freshman. Guard. Why you should watch: Only a freshman Kellen plays on Ft. Cobb’s varsity and junior varsity team. Kellen is one of the top five players on the Mustangs’ roster according to Ft. Cobb head coach Scott Hines but since the Mustangs brought back all five starters off last year’s state tournament team Kellen has been coming off the bench this year. Kellen has scored in double figures nearly every game this year
“He’s the most talented scorer I’ve coached in my 25 years at this age. The least he’s scored in the first half is 18, and that’s going against a lot of junk defenses designed to stop him. He’s a little bigger stronger version of his big brother Cameron, that has been in the VYPE Top 100 the past two years. He’s a real gym rat that works as hard on his game as any kid I’ve ever seen,” Hines said. Lybbee Graham: Carnegie Lady Wildcats. Sophomore. Guard. Why you should watch: Lybbee has started every game in each of the first two years of her high school career. Lybbee is averaging around 10 points
VYPE
Caddo-Kiowa Tech Area Young Guns
a game this year and is an outstanding three-point shooter. Her father is the boys basketball coach at Carnegie and she spends a tremendous amount of time in the gym shooting according to her coach Jeff Tompkins. Hannah Nix: Carnegie Lady Wildcats. Sophomore. Point Guard. Why you should watch: Hannah starts at point guard for the Lady Wildcats and one of the best female athletes in the school with great speed and quickness according to coach Tompkins. She is usually tagged with guarding the other team’s best player and is an outstanding shooter. She plays alongside her sister, Aspen Nix, who is a senior and the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, and a candidate for All-State.
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VYPE A Season to Remember The Altus Bulldogs claimed their second gold ball in school history in December
only loss coming in week five to 2014 Class 5A champion Lawton MacArthur.
Birdow said the records weren’t in his mind throughout the year but it is something he is proud of.
1971. Richard Nixon was president. The Nasdaq stock market debuted. The legal voting age dropped to 18. Patton won best picture. Bridge Over Troubled Water won Song of the Year and the Altus Bulldogs won a Class 3A state football championship. Fast forward 44 years and the Bulldogs finally claimed the second title in school history when they won the Class 5A state championship with a 31-28 win over Collinsville.
And while the state championship would’ve been plenty for the Bulldog faithful, they also got to witness some historic seasons as a bonus. The two main record breakers this year were running back Taven Birdow and defensive back Jayden Benway.
“That wasn’t really something I was concerned about during the season but now that the season is over it is something to be proud of,” Birdow said. “It will be cool to brag about to my kids one day.”
The hero of the state championship game was kicker Gabe Barton but it wasn’t without excitement. Barton had missed an extra point earlier in the game and failed to connect on a 53-yard field goal attempt earlier in the game; but with the game on the line Barton put one through the uprights from 40 yards out to give Altus the win. The victory left Altus at 13-1 on the year, with their 16
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Birdow broke the single game rushing record and the career rushing record at Altus this year. The single game record came in a game against Del City when he ran for 371 yards on 30 carries. The career mark Birdow set at 4,687 yards, shattering the former record which was held by Raymond Boaz ever since 1954. What makes the career record that much more impressive is that Birdow spent his junior year at the IMG Academy in Florida, missing out on a whole year of possible statistics.
Benway meanwhile also broke two major records by setting the school’s single season record for interceptions with 15 picks and also the career record for interceptions with 25. Benway was also the team’s quarterback and a dynamic dual-threat under center. The senior threw for 711 yards and six touchdowns on the year while also running for 992 yards and 20 touchdowns. Other statistical leaders for the Bulldogs this year were Jake Vargas, Tito Jones, Shaquan French, Baylor Feller, Hassan Foye, Shannon Ybarra and Sean
VYPE Torres. Vargas and Jones both rushed for over 500 yards on the year and French led the team in receiving. Meanwhile on the defensive side of the ball Feller, Foye and Ybarra all had at least 100 tackles on the year and Torres led the team in sacks. As time fades those numbers, those records may go away or fade to distant memory but what can never go away, what will never fade is the title, the gold ball these young men bled, cried and fought for. When asked about that title and what it meant to him Birdow summed it up perfectly. “When we won I felt a sense of relief, knowing all the hard work finally paid off for us. It was something that I had always dreamed about when I was a little kid going to the Altus games and it’s a true dream I can say came true,” Birdow said.
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Record (13 -1) State Champions 1 3 5 6 7 9 10 12 13 14 16 17 18 20 22 23 27 28 30 32 33 34 35 37 38 40 42 43 44 50 51 54 55 56 57 58 61 62 63 64 66 68 70 71 72 73 75 77 78 85 87 88 89 20
Jake Vargas Shaquan French Jamie Craig Gant Duncan Logan Marsh Scivern Hill Omar Pollard Tyler Garcia Adrian Rodriguez Jayden Benway Jessie Gilley Ernesto Rosas Kory Beach Cameron Holt Tito Jones Juan Centeno Anthony Maldanado Brenden Phillips Mikey Abuan Hunter Cleveland Taven Birdow Sean Torres Roberto Rodriguez Shannon Ybarra Gabe Barton Austin Baldwin Deante Harris Baylor Feller Isaiah Brian Garrett Frith Marcus Molina Josue Arroyo Terrell Ridenour Trevon Ridenour Jazerick Pitts Isaiah Ayers Daniel Jones Mario Cruz Kamron Canchola Ethan Lesley Kody Sullivan Keegan Pride Michael Finstad McCrae Stephens Kade Wilson Chris Heitert Hunter Gillespie Jackson Herring Keegan Shive Hassan Foye Thomas Hughes Gage Vernon Anton Anderson VYPEOK.COM
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Soph Jr Sr Sr Jr Jr Jr Jr Jr Sr Soph Soph Soph Soph Jr Soph Jr Soph Sr Jr Sr Jr Jr Sr Sr Jr Sr Sr Soph Soph Jr Jr Jr Sr Soph Soph Soph Soph Jr Sr Soph Jr Soph Sr Soph Soph Sr Sr Soph Jr Sr Soph Sr
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QB-LB 6’0 RB-DB 5’9 WR-DB 5’8 WR-DB 6’2 RB-LB 6’1 RB-DL 5’8 RB-DB 5’7 RB-DB 5’9 WR-DB 5’8 QB-DB 6’0 WR-DL 5’6 K 5’7 RB-LB 5’11 RB-DB 5’11 RB-DB 5’11 RB-DB 5’6 WR-DB 5’10 RB-LB 5’8 RB-DB 5’10 RB-LB 5’10 RB-LB 6’1 RB-LB 6’0 RB-LB 5’5 RB-LB 6’0 K 5’9 OL-LB 5’9 RB-LB 5’11 OL-LB 5’10 WR-DB 5’11 OL-DL 5’10 OL-LB 5’6 OL-DL 6’1 OL-DL 5’11 OL-DL 5’9 OL-DL 5’9 OL-DL 5’7 OL-DL 5’7 OL-DL 5’7 OL-DL 5’10 OL-DL 5’9 OL-LB 6’1 OL-DL 5’10 OL-DL 5’8 OL-LB 6’1 OL-DL 6’3 OL-DL 5’7 OL-DL 5’10 OL-DL 6’3 OL-DL 6’1 WR-LB 6’3 WR-DB 6’2 WR-DB 5’10 WR-LB 5’11
174 158 152 191 172 205 148 181 143 178 160 135 173 156 152 151 175 183 168 175 221 180 154 192 136 215 171 208 151 271 184 226 212 228 225 225 153 205 185 216 180 310 232 250 298 163 251 255 229 178 176 170 191
Congrats Bulldogs on a great 2015! Keep it going in 2016!!!
3421 N. Main • Altus, OK 73521 • (580)-477-2222 J A N U A R Y- F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6
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Altus Young Guns Brianne Loe
Jordan Benway: Altus Lady Bulldogs. Freshman. Post.
Wrestling. Freshman. 106 pounds.
Why you should watch: According to Altus head coach Stacie Terbush, Jordan is a very hard working and dedicated young lady. She is a post player that works very hard on a daily basis. “She is not as tall as I would like for her to be but she plays big and that is what matters! I expect big things from her this year. She is very coachable and a great asset to our Lady Bulldog basketball program,” Terbush said.
Why you should watch: In a tradition-rich program that is ranked No. 3 in the state like Altus wrestling it’s not easy for freshmen to crack the varsity lineup but that’s just what Gomez has done this year. Gomez puts in the effort not only on the mat but also in the classroom and according to Altus coach Nick Williams the discipline he has shown is very motivating to everyone in the Altus wrestling room.
Haley Leyja: Altus Lady Bulldogs. Freshman. Guard/ Forward.
Garrett Pride: Altus Bulldogs Wrestling. Freshman. 160 pounds.
Why you should watch: Haley is an upcoming point guard/ shooting forward. Altus head coach Stacie Terbush said that Leyja has a very nice shot and that she expects her to only keep getting better. “She will produce even more for our team as she gathers more confidence throughout the season. She’s a hard worker that always stays late after practice and works on her shot. She’s a true Lady Bulldog,” Terbush said. Kobi Gomez: Altus Bulldogs 24
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Why you should watch: Just like Gomez, Pride has bucked the odds this year and has come in and earned some varsity action for the Bulldogs. Pride is also an excellent student and works just as hard on his studies as he does on his athletics according to Altus coach Nick Williams. Also just like Gomez, Pride has become a source of motivation for everyone on the Altus team due to his hard work and discipline. Rachel Scott: Altus Swim. Sophomore.
Why you should watch: Scott scored points at the state meet last year as a freshman as a member of the 200 yard Medley Relay team and as an individual in the 100 yard Butterfly. This year as a sophomore you can bet that Scott is back and ready for even better results at the state meet. Tatum Pollack: Altus Swim. Sophomore. Why you should watch: A versatile swimmer that can compete in any event Pollack scored points at the state meet last year in the 200 Yard Freestyle and the 500 yard Freestyle. Pollack was also a member of the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay team and the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay team that both scored points at the state meet. Brianne Loe: Altus Swim. Sophomore. Why you should watch: A very talented sophomore Loe is set to make a big contribution this year for the Lady Bulldogs. Loe is a versatile swimmer who can compete in a variety of events according to Altus coach Linda Wiginton.
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Experience Abounds for Altus Wrestling Geary Invitational this year Bridges took home first place at 126 and Birdow took second at 220. Juniors Gage Gomez and Keegan Pride are also both team Montorie Bridges leaders this year after finishing as state runner-ups Bulldogs are setting their last season. Gomez took his second expectations high this year place honors at 106 pounds a year ago There are just some schools across but this year is up to 120 the state that are synonymous with pounds. Pride meanwhile wrestling success. Places like Perry, earned his second place Stillwater, Blackwell, Tuttle, Collinsville, finish at 285 pounds and is Berryhill, Cascia Hall, and Broken back at that weight again Arrow. Another school that belongs in this year. that group is Altus, and the Bulldogs Other key wrestlers are proving just why that is again this this year will be juniors year. Austin Baldwin and The Bulldogs won each of their Omar Pollard as well as first four duals of the season and are seniors Mikey Abuan currently ranked No. 2 in Class 5A, and Shannon Ybarra. behind only Collinsville. The record Baldwin was a state and the ranking have people in Altus placer in 2014 and thinking about things like dual state is wrestling at 195 championships and overall team pounds this year championships and Altus head coach meanwhile Pollard Nick Williams outlined the process of will be competing exactly how that could happen. at 113 pounds “If our team gets a little better every and is also a day we should be in the hunt for some returning state hardware,” Williams said. placer. Aubuan Leading the team this year is the duo has qualified for of Montorie Bridges and Taven Birdow. state in each of the past two Both Bridges and Birdow are both years and will seniors and both are returning state be competing champions. Bridges won the title at at 145 pounds 120 last year while Birdow won at 220 back in 2014. This year Bridges will be this season moving up to 132 pounds while Birdow and Ybarra will be competing will remain at 220. At the prestigious
at 170 this season after qualifying for state at that weight last year. Winning the overall team title in a battle-hardened Class 5A won’t be easy but with a wealth of state tournament experience to fall back on expect Altus to make a serious run at that top spot.
Gage Go
mez
Clinton's Young and Hungry Athletes Gonzalo Rivera: Clinton Red Tornadoes Wrestling. Sophomore. 113 pounds.
Hayden Williams Aleisha Hester: Clinton Lady Reds. Freshman. Guard. Why you should watch: A big, long 5-8 guard, Hester is starting on the varsity team this year and is the Lady Reds’ second leading scorer. She has the ability to play inside and out. Aleisha has the potential to be an excellent player in the years to come according to Clinton head coach Chad Pugh. Hayden Williams: Clinton Red Tornadoes Wrestling. Sophomore. 106 pounds. Why you should watch: Hayden is already making noise at the varsity level and in his first 13 matches the sophomore went 12-1. He was also chosen as the Outstanding Wrestler of the Weatherford Tournament.
Why you should watch: Through his first 13 matches this season Rivera went 11-2 and picked up several big wins including several over previous state qualifiers. Gage Gaunt: Clinton Red Tornadoes. Freshman. Defensive Back. Why you should watch: Gage is the son of Clinton baseball coach Kelly Gaunt and saw some time on the football field for the Red Tornadoes this season as a defensive back. Unafraid to stick his face in the fan he could be an amazing player for Clinton in the near future. Gage will also be playing baseball for Clinton this spring. Molly Koons and Courtney Walker: Clinton Lady Reds Volleyball. Why you should watch: The Lady Reds made it to the state tournament this year but had a roster loaded with seniors. Koons and Walker were the only underclassmen on the varsity squad this year, with Koons only a freshman and Walker a sophomore, making them the foundation the Clinton volleyball team will build around in years to
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come. Hunter Ochrang: Clinton Red Tornadoes. Sophomore. Shooting Guard. Why you should watch: Hunter has been apart of the Clinton program since he was a freshman. According to Clinton coach J.D. Beck, during Ochrang’s freshman year he had to step up and start for another freshman who had been moved up to the varsity team. He handled the situation well and has continued his development through this year. Ochrang has produced 14 points per game for the junior varsity and is pushing to start on the varsity team. “What is special about Hunter is his hunger for the game and his eagerness to learn everyday,” coach Beck said.
Hunter Orch
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volleyball beginning fall 2016.
“I am very excited that we will be offering women’s volleyball at USAO,” McPherson said. “Volleyball is a dynamic, fast-paced sport that is very entertaining and fun to watch. This allows us to provide more opportunities for young ladies who have the athletic skills and academic qualifications at our unique institution.”
Sheri Deily By Justin Tinder USAO Sports Information Director jtinder@usao.edu An opportunity for female student athletes who desire to play volleyball at the collegiate level will soon exist at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. USAO Athletic Director Brisco McPherson said the school will start
Volleyball is the second most popular high school sport for females in the United States behind track and field. A number of high schools within the USAO service area are among the most successful in the state of Oklahoma.
“The popularity of the sport will offer us a broad platform and expand opportunities for students considering USAO in their choices of colleges,” said President John Feaver.
To lead the volleyball program, USAO chose Sheri Deily, the founder, director and coach of Club Synergy Volleyball based in Piedmont. She has grown the club to more than 40 in the last
three years where they competed successfully in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas. “I cannot wait to get started. Volleyball is my passion, and I love teaching the sport,” Deily said. “This opportunity is a big step in my coaching career, and I look forward to the challenges and rewards of building the program.”
The uniqueness of starting a program offers its special set of challenges. However, that is what is most attractive about the job, according to Deily.
“I understand the peaks and pitfalls of starting a program from scratch. I did the same with Club Synergy three years ago,” Deily said. “I will have total control over choosing my players. I can build a relationship with them before the season starts which will make us stronger on the court.”
Deily has experience at building support for the game she loves. She introduced volleyball to the Piedmont area and grew not only her club but started the sport at the high school in 2011. For more information including tryout dates, contact Deily at sdeily@usao.edu or call (405) 574-1314.
CURIOUS MINDS challenge the world I chose Communication as my major because I want to travel and motivationally speak to inspire young adults to be the very best they can be. USAO is helping me achieve this goal by providing me with excellent advisors and opportunities to gain hands-on experience.
Nicole Crow | Chickasha, OK | Communication Oklahoma’s Public Liberal Arts College Nationally Recognized for Affordability and Quality Rigorous and Distinctive Interdisciplinary Core Curriculum (405) 574-1357 USAO.edu
THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA - col l e g e f o r t h e c u r i o u s m i n d -
1727 W. Alabama Chickasha, OK 73018
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Weatherford Young Guns Braden Teasley: Weatherford Eagles. Freshman. Guard. Why you should watch: Braden is a good athlete and is the leading scorer on Weatherford’s ninth grade team. He’s not contributing to the varsity yet because the Eagles have so many upperclassmen ahead of him, but he has a ton of potential. Tyler Kirk: Weatherford Eagles. Freshman. Forward/Center. Why you should watch: Tyler has a lot of potential according to Weatherford head coach Tim Price. “He is suiting up for the varsity and getting some minutes, and once he adjusts to the varsity game, he’ll be an important part to the future of a program,” Price said. Garret Hoffman: Weatherford Eagles. Sophomore Guard/ 28
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Forward. Why you should watch: A player with good size and athletic ability that can shoot the mid range jumper pretty well. He has a great work ethic and willingness to be coachable according to coach Price. Brooklyn Hicks and Lyric Nuegent: Weatherford Lady Eagles. Freshmen. Why you should watch: One on the perimeter and one player working hard in the paint describes these two players. Hicks is a guard for Weatherford head coach Clay Stephens while Nuegent is a forward. According to Stephens neither player sees much action in varsity games but they do play important roles on Weatherford’s freshmen and junior varsity teams. “They are coachable, work hard,
and have good attitudes. We expect them to be leaders for Weatherford Lady Eagle Basketball when their time comes,” Stephens said. Maicie Brown: Weatherford Lady Eagles Cross Country. Freshman. Why you should watch: As a freshman this fall Brown burst onto the scene and finished in seventh place overall at the Class 5A state meet to help Weatherford to a third place finish as a team. The Lady Eagles also had a pair of talented juniors and with another year of experience look for Brown to put her team in the hunt for a state title next year. Bree Haven: Weatherford Lady Eagles Cross Country. Sophomore.
Michael Gates: Weatherford Eagles Cross Country. Sophomore. Why you should watch: Gates finished 30th overall at the state meet this year as a sophomore with a time of 17:28. Look for him to continue to improve next year, possibly giving Weatherford at least two runners who have the talent to finish in the top 20 in the state.
Hagan Ard: Weatherford Eagles. Sophomore. Why you should watch: Hagan is a multi-sport athlete competing on the Weatherford football and baseball teams. Already with valuable experience in both sports Ard has been to the state baseball tournament championship game with the Eagles and was part of an 8-4 football team this year that made it into the second round of the playoffs. Look for this sophomore to do big things both on the diamond and the gridiron during his high school career.
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Why you should watch: In her sophomore campaign this fall Haven gave the Lady Eagles valuable depth and then finished with a time of 13:31 at the state meet. Next year as Haven becomes an experienced upperclassmen look for her to assume more of a leadership role.
Maicie Brown
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Eagles Leaving the Nest team anymore. That’s where the younger kids come in.
Tanner Hawkins The Weatherford wrestling team got off to a bit of a slow start this season. Despite getting hit with a couple of losses at the beginning, the Eagles are starting to find their footing. Their first win came against Mangum with a score of 51-24. While they may seem like any other regular team, that isn’t the case when you take a closer look. On an average day, the starting lineup includes seven or eight freshmen. Last year, Weatherford graduated five seniors who all played key roles. The classes below them were fairly small, so there aren’t very many upperclassmen on the
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This situation presents as a learning experience for not only the wrestlers, but the coaching staff as well. “As a team we are learning and adapting to what needs to get done on the varsity level, together,” says head coach Corey Duncan. “I believe we will get it together for when it matters most.” While the majority of the team is young, they do still have some experience. Junior Tanner Hawkins will contribute to the needed maturity. Hawkins placed fourth at 195 at the 2015 4A state tournament. With this unorthodox team dynamic, everyone is still figuring it out. It’s a slow process, but Coach Duncan doesn’t think
it sets them back when it comes down to it. “I see us getting better and making improvements that allow us to get as many state qualifiers, state placers, and state champions as we can get,” he says. When asked where he sees his team at the end of the season, Duncan replied, “This sport is about what you do at the state tournament, so I see us getting as many guys as possible to the state tournament and then getting guys on the podium.” This year for Weatherford is about hard work, leaning, and growing. They have taken on the mentality that it doesn’t matter who you are, but it’s how you wrestle. It’s all about each person’s potential and fulfilling that potential. With this mentality comes tremendous power, so definitely don’t count them out at the state tournament this spring.
Anadarko
Kayla Stephens Last spring Kayla Stephens played on Anadarko’s slow pitch softball team but the main athletic focus for the Anadarko junior is cheerleading. Away from sports Stephens is also a part of the F.I.S.H. Club, SADD, Key Club, FCA, Student Council and is the junior class president. Stephens also recently competed in the Miss Teen Oklahoma pageant. Stephens said she first heard about Miss Teen Oklahoma through a flyer she received in the mail urging her to sign up. She then had to complete an in-depth application process, answering a great deal of questions and submitting a headshot. After that Stephens was accepted and immediately began training by stepping up her workouts along with practicing the art of walking, posing, and learning to answer many different interview questions. Stephens said the experience was wonderful and something she will continue to do. “It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I learned to have confidence in myself and be a powerful and positive influence for others. I will definitely be doing more pageants in the future,” Stephens said. Stephens also is a standout in the classroom and carries a 3.87 grade point average. Stephens also challenges herself by taking concurrent enrollment classes at Redlands Community College. During the first semester of the year Stephens took both English Composition I and College Algebra. Now in the second semester Stephens is set to take English Composition II and College Government. Stephens says her favorite class is Composition because she loves to write. Once she graduates high school Stephens hopes to attend the University of Oklahoma and major in Physical Therapy while minoring in Business Management. For her efforts in the classroom and outside of it Kayla Stephens is the Anadarko Academic Athlete of the Month.
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Young Warriors Staking Their Claim Trey Eason
Kyle White: Anadarko Warriors Wrestling. Sophomore. 170 pounds. Why you should watch: Returning state qualifier at 170 and will hopefully be on the podium the next three years according to head coach Dorman Parsons. “He has tremendous strength and getting better technique each week,” Parsons said. John Holten: Anadarko Warriors Wrestling. Freshman. 170 pounds. Why you should watch: A freshman with good skills that Parsons hopes put him on the podium at state in the future. Parsons also said he expects Holten to become one of the future leaders in Anadarko’s wrestling room. Nicholas Kaulaity: Anadarko Warriors Wrestling. Freshman. 106 pounds. Why you should watch: A good foundation of skills has already put this freshman on the radar of his coaches. Another future leader in the Warriors’ wrestling program with hopes of getting on the podium at state according to Parsons. Trey Eason: Anadarko Warriors. Sophomore. Running Back. 32
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Why you should watch: Eason got 181 carries this year as a sophomore and ran for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns. Next year however look for Eason to carry an even bigger load as he moves into the feature back role former Warriors like RJ Sink and Sheldon Wilson have filled before him. With that being the case Eason is likely due for a major increase in carries, yards and touchdowns in his junior season. Braydon Borden: Anadarko Warriors. Sophomore. 2B/SS.
for him to step up at the plate and contribute offensively. Damon Mooney and Cody Mixon. Anadarko Warriors Baseball. Sophomores. Why you should watch: With only two seniors on the Anadarko roster look for a lot of young players to ply big roles this year on the diamond. These two sophomores are just a couple players the Warriors’ coaching staff will be asking to step up in order to compete at the level they are accustomed to playing at.
Why you should watch: Started every game as a freshman. Moved to the leadoff spot in the middle of the season and was vital to the Anadarko offense getting on base and helping to score runs. Solid glove up the middle. Very intelligent player. Joseph Anderson: Anadarko Warriors. Sophomore. Catcher. Why you should watch: Started every game as a freshman. Has a lot of responsibility for the running the defense for Anadarko. His understanding of baseball and skills have allowed him to get better with each game. This year the Warrior coaching staff is looking
Kyle White
The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes along with its Business Enterprises would like to wish the 2013-2014 Warriors and Lady Warriors great seasons in all areas of sports. Good Luck Warriors and Lady Warriors!
Wichita Gaming Commission Wichita Industries Wichita Tax Commission
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Chickasha Young Guns
Caleb Ross Andrew Sinn Kobe Powell: Chickasha Fightin’ Chicks Wrestling. Sophomore. 220 pounds. Why you should watch: Kobe already earned runner-up honors at the Deer Creek Tournament this year. Kobe came out for wrestling as a seventh grader and looked to have a bright future according to Chickasha head wrestling coach Chad Randle. Unfortunately, Kobe tore his ACL Last year in football so did not get to wrestle in his freshman season. Having been out of wrestling for a year and a half meant getting a lot of rust off early but he has responded well and is a great contributor to the Chickasha team. “Being young in the upper weights can be quite daunting at times because you are mainly competing against upperclassmen but Kobe is holding his own and is improving everyday to be a contender when Regionals comes around. Kobe will definitely be someone to watch in the next few years,” Randle said. Caleb Ross and Andrew Sinn: Chickasha Fightin’ Chicks Basketball. Juniors. Why you should watch: Although not quite young guns by age these to juniors are definitely young guns 34
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by experience. Due to Chickasha having a very experienced and veteran team Ross and Sinn are just now starting to break onto the scene. With Chickasha currently ranked in the top five teams in Class 4A depth will be a major advantage as the Fightin’ Chicks try to make a run to the state tournament and Ross and Sinn will play a major part in that. David Thibodeaux: Chickasha Fightin’ Chicks. Quarterback. Sophomore.
could very well be back at state not only competing in several relays but also competing as an individual in an event or two. Nikita Sampson: Chickasha Lady Chicks. Shotput. Sophomore. Why you should watch: Last year as a freshman Sampson placed eighth at the Class 5A state meet and this year could very easily find herself on the medal stand if she continues to improve her skills.
Why you should watch: This year Thibodeaux saw the field quite a bit but expect this young playmaker to continue to grow and improve with age. As Chickasha looks to bounce back from a 2-8 season a young quarterback with experience like Thibodeaux will certainly be a major advantage. Tamia Murray: Chickasha Lady Chicks. Sprinter. Sophomore. Why you should watch: Murray competed at the Class 5A state meet last year as a member of Chickasha’s 4x100 meter relay team that placed fourth place and the 4x200 meter relay team that finished in seventh. This year Murray
Kobe Powell
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Chickasha Wrestling Gearing up for State Montana Moon The Fightin’ Chicks have a good chance to take home some hardware Last year the Chickasha wrestling team sent several wrestlers to the Class 4A state tournament and had one state placer in Riley Williams. This year, Chickasha is back into 5A, a place they were at for the 20 years prior to last season. As they try to navigate the rigors of their
schedule the Chicks have now turned to junior Montana Moon to be the team’s leader since Williams graduated in May. Moon was a state qualifier last year as a sophomore at 106 pounds even though he only weighed 96 pounds. This year Chickasha head coach Chad Randle said Moon is walking around at 112 pounds and will be a threat to win a state title at 106 this year. Senior Dalton Phillips is another team leader the Chickasha team will be relying on heavily this year. As a junior Phillips qualified for state at 145 pounds and this
year may stay at 145 or possibly drop down to 138 pounds. Dakota Resendez and Lamar Neff are also back this season for Chickasha and bring state tournament experience of their own to the table. Resendez will likely compete at 132 this year while Neff will either be at 138 or 145 pounds. Through the first four duals this season Chickasha went 3-1 with their only loss coming to Duncan, who is currently ranked No. 7 in Class 5A. The Fightin’ Chicks however are also well respected in the rankings sitting at No. 14 midway through January.
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Greta Crowl
Chickasha Character Counts coach (Terri) Gallaway puts me in.” Crowl is also a leader on the team, evidenced by the fact that she is currently serving as a team captain for the second year in a row.
classes that she can fit into her busy schedule and this year is enrolled in Honors Physics and Honors Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus. After high school Crowl said she plans to attend the University of Oklahoma. While at OU, Crowl would like tomajor in Biology/PreMed and to also earn a Masters degree in Business Administration. Following her time at OU Crowl said she would like to attend medical school at either OU or The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas working to become an Interventional Cardiologist.
ng back my way aying Giving back ank you. is my way ” Crowl said her position as captain is about being a leader both in and out of the pool. “I try to lead the team not just in our physical workouts but also anytime we’re all together,” Crowl said.
of saying Givingyou.” back “Thank
For her dedication to everything Outside of swim, Crowl she does at Chickasha High stays plenty busy with School, from swim to her multiple other activities. schoolwork to her multiple other The senior is a member activities Greta Crowl is the of both the Scholastic in this . Greta Crowl is a senior swimmer together Chickasha Character Counts Team and the Academic Team at at Chickasha High School. Crowl Athlete of the Month. m® hasChickasha. aShe long is also a member doesn’t necessarily have an event ofshe specializes being there. That’s of the Steppin’ Michael Out Show Choir. in, instead saying Day Ins Agcy Inc We’re all in this together. Mike Day, Agent Crowl also takes any Honors onthat she why I’m proud to competes in “any event Chickasha, OK 73018
Student
better
is my way of saying “Thank you.”
State Farm® has a long Bus: 405-224-1968 Fax: 405-222-4320 Athletes!!!. www.mikedayagency.com
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Mike Day, Agent State . Chickasha, OK 73018
Giving back is my way of saying “Thank you.”
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State Farm® has a long of being ®there. That’s Get totradition a better . proud to one reason State why I’m support Student Athletes!!!.
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Get to a better State®.
Michael Day Ins Agcy Inc We’re all in this together. Mike Day, Agent 1211004 Chickasha, OK 73018 State Farm® has a long Bus: 405-224-1968 Fax: 405-222-4320 tradition of being there. That’s www.mikedayagency.com A R Yreason 2 0 1 6 why I’m proud to 36 V Y P E O K . C O M | J A N U A R Y - F E B R Uone
support Student Athletes!!!.
tradition of being there. That’s one reason why I’m proud to support Student Athletes!!!. We’re all in this together.
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
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State Farm, Bloomington, IL
Blayne Bordwine
Chickasha FFA Student of the Month
also in the Fighting Chicks 4 Change group. For his dedication to his work with FFA and his dedication to the other
After starting his involvement with FFA his freshman year, Chickasha’s Blayne Bordwine has now been involved with the organization for three years. Currently Bordwine is serving as an officer in the Chickasha FFA chapter as the organization’s secretary. And while FFA has only been a part of his life for a few years, his love for animals has been a constant his entire life. “I was raised on a farm and have always raised livestock and been around deer. FFA presented me with the opportunity to express my interests,” Bordwine said. As a part of his activities with FFA Bordwine also shows cattle and sheep along with being a member of the Veterinarian Science CDE team that was fourth in the state last year. Bordwine also does public speaking and raises Whitetail deer for his SAE. Overall Bordwine said FFA has helped him with many things including his leadership and speaking abilities. “FFA has taught me how to be a better leader and I’m now better able to speak in front of many people. It’s also helping me obtain more knowledge for my future veterinary career,” Bordwine said. Outside of FFA the Chickasha junior is also the junior class co-president and in the junior Optimist Club. He is
groups he is involved with Blayne Bordwine is the Chickasha FFA Student of the Month.
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Duncan Young Guns she’s a senior. She has lots of natural ability but her attitude and work ethic are what will push her to the top,” Givens said.
Honesti Dangerfield Honesti Dangerfield. Duncan Lady Demons. Sophomore. Point Guard. Why you should watch: Honesti is a sophomore and starts at point guard. She is a good young player and the sky is the limit for her according to Duncan head coach Grant Givens. “She has improved greatly since her freshman year and continues to improve week by week. She’s a player that people in the Duncan area will know by the time
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David Hunter: Duncan Demons Wrestling. Sophomore. 126 pounds. Why you should watch: “David is a great young man with talent to match,” Duncan wrestling coach Brandon Benson said. In just his third year of wrestling, David finds himself as a returning state qualifier and in the hunt for a state medal. “His work ethic is unmatched in the room, and his motor runs red hot during competition. His dedication and no quit attitude makes him one to watch for future state title runs in the near future,” Benson said.
Duncan Demons Sophomore Basketball Players Why you should watch: The Demons are a very experienced team that boasts eight seniors and four juniors. That’s a huge advantage but when those eight seniors cycle out of the program and graduate in May the Demons will be turning to a group of seven sophomores to step up and play big minutes next season. That group of seven is made up of Dane Alston, Grant Braught, Coby Kirkland, Rene Maldonado, Kajory Martin, Joel Trevino and Brendan Waller. Expect all seven of those players to be counted on to make big plays over each of the next two years as Duncan continues to try to gain a foothold in a very tough Class 5A division.
MOM OF THE Edie Stewart
MONTH
Edie Stewart is a very busy mom of four kids all of whom have graduated from or are currently attending Duncan High School. Anthony is in pharmacy school at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Andy is a senior at Oklahoma University, Abbie is a freshman at the University of North Texas, and A.J. is a junior at Duncan High School. A.J. runs cross country and track, swims, and is in the vocal music’s show choir, Reflections. Edie is the president of the swim booster club, the vice president of the Vocal Music Parents Association, and the president of the track booster club. As the president of the swim booster club, Edie helps set up fundraisers and tries to meet the needs of all of the athletes. Edie is a teacher at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, reads monthly at Mark Twain Elementary School, and is a One True Light mentor. Edie is also very involved at Immanuel Baptist Church in Duncan where she is involved in both the Women’s and Children’s ministries. Edie not only loves supporting her kids as well as other student athletes, but she also is a tireless supporter of the coaches as well. She says, “ I really love supporting the student athletes and helping the coaches who have to spend so much extra time out of the classroom for their sport.” Edie also states that it is very important for parents to be a part of the booster clubs for the activities that their kids are in because they do so much for the kids and the coaches. For her hard work and dedication to her kids, Duncan Public Schools, and the Duncan community as a whole, Edie Stewart is VYPE Magazine’s Duncan Mom of the Month.
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Caleb Cronk
<--Caleb Cronk & Maddie Conway-->
Maddie Conway
hool
Duncan High Sc
DUNCAN HIGH SCHO OL
Caleb Cronk Duncan High Sc
Caleb Cronk is th hool e type of kid ev ery coach want senior forward s to have on his makes plays on team. The th e floor but it’s of the difference ac f it that he reall cording to Dunc y makes an head coach K. one of the most David McGuire. caring individua “Caleb is ls anyone will co to everyone and me across. He is will always help friendly a person in need over to the cour . This behavior t. As a part of ou carries r offseason work nary large amou outs, we do an ex nt of conditionin traordig,” McGuire said was extremely . “After Caleb fin tired, like everyo ished, he ne else. Howeve extra sprints be r, for cause he stayed several days, he around and wo ran taking longer an uld run with th d struggling to ose were finish. It made qu on the coaching ite a positive im staff and other pression players to see so that someone els meone do extra e would not fee work so l like they were student council alone.” Caleb is , SADD, DECA, th also in e Fellowship of the Duncan seni Christian Athle or class presiden tes and is t. In the classro GPA and is curre om Caleb carries ntly taking a co a 3.6 ncurrent enrollm at Cameron Unive ent Composition rsity. For his de I class dication to his ba academics Caleb sketball career Cronk is the Du and his ncan Male Acad emic Athlete of the Month.
y MaddieHiCghoScnhowol a Duncan
ement youthful mov is part of the ay ith w nw g Co on e Al . di guard, Mad prominence Outside of A sophomore basketball to s. s rl on gi em n D ca dy un ing D r the La n, an hoping to br ays softball fo club in Dunca nway also pl lly Jills social a Jo e to th ey of on basketball Co rt m te ay is also a pa onth to dona oney and athletics Conw comes together every m m e is ra to that s dances a organization tion also host er. Conway is The organiza op there eith st is t A n’ GP es at do Th .It special cause. ts e. point averag hips to studen s a 4.0 grade AP English, ie e gives scholars rr Pr s ca d ke ta an assroom at Conway l star in the cl ve knowing th en though she has severa ore impressi m Ev to . en ts ry ev an to e is w H e ad m orld for what sh a 2 and AP W ing to es have a plan go do on ay Pre AP Algebr an nw pl I Co right now school left r dedication uncan. “As of years of high uates from D ay said. For he ad nw gr e Co ” sh n, r eo te ay is the do af atal Surg Maddie Conw ming a Pre-N e she can be et hl at OU and beco ten th. the best stud e of the Mon to becoming ademic Athlet Ac e al m Fe n Dunca
Submit your nomination for the Whitten Academic Athlete of the Month to: Oklahoma@VYPE.com
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VYPE
Duncan Character Counts Paityn Bower Paityn Bower During the winter Paityn Bower is known as a solid guard who provides valuable senior leadership for the Lady Demons. Once spring rolls around Bower continues to show that leadership but as a member of the tradition-rich Lady Demons tennis team. When asked to describe Bower Duncan head coach Grant Givens had nothing but good things to say. “Paityn is a good student and basketball player. She has worked hard for four years as a basketball player at Duncan. She is someone who can be counted on and depended on as a student and a teammate,” Givens said. Like most leaders Bower said she doesn’t hope for her teammates to remember
her for her personal achievements but the way she went about her business and the way she handled herself on and off the court. “I hope they remember me for my leadership and character. I hope to set a good example for them to follow and start traditions for them to carry on,” Bower said. Being a student-athlete at Duncan has been an amazing experience for Bower according to the Lady Demons’ senior and said it’s the people and atmosphere who have made the difference. “The best part about being a Demon is the school spirit. The school really knows how to draw together,” Bower said. Outside of athletics Bower is also involved with the Lucky Circle Social Club a group that likes to be very involved in the community. With the group Bower does multiple service projects throughout
the year. After high school Bower said she hopes to continue her tennis career at the next level adding that her dream school would be Midwestern State in Wichita Falls Texas. Bower said she will miss several things when she does graduate and leave Duncan. “I will definitely miss my friends, my teammates and my mom’s home-cooked meals,” Bower said. That’s all in the future for now though, right now Bower’s focus is on trying to do all she can to help the Lady Demons basketball team continue to improve and then in the spring help her tennis team win their sixth state title in program history. For that continued dedication to being the best student-athlete she can be Paityn Bower is the Duncan Character Counts Athlete of the Month. Photo by Sharon Moffat
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VYPE From Hunter to Hunted Plainview wrestling team assuming a new role A year ago the Plainview Indians came out of virtually nowhere and claimed their first state championship in school history, knocking off traditional powerhouse Perry, the team who had won five of the last six Class 3A team titles. As the old saying goes though it’s easier to be the hunter than the hunted. This season the Indians are testing that theory, but they aren’t backing down. After battling through December and early January the Indians find themselves ranked No. 1 in Class 3A and in a prime spot to defend their title and repeat as state champions, the first team to do that in Class 3A other than Perry since Cushing did it back in 2004 and 2005. The Indians have done all that by battling through an extremely tough schedule that included the Powerade Tournament in Pennsylvania and the Pine Creek Duals in Pueblo Colorado, a battle of the best dual teams in the country. Helping the Indians on their quest 44
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to repeat as state champions are 11 returners that all played a major part last year. Heading up that group is senior Zach Atencio and junior Ty Lucas. Last season Atencio finished second at the state meet competing at 120 pounds, but this year has moved up to 126, filling a weight where Plainview didn’t have a state qualifier last year. Lucas meanwhile was a state champion last year at 138 pounds but is likely to move up to 145 this year. Other state placers back this year are junior Bodie Davis and senior Dorian Fagan. Fagan took third at 220 pounds last year after coming into the state tournament as the top seed and this year will be looking to claim a state title and end his career in a Plainview singlet on top. Davis meanwhile took home fourth place at 160 last year but this year is likely to jump all the way up to 182, filling the role that former Plainview star Josh Walls filled for the Indians last year. Senior Tanner O’Neal is another veteran returner the Indians will have at their disposal this year. A year ago O’Neal qualified for state at 152 pounds and won his first match at state
but then dropped his next two bouts. This year O’Neal is back at 152 and looking to add his name to Plainview’s growing list of state champions. Other key wrestlers Plainview will be counting on this year are sophomore Jaxson Roney, junior Darius Clark, senior Maddie Roney, junior Garrett Willis and senior Seth Fritts. The younger of the two Roney’s will be competing at 113 pounds this year while Maddie, the older of the two will be competing at 132. Clark will compete at 120 pounds for the Indians with Willis at 160 and Fritts at 170. It’s never easy to repeat and the second title can sometimes be harder than the first but one thing is for sure, the Plainview Indians don’t seem to mind having a bullseye on their back, and that’s over half the battle.
Plainview
Rebecca Wright
Plainview
Zach Atencio
The Plainview Lady Indians are currently ranked No. 4 in Class 4A and a major reason behind that ranking is the play of senior forward Rebecca Wright. Through the first 14 games of the season Rebecca is averaging 15.3 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per contest. Plainview is 13-1 in those 14 games including tournament championships in the Southern Oklahoma Classic and the Kingston New Year Classic and a fifth place finish in the prestigious Bertha Teague Invitational. Wright also passed a huge milestone this season when she cleared the 1,000-point mark for her career during a win over Bethel. When asked what cracking 1,000 points meant to her Wright said it meant a lot but also was sure to thank those around her. “Passing the 1,000-point mark was a really exciting thing for me. I had always just gone out and played my hardest for my coches and team, not trying to reach a certain scoring goal so when I had been recognized it felt great,” Wright said. “I feel really lucky that I have had the coaches and teammates I’ve had throughout my years on the Plainview varsity team that helped me reach that accomplishment.” For her efforts on the basketball floor Rebecca Wright is the Plainview Female Athlete of the Month.
As the defending state champions in Class 3A the Plainview Indians have a roster full of wrestlers that have put together some great seasons. Leading that group though is senior and two-time state finalist Zach Atencio. Atencio has been wrestling at 126 pounds this year, up from the 120-pound division that he wrestled in last year and placed second at the Class 3A tournament in. One highlight of Atencio’s season so far has been his fourth place finish at a very tough Powerade Tournament in Pennsylvania. Along with being a standout on the mat, Zach also maintains a 3.5 grade point average, making him a true student-athlete. After high school Zach plans to wrestle at the college level and has narrowed down his choices to either the University of Oklahoma or Arizona State University. For his efforts on the mat and his efforts in the classroom Zach Atencio is the Plainview Male Athlete of the Month.
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VYPE OJ Walker
Ardmore News and Notes Carlos Coppage Moves On: Ardmore basketball player Carlos Coppage was selected to the VYPE Top 100 prior to the season and recently moved onto the semifinals of the Shelter Insurance Mr. Basketball Award race. Coppage is having a fantastic year, averaging 15 points and nine assists per game. More importantly though he has helped the Tigers to become one of the top ten teams in Class 5A. Lady Tigers Rolling: The Ardmore
girls basketball team came into this season with high expectations and have doubled down on them early in the year. Through 12 games this year the Lady Tigers went 9-3 picking up key wins over Class 5A powerhouse Carl Albert and Class 3A stalwart Hugo. Ardmore Wrestling: The Tigers’ wrestling team has put together a solid winter winning five of their opening nine duals. On the surface fans outside the wrestling world may look at a 5-4 record and think it isn’t very impressive but when you look closer and realize that three of the team’s four losses have come to ranked opponents, including one loss to Class 5A No. 8 Del City.
Game to Watch: On February 16 the Carl Albert Titans will invade Ardmore for a key basketball matchup. The Titans are ranked No. 2 in Class 5A and already beat the Tigers in the season opener when Ardmore traveled north to Del City for an early road test. The revenge match will not only be a matchup of top teams but could also be crucial when it comes to playoff seeding and postseason matchups.
OJ Walker Makes All-State: Ardmore standout running back was recently named to the Daily Oklahoman All-State roster as an honorable mention selection at running back. Walker battled some injury issues this year but still ran for 779 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
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Marvin Johnson
Ardmore Young Guns Michael Case: Ardmore Tigers Wrestling. Sophomore. Why you should watch: “Micheal is an amazing young wrestler. He’s one of the hardest workers in the room. His teammates have noticed this and named him as a team captain,” Ardmore head coach Kevin Gill said. “He constantly strives for excellence and is constantly working to fine tune his skills. Right now he is starting on our varsity team and in a couple of years wrestling fans should see him competing for state titles. What makes him special is his dedication and unflinching strive for perfection.” J’Sades Ainsworth: Ardmore Lady Tigers. Sprinter/Point Guard. Sophomore. Why you should watch: As a freshman last year Ainsworth took fifth at the Class
5A state track meet in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.76. She was also a member of the 4x100 meter relay team that finished seventh, the 4x200 meter relay team that placed fifth and the 4x400 meter relay team that finished in 11th. Ainsworth is also a standout basketball player and helped the Lady Tigers make it to the state tournament last year as well. Kaydan Johnson: Ardmore Lady Tigers Cross Country. Freshman. Why you should watch: Johnson broke onto the scene in a big way this fall when she finished in ninth place at the Class 5A state meet with a time of 20:43. Three runners who finished above Kaydan will graduate in May and if the young runner
J’Sades Ainsworth continues to get better, fans can likely expect Johnson to compete for a top five spot at the state meet next year as a sophomore. Destani Sampson: Ardmore Lady Tigers Cross Country. Sophomore. Why you should watch: Sampson paced 39th at the state meet this fall and with another year under her belt look for Sampson to continue to improve and better her time and finish next season.
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