PRIDE OF THE PLAINS

"Live the Creed""Live the Creed"

PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY Plainsmen / PacerPlainsmen / Pacer

580.747.3330 Pride PLAINSof the

Pride PLAINSof the HEATING - AIR CONDITIONING - REFRIGERATION www.slatermechanical.com SLATER MECHANICAL

580.747.3330

Jake McCool - Baseball Plainsmen Football

by Billy Tipps, EHS Athletic Director Living the Creed

The Enid High School Baseball team has continued to improve throughout this season. Just after the midway point in the 2021 season, the Plainsmen are finding their grove and Jake McCool is a big part of that success. Jake has played baseball for the Plainsmen since middle school and has had his sights set on starting for the Plainsmen the entire time. His motivation was then, and still is, to be the best he can be every day when he shows up to practice or games. That motivation had paid off, as he is currently the 1st baseman and plays in the outfield for the Plainsmen. The starting position is one he has had to work hard and be patient for. His advice to upcoming athletes is to “work as hard as you can every day.” This past year has been different for everyone to say the least, and for athletes around the world, including Jake, it is just another challenge in their lives. “This year I have learned that you can’t give up no matter how bad things seem.” Jake goes on to say that being an athlete has helped prepare him for this type of event. “Being an athlete has made me a better person because it has taught me how to be self-disciplined in many different situations.” Jake plans on extending his academic and athletic career at Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he will play baseball and pursue a degree in Business. Coach Gore, the Enid High head baseball coach adds that “Jake has had to work very hard to get to where he is at today.”

We look forward to by Robert Faulk seeing Jake continue that

In 2018, Enid High was moved back up to the highest class of 6A football in Oklahoma – known as 6A-Divsiion 1. Being the smallest, and only non-urban school in the 16 school 6A-1 has provided many challenges over the past several years, but these are challenges Enid High Head Coach Rashaun Woods is attacking head on. While it is clear he knows that the teams the Plainsmen will be facing may have better funded programs, he is proud of what the core group of Plainsmen have to offer, and truly believes that they can win some ball games this year, and even in the games that they don’t win, that they will be competitive. “Collectively, as a team, we have improved and should be better than last year” Coach Woods says of the team, “Even though we lost some really good players, we are looking for guys that will step up and take their place.”

In looking for the kids that he thinks will step up Coach Woods indicates that he has high hopes for Defensive End Donovan Riemann and Safety Reece Slater, both Seniors. “The Defensive line has a chance to be really good this year, and the safeties and defense in general should be a bright spot for our team, if they perform to what I know they are capable of,” says Coach Woods. “Both Donovan and Reece have a chance to be all conference type per- hard work and play at the next level. He will continue a long tradition formers, if they keep up their hard work.” of Plainsmen baseball players doing great things beyond high school.

Coach Woods has been happy with the off-season program and is proud of the kids that have showed up this summer and participated in Summer Pride workouts. As we talked about last month, Enid High has one of the nicest strength and conditioning rooms in the state. “Over the summer the team has worked hard, and we expect them to be physically and athletically competitive in the coming season,” he says. The Plainsmen open their season at Putnam City on August 27th, and the first home game is September 3rd. Tickets are available to purchase at the ticket office by calling (580) 3668350. Come cheer on your hometown Enid Plainsmen!