19th Street Magazine July 2020

Moore Girls Basketball Commits

College Bound

Gallery of Homes returns to South OKC

Constructing Community

Vet of the Month

Bennie Dutcher

July 2020 • Issue 7 • Volume 3

OVERCOMING TOGETHER Dr. Robert Romines Named OASA Superintendent of the Year

This inserted material was paid for by the advertiser and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Oklahoman, it’s ownership, management and staff.

Thank You Norman Regional received an amazing outpouring of support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your generous donations, your shows of solidarity and your kind words have sustained our team of healers through these difficult times.

Words cannot express how much we appreciate our community.

You gave us strength and we passed on that strength on to our patients, their families and each other.

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Features

JULY CONTENTS 2020

ISSUE 7– VOLUME 3 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

Overcoming Together

10 by Bill Moakley

MANAGING EDITOR

by Bill Moakley Hard work on the farm led to an easier time at boot camp.

Constructing Community

18 by Lindsay Cuomo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

From the farm to the 14 Pacific Theater

Lindsay Cuomo

Dr. Robert Romines named 2020 State Superintendent of the Year.

10

PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon

Back to Business

Local business owners share about the challenges of doing business during a pandemic.

COVID and Emergency Care

26 by Lindsay Cuomo

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Tracie Gray - tracie@sportstalk1400.com Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com Jess Haralson - jess@sportstalk1400.com

Gallery of Homes returns to South OKC.

22 by Lindsay Cuomo

Roxanne Avery | Callie Collins Lindsay Cuomo | Josh Helmer Bill Moakley | Chris Plank Chat Williams

Delayed emergency care cause for concern among ER doctors.

18

Boyd Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © Boyd Street Magazine Any articles, artwork or graphics created by Boyd Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of Boyd Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission.

Any opinions expressed in Boyd Street are not necessarily that of Boyd Street management.

Corporate Trends

30 by Callie Collins

Moore Norman Technology Center offers newly-restructured Data Science Foundations program.

Hydration Tips

34 by Chat Williams

38

Combating dehydration during competition.

The Beginning of a Dynasty

38 by Chris Plank

20th anniversary of the team that started the championship mindset for Sooner softball.

College Bound

44 by Josh Helmer

Moore girls basketball commitments add excitement to upcoming season.

Silver Elm Estates Jewelry Club

48 by Roxanne Avery

Five women get together and craft items to raise money for charity.

sportstalk1400.com

/boydstreetmagazine

@boydstreet

44

Cover photo by: Mark Doescher

COMM U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Overcoming Together

Dr. Robert Romines named 2020 State Superintendent of the Year

For Romines, a Moore native and a product of its public schools, the day left an indelible mark. It would be the first of at least two major tragedies to hit his district during his now seven years as its top educator. He would become, not by choice, well versed at handling tragedy.

“Unfortunately, we’re experts at handling tragic situations,” Romines solemnly recalled recently. “We’ve been through a lot. Going back to the community, no matter what circum10 | July 2020

stances we’ve been through, we couldn’t do that on our own.

We have a very strong community and we know how to face challenges as a school district and a community. If anything, we’ve learned how to rely on one another.”

Romines has been the steady figure through the many great moments the district has experienced as well and earlier this month he was recognized for his work when he was named Oklahoma Association of School Administrators District 7 Superintendent of the Year, then the OASA 2020 State Superintendent of the Year.

He will be recognized at the National School Superintendents Association (AASA) conference next February, and the OASA award makes him eligible to be selected as national superintendent of the year.

Photo Photosby: by:Mark MarkDoescher Doescher

A

week into his tenure as superintendent of Moore Public Schools, Robert Romines would face the unthinkable.

An EF5 tornado would tear a 17-mile path across central Oklahoma on May 3, 2013, hitting Moore’s Plaza Towers Elementary School and claiming the young lives of seven children.

A graduate of the Moore High School, Romines holds bachelors and master’s degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a doctoral degree and superintendent’s certificate from the University of Oklahoma. His grandfather was a Moore teacher and his father a coach and teacher. His brother is also a teacher. Suffice it to say, education is in his blood.

“Really, it’s all I’ve ever known,” Romines said. “I think it’s a calling. I love what I do. It’s about serving students and our community.

“This is my home. I’ve not been anywhere else. I don’t know anything different, and I don’t necessarily want to know anything different.”

Romines found himself in a unfortunately familiar and heartbreaking role this February when he would have to console a grieving district after a drunk driver swerved onto a sidewalk while the Moore High School cross country team was practicing. Three students died as a result of their injuries.

The superintendent knew he was not alone in handling another unspeakable tragedy.

“We’ve been through the fire on many levels,” Romines reflected. “I’ve learned to depend on others in order to get through what we need to get through.

We have been cut off at the kneecaps with what has occurred and, fortunately, the community has always wrapped its arms around us.”

Those tired arms were tested again this spring as the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools nationwide, something Romines says he would have never believed would happen.

“I would have never guessed the state of Oklahoma and Moore Public Schools would shut down for a nine-week period based on anything,” he admitted.

“That has been very interesting to watch unfold.”

boydstreet.com

In the midst of rethinking academics, canceling sports and extracurricular activities, and reimagining what ‘school’ in his district looks like, Romines has found a silver lining in the pandemic interruption.

“The school district is way ahead of the curve now in regard to what distance learning will look like in future years,” he explained. “Once COVID-19 goes away, we’re going to be able to continue doing some of the things we’ve been charged with doing during this situation. We’ve learned a lot and we’ve prepared and we’re better off now than we were 15 weeks ago in regards to our online curriculum and our intermittent options.”

Romines envisions his district being better able to handle disruptions to the ebb and flow of student life in the future. In case of viral outbreaks such as flu or students having to stay home due to surgeries or other circumstances, Moore schools will be better prepared to bridge the gaps that arise from off-site instruction.

“We have a plan for our students that we’ve never had before,” Romines said.

In addition to disrupting academic life for students and teachers, COVID-19 has affected the important social and emotional aspects school experiences provide.

“I think what our parents have seen firsthand is our students really, really struggled not being with their peers and their school family,” Romines explained.

“It’s not all about academics. That’s a large part of it. The social and the mental pieces that we provide have really been noticed as that has been pulled back.”

During a recent online discussion with district and student leaders, Romines was reminded of the importance students feel in being together with each other, something that cannot be replicated in distance learning. This year’s Moore seniors talked not of missed proms or award ceremonies, but rather a firm desire to come together again as classmates.

“What they kept coming back to was, ‘please let us have one final ceremony and let us be under one roof and let us be together one more time before we leave,’” Romines explained. “We pretty much made the decision then to give them a graduation.”

For the first time in 40 years, Moore students celebrated graduates on the field at the district’s shared football stadium, following strict measures issued by state and federal officials to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Now, 26 years into his career as an educator, Romines may be as excited as ever to see students and teachers walk through the doors of the district’s 35 buildings again this fall.

“I’m looking forward to being back home and in our building and focusing on students and staff, not that we haven’t focused on them this past 15 weeks,” Romines admitted. “It’s going to be kind of a homecoming. That’s going to be the best thing on Aug. 13.”

As for being honored as the state’s top superintendent, Romines believes the honor is larger than him.

“I’m just one person in a very large school system and I have really good people around me,” he said. “I don’t do this job on my own. It’s well-deserved on so many levels by my staff as well. I was excited and surprised. It’s peer-driven and that is very important to me. I’m very honored. I’m very proud to receive the award.”

However, seven years deep into his role, it’s not awards and honors that keep Romines coming back, it’s something much more important.

“It’s the 25,000 students we serve on a daily basis,” he concluded. “You sit back and you think about that number. It’s a very large number and we have a lot of really great things going on in this school district. We’re providing great things for our students.”- 19SM

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COMM U N I T Y

From the Farm to the Pacific Theater

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

PRESENTED BY

CENTURIONCG.NET

F

Hard work on the farm led to an easier time at boot camp

or Benson “Bennie” H. Dutcher, demerits in school worked out to his advantage and here’s why.

Dutcher, a 1943 graduate of Guthrie High School, grew up on farm. That meant farm chores, including milking the cows, before school and after.

“I was a farmer and had chores and had to milk in the mornings,” he recalled. “I wouldn’t have missed it. It was great.”

As much as he enjoyed the farm life, it was a pain in his hand.

As an ROTC cadet in high school, Dutcher was required to wear a uniform to school three days a week. He admits he often showed up a bit dirty and with a little less than a shine on his shoes. That’s where those demerits came in.

“I got demerits every time I turned around,” Dutcher laughed. “I was a farm kid, so I didn’t look too good when I got to school.”

The punishment for each demerit Dutcher earned was handwriting three pages of the ROTC manual. He admits he wrote quite a lot.

“I was writing every weekend,” he said. “Three manual pages was about six tablet pages. I went through a lot of pages. I knew that manual by heart.”

Knowing the ROTC manual cover-to-cover served Dutcher well. A year after graduating from high school, he was on his way to Paris Island for Marine Corps basic training.

When he got there, he was handed a very familiar tome.

“They used the same manual we used in high school,” Dutcher explained. “I’d learned all that for three years. I just needed to get in shape physically. Everything else in boot camp was just a review of the military manual.”

14 | July 2020

At nearly 6’-3”, Dutcher was among the soldiers leading his company each day. With six squadrons of fellow cadets behind him, officers had to ask Dutcher to slow his step during marching drills.

“They had to ask us to slow down,” he confirmed. “We’d stretch out too far when we were marching. They kept hollering at us to slow down. Those guys clear at the back were kind of having to trot to keep up with us. We had to slow the cadence down.”

Dutcher would finish his time at Paris Island, head home for a short break and then report to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He would then head out for 18 months of guard duty in the Pacific, with stops in Pearl Harbor, Guam and Iwo Jima, among others. As part of the Corps 3rd Division, he was responsible for securing those historic sites after battles had raged.

“The war was over, but we made sure everything was secure and that civilians got home to where they were from,” Dutcher explained.

In addition to ensuring foreign military personnel and civilians were repatriated, Dutcher’s division was in charge of exploding any remaining armaments left on the islands.

They also provided around the clock guard duty.

In 1946, Dutcher returned to Oklahoma, worked for a creamery for six years, farmed for two and then began a 30-year career with the U.S. Postal Service. Like his time in the military, Dutcher has fond memories of his letter carrying days.

“It was good deal. I liked it,” Dutcher said. “I liked everything about being a Marine, too. I enjoyed it all.” -19SM

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B U S I N E SS

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Constructing Community R

Gallery of Homes returns to South OKC

eturning after more than a decade, homebuilders in the Rivendell neighborhood are showcasing several new homes in their Gallery of Homes event, highlighting the latest in home design while raising money for two local nonprofit organizations.

The Gallery of Homes first began in 1995 and has grown into the largest single site home show in the state, homebuilder Aaron Tatum shared.

“This is our eighth event and our first since 2005,” Tatum said.

After a year in the making, several homebuilders have created a “turnkey neighborhood” building high-end homes in newly developed part of the Rivendell addition.

“The environment is just right to bring back the Gallery of Homes,” Tatum said. “But the most exciting parting is to get the word out about these great organizations we are supporting, something that is more important than

18 | July 2020

ever given the environment we are in right now.”

Since the event’s inception, the Gallery of Homes at Rivendell has raised more than $260,000 for Oklahoma City nonprofit organizations. Once again, the homes will be open to view and admission is $12 per person, with all net proceeds benefiting The Sparrow Project and Moore Faith Medical Clinic.

“Rivendell has won the best neighborhood in Oklahoma City nine times and I know attendees of our event will be amazed by all the new features and innovations these homes have to offer,” said P.B. Odom III, Rivendell developer. “Our wonderful sponsors have underwritten our event cost so 100 percent of our ticket sales will go directly to our nonprofit partners.”

The Sparrow Project is a non-profit organization promoting happy and fulfilled lives for adults with intellectual disabilities, spreading the message

that everyone has worth and deserves the opportunity to have a meaningful life. They fulfill their mission through two programs – Sparrow University and NEST. Sparrow University offers bi-weekly arts & crafts, music classes, sports, cooking lessons and volunteer opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities at little or no charge.

NEST hosts monthly social events, including sporting events, theater outings, picnics and dances.

“Community awareness is an important part of our mission and we embrace every opportunity to tell our story and showcase our program,” said Allison Richey, co-founder of The Sparrow Project. “Our desire is that more and more community members will recognize there is a service gap in our society for adults with intellectual disabilities, and this event opens up additional avenues for our incredible community to learn more about Spar-

row and discover ways to help enhance their lives.”

Moore Faith Medical Clinic was established in 2015 after its founders recognized a need to help the uninsured and underserved in Moore through faith-based, free medical care. Over the last five years, the clinic has seen more than 5,000 patients, provided $4 million in free prescription medications, and provided more than $6 million worth of care.

“We are thankful to be included in this year’s show,” said David Evans, clinic executive director. “We live in a time when it is especially important to help and love our neighbors, and the proceeds from this event will go toward direct patient care in our community through our free clinic and pharmacy.”

The homebuilders for this year’s show include Craig Smith Homes, Huffman Custom Homes, Stonewall Homes and Tatum Custom Homes. The homes range between 3,600 and 4,000 square feet and are fully furnished by local interior designers.-19SM

20 | July 2020

COMM U N I T Y

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Back to Business

Local business owners share challenges of doing business during a pandemic

B

ack in mid-March as businesses closed their doors across the state, small business owners were faced with a number of unprecedented challenges. Many were able to reshape their services and methodologies, offering things like virtual, digital or contactless transactions.

But for those in the entertainment industry where in-person interaction is essential, commerce came to a halt.

“We had league bowling the night the governor mandated businesses had to close,” Mandy Haws said, owner of Sooner Bowling Center. “When the league finished, we cleaned up the center and shut our doors.”

Sooner Bowling Center remained closed for almost nine weeks. Other venues like the Westwood Aquatics Center were closed longer.

“In parks and recreation, we are on the frontline in the community in so many ways,” Jason Olsen, recreation superintendent for Norman Parks and Recreation, shared. “We wanted to lead by example and we closed everything… just about everything in the park system was impacted.”

Despite having no customers coming in, Haws said the work never stopped.

22 | July 2020

“We are not a business that can just close our doors and walk away,” she explained. “We still had our maintenance staff working and we took the opportunity to do some large-scale projects. There was a lot of painting, purging and rearranging to be ready to reopen.”

Trey Bates, owner of HeyDay Entertainment, said he and his staff began looking for ways to incorporate new procedures and CDC guidelines.

“We spent a lot of time looking at what reopening might look like,” he shared. “We talked with associations and others in the business. Mandy and I talked about what we were going to do and what business would look like. Even though we are competitors, success for Mandy is success

for us as the public gets more comfortable coming out.”

Haws said she found the support of fellow business owners to be very helpful.

“It was so helpful to talk with people who shared your pain and understood,” she said. “In the big picture, I want to protect my staff and my customers. We had plenty of time to think this through and educate ourselves on these issues. We tried to use the time to our advantage and come out of it better.”

Olsen also found support from professional networks to be essential.

“This virus is not going to go away.

We had to learn how to change the ways we have operated for so long,” Olsen shared. “It’s amazing how this pandemic has opened up new lines of communication and new ways to help each other.”

Both Haws and Bates said they have implemented extensive cleaning procedures and have worked to reduce frequent touch points between staff and customers.

“Everything from when a customer enters the building to how they actually interact with our attractions has changed,”

Bates said. “We do a temperature and health check on each customer.”

Haws said she has purchased a special machine to disinfect the bowling balls after each use and has increased cleaning procedures throughout the center.

“We want people to feel comfortable,” she said. “We are being very cautious of our group numbers and are social distancing groups. We have a strict cleaning schedule and have upgraded our procedures as recommended by the health department.”

Bates is installing specially designed curtains to separate each bowling lane.

“We had a company construct dividers, hybrid curtains with a protective plastic barrier inside,” he shared. “It’s an attractive solution that provides additional protection for our customers. I think it will be intimate and create a more private experience and make people feel more comfortable.”

Olsen said his department has made significant changes as well.

“All of our centers are open and our senior center is taking the most pre-

cautions to protect that most vulnerable population. Everyone has to wear a mask, they are doing temperature checks and we have more hand sanitizing stations.”

“Day camps are open at our rec centers and we have a sort of curbside service for parents. Staff wears masks when in close contact with the kids and rooms are sanitized after each use.”

“At the golf course, we installed touchless pins on the greens and took away touch points like ball washers. We use hospital grade sanitizer to completely disinfect the golf carts after each use.”

Olsen said that the community can help too.

“We are still asking people to practice social distancing. With the possibility of a second spike, we need to take precautions because it’s important to protect yourself and your neighbor. That is an important aspect of any community.”

Haws encourages the community to give their favorite venues the chance to show how they are able to offer a

safe environment to have fun.

“I hope the community trusts us to do what we do best. We now just need people to come check us out to see everything we are doing to keep you safe. Wash your hands, put a mask on and come out and have fun.”-19SM

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HE A LT H

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

COVID and Emergency Care

T

Delayed emergency care cause for concern among ER doctors

he novel coronavirus has impacted many areas of daily life, including the frequent conversations focused on hospital care and the need to flatten the curve.

Experts raised the alarm about the potential of the global pandemic overwhelming hospitals in the United States in much the same way it had in several other countries.

However, the CDC is now reporting that the National Syndromic Surveillance Program found that emergency department visits have declined 42 percent nationwide. The program also noted that the proportion of infectious-disease visits was four times higher in the early weeks of the pandemic.

The numbers illustrate a sharp decline in the number of people seeking emergency care, a trend that is concerning to doctors.

“There is serious risk in delaying emergency care especially with heart attack or stroke symptoms like chest pain, numbness, weakness or trouble performing regular activities,” Dr. Michael Porter, ER doctor and co-medical director of the Emergency Department for the Norman Regional Health System. “Back in mid-March, there was a lot of talk about preventing a hospital surge and the community responded. But we want the community to know that the ER is safe and we are doing everything we can to keep patients safe from COVID and provide them with the lifesaving care they need.”

“Things are still a little different right now but we are open and it’s safe and important to engage in routine medical care and to visit the ER,” he assured.

“The best way to stay out of the ER is to have a good rela-

26 | July 2020

tionship with your primary care provider,” Porter added.

“People need to maintain routine care with their primary care provider and take medications as prescribed.”

Norman Regional has made several policy changes to protect patients including reducing visitors, increased screenings and the increased use of masks.

“We are screening all patients because the best way to protect people is to know who has it,” Porter explained. “If someone does test positive, we have extensive infection control and isolation equipment.”

Masks are now worn by all hospital staff and are strongly encouraged for patients and visitors with the exception of children under the age of two and patients with respiratory issues such as COPD. EMSSTAT ambulances are utilizing increased cleaning and sanitation measures to protect patients and reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

“When an EMSSTAT ambulance backs into the ER our crews don on their chemical suit, N95 mask, gloves and safety glasses. Once the patient has been unloaded the crew goes to work,” Paramedic Michael Combs said.

The crew applies a virus-killing solution using paint sprayers and foggers to deep clean the ambulances after each use.

Health officials would like to stress not letting fear prevent you or your loved ones from receiving the care they need.

“If you are experiencing new or acute symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, then absolutely call 911,” Porter said. “They are trained to provide initial care and know how to get you to the best place quickly.”-19SM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

Corporate Trends

Moore Norman Technology Center offers newly-restructured Data Science Foundations program

T

he role of technology in daily life is ever increasing, becoming central to every aspect of consumer living, from basic communication to banking and buying online. In response to that evolution, Moore Norman Technology Center (MNTC) has recently stepped up its Data Science Foundations program with an all-new curriculum.

LinkedIn listed data science as the fastest-growing job field in 2017 and Glassdoor ranked data science as the best job in the country in 2018. It continues to top predictions for salary potential, career growth and occupational demand.

“Just five or 10 years ago, we were looking at a vastly different course of study that required higher math. However, the practical application of that role

30 | July 2020

has changed so much,” said program instructor Reagan Anthony. “Tools are now more widely available to automate the math so students can apply it. Not everyone has to be a career tech level data scientist to work as a business analyst or another high-paying career in the field.”

Moore Norman Technology Center is a vocational technical facility recognized for its hands-on approach to career and technical skills leading to employment.

The accredited program takes 18 months for part-time students or nine months for full-time students to earn their diplomas. Available course certifications include Microsoft: MOS - Excel, Microsoft Database Fundamentals (MTA) and Computer Programming in IB Python.

Unlike other classes at the center, the Data Science Foundations program is open to adults only, however, the program is offered tuition-free for students under age 21 in the Moore-Norman district.

There are no prerequisites for the program. Students can qualify for the National Technical Honor Society and other academic organizations and they graduate with skills immediately applicable in the workforce.

“Instead of learning how to manage databases, where the data is housed, this program focuses on managing the data itself,” said Anthony, who has more than 20 years of corporate experience in the field. She used data analysis to redesign the curriculum itself.

“I went through meeting minutes for the past five years from our advisory board members who are outstanding professionals at companies like Dell and Paycom and MidFirst Bank,” said Anthony.

“We meet twice a year and I analyzed the data by keyword. The same issues came up consistently in those conversations, including what employers want in their employees.”

through this variety of media, including a student who made a map of Europe on a Lite-Brite retro toy.

The program is self-paced and includes different start dates as an option for students. Employability skills are also part of its focus, including sociability and time management.

Anthony also includes the use of common corporate tools like Microsoft Teams and other software used in day-to-day office operations, as she has seen firsthand in previous industry-related positions.

Although the course’s primary focus is online and does include periods of time in front of a screen, there are many ways to earn employability points like problem-solving skills, small group discussions and even playing board games together.

“When my students go to an interview and they’re asked about familiarity with some common aspects of working at a job, that’s one less skill they have to be taught on-site,” said Anthony. “My teaching tools are based on what’s actually used in a work environment.”

“Risk, Clue, chess, Rubik’s Cubes and Pandemic are just some of the ways we play together to take a break and work as a group,” said Anthony. She has seen unexpected creativity from students

Possible careers include database administrator, business analyst and data reporting analyst, among others. The second half of the course focuses on data mining and artificial intelligence.

The program consists of 1050 classroom hours. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, courses moved online and students used analytical skills to predict upward trends based on local data related to the public health crisis.

“The misperception that this field is solely technical can be off-putting,” said Anthony. “The program is structured to build on itself, step-by-step. It doesn’t have to be intimidating and it’s not all about writing code.

“There are so many ways you can go with these fundamental skills. It’s not all sitting with headphones in writing lines of code on a computer all day long. We teach the function before the ‘why’ and then, when you can use the technical parts, you can analyze business situations and make decisions. There’s no answer key for that because every person would make a different decision. The data prepares you to justify it.”

Find more information about the program at www.mntc.edu.-19SM

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COMM U N I T Y

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Hydration Tips: Combating Dehydration During Competition

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ydration is a key component to keeping your body performing at its best. Here are some important facts to understand and strategies to ensure your athlete is hydrated for success.

DEHYDRATION FACTS

• Weight loss greater than 1 percent can adversely affect performance • Weight loss greater than 3 percent of body weight can increase the risk of illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke

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• When becoming dehydrated, urine will become dark yellow or even brownish in color.

• Signs of dehydration: Thirst, irritability, headaches, weakness, dizziness, cramps, nausea and decreased performance.

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• AFTER: 20 to 24 ounces of water or sports drink should be consumed per pound of weight loss within 2 hours of an athletic event. Athletes should consume enough water to replace any weight loss during activity.

• Daily Consumption: Try to consume half an ounce up to a full ounce per pound of body weight. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds: consume 60 ounces to 120 ounces per day.

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34 | July 2020

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S P O RT S

BY: CHRIS PLANK

The Beginning of a Dynasty

Over the span of five days in Oklahoma City, Patty Gasso led an unlikely band of underdogs to victory and changed the trajectory of an entire sport, imploding a West Coast domination in college softball.

The 2000 National Championship changed everything and as the university celebrates the 20th anniversary, we look back at the lessons, relationships and memories that still last to this day.

JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE? College softball was a West Coast dominated sport. The Pac10 had absolutely owned the world of collegiate softball from the inception of the sport in college athletics, led by the dominance of UCLA and Arizona. From 1982 to 1999, either the Bruins or the Wildcats took home the national title a combined 14 times, including a streak of 10 consecutive titles from 1988 to 1997. Only twice since 1982 had a program east of Tucson, Ariz. won a National Championship.

The Sooners changed that in 2000 but there were not a lot of 38 | July 2020

believers when the Sooners showed up in Oklahoma City.

“The feel I got for OU was one of ‘Hey, good for you, making the World Series.’ If you could just win one game, that would be great. If you don’t, that is OK you just made it.

Good luck and no matter what happens we’re proud of you... and honestly that just fired me up,” Patty Gasso said as she looked back on the mentality around the sport. “People did not know what kind of team we were dealing with. This was all our first opportunities to go to the World Series and sometimes ignorance is bliss. We just went to play.”

Gasso was making her first ever appearance in the Women’s College World Series, the first of what is now a growing number for Sooner softball. The 2000 team helped set the foundation for what Sooner softball is today.

“Our final record was outstanding...66-8,” Gasso said. “These guys stood up to everybody. They were not intimidated. If anything, they were more motivated to say ‘you have no idea who we are or what we are about.’ When they got on the field, they just wanted to play. They were all so influential in our wins... all of them.”

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? With the dominating perception that college softball was

Photos by: OU Athletics Photos provided by: Mark Doescher

T

he 2000 Oklahoma softball team was expected to just enjoy the ride. In a lot of ways, they were just supposed to be happy to be a part of it all. When all was said and done, the 2000 Sooner Softball team was more than just along for the ride. They drove the bus.

mostly a West Coast sport, the 2000 National Champions helped break the mold. On its path towards the first National Championship, the Sooners faced three Pac-10 teams. Six of the Sooners regular contributors were Oklahomans, including standout pitcher Jennifer Stewart. The Sooners were out to prove it was more than just where you were from that made you great.

The team drew some motivation from a unique source. During a team outing prior to the start of the World Series, the team watched “Gladiator,” starring Russel Crowe. The Academy Award winning film was not only making its mark on the box office. It also made a mark on the softball team.

“Most of us were from Oklahoma and playing in our home state. It was pretty powerful for us because of what was usually there, the Pac 10,” Stewart said.

“I remember we went and saw “Gladiator” the movie and I think that was basically us. Just get in the ring and fight for our lives. The first game we were behind against Cal and once we came back and won that game you had that feeling that no one was going to stop us. Our first game, first time in the world series and we won, and we felt unstoppable… we weren’t going to take no.”

The Sooner softball team took on the mindset of Crowe’s Maximus, almost brazenly asking ‘are you not entertained’ as they laid waste to the West Coast softball empire.

“That was it... we were going into an arena and we were facing deadly competition so in a lot of ways you’re fighting for your lives,” Gasso said. “That was the mentality. They were fighters who loved to play.”

THE BIG PLAY MENTALITY The march towards a National Championship was not easy for the Sooners, but they found confidence in their routine-oriented approach.

“We were all about routines,” standout catcher Ashli Barrett remembered. “The bus driver went the long way the first day, so we went the long way every day after that.”

With Barrett anchoring the battery beboydstreet.com

Christy Ring hind the plate, Jennifer Stewart embarked on a legendary performance in the circle that would eventually lead to the Oklahoman to be named the Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player. Stewart’s leadership in the circle was being matched in the field and at the plate.

Christy Ring laced a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning against Cal to secure the first win for the Sooners.

In game two, the Sooners powered past standout Southern Miss pitcher and 50game winner Courtney Blades, launching three home runs to advance to a showdown with Arizona. The Sooners knew the path to a championship would go through either the Bruins or Wildcats, teams that the Sooners were a combined 1-12 against during Gasso’s first four seasons.

Stewart pitched a gem against Arizona and blanked the powerful Wildcat lineup in a complete game, six-hit shutout.

“My best memory was beating Arizona because I got drilled by them early in the season,” Stewart recalled. “When coach gave me the ball, I was just hoping to make my team proud and overcome it.

They drilled me and nearly run ruled us

but we ended up shutting them out in the World Series.

“Winning the World Series was amazing but for me never being recruited by a West Coast team, it was like shoving it in their face. We are from Oklahoma. We are the University of Oklahoma and we just whipped you.”

The stage was set for a championship showdown with the UCLA Bruins.

THE GAME IS FOREVER CHANGED The Sooners played with a chip on their shoulder for the entire season, always viewed as a ‘nice’ story. They now had a chance to prove they were more.

“We respected Arizona and UCLA beyond imagination because we were always trying to be like them,” Gasso said. “As a coach, I felt like I was going up against royalty. At the same time, I feel like this team deserved respect at the same level and I don’t know if we felt like we were getting it and maybe that fired them up a little more.”

The big plays started early in the championship game against UCLA when Christy Ring caught a line drive in left BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 39

Kelli Braitsch field and proceeded to throw a laser to first base to double off the talented and speedster Natasha Whatley.

“I still think about that play,” Ring said looking back on the play that seemed to set the tone. “I was so young and so many people were watching. I was extremely nervous, but it was surreal. It was amazing to play in front of that crowd. Coach Gasso was telling us that we were David and they are Goliath. Our team was so close and worked together so well and that helped us in the end.”

Oklahoma scored all of its runs in the third inning when centerfielder Erin Evans led off with a single to left field and was driven-in by first baseman Lisa Carey’s home run to the left field bleachers.

“I called so much during this world series... hit and runs with runners at second, you name it, we did it,” Gasso said.

“Lisa Carey hits a bomb and bunts in the next at bat. We called picks... we called everything. My attitude was we just had to go for it. Any time I called upon these guys to do something, they would always do it and do it right.”

Perhaps no moment in the entire season embodied the “Gladiator” mindset of this team better than what happened in the top of the sixth inning. As Lakisha Washington squared to bunt a pitch, it hit her in the face. The game was delayed 20 minutes as trainers tended to 40 | July 2020

the injured Washington.

“They tape her up... there is blood all over her uniform. It was truly a gladiator scene,” Gasso said. “Blood is dripping down her face and she stayed in the game… and then they try to pick her off on the first pitch after all that and that fired me up. So, on the next pitch we send her, and she steals second.”

“I remember thinking, is she serious and then just saying, ‘Ok I gotta go,’” Washington recalled.

the game and then when we ended the game on that it was unbelievable,” Rocha remembered.

Buck was called out for leaving second base early and the celebration was on.

The Oklahoma Sooners had won the National Championship.

“I was screaming at the umpire behind the plate,” Catcher Ashli Barrett said.

For standout shortstop Kelli Braitsch, it was sweet redemption.

But the final out of the 2000 National Championship would be a story all its own.

“I had made an error on a double play on the play before, so we huddled up and regrouped,” Braitsch said. “She (Buck) had been leading off second and stayed there for a second. Jenn had been in the circle and as she made an attempt to go back to the bag she took off to third and that is why the final out is not really recorded, the most awkward ending to a title game.”

As the Bruins brought the tying run to the plate, the game ended in incredibly unique fashion.

“My back was to everything, so I had no idea a celebration going on behind us,” Stewart recalled.

“At that time UCLA and the Pac-10 were notorious for taking extra bases,” said Jennifer Rocha, current Sooner pitching coach who was a grad assistant at the time.

“I was jumping in the outfield wondering, ‘did we win?’” Ring recalled. “We were all jumping and had no idea.”

The incredible pitching by Stewart, the timely hitting of Barrett and Carey, the defense of Ring and the toughness of Washington helped to set the Sooners up for a championship celebration.

She noticed Crissy Buck trying to gain an advantage.

“The violation rule was in effect and they got caught. I remember knowing that and talking about it leading up to

EVERLASTING FRIENDSHIPS “I remember I took my video camera everywhere and I remember taping all the girls, constantly dancing trying to entertain everyone,” Ring said. “Winning the World Series is the highlight of my life so

far. It was a memory you will never forget.

You still feel that same excitement when you see it... it’s like it was yesterday.”

The 2000 National Championship was a first for a women’s program at the University of Oklahoma. It also gave the Sooners its first national title since the baseball team won in 1994, an accomplishment made even more special since it was secured by a roster loaded with homegrown Oklahoma talent.

“I always say my favorite memory was being on the upper field and we had snaked down by the flowers close to the main field and, as we’re going down the berm, we can hear something,” Braitsch recalled. “We had no idea what they were chanting. And then we realized the entire stadium was chanting OU... it was a moment where we were shocked. Sure, it was our backyard, but I never would have thought they would come together, that many people for us. I get chills

thinking about it. That was my favorite memory outside of winning.”

“We enjoyed it more being from Oklahoma,” Barrett recalled. “We grew up sitting on those berms and rolling down that hill as kids, watching those UCLA, Arizona and Long Beach teams. I remember them walking with those metal spikes and thinking man how awesome would it be to wear those spikes and play there one day. Jenn and I walked up

the stairs before the Cal game and she turned around and saw some kids sitting and said to me, ‘that used to be us over there.’”

Stewart was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Women’s College World Series, allowing just two earned runs in 26 innings. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Braitsch and Carey, laying the foundation of Sooner softball with hard work and dedication. To this day, they stay close and connected.

“Friendship is one of the best things I’ve taken out of this,” Stewart said. “These are some of my best friends to this day.

That was Coach making us like a family. It was all about family and the bond that we shared. The experience we went through. It was one of the greatest moments of my life just being able to have that… I just love the memories that we have. We created this together.”

The 2000 win for Oklahoma not only

changed the trajectory of the Sooner program but also the sport of College Softball. Since the 2000 National Championship, every Power Five Conference has won at least one National Championship with Oklahoma and Florida winning back-to-back titles during that stretch.

“The win there changed the sport of softball,” Gasso said. “Others around the country said if an Oklahoma team can do it ... we can do it. Investments started

going into collegiate softball. Now that is why the crowds are so big because it can happen to anyone anywhere in the country. This team had a lot to do in bringing hope to a sport that might have been dying because it was so owned by the West Coast.”

The win also secured Gasso as the Sooner head coach for years to come. The now Hall of Fame Sooner coach had all but decided she was headed back to the West Coast because it was just not feasible to continue coaching at Oklahoma from a financial perspective.

The win in 2000, as it had in so many ways, changed everything.

“The championship mindset we talk about a lot now, it’s our mantra… it started right here with this group. I just didn’t know what to call it,” Gasso said.

“That is how they played. One thing that just warms my heart more than anything is to see that they still get together. I am

so proud of what these guys have become. They can thank me, but I’m honored to have led them through this. You would not even imagine what this one game did for this program.

“This was my favorite championship… because it set the standard and the stage.

If this did not happen, I do not know if we would be where we are today. How can I not say this was my favorite… it molded our program.”-19SM

S P O RT S

BY: JOSH HELMER

PRESENTED BY

COLLEGE BOUND Moore girls basketball commitments add excitement to upcoming season

A

spring of college commitments highlights the excitement for Moore girls basketball entering next season. Three seniors-to-be accepted full-ride scholarships.

Raychael Harjo announced her commitment to Central Florida on April 21, Aaliyah Moore followed on April 25 with her commitment to Texas and Peyton Andrews committed to Oklahoma Christian on June 2.

Harjo, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 12 points per game this past season.

After sending out her highlight tape to a number of colleges, it was UCF that caught her eye. It was clear to her that the Golden Knights’ coaching staff had made her commitment a priority during their April Zoom call.

“I started narrowing it down, asking where I would see myself for the next four years,” Harjo said. “Then, we had the call and it was great. They were so nice, so enthusiastic.”

Harjo said she was excited when UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson officially offered.

44 | July 2020

“I just felt it in my heart right there that UCF was the school for me, because they have everything on my checklist,” she shared. “They have what I want to study… nice weather near the beach. I felt it in my heart that UCF was the perfect school. We had already done so much research on the school. I love the energy. So, I told my mom, ‘I can’t wait. I want to commit now.’”

Moore, a 6-foot-3 forward, averaged 21.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game as a junior. That earned her the Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year award. Rated as the No. 7 recruit in ESPN’s HoopGurlz Class of 2021 rankings, Moore chose Texas over offers from UCLA, Florida State, Notre Dame, Syracuse and South Carolina.

The close proximity to family in Oklahoma and the opportunity to pursue a sportscasting career with the Longhorn Network were selling points that pushed Texas over the top.

“It just felt like home,” Moore said.

“They have all types of opportunities for me. Academics was a big thing and my family being close. I love the coaches. They’re great leaders that can help me reach my goals.”

“I also love the players that are there.

Each one of them are like my sisters,” she added. “I think we can do so many great things together.”

The Longhorns are getting a five-star talent that continues to expand her game. Moore shot 36 percent from three-point range this past season on more than 80 attempts.

“One thing that I would describe myself as is very versatile,” Moore said. “I’ve worked on that since my freshman year. My ball handling has improved, my three-point shot, my midrange. I still have so much more growth and that’s what makes me so excited for the future.”

Andrews, a 5-foot-10 point and shooting guard, averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 assists per game last season. She also led the Lions in minutes played per game (28.0), three-point shooting

percentage and assists-to-turnover ratio (2.80).

nament appearance in 22 years this past season.

They packed their bags and boarded the bus to head back home instead.

In seven career playoff games, Andrews is 16-of-33 (48%) on three-point attempts.

“They’re the center of our program, especially for the next ten months,” Moore head girls basketball coach Brent Hodges said. “They’ve been such a vital piece to our success.”

“It feels like we lost, but we didn’t even play a game,” Harjo said. “It was tough. We had all worked so hard to get there. It was all super crazy, painful really to have (the tournament) canceled like that.”

Interestingly enough, Andrews’ first exposure to college basketball was at Oklahoma Christian when her dad sent her there for a kid’s basketball camp.

“I know Oklahoma Christian is a really good school,” Andrews said. “I want to be an orthopedic surgeon and one of my dad’s really good friends went to Oklahoma Christian and she’s an orthopedic surgeon. As soon as they reached out to me and offered me a full-ride, I just knew that’s where I wanted to go… they made it feel like home automatically.”

This trio of seniors has already made history with the Lions. They recorded the program’s first winning season since 2003 as freshmen, won 19 games as sophomores and helped lead Moore to a 21-5 record and its first state tour-

“One of the best parts that people don’t get to see from the outside perspective, they’re great teammates,” he added. “They genuinely care and love their teammates and they like each other.”

Hodges earned The Oklahoman’s Super 5 Coach of the Year honor after the Lions’ run to the state tournament this past spring. However, Moore’s season ended prematurely before they could play Sapulpa in the state tournament, as coronavirus concerns ended the high school basketball season.

The Lions were finishing up their pregame shootaround at a Tulsa high school and were set to board the bus for the Mabee Center when they found out the state tournament had been postponed.

Not all was lost however. The team was able to learn what they are capable of accomplishing.

“I feel the positive that came out of that is knowing that we can actually get there if we work together,” Andrews said. “Going into next year, we’re coming in more prepared, knowing what it takes to get there and just making sure we get where we can bring the Gold Ball home this time.”

With this talented trio of seniors, a little more history just might be in the cards.

“The sky’s the limit for us next season,” Hodges said.-19SM

COMM U N I T Y

BY: ROXANNE AVERY

S ilver Elm Es t ate s Jewe l r y Cl u b

W

hen Melba Cowin and her husband moved into Silver Elm Estates in 2013, staff and residents took notice of the lady wearing lots of jewelry. Melba explained she had been making jewelry for many years and her new friends had lots of questions.

ing the pieces and giving the money to charity.

“I started making jewelry on my own, without any lessons,” Cowin explained. “I started by just re-stringing beads and through trial and error, I figured out how to do it. When I moved to Silver Elm, the activities director and a few residents wanted to learn.”

Word spread through the independent living center about the jewelry club and donations of old jewelry began coming in.

When she donated her personal stash, the activities director bought a few items and the Silver Elm Jewelry Club was born.

With about five women getting together regularly to socialize and make jewelry, discussion began about sell48 | July 2020

“It really started with someone suggesting we make the jewelry, sell it to our residents at a very special price and then giving the money to charity,” Cowin said.

“We just asked residents if they had any old jewelry they were going to throw away, and that we’d love to have it for our club,” she explained.

Working mainly with beads, the ladies organized, cleaned, sorted, designed and began selling their creations.

“Most of our sales were to the residents and we sold pieces such as a

necklace and earring set for $15. This gave residents a good price and we began making a little money because so much had been donated.”

The little jewelry club was about to hit the big time. “Pay it Forward,” a program on News Channel 4, broadcast a story about the small but mighty group.

“When they explained we donate our profits to charity, that’s when donations of old beads came pouring in,” Cowin said. “One lady had been making jewelry for a church and she donated everything to us. Some of our residents’ children donated beaded necklaces and jewelry and even jewelry-making tools.”

“We just kept getting these donations and began making very good profits.”

That’s when club members met to de-

cide who would receive their money.

The group decided to keep donations local and to give money to smaller organizations.

“There was a small school with a football team where players had to buy their own uniforms. Four of those boys couldn’t afford to do that so we purchased them,” Cowin shared. “We also made donations to Women Helping Women. Some of their employees wanted to take night classes and we paid for a semester of school for each of them.”

Clearing about $3,000 a year after buying necessities to make the jewelry, the little jewelry club is making an impact.

They donated $600 for toys for the Angel Tree through the Salvation Army and also gave money for toys for foster children. They have donated to fire victims and a tornado victim.

In 2017, the club bought tracking bracelets for the Norman Police De-

partment for Alzheimer patients.

They also helped with a mission trip.

“It was brought to our attention five young ladies were going on a mission trip with their church to a foreign country, but needed funding,” Cowin said. “We gave them $200 each, a total of $1,000.”

Two years ago, the jewelry club streamlined and now donates to only one charity. Bridges is an organization whose mission is to empower high school students in family crisis to pursue education without obstacles.

Cowin pointed out that although the jewelry club donates money to charity, members benefit in other ways.

“Making jewelry is good for hand and eye coordination,” she explained. “We have to use our hands, so it’s beneficial especially for those with arthritis.

It also gives our brains a workout… to design and thread a necklace.”

Cowin said the group has a great time being together in a social setting and is a positive experience for the members.

Held at Silver Elm Estates at 2100 36th Ave. NW, the club’s sales are open to the public offering jewelry at a variety of price points from $1 to $15.

“The necklace and earring sets selling for $15 are worth around $50, people tell me,” Cowin said. “A lot of our customers come back after making a purchase to give us beads and jewelry from their own collections. We ask for donations of old necklaces and jewelry, even if they’re broken, because we take them apart anyway.”

“We really enjoy making jewelry. At this point in our lives, we feel we’re giving back to our community in the ways that we can.”-19SM

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