Boyd Street Magazine April 2020

Music, Food, Wrestlers

Rose Rock Festival

Youth Agency Opens Teen Center

It’s the Spot

Normanite in the Spotlight

Debbie Barnhill

April 2020 • Issue 4 • Volume 19

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6 | April 2020

Features

APRIL CONTENTS 2020

ISSUE 4– VOLUME 19 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

MANAGING EDITOR

Rose Rock Festival

16 by Thomas Iscenko

Lindsay Cuomo

SENIOR EDITOR

Bands to play, while food trucks, wrestlers join party.

Chip Minty

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

A Great Pitch

24 by Lindsay Cuomo

Norman parks, youth soccer work to upgrade facilities.

CONTRIBUTORS

24

Roxanne Avery | Stefanie Brickman Kaylee Campbell | Callie Collins Lindsay Cuomo | Kathy Hallren Joy Hampton | Shannon Hudzinski Thomas Iscenko | Chelsey Kraft Bill Moakley | Chris Plank Chat Williams

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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Normanite in the Spotlight:

35 Debbie Barnhill

PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon

by Chelsey Kraft Norman native reflects on career and community.

Special Education

44 by Kaylee Campbell

High school program opens doors to compassion, acceptance.

48

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.

Spotlights

G.O.A.T.

48 by Chris Plank

Boyd Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © Boyd Street Magazine

10

Capt. Chris Amason

Despite an abrupt end to her college career, Sooner senior Maggie Nichols leaves a legacy both on and off the podium.

Service Spotlight:

14 by Stefanie Brickman

It’s the Spot

56 by Callie Collins

Youth agency opens new center to help teens.

56

A Healthy Perspective

73 by Lindsay Cuomo

20

Capt. Cody Goodnight Service Spotlight:

by Chelsey Kraft

30 by Lindsay Cuomo

Boyd Street Teacher Features

Service Spotlight:

Norman physician reflects on 30-year career.

Five Ways to Trim Your

New fitness program to spice up workout routines.

/boydstreetmagazine

by Joy Hampton

61

Fixed Expenses

Feel the Burn

sportstalk1400.com

Visit Norman

40

Deputy Larry Wade

80

by Roxanne Avery

by Bill Moakley

80

@boydstreet

by Shannon Hudzinski - OUFCU

65 by Kathy Hallren - Joe’s Wine & Spirits

Wine, Grapes & the Environment

69 Agility and Quickness

Motor Skill Development: Speed,

by Chat Williams - Youth Performance Cover photo by: Mark Doescher

A Tree Line USA Utility 14 years and counting

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Service Spotlight:

Capt. Chris Amason

C

hris Amason almost always wanted to be a police officer.

Literally, almost always.

“From a very early age, I knew I wanted to get into law enforcement,” Amason said. “At 13, I became a law enforcement explorer with the Warr Acres Police Department. That’s a program through the Boy Scouts of America that gets kids engaged in the career path.”

Amason, now a captain with the Norman Police Department and commander of its Criminal Investigations Division, stayed in the program through the age of 21 and landed his first officer’s position in Warr Acres.

“It was a real blessing to be able to step right into an officer’s position,” Amason said.

Nearly six years into his career, Amason had an opportunity to join a family business and did so for about two years.

“I realized I was unhappy,” he said. “Law enforcement was where I was supposed to be.”

While at Warr Acres, Amason came to know fellow officer Todd Gibson, who had taken a position working with NPD and eventually was elected Cleveland County Sheriff. Gibson spoke highly of the department and in 2000, Amason accepted a position in Norman.

“I’ve been here 20 years and obviously this is where I’m supposed to be,” Amason said. “I love Norman, and I love the community. It’s been a real good fit.”

Amason began his service in Norman as a patrol officer. In 2006, he joined the criminal investigations department as a detective, including working major cases. In 2009, he was promoted to lieutenant and returned to patrol. He later returned to criminal investigations and in 2017, he was promoted to captain, and he worked his way into his current position as the division commander.

As commander of investigations, Amason oversees three units, including criminal investigations, special investigations and property custody and the city’s crime lab. His interest in investigations began at Warr Acres, where Amason held his first detective’s position.

10 | April 2020

“I really just love it,” he said. “I’ll always have a love for patrol and really enjoyed my time there. I feel like I just have a real niche for the investigations end of it.

“It’s having the intuition,” Amason continued about what makes a good detective. “It’s being able to put together the facts of a case with a lot of different scenarios coming at you. I always say that there is a God factor involved in solving crimes in that sometimes we just get those hunches or tips that lead us in the right direction.”

As for his long career in Norman, Amason says he couldn’t think of a better community in which to work.

“It’s more than just Norman, it’s Cleveland County,” Amason said. “You have the growth of Moore. In Norman, you have the Campus Corner area. You have downtown. The west side has its own personality and the far, far east side has a rural feel to it. We just have a whole variety. And, you can’t ever forget OU. “I like that variety of having the different feels. You have lifelong residents and an everchanging student population. It’s the best of all worlds.”

Amason holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and ethics from Mid-America Christian University, and he is working on his master’s degree in criminal justice administration at the American Military University.

When he’s not investigating crime in Norman, Amason can often be found working alongside his wife, Amber, who owns a metro area photography business. – BSM

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Eat

Stay

Play

Events

COMM U N I T Y

BY:THOMAS ISCENKO

Rose Ro ck Festival

I

Bands to Play, While Food Trucks, Wrestlers Join Party

t must be springtime in Oklahoma because the annual Rose Rock Festival in Noble is right around the corner with live music playing day and night from May 1-3. But that’s not all.

There will be food trucks, classic cars and for those who want even more entertainment, there will be trash talking wrestlers going to the mat for a piece of Rose Rock glory.

The Rose Rock Capital of the World will welcome thousands of visitors to Noble’s celebration of music, fun and warm weather, and remarkably, it’s free for the whole family to enjoy.

For many years, the Rose Rock Music Festival has found a way to grow, making each year bigger and better than the last, but traditions like this don’t happen overnight.

John Stokes, president of the Noble Chamber of Commerce, said, “The day after the festival ends, we start

16 | April 2020

planning for the next one to make it bigger and better. We’re planning pretty much throughout the whole year.

Except for June, that’s when we take time off and relax.”

Throughout the town, you can find activities ranging from a parade down Main Street to craft vendors, food trucks, games and carnival rides.

Then, there’s the music performed by local and regional talents.

“Usually you’ll hear some rock, country and blues being played. Our top acts include Next Halen which is a good tribute band for Van Halen,” Stokes said. “And, Tyler Byrd, he’s an upcoming country singer that I’m sure his name will be one to remember.

He’s going to be our closing act to see the festivities go out with a bang.”

Other performers include Kyle Reid, Edgar Cruz and Kat Lock.

For people who enjoy music, cars and entertainment, the short trip to Noble for the annual Rose Rock Music Festival is a springtime ritual they don’t want to miss. It’s a good time to slow down, enjoy something to drink and take in the festive ambiance with family and friends.

At the time of publication, organizers are planning to go ahead with the festival on the first weekend in May, however, Stokes says Normanites should stay up to date by following the festival’s social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook.

“The Rose Rock Festival is very important to our community. It brings in thousands of visitors to our area,” Stokes said. “We are monitoring the situation and will keep everyone up to date in the event we have to postpone.” – BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: CHELSEY KRAF T

F

or five years after graduating from college, Cody Goodnight searched for his profession, his calling. He did a lot of odd jobs to get by and pay the bills, but he couldn’t figure out what exactly he wanted to do long term.

That is until a neighbor, who was a firefighter, encouraged Goodnight to fill out an application for the Norman Fire Department. Initially hesitant that it would not be a job he could do, Goodnight decided to give it a shot and he applied.

“Then the good Lord just opened every door,” Goodnight said. “It was obviously meant to be because I had spent a ton of time praying, ‘Lord, whatever you want for me, wherever you want me, open those doors, close the ones that need to be closed.’

“Thirteen years later and I love coming to work. I love the guys I work with. I love what I do, and it’s such a blessing.”

Goodnight joined the Norman Fire Department in January 2007 and spent six and a half years as a firefighter, followed by four years as a driver. For the past two years, he has served as a captain. During his time with the fire department, Goodnight has worked at nearly every station.

In 1999, Goodnight moved from Cromwell to Norman to pursue a health and exercise science degree from the University of Oklahoma.

While in college, he met his wife, Ali-

20 | April 2020

son, and the pair married in 2004.

Since Alison was from Norman and his family was also nearby, the Goodnights decided to settle down in the community where they could enjoy the college atmosphere – and OU football.

“I fell in love with Norman when I moved here, and she didn’t want to go anywhere else, so we made it home for our family,” Goodnight said.

The Goodnights have three children, a 12-year-old son named Noah, a 4 ½-year-old adopted daughter named Lyla and a 2-year-old son named Luke.

About a year and a half ago, the Goodnights, along with about 10 other people, started Timber Creek Fellowship Church. Alison serves as worship pastor for the church, and Goodnight said this group of people is meaningful to them.

“Our church life is so much more than church,” Goodnight said. “The people we do life with and do church with, they’re family. We love them so much, and they’re just interwoven into our everyday lives and are a part of everything that we do. We’re always in communication with them, and church life and daily life are just all the same.”

On his days off from the fire department, Goodnight works for Automatic Fire Control as a fire compression technician. He said the company is wonderful to work for, and it’s a common day off job for people from the Norman Fire Department as he’s one

of about 14 who work both places.

Whenever he’s not at work, Goodnight’s primary focus is on spending every possible second with his family.

“It’s funny, when you get older, doing things and hobbies become less important,” Goodnight said. “For me, it’s more about who I’m with, and there’s no one I’d rather be with than my wife and my kiddos. I love hanging out with them. I love watching them grow up. My wife is my best friend. To me, that’s where it’s at, and I’m a family guy.”

When it comes to filling the captain’s role for the fire department, Goodnight views it not so much as a supervisory role but more so making sure his crew is taken care of and has everything needed to be successful and do a good job.

Most importantly, Goodnight is focused on his guys as people, investing in them and letting them know he cares about them, while also reminding them there’s life outside the fire department.

“That’s truly why I think the Lord has put me in this position, so I could affect guys in a positive way and positively affect their marriage, their finances, their home life, whatever it may be, just be a friend to them more than anything,” Goodnight said. “I’m not more talented. God just opened those doors so he could use me in that light.” – BSM

Photo by: Mark Doescher

Service Spotlight: Capt. Cody Goodnight

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COMM U N I T Y

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A Great Pitch

Norman Parks, Youth Soccer Work to Upgrade Facilities

D

rivers making their way down East Robinson may have noticed some extra activity at Griffin Park these days. In additional to the usual springtime hustle and bustle, a few more of Norman’s youth soccer fields are getting a facelift. Officials with the Norman Youth Soccer Association (NYSA) are in the midst of a multiphase, multi-year renovation.

“We are in our third phase,” said Steve Gillis, facilities director for the association.

Through the 2015 Norman Forward bond initiative, the Norman Parks Department has already upgraded several existing fields with irrigation, lighting, improved playing surfaces as well as a new bathroom and fencing.

“We are working to create a top tier facility,” Gillis said. “We’ve done the work in sections to ensure that league play is continuous.”

24 | April 2020

In addition to the construction, NYSA has made some internal changes, including the addition of Skip Thorp as their technical director.

Portland, New York and Philadelphia.

“The big goal of a soccer club is to offer opportunities for all interest levels, from the casual player to the most elite. Our goal has always been to build from within,” said Don Rother, the association’s executive director.

“We want to develop players and coaches from right here in Norman.”

Despite graduating from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Thorp chose coaching as a career.

Rother said Thorp’s focus will be on developing and supporting coaches.

“We’ve grown so much it was important to bring in someone to focus on coaching and create the best learning environment we can,” Rother said.

Thorp brings with him more than 30 years of experience, and he has coached men’s and women’s soccer at the college, national and international levels as well as professionally in

“To have someone with Skip’s credentials and connections in Norman, it’s really incredible,” Gillis said.

“I always felt it was my calling,” Thorp said. “I started coaching younger kids when I was in eighth grade. The connection that kids and a coach share, for me, you can’t put a value on that. The expression on a kid’s face when they finally get something they have been working so hard on… it’s priceless.”

Thorp said he’s already started observing coaches and exploring ways to make practices more efficient.

“It’s important to have an established curriculum to help keep the program on track,” Thorp said. “We want to

create a complete player who loves the game.”

Rother said the changes at NYSA represent an effort to elevate Norman soccer and Gillis said Norman Forward is propelling Norman to a new level.

“Norman Forward has provided us a way to fast forward improvements,” Gillis said.

Once the multi-year plan is complete, Gillis and Rother both agree that Norman will be able to attract regional and national tournaments.

“We’ve been out here for a long time.

We are kind of Norman’s best kept secret,” Gillis said. “With more fields, we can host more events. Collegiate and national level events are realistic with the type of facility planned.”

Once work on the existing fields is complete, construction will pause until the park’s baseball fields are relocated. As city officials work out budgeting shortfalls, Gillis and Rother said their organization wants all youth sports to succeed.

boydstreet.com

“We can’t be successful without the great relationship with the city,” Gillis said. “We can’t emphasize how valuable that support is.”

“We need to make sure that all youth sports in Norman succeed,” Rother added. “We want to cultivate multisport athletes. We need great facilities for all sports.” – BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

Megan Allen

H

enry Wadsworth Longfellow said music is the universal language of mankind, one that often crosses cultures and social barriers. For Megan Allen, a music teacher at Cleveland Elementary, she uses music to help her students build the confidence they need to tackle life’s challenges.

“I’ve always loved music and the arts,” Allen said. “My elementary music teacher inspired me to go into teaching. She made music fun.”

Making learning fun is important to Allen.

“My most memorable moments as an educator are when my students perform or have success in their endeavors,” Allen said. “They come into my class for music and can’t wait to tell me about their achievement. Even if it is not music related, I want to hear about and celebrate it!”

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

And, at Cleveland, they celebrate student successes in a big way.

“Every week I coordinate a whole school assembly and bring in different performers and outreach programs. I provide performance opportunities for students and we celebrate their success.”

“I also coordinate an educational partnership with the OU Men’s Gymnastics Team,” Allen explained.

“We all, elementary students and OU gymnasts, support each other as we work towards our goals.”

For Allen, music is the tool she uses to help develop the valuable life skills her students need to succeed.

“My professional goals in the classroom are for all students to make progress musically, however, I recognize that all students are not going to be professional musicians,” Allen

said. “I expect them to participate and try their best. In doing so, students learn life skills that will help them be successful, whatever path they choose.”

Allen is Cleveland’s Teacher of the Year, an honor she holds in high regard.

“We have a lot of very hardworking and dedicated teachers at Cleveland and to be picked out of all of them was quite a compliment from my co-workers.” – BSM

Teaching Norman

Alesia Warner

A

t some point in our life, we all face the same life-changing decision; we finally have to decide what we are going to be when we grow up.

For Alesia Warner, her answer was teaching.

“While doing some soul searching, I asked myself what I could do for the rest of my life that would bring me satisfaction and fulfillment. My mind immediately turned to teaching,” Warner remembered. “I go home every day with a full heart.”

Today, Warner teaches fifth grade at Jackson Elementary.

Warner said she strives to nurture her students’ minds and bodies.

“I start my day with a question, ‘Who needs breakfast?’ After everyone gets settled and fed, we recite our class creed… read our daily Mr. Browne’s Precepts about kindness and pick up 30 | April 2020

where we left off on a chapter book that we chip away at as a class.”

Sometimes, students face big challenges that create obstacles in their academic journey, but Warner sees this as an opportunity.

“A sweet and talented girl in my class was a gifted learner who was kind to everyone. After about two months into the school year, this student had been diagnosed with Leukemia.”

Because the student could no longer safely attend school, Warner began teaching her at her home.

“After taking off my shoes and putting hand sanitizer on, we would go over the lessons that she had missed. I would fill her in on what was going on at school and bring her pictures and notes from her classmates. We wanted to make sure that she knew that she was missed and that we were rooting for her.”

“I understand the impact an educator can have, but because of this special experience, I now know that this impact can transcend the walls of our schools.”

Warner was honored as Teacher of the Year at Jackson.

“It’s such a good feeling to know that your colleagues chose you for your hard work,” Warner said. “I will cherish the moment they announced my name, especially since my parents, husband, niece and nephew were there to share it with me.” – BSM

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NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

COM M UNI T Y

Debbie Barnhill

E

ven her boss has called Debbie Barnhill a nurturer, a character trait that is on display not only through Barnhill’s career but also when it comes to her family, friends and community.

Prior to joining BancFirst 34 years ago, Barnhill spent 10 years working for attorneys in the area. At BancFirst, she started as secretary to the president before moving into different positions, including assistant branch manager and her current job as vice president of treasury management in Norman.

Barnhill takes care of commercial accounts for the bank, but after so many years at BancFirst and making long-term connections with people in the community, she also works with many people on their personal accounts.

“BancFirst is a wonderful place to work,” Barnhill said.

“It’s a family bank. The Rainbolt family started it and continues to have a very active part in the bank. They are very good to their employees.”

Born at Norman Regional Hospital, Barnhill lived in Norman until she was 5 years old when her family moved to Amarillo, Texas. The family later moved back to Norman when she was 12, and she has lived in her birthplace ever since. Her parents, Clifford Ray and Mary Carolyn Heard, moved to Norman in the 1950s. Mary Carolyn attended the University of Oklahoma while Cliff was in the Navy.

One day in high school, Barnhill was at Greenleaf Bakery on Porter St., visiting her friend, Bertha. There she met her future husband, Mark, who happened to be her friend’s cousin, and the son of the bakery owner. Barnhill’s aunt and uncle owned Velma’s Bakery, where she worked, so there was friendly competition going on between the families.

The Barnhills will celebrate their 45th anniversary this summer.

They built a home on 20 acres off Highway 9 about 18 years ago on land that was originally part of a homestead belongboydstreet.com

ing to Mark’s family. Both come from large families, Barnhill as the oldest of six children and Mark as one of seven.

When it came to settling down, Barnhill knew Norman was a good community and that she really did not want to go anywhere else, especially with so much family in the area.

Relationships with family and friends are important to Barnhill. She and Mark have two daughters, Valerie, who works for a local home builder, and Hillary, who passed away three years ago. They also have three grandchildren – two grandsons ages 17 and 12 and a granddaughter, who is 3 years old. One son-in-law is a fire chief with the Oklahoma City Fire Department, and another is in the National Guard. Both of Barnhill’s grandsons are active in sports, so she spends much of her time going to their basketball games and track and cross country meets.

“It’s just awesome,” Barnhill said of having her grandchildren nearby. “They are the joy of our lives. I think that any BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 35

grandparent that you talk to will say how blessed it is that they’re lucky enough to live in the same town or close to the same town.”

Barnhill’s nurturing side is also on display through her community involvement. In past years, she has served on the Norman Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and helped with the United Way. In 1995, she was the president of the Kiwanis Club of Norman and remains active on the board of directors.

36 | April 2020

Last year, she received the Ambassador of the Year award from the Norman Chamber for her role mentoring new chamber members to help them feel welcome and part of the group.

As for being called a nurturer, Barnhill said it came naturally for her because she was the oldest child and is a mother.

Overall, it means she cares for people, including those she has met through community involvement and work.

“I am fortunate to have a strong network throughout the bank,” Barnhill said. “I do a variety of things here at the bank and am able to work with all BancFirst Norman associates as well as the Oklahoma City Support Center.

I have met so many people in this community that have become good friends and business associates over the years.

I feel extremely blessed to have been a member of this community and work for a great company like BancFirst all these years.” – BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: JOY HAMPTON

Service Spotlight:

Deputy Larry Wade

S

upervisors describe Deputy Larry Wade as a positive, upbeat person who embodies compassionate service and community policing.

“He’s someone you can relate to,” said Capt. Jeff Cox, patrol supervisor. “He makes you feel comfortable when you speak to him. He’s very personable.”

Although Wade joined the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office five years ago, and he has a decade of law enforcement experience starting with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked for five years.

Like many in the sheriff’s office, he started his service to Cleveland County at the jail.

“I started at the detention center as a detention officer and was promoted to corporal,” he said. “From there, I went to the courthouse to work judicial services.”

After a year, he moved to patrol where he currently serves.

Wade grew up in Cleveland County, and he said his father was a great role

40 | April 2020

model who influenced his commitment to serve and protect the public.

“I followed in his footsteps,” he said.

“My dad was in the Air Force for 20 years in the law enforcement side.”

Wade is hoping to eventually become a detective and work child crimes. He is passionate about protecting children, and he believes he could make a difference in children’s lives.

It’s not an easy job, but Wade believes it’s a noble profession and just as his father was his role model, Wade wants to be a role model for his children. His oldest daughter is about to graduate from high school, and she plans to study criminal justice in college, then pursue a career in law enforcement.

He said deputies and others in law enforcement often interact with people in crisis, which provides unique opportunities for compassionate service.

“Every day when we go out, we try to make a positive impact,” he said.

“Whenever I’m interacting with someone, I try to keep in mind how I would

act if it was my mother or father or my children and take that approach when I interact with them.”

For Wade, serving in a variety of divisions at the sheriff’s office has been a great training ground for his future goals.

“There are so many different divisions in the agency,” he said. “Working in different divisions has made me a better deputy. Being at the jail and dealing with people from all different cultural backgrounds and religions and learning to de-escalate situations has served me out in the field.”

In law enforcement, whether it’s working detention, serving at the courthouse or driving patrol, every day is different, Wade said, but patrol deputies interact mostly with people in crisis, possibly at the worst moments of their lives.

“I try to be a positive presence in their time of need,” he said. “The other deputies are great mentors. They are very professional, and I’ve learned from them.

We have a lot of good leadership here.”

This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: KAYLEE CAMPBELL

Special Education High School Program Opens Doors to Compassion, Acceptance

A

special program at Norman’s two high schools are giving some students opportunities to exercise compassion and empathy while others in the program are learning what it’s like to be loved, accepted and treated like peers.

The Service Learning programs at Norman High and Norman North are laying the foundation for a more inclusive future for the community by placing students in classes to help other students with a range of special needs.

The program is running near capacity at Norman North, said Principal Kristi Gray. The school has some 30 service learners enrolled, with as many as two to three service learners assigned to each class where there’s a need.

Norman North’s student community is some 2,350 strong, including about 400 students whose needs and abilities vary from students with a learning disability to students with more complicated needs, including accommodations for health conditions.

Like the Norman community as a whole, the Norman North “T-Wolf” community includes “kiddos of all sizes, shapes, colors and abilities,” said Amber Pennell, assistant principal at Norman North.

“The program increases empathy and 44 | April 2020

awareness, understanding that we’re all a part of this world, together.”

“For us, what it comes down to is connecting different populations in the school, but also helping teenagers step away from themselves and to think about something, somebody other than what’s immediately in front of them – which is something we all struggle with,” Gray said.

“It’s an eye-opening experience – you go into it thinking of it more like babysitting, but in reality, it’s more like hanging out with friends,” said Jacob Gray, Norman North senior and service learner.

“I’ve always wanted to work with kids, even when I go into my professional career,” said Jack Adams, another Norman North senior and service learner.

“I want to be a pediatrician – so getting a hands-on experience right now really helps me get a grasp of how it might be like in the future.”

Adams and Gray both recalled moments that have been significant for them during their time as service learners, showing just how much they get out of serving others.

“There’s one girl in this class who is not very active, not very talkative – she’s pretty much non-vocal,” Gray said.

“Every day we can get two or three

words out of her, and it’s mostly names.

But one day she was in her own world, dancing … I remember, it’s the only time I’ve been able to get her to correctly say my name, I walked over to her and said can we dance together? And she pointed at me, nodded, said ‘Jacob,’ and we proceeded to dance.”

Adams recalled a time when the same girl impacted his life.

“She was bawling and one of the teachers said she had been having a bad day.

I asked what was wrong and she gave me the biggest hug out of nowhere.

And to see her smile as I was talking to her, it was heartwarming,” Adams said.

“Being a part of the service-learning program has opened students’ eyes to how special and unique special needs kiddos are. Their brains may been put together differently, or physically they may be a little bit different, they still have their own personalities and their own little quirks and they have tremendous hearts and things they can give back to the school,” Gray said.

“Instead of looking at them as someone who might be perceived as very different – they go through the same teenage things, that they all do at this age – so looking at them as a peer, as an equal, it’s just somebody to get to know.” -BSM

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BY: CHRIS PLANK 48 | April 2020

Photos by: Mark Doescher

S P O RT S

T

he G.O.A.T acronym is commonly used in sports to label the Greatest of All Time.

Names like Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant. A label reserved for the elite.

The cleanness of the sport will come later if you have the natural talent,” Kindler said. “She was a very happy, giggly athlete. She wasn’t an elite yet… but she was special.”

In college gymnastics, The University of Oklahoma’s Maggie Nichols had earned the right to be called the G.O.A.T. Through adversity and unparalleled success, Nichols forged a path that won’t soon be forgotten or duplicated, despite the fact the it ended far too soon.

Levels in gymnastics are defined by what skill you can perform and how well you can perform that skill on each event. By the time Nichols committed to OU, she was elite, but had not yet burst onto the national scene.

From the revelation that she was “Athlete A”, Nichols showed the courage to speak up and speak out against the sexual abuse of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. She became such a powerful voice that she was awarded the 2019 NCAA Inspiration Award.

Through it all, she was still able to put forth flawless performances. She led her team to a pair of national titles, while winning six individual titles and the 2019 Honda Sports Award, considered

“When we committed her, she was elite but hadn’t had a ton of success,” Kindler said. “But (she) kept getting better and better, and it was really cool to watch.”

Nichols joined the U.S. National Team in March 2013. In her first meet, she earned a silver medal on the floor exercise and helped lead Team USA to a gold medal.

But it was during the summer of 2014 when Nichols emerged, and visions of a potential spot on the 2016 Olympic Team started to look like a reality.

G.O.A.T.

the women’s sports equivalent of the Heisman.

Nichols first caught the eye of Sooner head coach KJ Kindler at age 10, but it wasn’t necessarily because of her skill set.

“We’ve recruited from her gym (Twin City Twisters) forever,” Kindler said. “Her teammate Bree Olson came to OU. She was already committed, so during summer camp she brought a bunch of her teammates and 10-year-old Maggie was one of them.

“She was a scrappy dappy doo. She could do a lot of skills, but her legs were all over the place. It was crazy, but she was 10! You could see her natural talent. She was young but fearless.”

That fearless nature is what stood out to Kindler.

“That is what you look for in a young gymnast, that she has no fear. That kind of athlete mentally is in a good place and you know they will go far. boydstreet.com

She was a major part of the 2015 U.S. Women’s World Championships team that claimed a gold medal, and she earned an individual bronze medal on the floor, competing on all four events in team finals.

The summer of 2016 was shaping up to be special for Nichols. She was considered a favorite to make the U.S. Olympic roster and compete for gold in the Summer Olympics in Rio De Janerio.

Despite preparation and excitement over a potential spot, Nichols was living a nightmare away from the gym. She had been one of many members of Team USA that had been sexually abused by team doctor Larry Nasser. Nichols and her coach Sarah Jantzi reported Nassar to USA Gymnastics officials in June 2015 after the coach overheard Nichols and another gymnast talking about Nassar’s behavior. Her teammate and friend Simone Biles came forward shortly after with BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 49

accounts that she too had been sexually abused by Nassar.

“I got a phone call probably the next day from Steve Penny,” Maggie’s mother Gina said at the time.

Penny was president and CEO of USA Gymnastics.

“He called me, I don’t know how many times, to talk to me about it and make sure that I understood they were taking care of it. When I have the president of USA Gymnastics telling me what to do, he’s in a position of power over me.

We’ve given our whole family up to get our daughter to this point and [when] I have Steve Penny telling me this is what we’re going to do, we’re going to be quiet, I’m going to listen to him. I’m not going to jeopardize my daughter’s chance of going to the Olympics.”

Neither Nichols nor Biles had gone public with the accusations beyond the reports to Team USA and, in court filings, she would be referred to as “Athlete A”.

The delay in when Nichols reported the abuse and when USA Gymnastics took action is still an issue of concern.

But Nichols showed her determination and resiliency, and she did not let the abuse detour her from her goals. She was going to do everything she could to make the Olympic team, however, in April 2016, adversity struck as she tore her meniscus in training.

“It was definitely one of the worst times of my life,” Nichols said. “I’m not gonna lie. I only had a few months to get ready for the biggest competition of my life that I’d been looking forward to for forever.”

Nichols pushed forward. Despite surgery and struggles during her first meet back, at the P&G Championships in St. Louis, Maggie finished 6th in the allaround at the Olympic Trials.

“I was so proud of myself for how far I had come after my injury, but I was definitely nervous and really didn’t know what to expect,” Nichols said. “I thought for sure I had a good chance of being an alternate at least.”

Unfortunately for her, Nichols did not make the team. While many pointed to the knee injury as the reason for her omission, her mother saw other motives.

50 | April 2020

“They never wanted Maggie to be a part of the Olympics because they didn’t want someone at the Olympics who is telling people she is being molested by the Olympics staff,” Gina Nichols said in an interview with the Norman Transcript. “We were completely abused by USA Gymnastics. They tried to keep her and everybody quiet because they couldn’t let that get out, that one of their top athletes was being molested by their doctor before going to the 2016 Olympics. It was all a part of a cover-up. It was terrible for us. She and our family were treated horribly because she reported abuse and they did not like that.”

While the disappointment of not making the national team loomed, Maggie never let it get her down. She kept pushing forward and reset her focus.

“When I didn’t make that team, my mindset changed with a snap of a finger,” Nichols said. “I was excited to experience college life and be a college athlete. I was not going to dwell on not making the team.”

As soon as Nichols stepped on campus at the University of Oklahoma, her passion was rediscovered. The frustration of the experience with USA Gymnastics was, for the most part, in the rearview.

Gymnastics was fun again.

During her freshman season, she recorded her first gym slam, scoring a perfect 10 in all four events in one season. Nichols set the school record for perfect 10s in a career during her freshman season and was first team All-American on the vault, bars and floor. By the end of the season she had helped lead OU to its second consecutive National Championship.

More courageous than even coming forward to report the abuse in the first place, Nichols decided to put a face to “Athlete A” and go public with her experiences with Team USA.

“I felt like it was the right thing for me to do, for myself and for other people,” she said. “I felt like it would help me because I would have a lot of support and people that were behind me.

“Also, I felt like it could help other people come forward. I had so many people reach out and support me after coming out publicly, which was such an honor.

I was glad to have people to look up to 52 | April 2020

me and inspire them to come forward as well. It’s definitely different than being an inspiration in athletics.”

Less than a week before her sophomore season, Nichols released her statement.

Kindler was right there with her to write the nearly 900-word revelation.

It took nearly two weeks, but it was chilling to read her words and try to understand everything she had lived through.

In her statement, she wrote, “Up until now, I was identified as Athlete A by USA gymnastics, the US Olympic Committee and Michigan State University.

I want everyone to know that [Nassar] did not do this to Athlete A, he did it to Maggie Nichols.”

She once again dominated college gymnastics during her sophomore campaign and ended up winning the individual all-around during both her sophomore and junior season as well. Twenty eight of OU’s 37 team scores of 198 or better have come since Nichols arrived, and boydstreet.com

the Sooners have won two national titles, coming within a whisker of a third.

She is the only gymnast in NCAA history with multiple all-around scores of 39.900.

During what would be her final meet, unbeknownst to her, she recorded her 22nd career Perfect 10 — and nation-high fourth this season — to reach second place all-time in NCAA history, surpassing UCLA’s Kyla Ross. Nichols is six Perfect 10s away from tying the record of 28 set by UCLA’s Jamie Dantzcher.

But her career was cut short in the wildest twist possible. Fears over the spread and dangers of the coronavirus led the NCAA to cancel all spring championships, including the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament, the college world series, the women’s college world series and the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship.

At the time of the cancellations, the Sooners were the No. 1 team in the country, and many considered OU a favorite

to repeat as national champions and for Nichols to win her third straight, allaround individual championship.

Nichols took to Instagram to express her sadness and disappointment, but she took it all in stride, focusing on the positives in her life and the impact she made in her farewell Instagram post.

“It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I will never have the opportunity to compete for OU again with my team.... but knowing I poured my heart & soul into this sport my whole entire career and ended on a positive note eases my mind, knowing I gave it EVERYTHING I had. Every ounce of my being.”

Nichols career as a student athlete may be over, but she will still be a part of the program.

“She has planned to be our student coach next year,” Kindler said. “She will graduate in December and she is wanting to coach. It’s in her blood, and I can see her doing that.” – BSM BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 53

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

It’s the Spot

Youth Agency Opens New Center to Help Teens

N

eed a place to study? Want a snack, or a little down time?

Then hit the SPOT.

That’s the pitch from a new nonprofit set up recently to help teens succeed in a world where safe places can be hard to find sometimes.

The SPOT at 526 is an after-school community gathering space for kids 14 to 21 years old, and the center offers space to study, play and interact in a positive way with other kids who might come by for homework help, a quiet place to read or a game of ping pong.

“The goal is to be here for whoever needs us, young people who reach out and may not otherwise find what they’re seeking, which is a place to study and be safe,” said Bianca Gordon, associate executive director.

“The SPOT is two doors down from a CiCi’s Pizza, close to two bus stops

56 | April 2020

and a few minutes’ walk from Norman High School.”

The SPOT at 526 is located at 526 W Main St., and its acronym is intentional. SPOT stands for Support, Purpose and Opportunity for young people to Thrive. Among other services, Norman teens can utilize tutoring, free WIFI access and at least two adults are always on-site to provide basic supervision. The center also has ping pong tables, videogames and food.

may be made available during school breaks and extended hours will be determined for the center’s summer schedule.

Follow @thespotat526 on Instagram for more about summer hours and events. To learn more about how you can support Bridges and The SPOT at 526, visit www.bridgesnorman.org.

BRIDGES AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION

The SPOT is operated by Bridges, a residential program for homeless teens. Executive Director Stacy Bruce works with Gordon on both initiatives, providing solutions for teens that do not have support from other adults in their lives.

Bridges came from a community need that school counselors began to recognize in the 1990s, stemming from students living in a loophole situation. They could not attend school due to an oversight in state law that required the presence of a parent or guardian for enrollment.

Hours of The SPOT are from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Lunch

“I tell people all the time, ‘you would be surprised who is at Bridges.’

We’ve had top athletes, incredible

musical talent, students who go to Columbia University. Through no fault of their own, they find themselves on their own,” said Gordon. “These are kids who wake up on their own, go to school, go to work and participate in extracurricular activities.”

students to drop out of school, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty.

The law was changed, and a task force recommendation led to the purchase of Sooner Pointe, a 20-unit single bedroom apartment complex. That complex was transformed into Bridges.

Parental incarceration, homelessness or death are some of the reasons that lead

In addition to housing, Bridges also offers life skills classes that teach students

boydstreet.com

things they may not learn in school.

“Sessions deal with anything that makes young people productive members of society, from car maintenance and budgeting to yoga and healthy cooking, Gordon said. “We help them fill out their paperwork and figure out Section Eight housing options for after they leave Bridges.” – BSM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 57

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Five Ways to Trim Your Fixed Expenses

W

hen trying to trim a monthly budget, most people don’t consider their fixed expenses. These recurring costs, which include mortgage payments, insurance premiums and subscription payments, are easy to budget and plan for since they generally remain constant throughout the year. While people tend to think there’s no way to lower fixed expenses, with a bit of effort and research, most of these costs can be reduced.

its own guidelines to follow for this process, but ultimately you will agree to have your home reappraised in hopes of proving its value is less than the town’s assessment. This move can drastically lower your property tax bill; however, if you have made improvements to your home, it may be appraised at a higher value, which could raise your taxes.

Here are five ways to trim your fixed expenses:

The Geico gecko and Progressive’s Flo, who love disrupting your favorite TV shows, actually have a point: You may be overpaying for your auto insurance policy.

CONSIDER A REFINANCE Mortgage payments take the biggest bite out of most monthly budgets. Fortunately, you can lower those payments by refinancing your mortgage to a lower interest rate. The refinance will cost you, but you can roll the closing costs and other fees into your refinance loan. Plus, the money you save each month should more than offset these costs. A refinance is an especially smart move to make in a falling-rates environment or if your credit has improved a lot since you originally opened your mortgage.

LOWER YOUR PROPERTY TAXES Taxes may be inevitable, but they aren’t set in stone. You may be able to lower your property taxes by challenging your town’s assessment of your home. Each town will have boydstreet.com

CHANGE YOUR AUTO INSURANCE POLICY

If you’ve had the same policy for several years, speak to a company representative about lowering your monthly premiums. By highlighting your loyalty and having an excellent driving record, you may be able to get a lower quote. You can also consider increasing your deductible to net a lower monthly premium.

If your insurance company is not willing to work with you, it might be time to shop around for a provider that will. A few minutes on the phone can provide you with a significant monthly savings for a similar level of coverage. Once you have a lower quote in hand, you can choose to go back to your original provider and tell them you’re seriously considering a switch. They may change their mind about their previous lowest offer.

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 61

CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBTS If you’re carrying a number of outstanding debts, your minimum monthly payments can be a serious drain on your budget. Plus, thanks to the high interest rates you’re likely saddled with, you might be feeling like that debt is going nowhere.

Lucky for you, there is a way out. If you have multiple credit cards open, each with an outstanding balance, you might want to consider a balance transfer. This might entail opening a new, no-interest credit card, and transferring all of your debts to this account. The no-interest period generally lasts up to 18 months. Going forward, you will only have one debt payment to make each month. Plus, the no-interest feature means you can make a serious dent in paying down that debt without half of your payment going toward interest.

CUT OUT SUBSCRIPTIONS YOU DON’T NEED Another fixed expense most people mindlessly pay each month are subscriptions. Take some time to review your monthly subscriptions and weed out those you don’t really need. Below, we’ve listed some of the most commonly underused monthly payments:

• Gym membership - Are you really getting your money’s worth out of your gym membership? It may be cheaper to just pay for the classes you attend instead of a full membership. Or, if you have a favorite workout machine at the gym, consider purchasing it to use at home for a one-time cost that allows you to drop your gym membership.

• Cable - Why are you still paying for cable when you can stream your shows for less through services like Netflix and Hulu? If you don’t want to cut out cable entirely, consider downgrading to a cheaper plan that drops some of the premium channels you don’t watch much.

• Apps - How many apps are you signed up for? You may not even remember signing up for an upgraded version of an app you rarely use. A quick perusal of your monthly checking account statement or credit card bill can help you determine how much these subscriptions are costing you. Drop the apps you’re not using for more wiggle room in your monthly budget.

Your fixed monthly expenses are actually not as “fixed” as you may have thought. By taking a careful look at some of these costs, you can free up more of your monthly income for the things that really matter.

LI F EST Y L E

BY: KATHY HALLREN | JOE’S WINES & SPIRITS

Wine, Grapes & the Environment A

week does not go by without someone asking me about sulfites or organic wine. So, I am going to try to shed a little light on the subject.

Let’s start with sulfites. Sulfites occur naturally as part of the fermentation process. However, the Romans discovered that adding additional sulfites substantially extended the time the wine remained drinkable. Since, vintners have added sulfites. Today, very few “no detectable sulfites” wines are available, due to their low shelf life.

Regulations in the U.S. and European Union limit the amount of sulfite that can be present in wine, and the level at which wine can be labelled no detectable sulfites. The upper limit for sulfites is higher in the U.S. than the European Union.

Red wines and sweet wines have less sulfites added, because the tannins and sugars are also natural preservatives. Many consumers believe that organic wines do not contain sulfites, but this is incorrect. Organic wines contain no added sulfites.

Now, let’s look at organic wines. Organic wines actually fall in two categories: wines made from organically grown grapes and those using organically grown grapes and are vinified without additional chemicals and segregated from any contamination. The label will bear a certification that

cannot appear without approval from the USDA and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agencies. The U.S. and the European Union have very similar regulations for this designation.

Sustainably grown grapes are planted and maintained to minimize the environmental impact. Drip systems for irrigation, cover crops between rows, insects and animals (sheep and chickens), night harvesting and many other strategies are used to reduce the environmental impact of vineyards. However there are no specific regulations.

Several groups offer inspections and certificationsand each has somewhat different standards.

Biodynamic growing practices incorporate both the organic standards and sustainable strategies, following practices first established by an Austrian scientist in the 1920s, including planting and harvesting based on the lunar cycle and other astrological matters.

Many local retailers can help you identify wines that are organic, sustainably grown or biodynamic. Expect to pay a little more for these wines, but know that you are helping the environment.

Enjoy.

Kathy

LI F EST Y L E

BY: CHAT WILLIAMS | YOUTH PERFORMANCE

Training for All Ages

T

hree years ago we opened up morning hours to adults to improve fitness and performance. Our age ranges from 6 year olds to 85 years of age. Strength and conditioning professionals that incorporate a properly designed and supervised training program can help their young athletes train, compete and reduce the likelihood of injury.

Most importantly, they can provide the young athlete with the tools necessary to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle into their adult years. The LTAD model is an excellent representation of developing and training youth from early childhood into adulthood. It also provides useful information on how to design programs that have proper progressions for their age and skill level, as well as realistic progressions to maximize their performance level as they get older and more competitive.

STAGE 1: FUNDAMENTALS (MALES 6 – 9 AND FEMALES 6 – 8)

• Participate in less-structured activity with a focus on physical literacy • Encourage physical activity classes in school • Focus on multiple sports that include running, jumping, kicking, and other activities that challenge balance, coordination, and speed (gymnastics and swimming can be incorporated at this stage)

STAGE 2: LEARN TO TRAIN (MALES 9 – 12 AND FEMALES 8 – 11)

• Low to moderate structure and focus on technical competency • Maintain multiple sports (three or more) plus unstructured play • Learn proper bodyweight training: push-ups, bodyweight squats, pull-ups, crunches, and external resistance with medicine balls and stability balls • Balance practice time and actual game time: 2 – 3 practices per game

STAGE 3: TRAIN TO TRAIN (MALES 12 – 16 AND FEMALES 11 – 15)

• Moderate structure with the main focus on technical skills and the secondary focus on performance outcomes • Aerobic training becomes a little more important, but the focus is still on skill, speed, and strength • Periodization can be incorporated slowly with multiple phases and foci • Focus may shift to only two sports • Competition time will increase compared to practice time and practice time will start to incorporate more real-life and game-like scenarios and situations

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STAGE 4: TRAIN TO COMPETE (MALES 16 – 23 AND FEMALES 15 – 21)

• Participate in highly structured activities with the focus shifting to performance • Start specializing in one sport • Begin training year-round and at a high level of intensity with proper progressions and adequate rest • Develop strengths and decrease weaknesses • Develop high level competition by modeling high level practices • Could be competing at the national and/or international level

STAGE 5: TRAIN TO WIN (MALES 19 AND OVER AND FEMALES 18 AND OVER)

• Could be competing at the highest level of competition, professional, and/or international level • Very skilled athletes and very high dedication • These athletes are working with highly qualified coaches • Training is highly specialized with periodization making sure the athlete is getting proper training, recovery, tapering, and peaking at perfect time

STAGE 6: ACTIVE FOR LIFE (ALL AGES)

• Maintain lifelong physical activity participation • Participate in familiar sports or activities • Avoid going from an active childhood to a sedentary adult lifestyle • Participate in less-intense recreational activities • Pursue a career or volunteer coaching in fitness or sport related activities Chat Williams, MS, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, CSPS*D, FNSCA chat@youthperformance.net www.youthperformance.net 701-3416

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 69

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H EA LT H

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

A Healthy Perspective Norman Physician Reflects on 30-year Career

W

hen Sherri Durica started college, she had her eyes set on a career in marine biology.

However as many do, Durica decided that another field might be a better fit.

“A friend encouraged me to consider medical school and I loved it,” Durica said. “I love the science to it and getting to help people.”

Fast forward more than 30 years and, today, Durica is looking back on an extensive career as an oncologist and is preparing for retirement in April.

Durica spent much of her career working in the Norman Regional Health System and when she looks back, she says the patients and their families stand out the most.

“At the heart of what I do, I have a real interest in getting to know my patients and being a part of the team to help them.” boydstreet.com

The doctor-patient relationship is very important to Durica.

cancer treatment that has allowed us to focus even more on our patients.”

“As an oncologist, I have been able to help patients with significant diseases, to treating them and cure their disease, but I have also been able to help those I wasn’t able to cure. I was there to help them and their families, to make that process as comfortable and less scary as possible.”

“We have everything we need in our clinic. We can do most of the outpatient procedures. We have our own lab, so we are able to really take the time to care for our patients.”

Durica says she has enjoyed working in Norman because it’s offered her a way to help the community she considers home.

“Norman is a very unique place, and I have been able to take care of the people in and around my town,” she said.

“Norman Regional has been a great place to practice. We’ve had a lot of good surgeons and doctors, and last year we opened a dedicated space for

At Norman Regional Oncology and Hematology, Durica has focused on adults with cancer and blood diseases, an area she chose because the conditions affect a person’s whole body.

“Rather than specialize in one area of the body, we take care of pretty much everything,” Durica said. “There have been a lot of great advancements, especially in the treatment of breast cancer and lung cancer. We now have medications that can treat patients that would have needed a bone marrow transplant before.”

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 73

Even with all of the advancement, Durica said she believes the most important aspect moving forward should be in prevention.

“It is really exciting to see new therapies like immuno- and gene therapy, but those are really expensive. I think we can and should get better at primary prevention.”

“I’d also like to see better early detection as well,” she added.

Outside of her professional role, Durica has worked on several community boards and currently serves on the Norman Regional Foundation’s scholarship committee. She also has been a longtime volunteer with Scouts BSA, for which she was honored with the Harold R. Belknap Heart of Gold Award in 2010.

The Harold R. Belknap Heart of Gold Award is given to a physician who promotes a sense of community pride and dedicates significant time to the development of the next generation of leaders and healthcare providers.

Durica was a patrol adviser for Troop 777 and continues to serve as a merit badge counselor, also making yearly trips to Philmont, a Scout camp in New Mexico, as a doctor for the group and an adult adviser.

When Durica officially retires this month, Norman Regional Oncology will have four physicians: Dr. Shannon Haenel, Dr. Kristin Thorp, Dr. Shari Jones and Dr. Namali Pierson.

To learn more about the care options available at the cancer center, visit normanregional.com. – BSM

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Getting us all to a healthier place.

B U S I N E SS

BY: ROXANNE AVERY

Feel the Burn New Fitness Program to Spice Up Workout Routines

B

ored with cardio and weight-lifting workout routines? Then listen up, people!

Jessica Scott and Alesha Jones know how monotonous a repetitive workout routine can be, so they’re offering a program filled with unique, challenging exercises, and when clients walk away, they’re usually smiling.

The co-owners of Norman’s Burn Boot Camp franchise say their business is meant to be more than a gym.

Founded by husband and wife, Devan and Morgan Kline, Burn Boot Camp grew from helping others. On the road as a professional baseball player with the San Francisco Giants, Devan Kline traveled the country, spending time living with host families. For more than six years, he helped his host families with health, nutrition and overall fitness, which

80 | April 2020

became his inspiration for changing lives all over the world.

In 2015, Devan Kline and his wife began franchising Burn Boot Camp, partnering with others who share a passion for impacting communities by providing mental, physical and emotional transformations.

After attending a Burn Boot Camp in North Carolina, Scott thought it was perfect for the community she grew up in, and last August, she opened a franchise location at 1344 N Interstate Dr. in the Robinson Crossing Shopping Center.

The problem was that Scott no longer lived in Norman. Scott and her husband had moved to North Carolina in 2014 when he became the head wrestling coach for the University of North Carolina.

“Being so far away, I realized I needed someone on the ground floor in Norman to help alleviate the duties I was trying to do from far away,” Scott said. “Alisha was a founding member of Burn and truly believed in the mission. She was perfect to partner with.”

Jones said she started at Burn as a way to get healthy without being bored with the usual workout routine.

“The results were amazing at Burn, and I really like the community too,” she said. “It’s mainly women, and we high-five and push each other through workouts.”

Burn offers an individualized approach as trainers modify workouts for each member to assure success at every level.

“It’s a fun 45 minutes and although

it’s really hard, I enjoy it, especially because I can bring my kids. Childwatch is free and they get to watch me work out.

Then when it’s over, they can come out on the floor and emulate what we were doing.”

get further into their pregnancy.

“We offer free nutrition guidance, measuring and focus groups for any goal a member has, and all of our trainers are nationally accredited,” Jones said.

Education is a big part of that as well as gentle reminders to be patient.

Trainers work with new members, learning about injuries and workouts they can and can’t do to accommodate modifications.

Head Trainer Emma Hands earned the pre- and post-natal certification while working with a pregnant client because she wanted the client to continue to train with her.

Workouts are modified to help expectant mothers when they

As with most things in life, results aren’t going to happen overnight. Maybe not even in six weeks, Hands said. Sometimes it takes six months or a year.

“I promise them it’s working, and I’m going to be there the whole time to help them through this time in their lives.”

Membership includes full access to focus meetings, access to Childwatch, unlimited camp times and access to any gym at no additional cost.

To start a complimentary 14-day free trial period, call Burn Boot Camp at 217-2824 or visit online at www.burnbootcamp.com/ norman-ok. – BSM

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