Thursday, August 25, 2022
Return of health, depth giving Cowgirl offense a boost chael imagined it would look a season ago. On top of the usual suspects Grace Yochum and Olyvia Dowell, forward Gabriella Coleman was in her senior season. Not to mention other Braden Bush young, promising players in important roles. A prolific offense seemed realisStaff Reporter tic, if not likely. Then injuries struck. Defender Heading into week two of the Kionna Simon walked on crutches. Star season, the OSU Cowgirl soccer offense defensive midfielder Kim Rodriguez looks more like coach Colin Carmiand Ally Jackson dealt with pesky
injuries. There just wasn’t much depth and health to keep the offense afloat. But two games into the 2022 season, the outlook is much different. “We thought we were gonna have (depth) last year, and then we got absolutely decimated by injuries,” Carmichael said. “And so we ended up not being very deep last year. This year, up to this point, we’ve been relatively healthy.” It’s been business as usual for the
lead seniors. Yochum scored a goal in the opener, and Dowell found the net three times. But those behind them have reason for optimism. True freshman Gracie Bindbeutel recorded her first career goal, and junior forward Peyton Vincze returned after two years of ACL injuries and immediately contributed a goal. Back toward midfield, wingback Alex Morris and Jackson have been dishing out assists. See Offense on page 4
Six months of war in Ukraine — and it’s only growing more dangerous Tracy Wilkinson and Laura King Los Angeles Times
last or whether Ukraine can build on those small victories enough to dictate the Far from course of the war. bogging down in “The war a stalemate, the is far from over,” Russian invasion said Daniel Serwof Ukraine has er, a senior fellow evolved into an at the Washingincreasingly dan- ton-based Foreign gerous conflict as Policy Institute it passes the sixwho specializes in month mark, with the study of war. fighting around “The Ukrainians Europe’s largest lack the mannuclear plant, a power to conduct high-profile assas- a conventional sination in Mosoffense but are uscow, escalating ing their supplies threats and daring of NATO-origin Ukrainian attacks artillery, drones, in Russian-held antitank missiles territory. and other weap“The dyons to batter the namic of the bat- Russians and their tlefield” is shiftsupply lines.” ing, said retired The sixLt. Gen. Mark month mark in Hertling, former a war that has commander of killed thousands U.S. Army Euof people and rope. Armed with driven millions increasingly lethal from their homes weapons from the overlapped with a U.S. and other normally joyous allies, Ukraine national holiday. has been able to Wednesday marks occasionally seize 31 years since the the initiative and country broke free surprise Russian from the collapsforces. ing Soviet Union. It is not clear, however, how long that can See Ukraine on page 2
Abby Cage Head softball coach Kenny Gajewski at the Big 12 Championship Tournament.
OSU softball, Seth Wadley car dealership, come together for NIL deal
Gabriel Trevino Sports Editor Courtesy of Tribune News Service Smoke and dirt ascends after a strike at a factory in the city of Soledar at the eastern Ukranian region of Donbas on May 24, 2022, on the 90th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Oklahoma is the premier location for collegiate softball, and OSU is one of the top programs.
The Cowgirls claimed the Big 12 tournament title and advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series in 2022, the third year in a row they made the biggest softball tournament in the country. With the recent success of the program, Seth Wadley’s dealerships in Perry is partnering with OSU softball for an NIL deal. Although the details of the agreement are not yet
announced, the collaboration will affect every player on the team. Seth Wadley dealership, a local business located 25 miles from Stillwater, is looking to promote and support the program coach Kenny Gajewski has transformed into a perennial contender since taking over in 2015. “We see the incredible impact Kenny Gajewski and his Cowgirls are having
in this state and across the country,” said Jared Cunningham, Seth Wadley’s local co-owner. “With our two Perry dealerships being less than 20 minutes from campus, we felt this NIL agreement was the perfect opportunity for us to support standout athletes who exemplify the values of our businesses and community.” sports.ed@ocolly.com