Friday, February 9, 2024
VAlentine’s day edition From couple to colleagues
The Churro Bar prepares to open Bella Casey News and Lifestyle Assistant Editor
they’ve dated for so long,” Alan Bratton said. Middlebrook was there for each of Bratton’s business ideas, and Bratton watched as Middlebrook grew into a member of the OSU Pom Squad. So, when Bratton sold his The business bug bit Gunlawn care company, his next nar Bratton when he was young. move was obvious: start another A T-shirt business. A business. This time, with Middlewebsite. A podcast. A lawn care brook. company. Bratton and Middlebrook “Gunnar has always been shared thousands of memories, an entrepreneur,” said Alan Brat- but when it came to starting ton, Bratton’s father. a business, their vacations to Besides his business craze, Mexico stood out. Each night in Bratton has another long-standing Mexico, they would get churros priority. His girlfriend, Maggie together. Middlebrook. Middlebrook has loved “(Bratton and Middlechurros since she was young and brook’s relationship) was the remembered sharing them with relationship that everybody kind her elementary school class. of looked up to as a kid,” said She loved churros so much, she Gabe Fontanez, who grew up named her dog after them. with Bratton and Middlebrook. Bratton considered churros “They were always so strong from a business standpoint. They together, always such a good, were easy to make, they were model couple.” inexpensive and there were no Bratton and Middlebrook other churro sellers in Stillwater. met in elementary school and It was settled. They would began dating when they were 12. open a churro vending cart. “Maggie’s like my daughter, See Churro on 5A
Courtesy of Laura Arata Washington School, Stillwater’s all-Black school, is the last all-Black school remaining in Payne County.
Black history month
‘Turn it up!’
Washington school restoration underway Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor
Payton Little Maggie Middlebrook (left) and Gunnar Bratton are starting a business together, The Churro Bar, which will open next week.
Karen Washington was in first grade when Stillwater integrated its public schools. Washington attended the all-Black Booker T. Washington School for her first two years of public education. Named after a famous Black educator and ora-
tor, Washington School still stands today, at 12th and Knoblock streets. The school was located in the Black-only part of town, which ran from 9th Avenue on the north, 14th Avenue on the south, Duck Street on the east and Adams Street on the west, according to the Stillwater History Museum. 1956 was the last year Washington School had students before integration was instituted in 1957. “Segregation sounded bad, and we were separated
from everything, but it really was a good time for us,” Washington said. As a child, Washington said she didn’t know anything different. Her friends and family all lived close together, and she said there was a strong, reliable sense of community. When Washington learned she would be attending an integrated school, she was excited. She said she considered it to be the better school. See School on 7A
Walk of life
Couple continues tradition at Colvin Bella Casey News and Lifestyle Assistant Editor
The moment Margaret Potter laid eyes on her son’s drum instructor, she knew she would marry him. She did. Twice. “We always joke that we can’t ever get divorced, (it would be) way too complicated,” Margaret said. It took two weddings in two counties in 1982 to appease all family members. Although Margaret’s intuition told her she would marry her son’s drum instructor, she did not know why. It
What’s Inside
was not love at first sight. Margaret booked the cheapest instructor she could find at the Eastman School of Music to give her 9-year-old son drum lessons in 1980. And he was late. Finally, the instructor arrived, avoiding Margaret’s gaze and without mumbling an apology. He looked at her son and asked: “What do you want to learn?” “And the rest is history,” Margaret said. The post-lesson group dinners among “the three amigos” turned into dinner between only Margaret and Howard Potter, the instructor, and quiet Friday evenings became date nights. “We had zero money,” Margaret said. “Our idea of
Remember Toby Country star leaves legacy behind
a date was to just walk. We would walk literally miles, miles and miles.” Margaret always walked. She grew up in an Italian neighborhood where everyone walked. Her family did not have a car, and Margaret and her friends spent their days walking through nearby neighborhoods and listening to music. When she worked in New York, she rushed to the station each morning in a pair of tennis shoes and changed into heels once she reached her office. She never grew out of her love for walking. Margaret and Howard continue the tradition at the Colvin Recreation Center. See Couple on 5A
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SGA Election Candidates announced
Margaret Potter Margaret Potter works out on the same treadmill, which she named Tina, every morning.
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Super Bowl Taylor Swift fans prepare for the game
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Page 2A Friday, February 9, 2024
O’Colly
Page 2 Toby Keith leaves mark on Cowboy family Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter
Keith grew up in Moore, Oklahoma. After graduating from Moore High School, Keith worked as a derrickhand in the oil industry. Keith and his buddies performed when they were off the clock. Facing It’s Bedlam basketball, unemployment, Keith went and the Cowboys are celsemi-pro in football for the ebrating a 72-56 win over the Oklahoma City Drillers and Sooners. continued to play with the As is tradition, fans and Easy Money Band. In 1993, students are flooding into the artist hit big. Eskimo Joe’s for some cheese “Should’ve Been a Cowfries and good times. Everyboy” dropped and hit number thing is loud and then sudden- one on the U.S. Billboard’s ly quiet. Everyone turns to see Country charts. After that, his Toby Keith, singer, songwriter music took off, spiraling into and producer, standing in the a career in the country music middle of Joe’s. industry. The avid Sooners fan Twenty-one albums, 69 weighs his options and then singles, 65 charting on Billstarts to sing along to the one board country charts, 20 of song that can tame a rowdy which hit No. 1, seven comcowboy, “Should’ve Been a pilation albums and an actCowboy.” Before long, he had ing career later Toby Keith’s the entire restaurant singing legacy will stand the test of with him. time. On Monday, the man Outside known for his patriotism and of the mufamily values died at 62 after sic, Keith a hard-fought battle with started stomach cancer. a He brought together Cowboys and Sooners through song. Not something many can do.
restaurant and a clothing line. He supported several causes, but notably the military. The singer’s patriotism and love for his late father inspired the song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” The song pays tribute to his father’s passing and the 9/11 attack. Following the start of the war in the Middle East, Keith took several trips to play for the troops. The country singer reached new heights of fame and but never forgot his roots. As a fan of Oklahoma University’s football program, Keith cheered on the Sooners on and off the field. His music made him a household name, and his commitment to his family and blue-collar roots set him apart. He fought cancer but died in his sleep in the state he called home. Keith’s achievements will live on through his fans, family and his music. As for us Cowboys, every time his music fills a stadium, we’ll remember Toby Keith. news.ed@ ocolly.com
Riley Harness
What is your favorite Toby Keith song? Abby Macumber “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”
Mary Woolston “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”
Ella Wisbauer “Whiskey Girl”
Garrett Case “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”
Top 5 most popular Toby Keith songs 1. “Red Solo Cup” (2011) 2. “My List” (2002) 3. “He Ain’t Worth Missing” (1993) 4. “As Good As I Once Was” (2005) 5. “Upstairs Downtown” (1994)
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The O’Colly Staff
Editorial board Editor-in-Chief Luisa Clausen editorinchief@ocolly.com Sports editor Braden Bush sports.ed@ocolly.com Assistant Sports editor Ashton Slaughter sports.ed@ocolly.com Design editor Ben Holieway design.ed@ocolly.com
According to Billboard
News & Lifestyle reporters:
News & Lifestyle editor Kennedy Thomason news.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant News & Lifestyle editor Bella Casey news.ed@ocolly.com
Photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com
Addie Wagner Alli Themer Ashton Miller Cloe Campfield Hayden Alexander Isaac Terry Jaycee Hampton Jessica Pearce Raynee Howell
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Friday, February 9, 2024 Page 3A
news
Meet your SGA candidates
3 pairs running for president, vice president Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor
The Student Government Association executive office run is off to the races. Three candidate pairings announced their campaigns last week, all vying to be the next elected SGA student body president and vice president. With a little more than a month until the election on March 12 and 13, the candidates are pitching their platforms to students. Audrey Bishop and Kaytly Clift Bishop, a junior in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, is running for president, with Clift, a sophomore in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, as her vice president. The pair’s campaign slogan is “Start the Wave of Change,” and the three pillars of their platform are to increase accessibility, sustainability and transparency for students. “We are here for you,” Bishop said. “We want your voice to be heard, and us to just be able to take
those steps to amplify your voice,” Bishop said. As part of the initiatives they are hoping to accomplish if elected, the pair wants to create raised bed food gardens outside of dorms, create a business professional closet and make scholarships easily accessible for students. Bishop said she envisions the gardens, in partnership with the Residence Hall Association, as a place where students can learn to grow their own food. She said cooking classes could be an option to add to the project, where students learn to make food with cheap or homegrown ingredients. “We always say we’re ‘America’s Healthiest Campus,’ and I feel like taking some of those small steps can really help us get there,” Bishop said. Clift is focused on making sure students feel comfortable, both inside and outside of the classroom. She wants to create a business professional closet, where students can donate old clothes and pick up items they may not be able to afford. Clift also wants students to have more access to university-wide
Courtesy of Aubrey Ruffin Aubrey Ruffin (left) and Landry Baker want to create a cohesive social media presence for OSU and improve access to mental health resources for students.
Ty McLaughlin and Riley Flickinger Flickinger wasn’t McLaughlin’s first choice. But after an Instagram DM, Flickinger agreed to be McLaughlin’s running mate. Running as “Pokes for Progress,” the pair’s platform is health and safety, transportation, transparency and textbook affordability. Flickinger said, if elected, they want to expand the food pantry networks across campus, such as the Red Pantry or Student Stache through SGA. As far as transportation, they want to expand the buses available and create a shuttle to take students from The Strip to designated places like the Greek neighborhood. Flickinger said this could combat the safety problems
or college-specific scholarships they might have missed previously. “I feel like if they have opportunities to just go borrow stuff, they’re gonna be more professional in their interviews, and they have more room for success because they have those resources,” Clift said. Another accessibility measure the pair is hoping to improve is SGA’s Canvas page. “I’ve gone through and clicked on every tab,” Bishop said. “I think there’s one link on there that actually works, and all the rest of them just take you to an error page. So that’s not a great resource when it doesn’t work.” Bishop said she wants to use the Canvas page and Instagram to reach students. Although they are both in the Ferguson College of Agriculture, Clift said they are still plugged into different scenes at OSU. “We kind of dip our toes in other organizations throughout,” Clift said. “I’m in the marching band. (Bishop is) in O.I.L. (Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature), we’re involved in a little bit of everything I feel like.”
Aubrey Ruffin and Landry Baker After shaking on it in an Aspen Coffee shop, Ruffin and Baker decided to run for SGA’s highest office. Ruffin, a junior majoring in human development, family science, and Baker, a junior majoring in political science, are running for president and vice, respectively. Running on a community-based message, Ruffin and Baker are pitching a campaign based on the pillars of social media, communication, involvement with students, inter-SGA involvement and mental health. “Our slogan is ‘Making the Brightest Even Brighter,’” Ruffin said. “And that’s what we want to do. This is the best place. OSU is the best place to be, but we want to make it even better. And by doing that, it’s focusing on the little things.” Ruffin said one of their projects, if elected, would be to create a cohe-
on Stillwater roads. “I mean, we can not talk about it, I guess, deny it all we want, but at the end of the day it’s going to happen,” Flickinger said. “So why not make it safer to happen?” McLaughlin said partnership with outside businesses is not new for SGA. “I don’t think the university would be opposed to doing that considering we’ve rolled out cup covers at the bars before,” McLaughlin said. Parking is another issue McLaughlin and Flickinger want to tackle. They said they would look into getting approval of a parking lot in the Kerr-Drummond area or getting construction on parking garages started. “There is definitely a park-
Courtesy of Audrey Bishop Audrey Bishop (left) and Kaytly Clift want to “Start the Wave of Change” for students if elected as president and vice president, respectively.
sive social media presence for OSU. The pair said they want stu“Our social media, it’s not dents to feel like they can have an needed, it is crucial,” Ruffin said. influential voice. When a student “I feel like, not even just SGA, proposed a Narcan training, Baker but OSU as a whole lacks in our said the idea intrigued her. She said social media. I just don’t think we’re it could be similar to the 1is2Many getting the message across.” training all students are required to Another aspect they are hoping do. to improve is awareness and access to “I think... if we could equip our mental health resources. students with such specific knowlOne idea they want to impleedge on something that could save ment is creating a mental health a classmates’ life, and then also we packet for advisers to give to students. would try to get it put into areas like All students are required to meet with the Residential Life dorms, the Greek their advisers once each semester, houses, hot spots on campus, like the and Ruffin said it is a good opportu(Student) Union,” Baker said. nity to reach struggling students. Concerning the campaign, “It’s that face-to-face contact Ruffin said the pair doesn’t want to of like, this is somebody, maybe your over-promise and under-deliver. adviser cares about you or not, but “We want to make sure that this is a person telling you, ‘Hey, any promises we’re telling you, we’re here you go,” Ruffin said. “It is not telling our student body is that this an email just sent to you, being like, is something that we will achieve,” ‘Hey, if you’re struggling, here it is.’” Ruffin said.
ing shortage, and it sucks, and I don’t think anyone on campus would say that they like the parking but try to at least start progression on that,” Flickinger said. The pair has other goals they hope to accomplish if elected, such as creating an opt-in system for textbooks instead of the existing opt-out system. McLaughlin said they are taking an ambitious approach to their campaign. “I don’t think any other candidate pair is really trying to change things so drastically, which obviously, some of these aren’t extremely drastic, but I think the whole thing with us is. . . we want to accomplish the goals that we know we can, right?” McLaughlin said. “But it’s setting that foundation saying. . . this is the baseline, right?” news.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy of Pokes for Progress Riley Flickinger (left) and Ty McLaughlin are running on a platform of health and safety, transportation, transparency and textbook affordability.
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news Career track professors search for voice Baylor Bryant Staff Reporter
Courtesy of Latasha Binford Latasha Binford, 43, is a non-traditional student pursuing her master’s degree to become a chaplain.
Mother, daughter pair takes on colleges together Ashton Miller Staff Reporter
The principles Binford has been trying to teach have worn off in more ways than just an expanded imagination. Laura Smith, Binford’s daughter, is technically a firstLatasha Binford didn’t plan generation college student because on attending OSU. her mom started at OSU a semesBut to continue her passion ter before her. for helping others, she had to. Although they didn’t plan As a chaplain working for on attending the same university, hospice, Binford went back to they’ve taken advantage of having school to pursue a master’s degree some extra time together, for the to become board certified. most part. “To work in a lot of your big“Working at and attending ger hospitals, board certification is the same university as my mom required, which requires a master’s definitely has its ups and downs,” degree,” Binford said. “Chaplaincy Smith said. “If our schedules line is my passion, and if they need me up, I can go have lunch at Taylor’s to have a piece of paper to prove with my mom without my younger that I know what I already know, siblings around. However, somethen so be it.” times when we happen to ride the At 43, Binford doesn’t fit the bus at the same time, it can be mold some people think of when a bit overwhelming because she they picture a college student. That wants to talk to me, and I prefer to hasn’t stopped Binford from apply- have my earbuds in on the bus.” ing herself in all her classes, even Having her mom experience the gen-eds every college freshcollege alongside her has given man has to take. Smith a unique perspective be“I was really upset that I cause she is close with some of the had to take the freshman orientastruggles non-traditional students tion class, that was the one I was face. worried about,” Binford said. Not only can Smith see the “Honestly, my counselor made it challenges, but she can also see very great. I loved her immensely, the successes and accomplishand I haven’t ever had any experi- ments. Smith said it feels nice to ence where I felt out of place. Even see her mom go back to college in those beginning classes where and said everyone who wants to go most of my peers are just graduat- to college should. ing high school.” Binford’s professors can see Although Binford was takher determination to succeed reing the same classes as her peers, gardless of the challenges, too. she was almost always in different Rachel Schmitz, Binford’s stages of life than they were, and sociology of families professor, these different life stages are what often works with non-traditional kept her from pursuing a degree students in her upper-level sosooner. ciology courses. Through these “I always wanted to go to courses, Schmitz is able to see college, but when I had my daugh- some of the differences between ter, she was my priority,” Binford non-traditional students and more said. “I dropped out of high school traditional ones. so that I could start taking care of “They tend to bring distincher.” tively diverse perspectives and life The reason Binford didn’t experiences to my class dynamoriginally attend college ended up ics that promote richer and more being one of her greatest support- interesting interactions,” Schmitz ers. By attending college now, Bin- said. “Non-traditional students ford said she is able to show her who have navigated life milestones kids that they can go beyond what that many traditionally-aged stuthey originally thought possible. dents have not, such as parenthood Binford said her four kids and careers, can serve as role modwere imaginative, but her second els to younger students by sharing youngest’s dream of owning a res- their life experiences.” taurant stood out to her especially. Binford has consistently The dream started as ownshown throughout her college exing his own restaurant, then when perience that most non-traditional Binford started attending OSU, students have just as much drive those dreams grew to owning mul- and dedication as any other stutiple businesses as he watched his dents. mom’s dreams grow as well. “I have been impressed with “When I went back to school, (Binford’s) tenacity in communitheir imagination grew to what cating with me to ensure she unthey were able to do and see them- derstands all of the course objecselves doing,” Binford said. “I’m tives and expectations,” Schmitz not that person that says, ‘Do as said. “Where some students may I say, not as I do.’ I want to lead have given up learning to navigate my family by demonstrating the a brand new technology, Latasha principles that I’m trying to teach has persevered and her success them.” reflects her determination.” news.ed@ocolly.com
faculty member asked why she couldn’t serve on the faculty council. OSU attorneys said the charter and bylaws allowed only tenure-track faculty memOSU faculty began bers to serve on the faculty voting this week on letting council. career track faculty become The faculty council members of the general created the Non-Tenure faculty and participate in Track Committee a year faculty governance. ago. The committee proThe online voting posed allowing career track will end Wednesday at 5 faculty (minimum 75% app.m. If faculty approve it, pointment) to be members the change to the Charter of the general faculty. and Bylaws of the genThree faculty council eral faculty goes to the officers declined interviews administration and then to this week about the proposthe OSU/A&M Board of al. Chair Brandt Gardner Regents for approval. said Wednesday that while Members of the the vote was occurring, he general faculty would give didn’t want to provide more nearly 26% of the faculty information than what the on the OSU Stillwater cam- faculty council had given pus the right to participate to the faculty. as voting members in OSU Career track faculty faculty council governance. also include non-tenure All faculty should track faculty, who are fullhave a say in governance, time faculty with benefits the vice chair of the Colwho are reappointed and lege of Arts and Sciences whose responsibilities are Equity Advocates Council primarily teaching. Their said Wednesday. titles can be clinical fac“They have an ulty, extension specialists, investment,” said Roseprofessional practice facmary Avance, an assistant ulty, teaching faculty and professor in the School of research professor faculty. Media & Strategic ComAlthough the promunications. “They’re posal grants voting rights here, they work with the to career track faculty students and they are a part and enables career track of the process.” faculty participation on Iowa State, Univerfaculty governance, it does sity of Kansas, Texas Tech, not grant voting rights on University of Nebraska, matters of reappointment, Oklahoma University, promotion and tenure for Kansas State, University of tenured and tenure track Texas and the University faculty, according to an of Colorado already alinformation sheet the faclow career track faculty to ulty council distributed to participate in faculty gov- faculty. ernance, according to an Avance said the issue information sheet the OSU might have gone unadfaculty council distributed dressed for so long because to faculty. it’s nobody’s job to make The faculty council sure that things are equibegan working on changtable. ing the charter and bylaws “Part of the reason in 2022 after a career track is tradition,” Avance said.
“Things have always been a certain way, and that’s how it’s always been. People are often resistant to new changes. “Another reason would be because I think that people are sort of in denial that the tenure track is kind of a rare thing now and not the norm for academic positions, so we’re still operating under a model as if it were the norm when it’s not anymore,” she said. More than 38% of faculty in the OSU system are career track, according to the faculty council. About 85% of all Carnegie Classified doctoral universities with high research activity allow career track faculty to participate in governance, according to the faculty council. James Knapp, a member of the NTT Standing Committee, serves as the chair of the Faculty Committee. Knapp said he has played a significant role in advancing the effort to include career track faculty as voting members of the general faculty. Knapp said the change would be a “great benefit to the students.” “At the end of the day, that has to be the major by which we do anything,” Knapp said. “Having more effective engagement of this whole core of faculty who are very engaged with students at all levels is going to benefit students by having this core of faculty that are engaged in the life of this university in a more significant way beyond their traditional roles. I think having the full representation of the faculty is going to be a benefit for everybody including the administration.” news.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy of Bekah Bowman Bekah Bowman, OSU student, spent a semester studying abroad at Keele University in the United Kingdom during the fall.
OSU students share tips, advice on studying abroad Brittney Purcell Staff Reporter
After studying at a university halfway around the world, Shawn Ray has a new outlook on education. Ray, a recent OSU graduate with a B.S. in physics, went on a twoweek abroad trip to Japan in May 2019. The two weeks included visits to several cities around Japan and many company tours. Ray said he learned a significant amount about the work culture in Japan, including the cultural habits of employees and Japanese company values. “People will usually work 10 to 12 hour days,” Ray said. “And there’s a really big culture of being the last one to leave.” On top of this employee culture, Ray said some Japanese companies have a no-waste mission, which means they minimize their distribution radius, and strictly regulating supply to match demand, leading to the decrease of production costs.
The two-week trip was packed with information and experiences that Ray said he considered valuable. But for Ray, two weeks was not long enough. “There is so much history and culture in a different country that is easily glossed over by just being a tourist,” Ray said, “I almost felt more like a tourist than I did actually studying abroad.” Ray said he encourages students who consider studying abroad to go for a semester, or at minimum, a month. Bekah Bowman, a psychology major, spent a semester studying abroad at Keele University in the United Kingdom during the fall. Bowman said that even a full semester felt as if it went by too quickly. She said it felt like it was the right amount of time to grow and change then come back to her friends and family in Oklahoma. Bowman’s trip resulted in long-term opportunities for personal growth and cultural experiences, and she said she did her best to make the most out of her
time abroad. At Keele University, she took 12 credit hours. With Monday and Tuesday classes, Bowman had the rest of the week available to herself. Bowman said she spent most days with her friend group, which she quickly made upon arrival. “We hung out every single day, and we had dinner together every night,” Bowman said. Because Bowman had so much free time, she visited many of the surrounding European countries and historical locations. Bowman said the friends she made influenced her time there for the better, and it was an opportunity to feel more independent and confident in her daily life. Bowman said if any student is considering studying abroad, even slightly, they should jump on the opportunity. Both Ray and Bowman said OSU’s Study Abroad Office and its organization prepared and supported them. “Go explore something,” Bowman said. “Because you will learn, and you will grow and it’s so incredible.” news.ed@ocolly.com
O’Colly
Friday, February 9, 2024 Page 5A
news/lifestyle Churro . . .
Maggie Middlebrook Maggie Middlebrook’s dog, Churro, died over winter break, and The Churro Bar plans to honor her through stickers and stamps.
Couple . . . Continued from 1A Howard was in his 60s and working night and day at the Eastman School of Music when a position opened at OSU. In search of a change of pace, he applied. “This opened up, and I thought, ‘Wow, I never dreamed that we’d be in Oklahoma,’” Howard said. “So we’re settling stuff in, and lo and behold, I got the job.” The pair, who were in their 60s, packed their belongings and moved to Stillwater in 2016. Howard played a role in the development of the Greenwood School of Music and was a department head for many years. Despite Howard’s mile-long list of OSU-related accomplishments, it was a school-wide email that changed his and Margaret’s life. The email read: “From this day forward, spouses get in free at the Colvin.” “And we say, “What’s the Colvin?’” Howard said. “‘Well, let’s check it out.’ And we did, and it was fabulous.” Now, the Colvin is part of the couple’s daily routine. They arrive at the Colvin at 5:30 a.m. every day so they can workout before Howard goes to work. Before their workout, they socialize with Colvin workers. Belue Harris, who has worked at the Colvin for three semesters, remembers her first day at the Colvin: A woman who seemed to know everyone entered the Colvin. Every worker knew her by name. It was Margaret. “(Margaret) loves to go on and on about (Howard),” Harris said. “You
friends and all of our friends’ friends,” Middlebrook said. “We’ve just had a lot of people who have helped us Continued from 1A with everything along the journey.” Bratton and Middle“We thought, I guess, brook hired Fontanez, Bratthat it was going to be this ton’s roommate, as their first really easy, simple process of employee. Bratton said Fonlet’s buy this cart, we’ll have tanez helped with the business churros, we’ll fry them, we’re from the beginning, and he set,” Bratton said. told him if he wanted the job, Middlebrook said they it was his. did not know what they were Fontanez accepted the getting themselves into. job. Bratton and Middlebrook The vending cart idea said they hope to hire more became a food truck, and the employees in the future, befood truck idea ended in pur- cause Middlebrook is not able chasing a horse trailer. to work at the Churro Bar on Bratton found a man football game days because selling refurbished horse trail- she is on the Pom Squad. ers on Facebook Marketplace, Although most of the and the couple made the pur- crew that helped work on chase. It needed work. the trailer plans to be at The As Bratton and MidChurro Bar’s opening as either dlebrook became business an employee or customer, owners, they also learned to someone will be missing. be plumbers and carpenters. Middlebrook’s dog, Churro. Their close friends became Churro died over wintheir assistants. Summer ter break. Middlebrook said evenings were opportunities to Churro lived a happy life, but work on the trailer. she will miss her. MiddleFamily members and brook said she and Bratfriends contributed their ton plan to make a logo of expertise to the project and of- Churro’s face that can be used fered a space for them to park as a sticker or stamp for the the trailer on The Strip. business. Month by month, eveMiddlebrook and Bratning by evening, The Churro ton overcame many other Bar was brought to life. setbacks as they developed “We’ve been so blessed their business. to have our friends and famBugs got stuck in the ily and my parents’ friends freshly poured epoxy. The and (Bratton’s) parents’ sinks spewed water across the
won’t catch him bragging about himself, but she’s always bragging about him and talking about just him traveling and him doing this.” Harris said when Margaret finishes her workout before Howard, he patiently waits for her, no matter how much longer her workout takes. The couple’s kindness is not limited to each other. For each holiday, such as Halloween, Christmas or Valentine’s Day, they make the workers an orange bucket full of candy and goodies. They chat with those working the front desk each morning, and Margaret tells the workers about the treadmill she uses every time she works out. “She calls (the treadmill) her beloved Tina,” Harris said. Although Howard said they have seen people use Tina as they are leaving, other early-morning Colvin regulars know to save Tina for Margaret. Besides Tina, Margaret and Howard use the workout bicycles, walk on the track and other workout equipment. Although the Colvin is full of younger people working out, the couple has never felt out of place. “I’m guessing there are gyms where the atmosphere is very competitive and you feel like unless you’re a freak, you’re gonna be out of place,” Howard said. “It’s not that way at all. Everybody does their own thing.” Margaret said she knows others who are closer to her age that work out at the local YMCA, but it is not as fun. She said the energy of the young people at the Colvin is what keeps them coming back. “When I miss our children who live far away, I am comforted just by observing and interacting with the student staff of that place I am at seven days a week: The Colvin Recreation Center,” Margaret said. news.ed@ocolly.com
trailer floor. Winter weather delayed the finishing touches from being put on the trailer. “But I think it’s also been cool because we’ve overcome so much of those little things,” Bratton said. “So many. We’re almost there.” One factor never faltered: Middlebrook and Bratton’s relationship. “We kind of had to lay some ground rules at the beginning and be like, ‘Okay, our relationship is more important than this business that we’re trying to do,’” Middlebrook said. The two agreed to separate their relationship from the business and spend time together without talking about it. They said the process of starting a business allowed them to learn new things about each other. The business allowed friends and family to learn new things about the couple, too. Although Middlebrook and Bratton can separate themselves from their business, they earned a new reputation among friends and family. “People call me ‘churro girl,’” Middlebrook said. The Churro Bar will be parked in the parking lot behind Dupree’s and will open next week. For other updates, The Churro Bar can be found on Instagram @thechurrobar. stilly news.ed@ocolly.com
File Photo Stillwater is full of Valentine’s Day activities, from dinner to trivia night.
Cupid’s Stilly valentine date ideas Alli Themer Staff Reporter
Husband St. Starting at 8 p.m., Louie’s Grill and Bar will host a free bingo at 720 S. Main St. Not 21 yet? You can have an adrenaline-rushed date night with activities such as an escape room, laser tag, rock climbing or a workout class. If you prefer a night in, cook dinner, bake, paint or have a movie marathon. With clear weather predictions Are you tired of mundane date for Wednesday, an outdoor date may nights consisting of dinner and a be a good idea. You can hike around movie? If you don’t have a significant Lake McMurtry or picnic at Boomer other, take yourself out with any of Lake. More of a night owl? There is these creative, affordable options. nothing more romantic than bunEM Curators of Craft is hosting an 80s theme prom on Wednes- dling up, watching the sunset and day, at 615 S. Main St. in Stillwater. stargazing. If you are planning your Dinner kicks off at 7 p.m., along Valentine’s date this weekend, the with 80’s karaoke, a DJ and a photo Town and Gown Theatre will host booth. You can sign up for an 80s a performance of ‘Always… Patsy duet competition for the chance to be crowned Prom King and Queen. Cline’ directed by Linda Thrasher. Admission is $16 for students and If 80s music isn’t your forte $18 for adults. and you are 21 or older, head to You can also view “Exploring George’s Stables for free karaoke. Taos: Arts, Architecture, and LandLocated at 502 West Elm Avenue, it scape” for free at the Modella Arts is open from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Gallery, available until Saturday. Another option is a game With these Valentine’s date night. If you are 21 or older, Iron ideas straight from Cupid’s arrow, Monk Brewing Company will host a love will be in the air on the most trivia night from 7-9 p.m. at 519 S. romantic day of the year.
Column
Courtesy of Margaret Potter Howard and Margaret Potter in front of Room 217A at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where they met in the fall of 1980.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Page 6A Friday, February 9, 2024
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news/lifestyle From enemies to lovers ‘Anyone But You’ brings back old-fashioned rom-com Brittney Purcell Staff Reporter
Review
Hayden Alexander Carson McCully, (right) a sixth grader at Stillwater Middle School, is a new edition to OSU’s Spirit Band.
6th grader strikes a chord as rising drummer in OSU Spirit Band Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter
The match is over, and the Cowboys are going wild. The OSU Spirit Band launches into “Ride ‘Em Cowboys” to celebrate. Leading the rhythmic charge is drummer Nickolas Visbal and on cowbell, Carson McCully, the newest addition to the Spirit Band. McCully is a sixth grader at Stillwater Middle School. This is his first year playing the drums, and he loves it. “It’s just more fun,” McCully said. “I love banging on things and making music.” McCully decided to learn on his own. With his drumsticks in hand, he watched Visbal tear it up on the drums. Before McCully knew it, Visbal handed him a cowbell, and the two started jamming. “I saw a reflection of
myself when I saw Carson on the side watching me play,” Visbal said. McCully followed along as Visbal taught him the beat to several OSU classics. Visbal said McCully is a fast learner. “I think it’s incredible for young musicians to show interest even when you see someone else doing it,” Visbal said. “I believe that it all comes from the heart and if they are hungry to get involved and play.” McCully has more than an interest in being a musician. It’s one of his future career choices. “I want to do aviation or teach music,” McCully said. It doesn’t matter if he’s flying high or teaching others how to handle a drumstick, McCully said he knows he’ll be a Cowboy. “I want to go to OSU and be in the Cowboy Marching Band,” McCully said. McCully’s dad, Jer-
emy McCully, said he loves to watch his son pursue his passions at a young age. That passion drives him to work harder and strive to learn as much as possible. “He’s just so excited to be there,” Jeremy McCully said. “All he wants is to go to every OSU game to see the band and be a part of the band.” Visbal said he hopes that Carson McCully continues to join the Spirit Band. He wants to teach him more than just how to hit a cowbell in time. “I would love for Carson to start learning the fight song and getting a chance to play with us in the near future,” Visbal said. “I hope I get to see him on the drum throne at future basketball and wrestling events.” The future Cowboy plans on continuing to make music and constantly improving his skills. “I definitely want to get to this level someday,” McCully said. “I love making music.” news.ed@ocolly.com
Romantic comedies have long held a special place in the hearts of audiences all over the world. Not many other genres satisfy the ‘feel-good’ movie itch this genre does, and can a rom-com even be considered “good” if the audience can’t live vicariously through the characters? The world’s newest hit romcom, ‘Anyone But You,’ stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in an enemies to lovers and pretenddating storyline. The movie starts with a sweet first date between the main characters, Bea and Ben. The cuteness doesn’t last long. The meeting quickly evolves into a misunderstanding and hatred for one another. After six months without seeing each other, one of Ben’s good friends starts dating Bea’s sister. Two years later, they get engaged. At this point, neither Ben nor Bea forgot their first meeting. The tension is high, and they find themselves forced to be around each other when they go to Australia to attend the couple’s wedding. They make an agreement to keep the peace: they will pretend to date each other while in Australia. To no one’s surprise, the decision leads to real love, but not without several cases of misunderstandings and miscommunication along the way. The actors did amazing jobs with each of the characters, and for the most part, the story developed at a steady pace and everything was easy to follow. The romance, tension and passion between Bea and Ben was perfect for an enemies to lovers rom-com, and it made it possible for viewers to briefly live vicariously through them.
Tribune Content Agency Glen Powell ( left) and Sydney Sweeney attend Columbia Pictures’ “Anyone But You” New York premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Dec. 11, 2023, in New York.
Besides the romance, the movie became a TikTok trend with the soundtrack for ‘Anyone But You,’ specifically, the song ‘Unwritten’ by Natasha Bedingfield. Overall, I adored the movie and the romantic side of it. However, the comedy side I can’t quite fully vouch for. Several parts were funny, but as someone who has a hard time coping with secondhand embarrassment in movies, some comedic scenes were just physically hard to watch, and made me outwardly cringe in response. Other viewers may not mind secondhand embarrassment and will find those scenes acceptable and perfectly fitting for both the romantic and comedy sides. ‘Anyone But You’ is worth the watch and a great addition to the list of good rom-coms. It executed the romantic side and used some amazing, classic tropes that I always appreciate in a romance. It won’t become a culturally defining movie such as ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ or ‘Clueless.’ Although it has potential, only time will tell how impactful this movie will be. news.ed@ocolly.com
Taylor Swift vs. 49ers? Swift’s fans prepare for Super Bowl Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief
general,” Stone said. “But now Taylor Swift and sports are more related, and it made me a little but more invested. Just because we Swifties are like that.” For Segraves, a biology major, Swift has been a part of her life for Maddy Stone and Carsen Segraves as long as she can remember. Her dad don’t know each other. heard ‘Shake It Off’ on the radio and But they have one thing in combegged for his daughter to give it a mon. listen. Afterward, they went to Swift’s Their dads introduced them to concerts, and Segraves said she has Taylor Swift when they were kids. Since been obsessed since. then, the women never stopped listening From making memories with her to her. sister blasting Swift’s music on the way “She was growing up at the same to school to preparing for the Super time as we were growing up,” said Bowl, Segraves said she has no problem Stone, an accounting major. “She has with Swift being shown on the screen changed and adapted, and there are so during the games. many ways to connect with her.” “If you think about it, so much of What Stone did not know is that people’s obsession with football is so after years of connecting with Swift’s similar to the obsession with going to a music, she would one day look forward Taylor Swift concert,” Segraves said. “It to this year’s Super Bowl to watch not keeps people entertained. People mad only the Kansas City Chiefs play the about her being shown just thought she 49ers but also to watch Swift root for was raining on their parade.” her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ Segraves said for some reason, tight end. some men have been dramatic about “I actually grew up a Chiefs fan Swift entering the sports world. but never kept up with the team in Jenna Merrifield, a psychology
major, has fallen in love with Swift during the Fearless era, her obsession, as she calls it, has grown since then. Merrifield has been dating Vincent McKinnon, a pneumatics component technician at Lufthansa Technik, for six years. McKinnon grew up with four sisters and has been exposed to Swift for years. But it was only when he started dating Merrifield that he was exposed to Switf’s songs all the time. “The fan base is very passionate, it’s a sweet thing,” McKinnon said. “Things seem to get a bit extreme with the ‘What is she going to wear?’, ‘What is she doing?’ ‘Where is she at?’” When Swift started dating Kelce, Merrifield could not understand why people were so mad at Swift being shown on the screen. She said it is not Swift’s fault that the NFL wants to profit off of her. Merrifield said Swift does not ask to be shown and that is not her fault her boyfriend is good at football and is going to the Super Bowl. “I am not a huge fan of the Kansas City Chiefs but it wasn’t a big deal for me,” McKinnon said. “Sometimes they show her a lot but that’s just what the
Tribune Content Agency Since Swift started attending Kelce’s games, Swifties have been more involved with football.
NFL is, they are trying to make money and get people to watch.” The New York Times found that Swift receives on average .46 percent of available screen time during the games she attends. McKinnon said it was cute to see Merrifield’s reaction when Swift showed up on the screen. “By now, I can sing word for word at least 25 songs,” McKinnon said. news.ed@ocolly.com
GOD’S VIEW OF US! “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (I Peter 2:9-10 NIV) It is good to stop and see who and where we are. This is what the apostle says of all believers. Those who have turned to Christ and received him as their Lord and saviour. By God’s grace, we have received a new relationship with God. It is quite a step up from where we were before. We have received mercy and are God’s people. We belong to him! However, there is a purpose in all of this.
We are to realize all that God has done for us and praise him who has called us out of spiritual darkness into his wonderful light. He has not only forgiven our many sins, never to be remembered any more, but has brought into a new relationship. We are children of God! We are to live with him forever in his Heaven. The wonderful truth is that all can come to Christ and receive this wonderful relationship with the God of love!. No matter about your past. All are welcome to come. Christ died for all that they might receive this great and eternal blessing.. Wow! As Christians we can and should share this message with all. I remember first sharing this with two fellow air force men As I begin to share, there was a great joy.that filled my being. No wonder it is called the “Gospel”. It is the “Good News” that is for you and all people.
O’Colly
Friday, February 9, 2024 Page7A
news School . . . Continued from 1A Not everyone had the same reaction. At 6 or 7, Washington said she hadn’t experienced or understood racism as the older Washington School students or her mother had. When she arrived at her new school, Washington said she felt lost. The Black students were spread out among the classes filled with white students. One or two, at most, Black students would be put into a class. Washington said she prayed to have her Black friends in the same class but was often the only one. “You didn’t feel connected,” Washington said. “It’s almost like you go to the cafeteria, they all sit together, we go to the cafeteria, we sit by ourselves. So we were still integrated but still separated, if that makes sense.” Washington also said she lost the strong connections with teachers she had at Washington School. Her teachers at Washington School would make sure their students understood what they were learning and would keep them after school for some extra work if they weren’t quite getting it. “The teachers really looked out for us; we were like their grandbabies,” Washington said. As time passed, Washington said she began to adjust to her new school. Some white students would be nice, and she would be nice in return. Eventually, she said some students saw the Black students as “everyday people.” Now, as the president of the Washington School Alumni Association, Washington is working to restore the school as a place for community. Washington said the school has a strong alumni group, and though numbers have dwindled from 400 to about 60, former students still
travel from places like California to attend reunions. Last spring, a clean-up day was organized to begin the school’s restoration. A group of about 70 volunteers, including Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce, took shovels to the debris, clearing out what they could. Michelle Charles, a volunteer for last year’s clean-up day and member of the Washington School Heritage Association, said starting restoration has been an ongoing struggle. Charles said Washington School has changed hands of private owners a few times over the years. At one point, Charles said, there was a proposal to demolish the school and replace it with an office complex. When community members showed up to voice their opposition to the proposal, Charles said some city councilors weren’t aware of what Washington School was. “I felt like they were trying to shut that part of the history out,” Washington said. “They didn’t try to preserve the school. They didn’t try to have the history of the school, and I’m surprised so many people didn’t even know where the Black school is. A lot of people didn’t even know what it was and what it was for. That’s how quiet the history has been along the way.” Charles said about one year ago, a private donor stepped forward and offered to help the City of Stillwater buy the building back. The building is now rezoned for public use, meaning it can no longer be demolished. “Really, the idea is to strip it away, take all of it back to the original building,” Charles said. “And then make that area beautiful.” The gymnasium holds fond memories for former students, and Charles said they want to make it into a space for public use. Charles said architect Gary Sparks, who helped design Gallagher-Iba Arena and Boone Pickens Stadium, has agreed to take on the project, and his team is developing a site plan for the school. Charles said she thinks
Courtesy of Laura Arata Washington School sits in Stillwater Creek’s floodplain at 0.01%, meaning it will continue to flood.
the significance of Washington accepting that.” School has been lost over time. In 1966, Washington “Stillwater has a bit of School closed because of Stilla transient population; we get water Public School’s adoption new professors, we get new of a formal integration plan as a students, we have new people result of the Civil Rights Act of moving in,” Charles said. “We 1964. Since then, the school has have longtime residents with flooded many times, but Arata deep roots in the community, said the building has held up but we also have this fresh kind better than could be expected. of population moving through Students from different all the time.” colleges are involved, from hisLaura Arata, a public his- tory majors conducting research torian and associate professor, to architecture majors finding didn’t know about Washington the level floodwaters will reach School when she moved to Still- or how high electrical outlets water in 2014. must be to stay dry. Arata, who bought a Arata said it’s not surprishouse up the street from the ing that the previously all-Black school, began asking questions part of town is in Stillwater when she had more time on her Creek’s floodplain. hands during the pandemic. “This is a thing that we Since then, Arata has see that, it’s sort of the poorbeen involved with the restora- est and the most marginalized tion of the school, getting teams members of a community end of OSU students to help. up living in whatever the most Arata tasked two teams problematic area is, whether it’s of four students to research and in terms of flooding or natural troubleshoot as restoration is in disasters,” Arata said. “That’s its beginning stages. just it’s really common.” One of the major chalThe school was built lenges of restoration to Washduring the Great Depression ington School is flooding. with financing from the Works “That area (is) at the Progress Administration, which 0.01% of the floodplain for is rare for an all-Black school. Stillwater Creek that we can’t “We don’t think there’s fix the flooding on no matter another one in the state,” Arata what we do,” Arata said. “The said. school is in the epicenter; it’s Arata is preparing to gonna get flooded again; we nominate Washington School know this. And it’s fine. We’re for the National Register of
Historic Places, which would note it as historically significant on a national level. This is one of the steps to bring awareness to Washington School and begin to rebuild it as a place for community. Plans for the school include restoring spaces for public use, such as the gymnasium, and creating a built-in museum of the school’s history. Every graduating class at Washington School had a unique slogan. For the last graduating class in 1956, it was “Don’t Wait for Something to Turn Up; Turn It Up!” This has become the catchphrase for restoration efforts. Above all, Washington said she wants the community to acknowledge and engage in Washington School’s history. “It’s a history that’s part of the community,” Washington said. “So if you don’t engage it in history and know that history, then it’s hard to move forward because it’s still a part of our community. And I think our community would be better served if we know the history, even if you don’t think of (it as) such a great (thing), even if you think something that you wouldn’t have been proud of back then. It doesn’t change that it is history.” news.ed@ocolly.com
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Page 8A Friday, February 9. 2024
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Cowgirls’ depleted depth prevalent during skid 10 active players, two of whom are freshmen who haven’t played much since conference play started. That leaves the Cowgirls down to eight, but since Saturday’s loss to OklaDavis Cordova homa, three starters have Staff Reporter been dealing with injuries and sat out of practice on Injuries and leaves of Monday, Hoyt said. absence have left the OSU She also said that guard Cowgirls’ roster without Rylee Langerman, who much depth. averages 20 minutes off the So much so that the bench, is playing on one Cowgirls can’t afford any leg. other significant injuries to “Her knee was the size their active players. of a grapefruit after BedThe Cowgirls have had lam, and it still kinda is,” a peculiar season with Hoyt said. their roster. A couple of The past few weeks, the key portal additions have Cowgirls have had limited either left the team or had numbers in practice, Hoyt a season-ending injury, and said the Cowgirls had five a mid season addition has available to practice on alleviated some of OSU Monday. coach Jacie Hoyt’s depth If not for guard Emilee issues for her team. Ebert joining the team On Saturday, the Cow- in late-December from girls travel to No. 8 Kansas the transfer portal, the State with the weight of a Cowgirls would be down five-game losing streak. another player for practice. Depth has been one of Hoyt said she wouldn’t Hoyt’s biggest problems know what the next step this season, but it’s to no would be without Ebert on fault of anyone – things the team. just happen. See Depth on 6B The Cowgirls have Connor Fuxa The No. 2 Cowboys have big duals coming up to end a breakthrough season, but OSU coach John Smith is pushing his team to not look ahead.
As expectations rise for OSU’s wrestling team, so does focus Braden Bush Sports Editor Like everyone else, OSU coach John Smith knows his team is still undefeated, except he doesn’t care. He knows the Cowboys are ranked second in the country. He knows OSU has three duals left, including Bedlam and No. 3 Iowa in one of college wrestling biggest rivalries. Smith said he sees everything that’s being written about his team. All of the praise and talk of OSU being “back” after a down season last year. None of the rankings or future duals matter to him right now. “I don’t give a damn about Iowa and Oklahoma,” Smith said.
“I can’t get ahead of myself. It’s a big mistake when we start looking ahead. “We’ve had matches with some teams ranked 22, 23, and we had a lot of one-point victories. We need to stay focused on what’s at hand, and right now it’s about training and South Dakota State.” Smith is quick to point out the Cowboys have a tough task on Saturday against the No. 12 Jackrabbits. Iowa was upset last weekend against Michigan, a team outside the top 10. Teams can suffer upsets, and wrestlers can rapidly rise and fall in rankings. The Cowboys are experiencing the upside of that, but the downside is never too far away. For Smith and his Cowboys, the next few weeks are about focus. “As we go through and have success and we’re doing well, be humble and know it can be taken away like that,” Smith said with a
snap. OSU freshmen went 7-1 this past weekend, including a couple of top-10 wins. That’s big for a team that starts four or five freshmen as OSU does. Troy Spratley, the Cowboys’ freshman starter at 125 pounds, jumped from 20th to 11th in InterMat’s rankings and was named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week. “It gives me confidence going into the weekend and toward the end of the season,” Spratley said, “but I think (I have to) stay levelheaded and continue to keep working and getting better every day.” Fellow freshman Brayden Thompson rose five spots at 174 pounds after a top-five win against Peyton Mocco on Sunday, and redshirt freshman Tagen Jamison holds an All-American-level ranking at 141 pounds. But they are still freshmen with lots to learn. See Focus on 3B
Payton Little OSU has lost four scholarship players since the beginning of the season to either injuries or absence from the team.
Schiessl’s social media search brought star freshman to OSU Baylor Bryant Staff Reporter
Courtesy Max Moody / OSU Athletics Erik Schiessl has been one of the Cowboys’ top players as a freshman, and he found OSU on social media while in Germany.
What’s Inside
Softball is back
2B
OSU softball begins its season this weeked. Here’s what to expect
When a young tennis player from Nuremberg, Germany, wanted to start out his collegiate tennis career, he wasted no time waiting for coaches to reach out to him. OSU freshman Erik Schiessl took the matters of finding his perfect fit into his own hands. Schiessl scoured social media to find the place where he would play college tennis. When he came across Oklahoma State coach Dustin Taylor on social media, he quickly found the place he wanted to go. Taylor was surprised to see a recruit was reaching out to him. “Which is pretty rare for a player of his caliber,” Taylor said. “It kind of speaks volumes about who Erik is. He researched schools that really interested him through social media and through the webpage. “We kind of threw this recruit Erik,
Midseason Addition The Cowgirls’ basketball team added a player in December.
6B
thanks to our social media department... for presenting and telling our story so well on Instagram and on all our social outlets. And we lucked out with what we think is the best freshman in the country.” The 2023-24 Cowboys tennis team boasts one of the deepest rosters of the past few years. Even amongst the many talented veterans on the team, the freshman Schiessl stands out. In his short time with the Cowboys, Schiessl has made a name for himself, starting the regular season 5-0 in singles and going 73-32 in sets. Schiessl has accomplished his undefeated season so far bouncing around Courts 4 and 5. His energy and presence on the courts draws attention, but that’s just who he is. “I’m just being myself,” Schiessl said. “Trying to be nice to everyone, giving everyone the best energy I can give them. I just feel like that’s how a nice team should act with each other.”
Super Bowl LVIII
See Social on 4B
8B
The staff makes predicitions and a look at some oddball prop bets.
Page 2B Friday, February 9, 2024
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sports
2024 OSU softball predictions: Lineup, MVP, breakout player The O’Colly Sports Staff
that Kilfoyl doesn’t care about being called the ace. Good for her, but I’ll take it a step further and say that the Cowgirls’ ace will be the reason this Clean your cleats, dust off the glove team is in the running for another OKC and reup your ESPN+ subscription; trip, even with a pitching-by-committee Oklahoma State softball is back. philosophy . The Cowgirls open their season Trevino: Tallen Edwards — As a against California State on Thursday at 17-year-old freshman last season, Ed4 p.m. before playing four more games wards was a top-of-the order bat, but as in California throughout the weekend. the year went on, she slowed and moved The O’Colly softball writers Ashton down. Now, she’s more experienced, and Slaughter, Gabriel Trevino and Parker Edwards provides something unique: Gerl, have their predictions for the batlineup flexibility. Need a middle infieldting order, MVP, breakout player and er? That’s where she’s expected to start. best newcomer. What about an outfielder? She started in left all last season. Kenny Gajewski Batting order prediction joked she could probably catch, too. She’ll set the tone with her bat and play Slaughter: 1) Tallen Edwards, 2) every day in any spot. Karli Godwin, 3) Micaela Wark, 4) Katie Gerl: Tallen Edwards — Head coach Lott, 5) Claire Timm, 6) Jilyen Poullard, Kenny Gajewski called Edwards ‘the 7) Caroline Wang, 8) Rosie Davis, 9) best player on this team’ at media day. Megan Bloodworth He sees something, and for that, I’ll side Trevino: 1) Tallen Edwards, 2) Jiwith Gajewski. She’s expected to make lyen Poullard, 3) Micaela Wark, 4) Karli the shift from left field to an infield spot. Godwin, 5) Katie Lott, 6) Claire Timm, 7) Caroline Wang, 8) Macy Graf, 9) Breakout player prediction Megan Bloodworth Gerl: 1) Tallen Edwards, 2) Katie Slaughter: Claire Timm — Timm, Lott, 3) Micaela Wark, 4) Karli Godwin, the sophomore outfielder, played in 27 5) Caroline Wang, 6) Claire Timm, 7) games last season and posted a .276 Rosie Davis, 8) Jilyen Poullard, 9) Mebatting average. Not a crazy number, gan Bloodworth sure, but another offseason with OSU makes me confident that she could have Team MVP prediction more huge hits — like the single she had against Oregon in the Super Regional — Slaughter: Lexi Kilfoyl — Kenny in the 2024 campaign. Gajewski said at the team’s media day Trevino: Ivy Rosenberry — Rosen-
File Photo Softball writers Ashton Slaughter, Gabriel Trevino and Parker Gerl made their predictions for the Cowgirls’ 2024 season.
berry will dominate in OSU’s pitch-bycommittee strategy. She only threw 37 innings last year with a 2.65 ERA and 20 strikeouts. Rosenberry hit 73 mph last season, with some of the nastiest stuff on the team. She won’t be expected to go all seven innings, but she can be a great change of pace arm for a few innings per game. Gerl: Katie Lott — Now a sophomore, Lott hit .370 with 15 runs scored and 12 RBI last year. Considering what she was able to do in just 54 at-bats, it’s a no-brainer to expect a leap from Lott in a year in which she’s supposed to be a full-time starter in the outfield.
the team’s best hitters by Gajewski and teammates. Edwards told me at media day that when she gets going, “nobody can stop her,” so, yeah, I’m taking Godwin. Trevino: Macy Graf — Why? She gets on base. That’s why. As a freshman at Mississippi State in 2023, Graf hit .291 with a .450 (!) on-base percentage. Her lefty bat will be valuable, and though she doesn’t hit for much power, she will start rallies with walks and play good middle infield defense. Gerl: Caroline Wang — The Cowgirls lost a five-year catcher in Taylor Tuck, but Wang steps in with three years of experience under her belt after transBest newcomer prediction ferring from Liberty, where she earned ASUN Player of the Year honors the last Slaughter: Karli Godwin — A couple of years. I think her experience freshman out of Lake Waccamaw, North bodes well for OSU, and she fits right in. Carolina, Godwin — the No. 8 player in the class of 2023 by Extra Inning Softball — has already been labeled one of sports.ed@ocolly.com
Everything you need to know about OSU softball in 2024 Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter
File Photo
‘She’s the best player on this team’
Tallen Edwards will move from left field to the infield this season, but can play any postion for OSU.
Gajewski expecting big year from sophomore star Edwards Parker Gerl Staff Reporter
The Kiley Naomis, Chyenne Factors and Kelly Maxwells of OSU are gone. Oklahoma State and its roster is at a point in which there’s talent everywhere but absent of somebody who has worn a Cowgirl uniform for an extended period of time and held a major role on the team. “(Naomi, Factor, Maxwell and Taylor Tuck) are kids that were here for five years and played major roles here,” said Cowgirls coach Kenny Gajewski on Monday at media day. “That is something that we really don’t have right now.” But at a time in which OSU is searching for answers to a lot of questions, Gajewski cut right to the chase when expressing how good he thinks sophomore utility player Tallen Edwards is. “She can do so many things,” Gajewski said. “She’s the best player on this team. And now I need her to be the best leader when stuff goes haywire. “She’s a dog, man. Like, she can set the tone single-handedly for this team.” Edwards spent last season — her freshman year as an early enrollee — in left field. She started 58 games, hit .328 and ranked fourth on the team in runs, hits and doubles, all while
she should have been a senior in high school. Doing that at 17 and 18 years old is nothing to sneeze at. And with as big of a roster shakeup as the Cowgirls have undergone, Edwards is likely stepping into the dirt and jumping to one of the infield positions. Third base, shortstop and second base are all potential spots for her. Gajewski said he hopes to put Edwards at the top of OSU’s lineup, too. “I really want Tallen to be our top-of-the-order kid,” Gajewski said. “She’s got all of that in her to be that.” Sure, it’s no secret Edwards will hold a lucrative position on this year’s Cowgirl squad. But she’ll also be relied on as a leader. An aspect of the sport in which Gajewski said will only “help her be one of the greatest players to ever play here if she can accept that.” Edwards is one of the few players on the roster who, despite only being a sophomore, went through the fire last year. She’s already been a big component to a Women’s College World Series team and experienced winning at the highest level, something that players in key positions on this year’s team haven’t done yet. “I feel like I’ve always been a leader, usually everywhere I go,” Edwards said. “So, I’m super excited to get back into that ship and be able to take this team as far as it can go.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
There’s a standard This is coach Kenny Gajewski’s ninth season. He’s made the postseason in each prior full year, and the Cowgirls have made the Women’s College World Series in the past four. OSU won the 2021 Big 12 Championship and has hosted Super Regionals each full season since 2019, while winning 45 games or more. Who is this team? Softball has been dominated by fifthyear seniors, and OSU has reaped the benefits. Players such as Rachel Becker, Chyenne Factor, Kiley Naomi, Sydney Pennington, Miranda Elish, Chelsea Alexander, Alysen Febrey and Carrie Eberle have carried past Cowgirl squads in their final year. This team isn’t that. Most of the extra seasons of eligibility given by the COVID-shortened 2020 season are gone. Lexi Kilfoyl is still around, and she will lead the Cowgirls pitching staff (more on that later). OSU is expected to start or give significant playing time to 11 underclassmen. Gajewski said Tallen Edwards, an early-enrollee freshman last year, is the team’s best player at 18 years old. The team’s young average age is similar to OSU in 2019, when most of those names above were still underclassmen. That team upset Florida State in Tallahassee in the Super Regionals to make Gajewski’s first WCWS at OSU. Trying something new Gajewski, a former pitcher himself, won’t use his pitchers traditionally. With
new pitching coach and former OSU pitcher Eberle, the Cowgirls will try a “pitch-by-committee.” Rather than the expectation for Kilfoyl and Co. to go all seven innings, OSU will use analytics (and some trusttheir-gut decisions) to throw multiple pitchers in a game, saving the best for higher-leverage situations. Gajewski said it’s a similar system to what Florida State did last year to reach the WCWS championship series, wanting to replicate the success. Some rule changes The NCAA passed 11 new rule changes for the 2024 season, some in an attempt to speed up the game. The pitch clock for pitchers will be reduced from 25 to 20 seconds. Hitters have to do their part, too, as they must keep one foot in the box between pitches and be ready to hit in 10 seconds. Teams will also display the clock in their ballparks. Edwards said the time limit will take some getting used to, especially without a visual for the beginning of the season while teams are in the process of adding clocks. In a team scrimmage this spring, she said she received strike three because of the clock. A double-first base will be allowed to be used to help prevent injuries, teams can use one-way communication devices from dugout to players to speed the delivery of signs and replay-review will be expanded. Pitchers are also now allowed to disengage from the dirt on their deliveries. This allows pitchers to be more comfortable and go airborne instead of ensuring their back foot stays on the ground. Got everything? Good. Let’s play ball. sports.ed@ocolly.com
File Photo Coach Kenny Gajewski has never missed the postseason in a full season at Oklahoma State.
O’Colly
Friday, February 9, 2024 Page 3B
sports
Cowboys wrestling dominance puts other OSU sports to shame Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter
season and was in discussion as THE best team in the country as the Cowgirls went to their fourth straight Women’s College World Series. Coach Kenny Gajewski hasn’t missed the postseason since taking over the program. Men’s cross country won a national championship this year after finishing in second after a tiebreaker in 2022. Larry When you look at it from top to Sanchez and the equestrian team won bottom, OSU athletics is a moderately their own natty in 2022 and returned successful program. to nationals last year. Men’s golf was Sure, football made the Big 12 cham- OSU’s last national champion in 2018 pionship, but when it comes to hardware, before Dave Smith and the cross country OSU lacks in that department. The fur- team won theirs. Women’s tennis is No. ther you go, though, success is plentiful, 3 and will host the national championand it puts the “big” sports down. ships in Stillwater this summer. If OSU wrestling continues its pace, Softball typically draws large crowds the Cowboys will have their best finish for important series and the postseason, to a season since 2016. It won’t be the but few care for other sports success. program’s 35th national championship, They aren’t going in droves to equesbut No. 2 will be better than almost trian or cross country events. Football every other team on campus in history. and men’s basketball see the most attenAnd that’s “back to normal” for John dance, and they still aren’t to the level of Smith and Co. other programs. OSU football’s best finish was No. Wrestling should and will see its suc3 in 2011 and has reached the top five cess recognized. Bedlam in two weeks twice since. Men’s basketball ended the will likely be watched by more than season at No. 4 in 2004 but hasn’t been many men’s basketball games this year a top two team since the Korean War. and when Iowa visits Stillwater the folWomen’s basketball has never finished lowing weekend, it’ll likely be the first in the top 10. Baseball has the fifth most time GIA is sold out since 2018... when Men’s College World Series appearances OSU wrestled Iowa. of any school, but has only made it to OSU’s wrestling team makes other Omaha once in the 21st century. sports look bad, but builds the school’s These “money makers” can’t comoverall image. pare to wrestling’s overall moderate success nor other “smaller” sports. Softball was No. 2 for some of last sports.ed@ocolly.com
Column
Andon Freitas Troy Spratley, OSU’s 125-pound starter, soared up the latest individual rankings but said he has to remain levelheaded and keep working.
Focus...
Continued from 1B “You’ve got to be a little careful, these guys, as they jump up there,” Smith said. “We’ve got to remind them it didn’t get any easier, it didn’t get any tougher. Let’s make sure we’re not adding pressure to our daily routines. Let’s make sure we’re coming in with a clear conscious, that we’re training hard and bust your ass every day and prepare for the weekend of matches, you know, and it’s not any more than that.” That especially goes for freshmen on the team, but it still applies to the experienced wrestlers on the team, too. Daton Fix, OSU’s 133-pound AllAmerican, had an odd weekend. Fix is used to picking up bonus-point wins, but he wrestled a close 5-3 decision against an opponent outside the top 25 last Friday. When his Sunday opponent forfeited, Fix bumped up to 141, which Smith said was likely because Fix wanted to get back on the mat after the uncharacteristic bout. On Wednesday, Smith called Fix’s weekend “a little slow.” Even Fix, the most experienced and decorated wrestler on the team needs an occasional refocus. “I think it goes for a veteran (or anyone else) – you’ve got to be reminded,” Smith said. “That’s what coaching is. Pushing Daton right now, trying to get him in a place to give himself a chance to win one, and we’re also working with guys that have chance to be on the stand
maybe at the end of the year.” The OSU wrestling team always has expectations, but this year the expectations have gotten large, as the Cowboys climbed to No. 2 in the nation with every starter ranked in the top 20. Still, against three Arizona State wrestlers ranked fourth last Friday, the Cowboys went 0-3. At 149, there is still a battle between senior Sammy Alvarez and freshman Jordan Williams. There have been plenty of close matches and a few upset losses. Not everything has been perfect. “We’re not supposed to be our best yet,” said OSU associate head coach Coleman Scott. “You want to see our best at Big 12s and NCAAs. So we have this room for growth in each and every individual. We haven’t had a perfect match yet with all 10 guys.” The Cowboys don’t have time to be satisfied. It’s been a great season up to this point, and Smith said earlier in the season he didn’t expect the team to be where it was. It had the potential to be what it is, but pulling it off was another thing. Now they know they can compete with anyone. And with big duals to end the season, fans look ahead, and it would be easy for the team to fall into that. Smith said that’s the challenge they face, because the expectations for his squad have risen. “‘Now I’m expected to do things,’” Smith said. “Talking to yourself is gonna be real work for these young guys, making sure they keep a really good attitude and enjoy and be hungry about competing every weekend.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Cowboys end season with three home duals vs. Saturday at 6 p.m.
vs. Feb. 18 at 2 p.m.
vs. Marcus Conrad OSU coach John Smith said the Cowboys weren’t bad against Northern Iowa on Friday but had a better day against Iowa State on Sunday.
Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
Page 4B Friday, February 9, 2024
O’Colly
sports
Holliday said OSU could start season with pitch count with inexperienced rotation Daniel Allen Staff Reporter
when given the ball as we watch and figure out how we match up best.” One concern did, however, In past years, OSU coach Josh surface from the 12th-year head Holliday has had an idea of what coach: number of innings each his pitching rotation would look starter is thrown on the first like come opening day. weekend. That and a gauge of a feaTwo of OSU’s presumable sible Week 1 pitch count for each starters against the Bearkats – starter. It came with the luxury sophomore righty Gabe Davis of having strikeout machines and redshirt sophomore southpaw such as Justin Campbell, Victor Drew Blake − were used primarMederos, Juaron Watts-Brown ily as relief options a year ago. and other experienced arms in Blake logged some starts for the the rotation. Cowboys in 2023, but in each Now that luxury is no more. instance, he was involved in an Holliday faces uncertainty as opener strategy. Junior righty his team’s season opener on Feb. Janzen Keisel, another potential 16 at Sam Houston State nears, starter, made only nine appearhaving lost four starting arms ances a year ago due to inconsisfrom the 2023 roster. tencies with pitch command. But Holliday remains confiHolliday’s suggestion? Condent in his group, and he disdensed outings. Four, even three played his admiration toward his innings per start as each prospect pitching staff’s development on acclimates himself to being a Thursday during OSU’s baseball starting pitcher. media day. “You’re probably going to see “I do have a good (sense of) us having to put games together confidence in the depth,” Holwith three- or four-inning chunks liday said. “How we eventually out of your guys,” Holliday said. settle in and line it all up and “Just since nobody’s ready to go what it looks like, I couldn’t tell out there and throw 115 pitches you with 100% certainty right yet. We just don’t have the weeks now. But I’m gonna be excited from the time we get back to the to see how our kids respond first pitch to get the guys quite
there.” Holliday commended pitching coach Rob Walton for his influence on the development of a new-look unit. Blake and junior right-hander Brian Holiday – a transfer from Central Florida Junior College – echoed Holliday’s praise of Walton, suggesting the path to the unit’s peak form may not last as long as some may expect. “We had a really good fall,” Blake said. “Guys are developing and continue to grow each week and every day.” So if Holliday and Co. implement a pitch count on their starters on Opening Weekend, how will it affect overall production? That remains to be seen. As a token of confidence, Holliday pointed to the development of past program stars who were once deemed premature starters. “We’re gonna surprise a lot of people,” Holiday said. “We may or may not have the biggest names in our pitching staff. But when we get around to the season and end of the season, a lot of those names, they’re gonna be big after this year.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
File Photo Drew Blake is a potential starter for the Cowboys, but he was mainly used as a relief option a season ago.
Social... Continued from 1B Schiessl has adjusted well to the OSU environment, with fans and teammates loving the energy he brings to the courts. It’s unusual for a freshman to be a vocal leader on a college tennis team with fifth-year players. Despite his youth, Schiessl has become a fire in the hearts of the Cowboys. Senior Isaac Becroft acknowledged his excitement to have a freshman on the team like Schiessl. “Often, freshmen, they’re up in their shell a little bit and they’re sort of testing out the waters a little bit, but he’s come in full guns blazing,” Becroft said. “That’s translated onto his matches, but also in practice. It’s refreshing having a freshman come in and bring the energy and not be afraid to sort of go after some guys, and I love that. “I think, we’ve got a real good one in Erik Schiessl.” Another veteran, graduate student Tyler Zink, also said Schiessl’s impact on the courts has been huge early in the freshman’s career. “He’s our stud,” Zink said. “He always brings the energy and plays well, every single match.” Within the first few weeks of the season, Taylor has noticed Schiessl has
stood up to every challenge sent his way. Taylor said he has been impressed with the way Schiessl has handled pressure. “Maturity-wise, he’s handling big moments,” Taylor said. “He did that in the fall, but you don’t know when you get into the atmospheres like Texas and UCLA, and you’re playing the bluebloods of the sport’s top-five, top-10 programs, how a young freshman is going to handle those situations. And he’s handled them remarkably well. “He’s just getting bigger, he’s getting stronger. He’s getting more and more comfortable in the college tennis environment. But he grew up playing team tennis over in Germany. He’s used to having teammates on the courts next to him, and that shows with his composure in the dual match format.” Schiessl is the future of Cowboys tennis, but right now he is just focused on the season at hand, being there for his teammates and competing to help OSU bring in a national championship. “I just want to improve to the maximum of my tennis,” Schiessl said. “Get the best out of it and also be a good teammate. Give everything for the team. Just be good with everyone. And of course we want to win a national. Also I want to be a team leader. Be a leader for the future. And just see what we can do here.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Kaytlyn Hayes Anastasia Komar loves to draw, and she sketches on her iPad with her free time.
Komar uses art as outlet during tennis season Gina Foster Staff Reporter
Anastasiya Komar was 12 or 13 when she recognized she had a talent for drawing things by just looking at them. This continued throughout the OSU tennis player’s life and is still relevant when she can make the time with her busy schedule as a student-athlete. “I started because my dad. He’s a pretty good drawer,” Komar said. “I kind of just started doing the same thing.” Classes and athletics take much of her time, but she has made time by finding a new medium to draw on other than on a sheet of paper: her iPad. “My mom, she would work at my grandma’s apartment, and I would draw while she was working,” Komar said. “Her whole wall was literally covered in drawings.” After enough of her mom’s clients mentioned that Komar had a knack for drawing, she developed her skill and kept this hobby simply because they liked looking at each new creation. Even some of her clos-
est teammates haven’t been exposed to her hobby except for seeing a piece of the art here and there. “I didn’t really know it was her outlet,” teammate Safiya Carrington said. “I think it’s pretty cool. I think it’s important to have things to take away from what you’re doing on a day-to-day basis and have as an escape. You can see her personality by the pictures that she chooses.” The No. 3 Cowgirls are off to a hot start. They are 5-0 with four top-15 wins already, and competition doesn’t let up as OSU heads to Seattle for the ITA Indoor Championships this weekend. But even with all the success and big matches, Komar makes time to do other things she likes. Komar scrolls on Pinterest until a photo strikes inspiration, then she stays to herself for the one to two hours it takes to complete the sketch. “It kind of helps you to kind of forget about other things and just focus on it,” Komar said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy Max Moody / OSU Athletics Erik Schiessl is 5-0 in singles and 73-32 in sets this season.
O’Colly
Friday, February 9, 2024 Page 5B
Classifieds Business Squares Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy! Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater
FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Houses for rent
The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main “The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University. Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”
Murphy’s Department Store 815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6 Monday thru Saturday
Cowboy Calendar Friday 2/09/2024 Adventuring Academy: A Pathfinder Campaign Stillwater Public Library @ 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. https://stillwaterok.gov/Library Big Casino Night SPARROW BEGINNINGS @ 6 p.m. General Admission $115 Royal Flush Sponsor (16 included) $5,000.00 Full House Sponsor (12 included) $3,000.00 Ace of Spades (8 included) $1,954.00 Queen of Hearts (4 included) $1,000.00 https://bbbsok.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/BigCasinoNight2024/tbid/1386461/Default.aspx Downtown Funk EM Curators of Craft @ 8 - 10 p.m. $5 https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Night to Shine Stillwater First United Methodist Church @ 6 - 9 p.m. https://nighttoshinestillwater.com/ OSU Equestrian vs. Baylor OSU Animal Science Totusek Arena @ 1 p.m. https://okstate.com/sports/equestrian/schedule Painting/Ceramics w/ Pizza StillyArts @ 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Book your tickets here: https://stillyarts.com/paintnights Fee: $20 (8x10 canvas + pizza) / $30 (11x14 canvas + Pizza) The McKnight Center: 1964 The Tribute McKnight Center for Performing Arts @ 8:30 p.m. $25 https://mcknightcenter.org/Online/default.asp?do Work::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::W Scontent::loadArticle::article_id=73B41E84-4DB74445-8442-2E2C5D9C62F8&BOparam::WSconte nt::loadArticle::context_id=05795FDA-B37A-4E43873F-09201D5AD210 Wade Bowen Live Tumbleweed Dancehall & Concert Venue @ 8 p.m. $20 https://www.calffry.com/online-store/Wade-BowenFriday February-9-2024-p612942261 Saturday 2/10/2024 Bad Brad’s Whiskey Dinner Bad brad’s Bar-B-Q @ 7 p.m. $140 https://stillwater.badbrads.com/stillwater-stillwaterbad-brad-s-bar-b-qstillwater-events Block Stamp Prints Prairie Arts Center @ 12:30 p.m. $20 https://artscenter.okstate.edu/adult-classes/ printmaking/1328-block-stamp
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol
ACROSS 1 Baldelli who was AL Manager of the Year in 2019 6 Leave the dishes for tomorrow, say 10 Fistful of dollars 13 Nook purchases 15 Subject 17 Spa brand 18 Plays a trick on Miami’s basketball team? 20 Molecular messenger 21 Dump, as stock 22 Breakdown helpers 23 Monarch 25 Spring occasion when people get really emotional? 30 Cuban dance 33 Comforts 34 Rita on Avicii’s “Lonely Together” 35 UFC fighting style 38 Prefix with gender 39 Some UPenn degs. 42 Orange rinds of epic proportions? 46 Hands together time 47 Not awesome 48 Big fuss 49 Writer Joe Hill, to Stephen King 50 Amends last year’s tax return, say 53 The Chi-__: R&B quartet 55 Wagers about how many ingredients are in a bottle of shampoo? 59 Titan, once 60 Prefix in some genre names 61 __ Rios, Jamaica 65 School opening? 66 Tennis match with teams of men and women, or what 18- and 25-Across and 42- and 55-Across literally have 71 Wall St. regulator 72 Cutting 73 Writes to 74 D.C. hrs. 75 African antelopes 76 Teaser
Daily Horoscope
2/9/24
By Caroline Hand & Katie Hale
DOWN 1 Bowl game officials 2 Cor anglais kin 3 Awesome 4 Work together briefly? 5 Allows 6 Gets home, in a way 7 __ and aah 8 Imitate 9 Telluride maker 10 Advertising exaggeration, perhaps 11 CPAP target 12 Log with a lock 14 Guest __ 16 Copy shortcut 19 Japanese “yes” 24 “I can help!” 26 Pageantry 27 Areas of interest 28 “Hamilton” role for Phillipa Soo 29 Made less harsh 30 Eclipse participant 31 “Hope” singer Parks 32 City executiveto-be 36 Imitate 37 Amtrak choice 40 Healing plant
Thursday’s Puzzle Solved
©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
41 Bank acct. application digits 43 Greek muse of memory 44 “Where the Sidewalk Ends” poet Silverstein 45 Straw __ 51 Gels 52 Some kings and queens 54 Weather map line 55 Grove
2/9/24
56 Brings on 57 Far from current 58 Chiwere speakers 62 Advertiser’s honor 63 Big wheel at sea 64 __ buco 67 Dutch bank 68 Mark, as a box 69 Part of a prof’s address 70 Plate official
Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes
Today’s Birthday (02/09/24). Realize domestic dreams this year. Dedicate focused efforts for financial growth. Make winter home improvements, before surging artistic and creative productivity this spring. A summer professional shift redirects your career toward autumn investigation, exploration and discovery. Savor special moments with the ones you love. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 6 — Review priorities and adjust plans as needed to adapt with changes. Find a peaceful thinking spot. Stick to basics. Experience pays. Discover unusual opportunities. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Develop team strategies together. Invite suggestions to discover unexpected solutions. Advance a shared dream, step by step, each one playing their part. Collaboration flowers. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Work smart. Communicate and coordinate to manage an unexpected situation. Test your theory before running with it. Realize professional dreams with disciplined, consistent actions. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Discuss adventures, past and future. Stick to stable routes and sources. Coordinate details. Include backup plans to ensure flexibility with multiple options. Enjoy. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Stick to stable income sources. Discover lucrative solutions in conversation. Apply words and action to generate financial growth. Collaborate to adapt around changes. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Coordinate moves closely to navigate uncharted waters. Support each other for shared ease and comfort as you steadily advance your shared dreams. Collaboration flowers. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — You’ve got this. Adapt with a physical change or challenge. Discuss possibilities with trusted allies. Stick to basics. Prioritize health in mind, body and spirit. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — A flexible attitude pays off. Things can get fun if you abandon expectations. Romance sparks spontaneously. Enjoy people and activities that you love. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Home holds your heart. Collaborate to adapt with changes. Make repairs and upgrades before something breaks. Advance renovation plans step by thoughtful step. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Monitor the news. New data threatens assumptions. Share what you’re learning. Creative projects flourish and satisfy an urge to express. Write, edit and publish. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Monitor budgets and finances to manage unexpected expenses. You can generate the resources you need. Talk with friends, collaborators and clients. Discover hidden opportunities. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — A personal dream appears within reach. It may not look as expected. Grab a lucky break. Develop and prepare yourself to level up.
Level 1 2 3 4
2/9/24
Solution to Thursday’s puzzle
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk
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Page 6B Friday, February 9, 2024
Depth...
practice hard to get better. “It’s made us closer. When you go through hard (times),I think it has made us closer Continued from 1B and we are one win away so we are pretty motivated and doing good.” Hoyt is thankful for the The list of inactive Cowscout team and staff she has girls is up to four, but it’s surrounding her. The scout been that way since conferteam for the Cowgirls is a ence play began. In November group of male students onthe Cowgirls lost three key campus who dedicate time players on and immediately during practice times to help following their Cancun trip. the Cowgirls prepare for Forward Chandler Prater, games. a transfer from Kansas, tore Hoyt said the scout team her right achilles against has been a big help, especially Ohio State on Nov. 22, ending with the lack of depth OSU her season. Guard Kennedy has. Fauntleroy left the team after “Thankfully we have a the trip. It was never anscout team that really helps nounced why Fauntleroy, last us,” Hoyt said. “They might year’s Big East Freshman of be the MVP of our season so the Year, left the Cowgirls. far, just giving us extra bodies Forward Brianna Jackson, in practice, but it’s been very who got significant playing challenging.” time in four games, also has A five-game losing streak been away from the team. is no fun for a team, but the Guard Landry Williams, one Cowgirls are still showing up of three returning Cowgirls to practice, fighting to break from last season, re-tore her the skid. right ACL before the season Forward Lior Garzon, a and isn’t expected to be able senior starter, said the strug- to return this season. gles recently haven’t had a The Cowgirls kepy afloat negative impact on the morale for a few weeks after, but and dedication of the team. once Big 12 play began, the “It’s obviously been chal- toll of conference play began lenging when you don’t have a to wear on the Cowgirls. lot of people to practice with,” Garzon said even though Garzon said. “At the same the depth is lower and the time, whoever can practice, games haven’t been in their practice hard. It’s not like a favor, the Cowgirls are still day off, we still come in and looking forward to compete
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sports every day in practice. “We are working really hard in practice, and we feel ready and feel good, and we’re still together and still connected, but it doesn’t show on the court with the outcome. It’s not what we wanted,” Garzon said. “But we’re not breaking down. There’s no giving up. There is no defeated mentality. Her message is just to keep working hard and things will come at the right time.” The Cowgirls play a Wildcat team that is on a twogame losing streak, but were the second-ranked team in the country a week ago. Kansas State center Ayoka Lee, preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, is now day-to-day in the third week of her four-week recovery from an ankle injury and is not expected to play Saturday, according to The Manhattan Mercury. Whether Lee plays or not, Garzon said the Cowgirls are simply focused on getting a win. “Just go and win,” Garzon said. “We have nothing to lose at this point, so I think we are very focused on winning and trying to do the best we can in practice like show up every day and keep practicing hard to get the win. Just go there and win.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Payton Little Lior Garzon, said the Cowgirls have, “Nothing to lose,” when they hit the court on Saturday at No. 8 Kansas State.
Dailey Jr. fitting into new role off bench Calif Poncy Staff Reporter
big part of that is the fact the roster had to rely on freshmen. In the Big 12, playing youth can lead to some growing pains, especially early With struggle comes sacrifice, and in conference play. Dailey’s youth was no one knows that better than Eric cited by Boynton as a reason for some Dailey Jr. of his struggles after he played only five Heading into the season, Dailey was minutes against Kansas State in a game one of Oklahoma State’s most highly earlier this season. touted players. He was ranked as a “We know very few freshmen who top-40 recruit by 247 Sports, and he are playing, and we’ve got four or five had offers from schools such as Texas, of those guys running up there throughTennessee and Michigan. out the game,” Boynton said. Dailey began the season as a starter, Along with his youth, the constantly but since then he has become a sixth changing role Dailey has been asked man for the Cowboys. The 6-foot-7 to fit into has made his adjustment to physically gifted forward has played at playing in college basketball’s premier least 15 minutes in all but one game this conference even harder. season, but he has seen his offensive Dailey’s ability to stay in the rotarole steadily decrease coming off the tion despite being forced to play mulbench. tiple roles in his first season has been “He’s still doing really well comimportant for an OSU team that has pared to what most freshmen do in struggled to find consistency off the college basketball,” OSU coach Mike bench. Boynton said. “I want him to focus on Dailey will have a role going forthat — the things he’s doing well while ward, and no matter what that role is, he still working to get better.” will attempt to make it work. Dailey has flashed a few times “I think he’s handled it very well,” during his time coming off the bench. OSU guard John-Michael Wright said. Whether it’s on offense or defense, he “For a freshman, for that to happen to, has shown a continued ability to make he’s really handled it very maturely.” an impact. sports.ed@ocolly.com OSU’s season has been rough, and a
Marcus Conrad Eric Dailey Jr.’s role has change multiple times this season, depending on what the Cowboys need.
Payton Little Emilee Ebert played four seasons at Kansas Statebefore joining the Cowgirls in December.
Ebert joined Cowgirls after nine-month hiatus Calif Poncy Staff Reporter Emilee Ebert hardly picked up a basketball in 10 months. After spending four seasons at Kansas State, Ebert was finally ready to move on from the game. She was living in Tennessee, watching her fiancée, Ty Zenter, punt balls as he finished the season for the Titans. “I was kind of just hanging out wasn’t really doing much,” Ebert said. “Watching (Zenter) play football on Sundays really.” Then, Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt reached out – again. Hoyt and her staff had tried to get Ebert to suit up for the Cowgirls during the offseason, but the timing never felt right for Ebert to get back on the court. But, with the NFL season nearing a close and her final opportunity to suit up at the college level slipping away with each passing day, she changed her mind.
“When I entered the portal in May or whenever it was, I basically just decided I didn’t want to play anymore,” Ebert said. “When they texted me in December, I don’t know, it kind of just worked out more perfect.” Hoyt’s Cowgirls were in need of another body. Several players had suffered season-ending injuries, and a couple more were no longer with the team. Ebert filled a roster spot, but more than that, she had Big 12 experience. Ebert played in at least 24 games in each of her four seasons in Manhattan, gathering a wealth of knowledge on the ins and outs of one of America’s toughest conferences and what it took to win. The rest of OSU’s roster came in on the other side of the meter. Only two players who were healthy by December had played a season in the Big 12, and the rest of the Cowgirls roster was comprised of freshmen and mid-major transfers. “She’s (a) fifth year;
she’s coming from KState,” OSU forward Lior Garzon said. “She’s been in the Big 12 forever; she knows what to do; she knows how to help us win.” Ebert decided to end her brief hiatus from basketball in mid-December, joining the Cowgirls and serving as a role player and leader when OSU needed it more than ever. Ebert’s ramp-up to playing again has been a long one. She said “light scrimmages” with her dad and sister were her only practices during her time away from the game. While Ebert’s oncourt effect hasn’t been felt with consistency, her impact as a leader is evident, and as the Cowgirls get deeper into the season and Ebert’s conditioning returns to its past form, she will become a key part of the rotation. “I think she had some time away to realize how much she loves playing and kind of missed it,” Hoyt said. “Thankfully, we needed her, and she needed us.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
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Friday, February 9, 2024 Page 7B
‘I’m ready for it’
File Photo Dee Lockett (right), the No. 3 recruit in the country, has been a longtime member of the Cowboy Wrestling Club and said he’s ready to be at OSU.
OSU wrestling commit Lockett embracing opportunity to be part of program’s rising return to dominance Daniel Allen Staff Reporter Standing along the edge of the large orange and black mat in the GallagherIba Arena wrestling room, a slim, muscular figure can be spotted preparing for his craft. Known by some as a “gentle giant.” Not so gentle pertaining to his 157-ish-pound stature, but rather his grit and passion for wrestling, and perhaps most importantly, winning. His nonchalant warmups and mental preparations may not be indicative of it, but his product on the mat is. Shortly thereafter, the room witnesses the talent of Stillwater High School junior 157-pounder and OSU pledge Ladarion “Dee” Lockett. It’s just another evening practice at the Cowboy Wrestling Club. Current OSU wrestlers spar with wannabe Cowboys and other Stillwater athletes. Members can work out and train any time during the evening. It’s, as Lockett sees it, “another opportunity to get better.” Lockett has been a mainstay for the club. It welcomed him when he moved from Ponca City to Stillwater at age 6, when his father, Jasper, the club’s president, enrolled him. It has allowed him to test his skillset against the best in college wrestling, an opportunity that Lockett said he relishes. As Jasper frequently tells him, “You can’t get better competing against those within your talent range. Always be competing against someone better than you.” And Lockett has done just that. Lockett has had a prolific high school career with the Pioneers. Through nearly three seasons at Stillwater, Dee holds a 107-3 record, and in this season alone, he’s 25-1 with 20 pins. As of February, Lockett is rated as the No. 3 pound-for-pound recruit in the
2024 class according to FloWrestling and No. 2 according to Willie Saylor of Rokfin. Lockett is widely considered to be Oklahoma’s top prospect. “As expert as it gets for an 18- or almost-18-year-old, Dee shows it,” said Stillwater coach Ethan Kyle. “For Dee, he just shows a level of commitment and has for a long, long time. For many, many years for him to hit that, more or less, level of expert performance.” OSU coach John Smith could be getting the crown jewel of his program’s future, but until that’s seen, fans of the program can be optimistic that one of the state’s most successful wrestlers in recent memory molds into a collegiate star. “I’m ready for it,” Lockett said. “I think of the opportunity to wrestle for Oklahoma State almost every day.” When Kyle accepted the head coaching job at Stillwater, Lockett was in eighth grade, still developing and fine-tuning his techniques. And yet, the newly instated Pioneers coach noticed a potential standout. “Within about a minute of watching him wrestle, you’ll know about all there is to it to know about him,” Kyle said. “That says a lot about a kid.” Kyle still remembers the first time he watched Lockett wrestle. It was March 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockett was in the latter stages of recovery from a broken leg and was easing back into intensive workouts. His usual partner at the time, Cael Hughes, now a 133-pounder at OSU, was limited at practice due to injury. So Kyle made a suggestion. “Hey Dee, how about you wrestle with me today?” Over the course of 11 years as an assistant alongside former OSU wrestler and current Wyoming coach Mark Branch in Laramie, Kyle said he seldom
osu’s 2024, 2025 wrestling recruiting classes 2024 class: Cody Merrill: 182 pounds, No. 7 national, Gilroy, California JJ McComas: 126 pounds, No. 68 national, Stillwater Kolten Burton: 120 pounds, Not Ranked, American Falls, Idaho Rin Sakamoto: 133 pounds, Not Ranked, Tokyo, Japan 2025 class: Dee Lockett: 157 pounds, No. 3 national, Stillwater Ishmael Guerrero: 157 pounds, Not Ranked, Bixby Beau Hickman: 174 pounds, Not Ranked, Tuttle sparred with his wrestlers. Much less full-on wrestling them. Still bewildered at his coach’s proposal, Lockett took Kyle up on his offer. “I was just kind of getting to know him still,” Lockett said with a laugh. “I didn’t really know him like that yet.” As Kyle got into a three-point stance, Lockett plotted his initial move. Moments later, he blast-doubled through his coach, leaving him with a black eye. No hesitation, just a quick, shifty move. It’s a story the two still joke about to this day. Simultaneously, it was the moment Kyle realized the prowess and savvy within his young wrestler. The ensuing years saw Lockett surge into the high school wrestling spotlight. As a freshman, he won Tulsa Nationals. That same year, he competed in the IRONMAN Wrestling Tournament – the first time a Stillwater freshman ever competed in the event – and won it alongside Hughes and current OSU starting 174-pounder Brayden Thompson. “Before that, E.K. (coach Kyle) told me, ‘Hey, just wrestle. I’ve genuinely never seen someone with your ability to move the way you do and land shots the way you do,’” Lockett said. His success continued to grow. Dur-
ing the summer, he competed in the U17 World Championships in Turkey. There to watch him was Smith. “Him flying out to Turkey to watch me meant so much,” Lockett said. “Like, he didn’t have to do that. And that was when he was getting his team ready for the season, too. I think that shows a lot about who he is as a man and how much he actually cares about his wrestlers and the kids he’s recruiting.” There, Lockett competed against the world’s elite while still only in high school. But that wasn’t unordinary for him. He’d endured it throughout his career. And he used the experience with the CWC to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a world champion, downing Seyedabolfazl Hosseini of Iran in a 4-1 decision. “That’s great experience for him,” Kyle said. “You’re literally going against the best wrestlers in the world. You get to test yourself against that type of talent. And for him, it’ll only make him better in the long run. “And to be a world champ makes it all the better.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Page 8B Friday, February 9, 2024
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Brock Purdy
Patrick Mahomes
5:30 p.m. CBS Las Vegas
(-2.5)
O/U 47.5
Staff Picks Braden Bush
Ben Holieway
Luisa Clausen
Davis Cordova
Ashton Slaughter
Chiefs 26-17
49Ers 23-17
Chiefs 31-24
49ers 17-14
Chiefs 28-23
Kennedy Thomason
Gabriel Trevino
Bella Casey
Parker Gerl
Daniel Allen
Chiefs 36-32
Chiefs 37-24
49Ers 32-27
Chiefs 28-27
Chiefs 23-20
Weird, Crazy Prop Bets
Justin Bieber appears with Usher: -215
Tony Romo references ‘Shake It Off’ first: +200
Reba’s National Anthem length: O/U 90.5 seconds
Swift & Brittany Mahomes do special handshake: +200
Either kicker hits goal post: +475 Final score is a scorigami: +2000 Taylor Swift wears a foam finger: +1000
Swift seen mouthing curse word: +300 Swift endorses Biden after game: +1000
Chiefs win & Kelce/Swift announce pregnancy: +3300 Tribune News Service Taylor Swift (right) is expected to make it to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl from her Tokyo show on Saturday.
Kelce to propose on CBS Broadcast: +900
Elvis Costumes shown live: O/U 2 Orange-colored liquid poured on winning coach: +500 Viewership of SB: O/U 117.5 Million
Super bowl performances
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Usher’s Projected Setlist My Boo (w/ Alicia Keys)
Andra Day
National Anthem
Reba McEntire
DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love
America The Beautiful Post Malone
U Got It Bad U Remind Me Burn Somebody to Love (w/ Justin Beiber) Without You I Don’t Mind Scream Yeah! (w/ Lil Jon)