Friday, June 18, 2021
Curtain call
Burns Hargis is ready for his post-retirement career.
Connor Burgan
OSU sophomore Ryder Bates had the “typical freshmen experience” yanked away from him last year. Between following guidelines and navigating through a socially-distanced, mask-filled campus, Bates began to have limited time for himself. “One of the major problems was the lack of free time I was offered due to work and no time off. All work and no play,” he said. Now that OSU announced that masks and social distancing are gone, sophomores like Bates and other students are finally looking to flip the page this upcoming school year and finally know what it’s
like to be a college student. Sophomore Matthew Sitar can’t wait for this. “Arguably, the biggest part of going away to college was stripped away from us,” Sitar said. “A mask free, fully filled campus will allow us to resume college as we dreamt it.” With COVID playing a massive role in effecting the day-to-day activities of all students, some felt they had little opportunity to get to know their classmates and peers. Even when they did, those faces and smiles were hidden underneath a cloth face covering. Ginna Timmons began feeling the difficulty of meeting new people when arriving in Stillwater. “I feel with wearing the masks didn’t give us (students) the chance to open up as much as we See Mask off on pg.3
Joshua Cleary
As Burns Hargis sits in the same office he’s had for 13 years, he looks around and notices that everything has changed. He’s not referring to the $2.2 billion OSU has raised during his time or even the various buildings erected during his tenure. He’s talking about the boxes in his office. Every time he looks to the right, there’s a box. Left? Another one. Now in the last two weeks of his presidency, Hargis is seemingly drowning in cardboard because of his upcoming
Many OSU students are looking forward to a more normal fall semester.
move out process. “I feel like I’m working for Mayflower van and storage,” Hargis said of his last two weeks. “Packing up the house, packing up the office. I’m sitting here and there’s probably 20 boxes right in my sight.” Hargis hates moving, but says moving the items out from his office won’t be a far journey. In fact, it’s only a few steps away. Next semester, Hargis will stay involved at OSU by holding a chair in the university’s center for ethical leadership and will even have an office at the Student Union. The position is part time and unpaid, but Hargis felt it was important to stay involved at OSU. “I’ll be working with our leadership institute and it’ll be interesting, I’m very interested in the subject See Curtain on pg.2
Maddison Farris
Page 2 Friday, June 18, 2021
News
Joel Devick/O’Colly Outgoing OSU president Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis speak to the crowd during the Burns and Ann Hargis Retirement Celebration at Gallagher Iba Arena on April 23, 2021, in Stillwater.
Curtain... Continued from pg.1 matter so I’ll be working with Josh Taylor (the head of ethical leadership at OSU),” Hargis said. Hargis will work with Taylor on leadership training at the university. One of his main goals is to guide students who were not necessarily leaders in high school organi-
zations by helping to develop their leadership skills at OSU. Despite the continued role at OSU, Hargis is still moving to Oklahoma City with his wife Ann, who will also retain her beloved “Pete’s Pet Posse” role at the school. “I will remain part of the pet therapy program,” Ann said. “I do hope to always be involved. I hope to always wear orange.” While Burns is focused on his new role in the fall, he also has many tasks to complete before his
presidency ends July 1. He said his life right now consists of helping the transition to a new president and receiving many congratulatory letters. His successor is President designee Kayse Shrum, who was named president of OSU in April after serving as the center for health sciences president for since 2013. Hargis said the transition process has been seamless. “(Shrum is) very deliberate, very detail-oriented and she just gets stuff done,” Hargis said. “That’s
why I’m glad the regents decided to pick her.” After these tasks are completed though, it’ll be fun and games for Hargis for the rest of the summer as he hopes to reignite his love for sport and music. “I’m hoping I can improve my golf playing and my jazz piano playing,” Hargis said. “I’ll be working on that.” news.ed@ocolly.com
HIGHLY FAVORED ONE!
In this favored position, what happened? Her engaged husband, Joseph, when he found out about her pregnancy, was going to break off his relationship with her. An Angel appeared in a dream and explained God’s plan to him. So he took her to be his wife. There was nine months as the baby developed. She had to make a difficult journey to Bethlehem where the child was born. She was told at his birth that a sword would pierce her heart because of the many difficult things Jesus would go through. (Mt.2:34-35) Yet, She was highly favored to be used of God!
Motherhood is looked upon with favor among the majority of people. However, it can be filled with many difficulties, misunderstandings, and challenges. Most women, who take on this task, find satisfaction in this important role. God bless you ladies! There are great challenges to all who are highly favored of God. Who are challenged to take on the specific ministries that Christians are called to do. We are called by the scriptures to humble ourselves and choose God’s will for our lives, even though it may be difficult and sometimes misunderstood. When we are called on by the Lord to a task, whether big or small in the eyes of people, It should be looked on as a special calling by God. Let’s all of us, as followers of Christ, be faithful; do the best we can in pleasing God! Rejoice, highly favored one!
ALTERATIONS BY APPOINTMENT
Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women…you have found favor with God.” (Lu.1:28,30 NKJV) Mary was called to this high place in God’s plan. She was favored by God! Wow! What a place of honor! She was to be the mother of the Son of God.
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News Mask off... Continued from pg.1 could have,” Timmons said. Masks continued to be a major point of concern for all new students with getting to interact with others,
while not feeling fearful of getting sick. As many students felt the effects of not getting to experience the college experience, hope is on the horizon in Stillwater. In a statement released to OSU students and faculty on May 14th, masks and social distancing will no longer be required around campus for the upcoming
school year, with few exceptions: the busses and certain areas of University Health Services. While this pandemic hampered the ability to college students to experience, the level of optimism has never been higher in Stillwater. With sporting events going back to full capacity, OSU students are more excited than ever to get to experi-
ence the college lifestyle. “I’ve heard a lot of great and crazy things about how OSU is for sporting events and I’m really excited to experience that first hand,” said OSU business major Joshua Fox. news.ed@ocolly.com
Adam Luther/O’Colly
A sign promoting social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in front of Edmon Low Library on Sunday, March 29, 2020.
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Page 4 Friday, June 18, 2021
‘It is everything I’ve asked for’ Thompson’s transfer to OSU, relationship with Boynton
Chris Becker Assistant Sports Editor Bryce Thompson walked courtside to his seat right next to the Oklahoma State student section in Gallagher Iba Arena. Thompson, a senior in high school at the time, was on his official visit to OSU. OSU fans went all out knowing the Tulsa native would be at the game with signs and fatheads of Thompson, something new to Thompson on his visits. However, eventually Thompson had to make a decision, and he chose Kansas over OSU. Thompson said he was close to choosing OSU in his original decision. “It was very close (to being OSU). It was a really, really tough decision,” Thompson said. “I was really close.” After an injury-riddled freshman season at Kansas, breaking his finger in a game in Stillwater against the Cowboys that left him with a gnarly scar, Thompson entered the transfer portal on April 23. That same day coach Mike Boynton talked to him. But it was
Joshua Cleary After almost committing to OSU after high school, Bryce Thompson has transfer to the Cowboys after a year with Kansas.
tough for Boynton to recruit Thompson the second time because of how familiar Thompson already was with OSU. “We could do a virtual visit,
like what are we doing here?” Boynton said. “‘Bryce, where do you want me to start? You tell me where to go. Left?’ I mean, he knows the place, he’s been around our guys and I
think he felt comfortable enough. “Our roster from a talent standpoint, and I told him this, is probably in better shape now than it was when we were recruiting him the first time.” That previous relationship turned out to be enough to pull in Thompson who transferred, and is now on campus for summer workouts. Thompson’s decision came down to three in-state schools, OSU, Oklahoma and Tulsa, but through the help of a pros and cons list Thompson found a new home with Boynton and the Cowboys. “It is everything I’ve asked for, everything I wanted when I chose here,” Thompson said. “Everything, on the court, off the court, just chilling with the team, it has been great.” Thompson has only been with the team for a short time, but his work ethic and skillset is already noticed by his teammates, even though they haven’t had chances to guard him in practice, yet. “I can see that in him now — dedication. He gets up early in the morning, goes to the gym, puts some shots up like me. People were also saying, ‘Is he a good defender?’ I say he’s a good defender. I can see that in practice. He moves laterally very well,” Avery Anderson said. “I can’t wait to get started.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
sports 2021 Position Breakdown: Offensive line
Boynton, Cowboys still awaiting NCAA ruling on appeal
Dean Ruhl
Adam Luther/O’Colly Members of the Cowboy offensive line stretch during practice.
Chris Becker Assistant Sports Editor Offensive lineman Josh Sills, a graduate transfer, announced his return to Oklahoma State nine days after the end of the 2020 season. His caption on his Instagram post announcing his return was simple: “Unfinished business,” the caption read. Sills took advantage of the free COVID-19 eligi-
bility, choosing to play one more collegiate football season. His return boosts a Cowboys offensive line that lost two of their starters from 2020. Center Ry Schneider and tackle Teven Jenkins decided to take the professional route, and not take the NCAA’s free year. Jenkins was drafted to the Chicago Bears in the second round of the NFL draft. The Cowboys however, have the bodies up front this upcoming season they didn’t have at this point in the 2020 offseason. Due to injuries throughout the past season, the Cowboys young See Offensive on pg.6
It has been 377 days since the NCAA handed sanctions to Oklahoma State’s basketball program. Coach Mike Boynton still hasn’t been given an answer on the school’s appeal. “They’ve been telling me any day now for the past five months,” Boynton said. Because of former assistant coach Lamont Evans’ involvement in a bribery scandal, where he would link top players to managers and financial advisers in exchange for bribes, the Cowboys were his with sanctions on June 5, 2020. OSU was handed a one-year postseason ban, had to forfeit three scholarships per year until the 2022-23 season, pay a $10,000 fine plus 1% of the basketball program’s budget. The Cowboys had a Courtney Bay/OSU Athletics 15 days to appeal the rul- Over a year after OSU’s NCAA sanctions appeal, the Cowboys are still waiting for a ing, which they stated the verdict. school did not benefit from was, mostly because I get sion tool when recruiting the Evans’ actions and cooperasked about it every day.” same players as OSU. ated throughout the NCAA’s Boynton noted how the “I wish there was (a investigation. delayed ruling has a negative decision), I really do. It is Over a year later, OSU effect on recruiting. He said maybe the most frustratis still waiting for a decision it doesn’t cut it to raise his ing thing I’ve ever lived on its appeal. hands and shrug when parthrough, professionally,” “There’s no reason that ents and players ask where Boynton said. this takes this long,” Boynthe decision is at. ton said. “But there is nothRival coaches are also sports.ed@ocolly.com ing to share. I wish there able to use it as a persua-
Page 6 Friday, June 18, 2021
sports Offensive... Continued from pg.5 lineman, like Jake Springfield and Preston Wilson, earned experience up front during this time. “Unfortunately, what we went through last year, we started the season with a group of five and by the time we were in the sixth or seventh game, we never got back to that group of five until maybe the eighth game,” coach Mike Gundy said. “So, it’s good for them to work together and get used to communicating.” The Cowboys also return Hunter Anthony, who can play both guard and tackle, and Cole Birmingham. Both started OSU’s first game last season before season ending injuries. Offensive line coach Charlie Dickey brought in center transfer Danny Godlevske, who has experience starting, something the Cowboys lack with the depature of Schneider. “(Godlevske) has a terrific attitude, work-ethic, mental approach, didn’t miss a snap, didn’t miss anything in practice,” Gundy said. “I pushed those guys really hard in the spring. He made that transition, not only mentally — which is not easy — but he also did it physically.” The Cowboys offensive line is in a much better place in the summer of 2021 then it was in the summer of 2020 because of those injuries it suffered through last season, which gave a lot of players valuable experience. “I’m excited about them coming together as a group and I’m really excited they stayed healthy in the spring and it gives them a chance to get stronger, develop more and stay healthy and play well in the fall,” Gundy said. sports.ed@ocolly.com
STARTERS LT: Jake Springfield
Encarnacion, Campbell named NCBWA All-Americans
LG: Josh Sills C: Danny Godlevske RG: Hunter Woodard RT: Hunter Anthony
DEPTH Caleb Etienne Preston Wilson
Alicia Young/O’Colly Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Justin Campbell earn NCBWA All-American honors for their performance this season.
Cole Birmingham Chris Becker Assistant Sports Editor
X-FACTOR Josh Sills
The awards keep coming for two of Oklahoma State baseball’s most dominant duo. Third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and pitcher Justin Campbell were named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-Americans for 2021. Encarnacion earned
First Team honors for his dominant season at the plate and third base. He is the 26th Cowboy to earn First Team honors and the first since 2017. Encarnacion was also named NCBWA District Six Player of the Year. He led the Cowboys in all Triple Crown categories, batting average (.361), home runs (15) and RBIs (66). Campbell was named Freshman First Team AllAmerican. Campbell through a no-hitter against Kansas in his most dominant outing of the season in route to a 7-2 record with 2.57 ERA. sports.ed@ocolly.com
FOR RELEASE JUNE 18, 2021
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ACROSS 1 Jokers 5 Small ball on a string 10 Emulated 14 Classic Langston Hughes poem 15 Portmanteau metal producer 16 Alley unit 17 Winter wear made from tusks? 19 __-FREE: contact lens solution 20 Asian holiday 21 Publishers 23 Onetime Tide competitor 26 Less formal alternative to a toga 28 Like many AARP mems. 29 “A Chorus Line” number 30 Routines for barbecuing? 33 Blows it 35 Mythical monster 36 Airport abbr. 37 Cuts back on business? 43 Classified ad abbr. 44 Charged item 45 Respectful group address 46 Carryalls made by Dior? 51 PC linkup 52 Long, long time 53 Loudly laments 54 First signs of smoke 56 Manhattan theater district locale 58 Blame 59 Others, in Latin 60 Useless castle defenses? 66 Advance 67 “Cool!” 68 Google results 69 Not at all cool 71 What boors lack DOWN 1 Popular console since 2006
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6/18/21
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Daily Horoscope
Level 1
2
3
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Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes Today’s Birthday (06/18/21). Expand boundaries this year. Develop satisfying results through steady, disciplined investigation. Summer brings personal joys, leadand deepened partnership this winter, before making a heart and spirit connection next spring. Study and explore fascinating possibilities. 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 7 — Coordinate with your partner. Ponder your upcoming action. Avoid travel or arguments. Harmony could require Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Focus on your physical moves. You dents or pitfalls. Proceed with caution. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Relax and release expectations. Things may not go as planned. Save money and trouble by keeping things simple. Enjoy family. Make a fun mess. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Handle domestic chores, repairs and stir up jealousies. Listen to recommendations. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Wait to see what develops. Don’t share or spread gossip or rumors. Research the back story. Reserve judgment. You see what’s missing. Consider structural elements. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Focus on income generation.
ciencies. Focus on your talents, skills and strengths. Restore your word where it’s broken. Treat yourself and others with compassion. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Get imaginative. Set a peaceful, private scene for a productive mess. Don’t spend if you don’t have to. Reorganize Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6 — You’d like to share what you’re learning with friends. Work could interfere with socializing. Restraint serves you well. Schedule connections for later. Listen. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Professional challenges could require a complete shift in thinking. Postpone a decision if unsure. Avoid assumptions or preconceptions. Look at the situation from another view. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — You may feel as if your exploration is going nowhere. It’s OK. Don’t make assumptions. Cultivate leadership. Be gentle with yourself and others. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Collaborate respectfully despite counts. Clean messes right away. Show appreciation for helpers.
6/18/21 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
Page 8 Friday, June 18, 2021
sports
Q&A: Former wrestler Piccininni on MMA debut, workouts and OSU Notable Cowboys in MMA Kyle Crutchmer: Years at OSU: 2012-2017 MMA Record: 7-1 Promoter: Bellator
Adam Engel Staff Reporter Sweat drips from the neck of Nick Piccininni as he repeatedly wallops a black punching bag at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. To his right, posters of Daniel Cormier —a former multi-time UFC Champion —hang above an Oklahoma State University logo sticker. More than 1,600 miles east of Stillwater, Cormier, Piccininni and Kyle Crutchmer – all former Cowboy wrestlers, train in the same room. Piccininni, a four-time Big 12 champion and three-time All-American will make his MMA debut on June 18th at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa as a part of Xtreme Fight Night 371. His opponent is to be announced. The fight will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass. The O’Colly recently talked to Piccininni and caught up with him on life after college. --What was behind the decision to go the MMA route? Piccininni: “Growing up, I wasn’t big into freestyle wrestling. Looking back on it now, I kind of wish I would’ve done more. I grew up around MMA. I’ve always been a fan. My dad and I used to watch UFC events. My private coach, Gregor Gillespie, was into MMA and I was working out at MMA gyms all the time. I was surrounded by it and always had an interest. It was
Daniel Cormier:
Nick Piccininni prepares for his MMA debut on Friday in Tulsa.
intriguing. I was looking to go down a different path. I love wrestling and want to give back but deep down in my heart, I knew I wanted to do something different. I took some boxing and jiu-jitsu classes when I was in high school, but I’ve always loved MMA. I always thought that in the back of my mind I would do MMA. Even if it was going down the Olympic route and then MMA.” What does your daily schedule look like? “I practice every day except Sunday. We practice two to three times a day depending on how busy we get or how our bodies are feeling. When we’re feeling groggy, we’ll hit three. They usually last 60 to 90 minutes. I train at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.” You signed with Zinkin Entertainment and Sports Management, what does the process of signing an MMA contract look like? “Through Oklahoma State and through my teammate Crutchmer, he contacted me and introduced me
Byline
to these guys like Zinkin and Daniel Cormier. I’m lucky that I have people like Kyle and Cormier around me to make it an effortless process.” How has MMA changed your workout regimen? “I’m just doing more conditioning rather than strength and power workouts now. At Oklahoma State, we did explosive and Olympic power lifts.” You are on Daniel Cormier’s coaching staff at Gilroy High School in Gilroy, California, what does that connection and ability to coach high schoolers mean to you? “Yeah, it’s good. I’m able to work with kids and wrestle. Although I’m not wrestling, wrestling is still in my daily life. I’m still around the sport that I love.” What was it like following this year’s OSU team from afar? How about the freshmen like AJ Ferrari, Dustin Plott and Trevor Mastrogiovanni? “It was different, but honestly, I liked it from a fan’s point of view. It
1999-2001 22-3 Former UFC Lightweight and Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture: 1989-1992 19-11 Six- time UFC Champion
Johny Hendricks 2003-2006 18-8 Former UFC Welterweight Champion was exciting to be a fan for once. This is what happens as time goes on. You leave and the new wave comes in. It’s time to support them. I have a bunch of teammates like Boo Lewallen and Daton Fix still on the team. I loved watching. I’m pumped for those guys. Oklahoma State has a bright future. I see them snagging titles and continuing to dominate.” sports.ed@ocolly.com