Friday, June 27, 2025
Completing the dream
OSU graduate, O’Colly alum reaches NBA Finals
BY KENZIE KRAICH I EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jaiden Daughty’s 5-year-old self had one dream — make it to the NBA Finals. Sunday night, he saw that dream come to life.
When his alarm clock rang at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Daughty didn’t know his head wouldn’t hit the pillow until nearly 21 hours later at 5:30 a.m.
To him, it was completely worth it.
“When you’re a kid, you always tell your mom, ‘Mama I want to be in the NBA. Mama I’m going to be in the NBA Finals,’” Daughty said, “and I’m still in the NBA Finals, even though it looks different than I anticipated.”
“As an Oklahoman myself, I know what it means to the city,”
Daughty said. “This is so much more than just a championship… Everybody deserves a ring in Oklahoma.”
The 21-year-old Oklahoma State graduate is in his second season with the Thunder, promoting the team through social media, photography and videography. When the team raised the
and
championship trophy Sunday night, Daughty was there with his camera, soaking in every second.
“The confetti went off, and I had to take a moment to enjoy the atmosphere,” Daughty said. “Even though it was louder than it has ever been, it was still so peaceful.”
See NBA on page 2
Oklahoma Supreme Court confirms HB 1775 ban does not apply to higher education courses
RAYNEE HOWELL NEWS AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
The Oklahoma Supreme Court confirmed the law banning required gender and sexual diversity training at universities will only apply to orientation and not classroom curriculum.
House Bill 1775 — the law that prohibits the teaching of certain concepts relating to race and gender in K-12 schools and prohibits required gender or sexual diversity training at universities — has been a point of contention between the state, teachers and civil rights advocacy groups since it was enacted
four years ago.
Last week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court answered three certified questions to avoid continued conflicting interpretations of the law. A total of six certified questions were presented, but the court only answered the three clarifying its role in higher education. Part of the statute for enrolled students in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education states “Any orientation or requirement that presents any form of race or sex stereotyping or a bias on the basis of race or sex shall be prohibited.”
See HB 1775 on page 2
Courtesy Ryan Schroeder
Jaiden Daughty completed his dream of making it to the NBA Finals and being part of a championship team last Sunday night.
Aliyah Young
Protestors took, to the streets of Tulsa earlier this month as part of the nationwide “No Kings Day” event. Despite dissenters at the scene, the protest of
News
night, there’s no question in his mind this is where he wants to be.
The court confirmed through the answering of the certified questions that the phrase “requirement” pertains only to orientation requirement and does not apply to classes, courses or curricular speech.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma sued on behalf of several advocacy groups and teachers after its initial enactment. The ACLU released a statement praising the outcome of the court’s latest decision but acknowledged the fight is not over as parts of HB 1775 are still in place for K-12 schools.
“Almost four years since the initial filing, students and professors at Oklahoma’s universities and colleges have a clear answer: HB 1775 does not apply in Oklahoma’s higher education classrooms,” said Adam Hines, legal fellow at the ACLU of Oklahoma in a press release. “For far too long our educators have felt the impact of HB 1775 and its attempt to censor discussions about race and gender in the classroom. But this answer for higher education is only half the battle.”
Attorney General Gentner Drummond, one of the plaintiffs in the case, released a statement in support of the court’s decision. He said the ACLU has continuously put forth far-fetched and overbroad readings of the law’s provisions in an effort to claim the law is unconstitutional.
“I am grateful that the state Supreme Court has unanimously recognized and agreed with my Office’s longstanding and commonsense interpretation of the Legislature’s language in this bill,”
Drummond said in a statement. “The ACLU’s position here has never been plausible and is now rightly rejected.”
When the bill was first advanced past the House of Representatives, Nicole McAfee, director of -policy and advocacy at ACLU, said the advancement showed the need for the education the law is trying to prohibit.
“What House floor Republicans deem ‘harmful ideologies’ are actually concepts diversity trainings use to educate individuals on the systemic barriers and discrimination people of color, especially Black people, and other marginalized groups still face in this country today across our institutions — from our workplaces and schools to our criminal legal system,” McAfee said.
With the court confirming the censorship does not apply to college classrooms or curriculum, the focus for ACLU is now on the other statutes. The statute relating to K-12 schools prohibits the teaching of concepts such as one race or sex is inherently superior to another, an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive due to their race or sex, an individual should feel guilt or distress due to their race or sex and more.
The groups will continue to argue that HB 1775 is silencing students’ and educators’ speech with vague and over broad terms. The case is going back to federal court as a partial preliminary injunction is in place.
“We will continue to fight for the rights of Oklahoma’s K-12 students and families to receive an equitable education where they can freely learn and talk about the history, experiences and viewpoints of all marginalized communities in this country,” Hines said.
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Like many Thunder fans, Daughty has been with the team for as long as he can remember, but being part of the team as an insider has given him a different perspective on what the championship truly means.
“We get to know the guys without even speaking to them,” Daughty said. “You get to see the emotions from last season be the stepping stool for them to get better in the off-season. For them to come out with such dominance… it really puts it into perspective.
“We really get to see the work that the organization has done to get the team to this point. From the marketing, the sales, the communications — there’s so much that goes on behind the scenes, and all of that was on full display for the world to see.”
With fans finding second wind after the final buzzer, Daughty’s job was clear: Get the right shot.
“It was pandemonium,” Daughty said. “Fans are crowd surfing, throwing people up in the air. People are throwing their hats, their shoes. People were on horses, they’re on bikes, they’re on motorcycles and scooters. I mean, it was just an experience.”
Capturing all of this through a lens was a heavy reminder of why Daughty does what he does, and after Sunday
“This is why I love my job,” Daughty said. “I get to tell the stories of such historic moments.
“This was my dream when I picked up a camera, and it’s already happened, so now in my head I’m like ‘What’s my next peak, where do I need to be?’ because this is phenomenal.”
Through the entirety of his experience with the Thunder organization and the NBA Finals run, Daughty gave some advice to those pursuing their dreams, no matter what capacity.
“Let your haters be your motivators,” Daughty said. “You’re going to experience that at some point in your career, regardless of whatever it is you do. At the end of the day, you control you.
“How you do one thing is how you do everything. I wasn’t handed this opportunity, but I did the hard things that weren’t necessarily the fun things. How you do the small things matters. Be contagious in your energy. How you act in the roles you have is going to carry you really far, so create environments that set you apart.”
Daughty didn’t get where he is based on the dream he had as a 5-year-old kid wearing his Kevin Durant jersey in the living room, but he did see it come to fruition through his passion for greatness.
Because of this, Daughty can now call himself an NBA champion.
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.
Courtesy Brooke Brennan Jaiden Daughty has worked for the Thunder the past two seasons as a creative intern, including creating content for NBA Finals games.
Payton Little
Protest
Continued from 1
Many carried signs condemning ICE and the recent treatment of immigrants. Signs with the slogan “No one is illegal on stolen land” were seen floating throughout the crowd. One local protester, Amelia Brown, said she came out to stand in solidarity with her community.
“I had to show up; it’s my duty to fight for those who can’t right now,” Brown said. “The things he’s (Trump) doing to the Hispanic community are unspeakable, so I’m using my privilege of safety to fight for theirs.”
Brown, like many others, felt motivated by the surge in ICE raids across the country. The debate surrounding immigration policy and the ethics of these raids was a vital focus for some protesters.
Other demonstrators used their voices to speak up against the actions Trump has executed that they deem unconstitutional. Dawson Lang, a resident of Tulsa, expressed his frustration.
“I mean, he’s acting like a king... like a ruler,” Lang said. “It is unconstitutional. That level of authority ain’t right.”
The feeling of being ignored was a common emotion among protesters like Lang. Some expressed that their frustration with the Trump administration’s disregard for public opinion is what pushed them to speak out even louder. Lang said he believes the administration is not adhering to democratic values.
“This is not what a democracy looks like,” Lang said. “He’s supposed to take input from the people. We are the people, and we’re talking, he’s just not listening.”
While the protest was continuously peaceful, it had moments of attempted interruption by small counter-protests.
Trucks flew MAGA flags and shouted derogative rhetoric as they drove through the streets passing the protest. In response, protesters turned their backs and yelled, “Turn around,” directing each other to face away. The gesture was intended to ignore the opposition, protect participants’ identities, and maintain the nonconfrontational, peaceful spirit of the protest.
“I love this; I love it so much,” said Emily Smith, an Oklahoma native.
“Turning our backs to them... like, yes, we are the bigger man.”
“No Kings Day” protests made waves across the nation and drew significant attention, amplifying the message and concerns of the demonstrators. The downtown Tulsa protest was a peaceful yet powerful outcry for change. The spirit of the demonstration, along with the number of people who showed up to advocate for their beliefs, reflected the strength of unity and community.
The people of Tulsa remain committed to prevailing through hardship and reclaiming their power as citizens. The Tulsa demonstration reminds Oklahomans that a single cry can become a roar when others join in.
“We won’t be silenced, and we won’t stop until we’re heard,” Lang said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma are working together to improve the state database of culverts to monitor and maintain structures.
Jaime Schussler, assistant professor at OSU, is the leader of the project and has partnered with Thomas Neeson, an associate professor at OU, to continue Schussler’s research from a previous project on culverts that created the initial state database.
The original database only represented 19% of the culverts — tunnels carrying water under roadways — in the state. With a focus on new technology including remote sensing and machine learning, the group of researchers will be able to expand the database to include more structures, including smaller structures located in rural areas.
“When culverts fail, it can be catastrophic; it could wash out a person’s driveway, inhibiting them from getting to work, the grocery store, school pick-up, but it could also wash out an entire road, causing impacts at the community scale,” Schussler said in an OSU News article.
The current project, funded through the Southern Plains Transportation Center, will allow researchers to gather data quickly and from a distance. Remote sensing can be done from satellite imagery or drone images.
In this case, researchers are using a drone to take thousands of images to create a 3D model. They will be able to study the models without physically traveling to an area, cutting travel time in half and minimizing safety risks.
Researchers will also have the assistance of a machine in diagnosing potential problems with the models
and images of aging culverts. In the previous study, Schussler began training machine learning models of what characteristics of a culvert can cause failure such as construction ratio, water flow and more.
Of the approximately 8,000 sites in the initial database, 61% were built 50 years ago. This database left out several rural and remote culverts, which can be hard to reach in unmaintained areas.
The aging infrastructure partnered with less maintenance in certain areas is a concern, and with the quickened pace of new methods, the researchers will be able to get ahead of potential disasters.
“If we can fly a drone over it, grab some pictures, run it through a machine learning model, then we could really reduce the inspection time,” Schussler said in an OSU News article. “The model would ideally be able to differentiate the dimensions of the culvert. Some of those factors will let us know how susceptible a culvert might be to failure and what the consequences of that failure could be.”
The researchers are also working with state agencies to suggest improvements for maintenance and designs for optimizing the safety of aquatic life. Not only can the suggestions help modernize the infrastructure in Oklahoma, but it can also bring forth a comprehensive database to aid communication and collaboration among agencies.
“If we can bring this comprehensive dataset, there may be potential for holistic understanding and inter-agency partnerships to reach multiple goals and optimize return on investment for culvert retrofits and replacements,” Schussler said in an OSU News article.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Aliyah Young
Protestors line the streets at the Tulsa “No Kings” event last month, holding signs and voicing their opinions on recent actions taken by the Trump administration.
Courtesy OSU News
OSU assistant professor and researcher Jaime Schussler observes a culvert for her research project.
RAYNEE HOWELL NEWS AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Where you can celebrate Fourth of July
RAYNEE HOWELL
NEWS AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Red, white and blue sparkles will soon scatter across the night sky in celebration.
To catch a firework show and grab a hot dog for the Fourth of July, there are several options across the state — some close to home, and others a short drive away.
Stillwater
The city of Stillwater is continuing its Boomer Blast tradition — the annual celebration at Boomer Lake Park — on July 4. For the 31st year in a row, families and residents across Payne County can venture out near Lakeview Road and Washington Street to witness a 22-minute firework display.
Food trucks in the park will open at 6 p.m. with the fireworks following at 9 p.m. Stephanie Kinder, deputy director of parks and community resources, said there also will be inflatables, music and fun gear while quantities last.
“We invite families, friends and neighbors to bring a blanket, enjoy the park and celebrate together under the fireworks,” Kinder said in a press release.
The city has also made parking arrangements to accommodate for the anticipated crowd. The corner of Lakeview Road and Washington Street and the corner of Lakeview Road and Husband Street are reserved for handicap parking and will be staffed to ensure proper usage.
General parking is available at Stillwater High School and along public streets in the area. The Cimarron Plaza is not available for parking this year as it is a construction zone. Crosswalks are available on Lakeview Bridge and the corner of Washington Street and Lakeview Road. The Kameoka Trail can also lead attendees to the park from that direction.
As a result of the event, there will be a few road closures. Boat and vehicle access to Boomer Lake Park will be closed at 4 p.m. Harned Avenue will be closed from 4 to 11:30 p.m. and Lakeview Bridge will be closed from 7 to 11:30 p.m. With the increasing heat, the American Red Cross will also be in attendance, manning a comfort station. It will be located near the playground on the west side of the park. The splash pad will also be open for those who need to cool off.
Emergency Management Director Rob Hill said they
are monitoring the heat and wants everyone to be aware of the dangers.
“Wear breathable clothes, find shade when you can, and most importantly – stay hydrated,” Hill said in a press release. “We’re excited to see the community come out and celebrate responsibly.”
Perkins
Don’t save all your energy for a night filled with colorful embers above Boomer Lake in Stillwater as Perkins will have two celebrations this coming weekend. The annual Perkins Round Up Club 4th of July rodeo is Friday and Saturday. Tickets cost $5.
Muttin’ Bustin — a challenge for young children where they try to stay atop sheep — will begin at 7 p.m. and the rodeo will begin at 8 p.m both nights. The rodeo will include calf roping, team roping, bull riding and more. It will be located at 820 W. Freeman in Perkins.
LifePoint Church is hosting Freedom Fest Sunday at 6 p.m. The event is free and targeted to all ages and families. There will be games,
food and a firework show after dark.
Glencoe
If a week of celebration in Perkins and Stillwater isn’t enough, another Payne County town is celebrating July 5. Glencoe Fire Department will hold its annual fireworks celebration at Boyd Davidson Park. There will be food and music beginning at 3 p.m. with fireworks beginning at dusk.
Oklahoma City
Travel a little farther and more opportunities open up.
RIVERSPORT is hosting the Stars & Stripes River Festival Saturday at the Boathouse District in Oklahoma City. Activities include surfing, rafting, tubing, climbing and more. Races will begin at 8 a.m. and run all day. Fireworks will follow at dark.
To attend is free, but parking is $10 for non-members of RIVERSPORT.
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic is hosting a free concert at Scissortail Park during the Red, White & BOOM! event July 3.
Following the concert, which begins at 8:30 p.m., there will be a firework show. Food trucks will be available and bringing lawn chairs or blankets is recommended.
The OKC Comets, formally the Dodgers, will take on the Las Vegas Aviators at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on the Fourth of July. The game will end with a firework display.
If baseball isn’t your thing, but you’re still looking for a thrill, Frontier City is hosting Star-Spangled Banner night July 4 and 5. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. both nights after the park is open all day for its traditional carnival games and rollercoasters.
The newest attraction in town — Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark— will also feature special events. The prices for rooms and day passes remain the same, but there will be performances from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., classic Americana games beginning at noon, a hot dog eating contest at 2 p.m., and finally, a firework show starting at 9 p.m.
Tulsa The Tulsa Drillers, like the OKC Comets, love to put on a firework show. July 1-3, the team will go head to head in a series against the Wichita Wind Surge; following each game, there will be a firework display.
To get the full Tulsa Independence Day experience, the Folds of Honor Freedom Fest is presenting its 49th annual celebration a day later. The fireworks can be seen from two locations, which will both feature several activities, beginning at 9:30 p.m. At River West Festival Park and Zink Lake Watch Zone, activities will start at 6 p.m. Free inflatables for kids will be available at both spots, but River West will also have face painting, magic shows and more. Food trucks and beverage stands will also be available at both.
River West will present three BMX Monster stunt shows at 6:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Live music by the Dirt Road Daredevils will begin at 6:30 and DJs will begin at 8:15 p.m.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy City of Stillwater
The City of Stillwater released this map to aid attendees of the Boomer Blast event on the Fourth of July.
Friday, June 27, 2025
OSU defeats OU in 2024-25 Bedlam Series
The Bedlam rivalry between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State has been a significant tradition across multiple sports for more than a century.
The two schools competed in the same conference from 1957 until 2024, when Oklahoma left for the Southeastern Conference.
Although the two in-state rivals are no longer together in the Big 12, the rivalry remains firmly in OSU’s control.
Oklahoma State defeated Oklahoma in the 2024-25 edition of The People of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas Bedlam Series.
The Bedlam series is based on wins and losses in head-tohead competition, where OSU earned a 15-10 victory over the Sooners.
OSU has won the series for the 10th time in the past 12 years and owns a 14-11-1 advantage against OU since the series started in the 19992000 academic year.
The only two years in the previous 12 when OSU didn’t win the series were 2018-19 when OU won the series, and 2022-23, which resulted in the only tie in the series history.
OSU kicked off the year with four straight wins, starting with a 1-0 defeat in women’s soccer Aug.22 at Neal Patterson Stadium, where freshman Bella Pierotti earned her first collegiate goal. OSU also won at the Cowboy
Preview in both men’s and women’s cross country, as well as the Carmel Cup in women’s golf.
Following a loss at the Schooner Fall Classic in women’s golf Sept. 23, OSU went on to win the next six competitions in four different sports, including sweeps in men’s and women’s cross country at the NCAA Midwest Regionals on Nov. 16 and a 35-3 victory in wrestling at
Field House on Dec. 13.
OSU nearly clinched this year’s Bedlam series at that point, holding a massive 10-1 lead. However, OU switched the momentum in the winter sports and went 7-2 in the following nine events, shortening OSU’s lead to 12-8.
OSU finished the job in May with three victories, increasing its lead by seven, including two remarkable
outcomes with history on the line.
On May 3, the 20th-seeded Cowgirls defeated the sixthseeded Sooners on the road in the first-ever meeting between the two at the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament. Another first-time meeting took place May 27, when the No. 4 Cowboys and No. 5 Sooners met at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship in match play.
Sophomore Eric Lee helped clinch the quarterfinals victory for OSU, securing a 3.5-1.5 win, and ultimately contributed to the national championship the day after. This marks the second straight year Oklahoma State has won the series, after clinching it last year with a 21-9 score, the most lopsided victory in series history.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
McCasland
Payton Little
OSU wrestler Dustin Plott (center) was part of the changing tide to shift the 2024-25 Bedlam victory in the Cowboys’ favor during the winter season.
Sports
Remembering Don Dunn, exCowboy, OSU football super fan
WILL THOROGOOD STAFF REPORTER
Legendary OSU football super fan and season-ticket holder from 1952 to 2022 Don Dunn passed away June 14 at the age of 90. He was the longest ever season-ticket holder for Oklahoma State Athletics.
Dunn lived and breathed Oklahoma State in all aspects of his life. It all started when his father Marion took him to see Henry Iba and the Cowboy basketball team play, and little did Dunn know that he would end up playing under Iba.
In 1952, Dunn received a scholarship from Iba to play basketball at OSU and also bought season tickets to Cowboy football at what was at the time known as Lewis Field. Dunn started a 68-season streak that year, never missing a home football game regardless of what the weather was like or even if he was sick.
Don went to 397 home games over eight decades that saw 11 OSU head coaches, from Jennings B. Whitworth to Mike Gundy.
He mentioned that Iba was a great man, but he was also very tough. After the first day of practice in 1952, Dunn told his players “You gotta go to class, you gotta study, and I don’t want to see any of you chasing the little chickies all over campus”, Dunn told The O’Colly in 2003.
Dunn studied zoology and biology and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1958, the first graduating class under the name Oklahoma State after having previously been Oklahoma A&M since its establishment in 1890. Dunn also earned a master’s in zoology and biochemistry from OSU.
He taught at Phillips University and while teaching there in 1966 earned a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Oklahoma.
Dunn made a lasting impact on students at OU Health Sciences Center, Phillips University, Oklahoma Christian University and the University of Oklahoma Medical School in Tulsa. He received numerous teaching awards, including the Aesculapian Award for Teaching Excellence at OUHSC.
Dunn was able to make complex science understandable and inspiring, and he authored numerous scientific publications while being a trusted collaborator in
research on immunology and microbiology.
Adventure was a big part of his life as he traveled to more than 180 countries while working with the World Health Organization and the National Science Foundation.
Dunn got multiple stories from his travels, ranging from elephant rides in Singapore to safaris in Africa and a barge trip in France.
Dunn had a tradition of keeping a world map covered in pins to mark every country he visited. Despite all that travel,, he would never miss game day in Stillwater.
“Oh he wouldn’t travel during game time, are you kidding?” Linda Dunn, his wife of 36 years, told The
O’Colly in 2023.
Dunn’s hatred of the Oklahoma Sooners was always a big part of his love for the Cowboys.
The first of many examples comes from the 1970 Bedlam game in Norman. Dunn went to the game with five of his OU friends. OSU was losing 45-0 at halftime, and Don was tired of his friends’ jokes.
“They had ridden me and ridden me, and I said, ‘OK, I’ll get ya,’” Don told The O’Colly in 2023. “I went up and got me a Coke and went to my car and drove off and left them there. They had to get a ride home with a highway patrolman back to Edmond.”
Another moment was at a Bedlam game in Stillwater
Wedding
where Dunn had four OU fans sitting in front of him, and he bickered back and forth with them the entire game. When the game ended, a Sooners fan hollered at him.
“Time to slop the hogs!”
Don proceeded to respond to the OU fan by hitting him and knocking him over two rows of chairs.
“The policeman came over there, and nobody knew anything because everybody else was for OSU,” he told The O’Colly in 2023. “Nobody knew anything. I used to get in a little trouble.”
When Don started dating Linda in the fall of 1988, she went with him to the Bedlam game in Stillwater. The game proved to everyone why the
rivalry is called Bedlam, as it was a thriller that resulted in a 31-28 win for the Sooners. Cowboy wide receiver Brent Parker dropped a pass in the end zone with 43 seconds remaining that could have been a potential game winner. Dealing with Don’s emotions after losing to OU was tough for Linda.
“It was horrible”, she told The O’Colly in 2023. “And I thought, ‘Oh I can’t do this again.’”
He proposed to her the next year and she said yes, but under one condition: they could only get married on the weekend of the Bedlam game in Norman.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Bryson Thadhani
Don Dunn owned season tickets to Cowboy football games from 1952 to 2022, the longest-ever span for an OSU season ticket holder.
OSU in the mix for top wrestling prospect Bassett
WESTON WERTZBERGER STAFF REPORTER
The wrestling community felt shockwaves around the country on Sunday when future phenom Bo Bassett decommitted from Iowa.
The No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026 chose the Hawkeyes back in February over Oklahoma State, Penn State and Virginia Tech.
Nearly five months later, the U20 World bronze medalist and U17 World champ from Pennsylvania is back on the recruiting market.
“After a lot of prayer and talking with my family, I’ve decided to decommit from the University of Iowa,” Bassett wrote in a Facebook post. “This wasn’t easy, but I believe it’s not the right fit for me as a wrestler, a person, or for my faith journey. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I’ll never speak a bad word about their program. This is about finding the place God wants me to be. This is a huge decision in my life and it has to be the right one.
“I would like to thank all of the Iowa fans who have supported me. You have been amazing and I am grateful for the support you showed me.”
Shortly after Bassett announced his decommitment from Iowa, FloWrestling reported that the 144-pounder already settled on his final list, which included three teams: Oklahoma State, Penn State and Nebraska.
“There’s a final three for Bo,” FloSports reported. “There has been communication between the Bassett camp and these other schools prior to his decommitment.”
The three schools now in contention to claim the highest-ranked rising high school senior prospect are among the best programs in the country. Penn State, Nebraska and OSU finished in the top three at the NCAA
Championships last season.
For OSU head coach David Taylor, acquiring Bassett would significantly increase the hype surrounding the program.
Jax Forrest, Bassett’s high school teammate at Bishop McCort Catholic Academy, has already committed to the Cowboys and is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2026 at 132 pounds.
Taylor also landed the fourth-, fifthand sixth-ranked national prospects with 215-pounder Dreshaun Ross and twins Jordyn (138) and Jayden Raney (132) committed to OSU.
The Cowboys’ class is already ranked No. 1 in the 2026 recruiting rankings, and adding Bassett to give OSU five of the six top prospects would make the class a juggernaut.
The only issue that could come into play is what the front half of the lineup would look like for the 202627 season if Bassett were to commit to OSU and whether there would be room for him to fit in there.
By the time the 2026-27 season rolls around, Casey Swiderski could move up a weight class and take over at 157, which would give Basset the spot at 149.
One of Jax Forrest, Jordyn Raney and Jayden Raney could take a redshirt season, with two of the three competing at 133 and 141.
No matter what, Bassett wants to compete for a national championship, and OSU could use an extra hand to extend its hopes for the ultimate goal.
Taylor already has shown promise in the program, having achieved a thirdplace national finish in his first season as head coach; he was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year by The Open Mat.
The former Olympic champion has proven that he can recruit the best of the best, and it may not be long before Bassett finds his way to Stillwater.
news.ed@ocolly.com
WYATT TESSIER STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State women’s golfer Grace Kilcrease is currently competing in the 123rd annual North & South Women’s Amateur Tournament.
Kilcrease, a senior, has had major success so far in her collegiate career. This past season she broke the school record for the lowest round with ascore of 63. Kilcrease also was All-AAC first team while she was at Tulsa.
This is Kilcrease’s third time competing in this tournament. She made the cut two years ago and lost in the round of 16. Last year she was unable to make the cut, tying with 13 other golfers at the cut line and losing in a playoff.
Kilcrease played Pinehurst No. 2 well in her second round in 2023, shooting even par while many golfers struggled with it compared to Pinehurst No. 4. This year’s tournament will be familiar for her as round one was played on Pinehurst No. 7 and the rest of the tournament will be played on Pinehurst No. 2.
Kilcrease played well in her first round, coming back from a shaky first nine to finish the day 2 under par.
Due to a heat advisory warning, some of the golfers’ second rounds got cut short, including Kilcrease, who finished 2 under through 12 holes. Many of the golfers in front of her on the leaderboard took advantage of holes 12-15; Kilcrease will have to do the same when she finishes her round before match play begins.
Golfers finished their second rounds of stroke play on Thursday morning, where Kilcrease finished No. 7.
Match play will begin Thursday afternoon, and continue into Friday with two rounds, the first starting at 8:30 a.m. and the second at 1:40 p.m.
Kilcrease will get to compete alongside fellow Cowgirl Summer Lee in match play, who finished No. 11 in stroke play Thursday morning.
Kilcrease is going to look to make it past the round of 16 in match play, which she hasn’t been able to in her other appearances at this tournament.
The last two rounds of match play are set for Saturday, with the semifinals starting at 7 a.m. and the finals at 1 p.m. The trophy presentation will also take place Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Courtesy @bo.bassett/Instagram
Wrestler Bo Bassett is a top prospect for OSU since his decommitment from Iowa on Sunday.
Courtesy OSU Athletics
OSU golfer Grace Kilcrease was in seventh place after stroke play at the North and South Women’s Amateur.
OSU’s Fang, Stout win amateur golf tournaments on same day
WESTON WERTZBERGER STAFF REPORTER
After contributing to the NCAA men’s golf championship a month ago, two Oklahoma State golfers went on to take home individual titles of their own.
Ethan Fang won the 130th Amateur Championship in Sandwich, England, and Preston Stout won the 63rd Northeast Amateur Invitational in Rumford, Rhode Island, both last Saturday.
Fang, a junior and former transfer from California, became the first
Cowboy golfer to win the Amateur Championship since Bob Dickson in 1967. It is the first competition Fang has ever won, including amateur and collegiate competitions.
Fang also becomes the first American to win the Amateur Championship since Drew Weaver in 2007.
Fang’s win came down to a battle against Gavin Tiernan at the final hole at Royal St. George’s, where Fang birdied on a 5-foot putt for a 1-up victory, clinching his championship.
Fang’s win earns him entry into The Open next month, next year’s U.S. Open, The Masters and a DP World
“I was hitting it good all day, and I knew that if I stayed in it, some putts would drop,” Fang said. “(My competition) hit two really good shots, and with it all tied on the last anything could happen, but I knew if I just birdied I could get the job done.
“I’m glad I can take a second to think about everything I’ve done this week and just enjoy it.”
Stout held a comfortable lead at Wannamoisett Country Club and ultimately won after a 4-under 65 final round to finish 9-under 267 in total. He beat the field by eight strokes.
Stout is the second Cowboy ever
to win the Northeast Amateur Invitational, joining Peter Uihlein in 2011. Stout earned his first win in an amateur competition and his third overall, as he’s won the two recent Big 12 individual championships. He was also named a first-team All-American this past season.
The two incoming juniors were part of a group of five underclassmen who helped OSU lift its 12th national championship in Carlsbad, California, in May and will look to continue adding to their trophy cases for the foreseeable future.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Tour Event.
Chris Keane
Ethan Fang, an integral part of OSU golf’s team success, added to his personal trophy case with an amateaur championship win.