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Thursday, March 18, 2021

Culture Club

Wrestlers just roll different Adam Engel pop. did.

Alicia Young

Dustin Plott heard the He didn’t flinch. No one

As he walked back to the center of the orange and black mat with a giant portrait of Pistol Pete occupying the center, the Oklahoma State freshman jerked his left arm toward his head, popped his shoulder back in place and punched himself twice in the right cheek. Plott is different; not necessarily from other wrestlers, but different from most other athletes. How many athletes would pop their own shoulder back in place? Plott is among See “Wrestlers” on pg. 4

OSU Organization Highlight By Addison Duling Oklahoma State Queers and Allies (OSQ&A) is an organization that provides a community and safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. The group currently has about 60 members in their community discord. They host many speakers, social events, community service activities and other activities to build community. Anjali Sweetman, Vice President of OSQ&A, said, “Our main goal is to create that safe space where people can be themselves and to let people know that they’re loved, they’re valued and they’re wanted here.” In addition to providing community, OSQ&A also really focuses on providing

OSQ&A members pose with a pride flag.

resources for LGBTQ+ students. They help students find counseling, sex education information, resources for

trans people, accepting Churches in Stillwater and much more. One of the social events the group puts

Photo provided by OSQ&A Facebook page.

on is called Second to be more normal this Chance Prom. Due to coming fall. COVID, they have been unable to have it this year, but plan for events See Organization on pg. 2

Page 2 Thursday, March 18, 2021

Lifestyle Organization Continued from pg. 1 Anjali Sweetman held the position of social chair as a freshman and got to plan Second Chance Prom. “Second Chance Prom is basically a prom for people to have a second chance to be who they actually are,” Sweetman said. In addition to social events, OSQ&A also has a food pantry for people on campus and a “trans closet” for anyone in any community to come get clothes and resources as needed. The group helps students to utilize all these resources, and in addition they help each other as a community. The president of OSQ&A, Yuki Clarke, transferred to Oklahoma State her junior year and joined the organization as soon as she could. “Since I was already fairly confident in myself when I joined, I was able to help others who weren’t in the same place,” Clarke said. “I was able to be there to help with questions and mentoring, and being able to help others in their journey is what has really impacted me.” A lot of the activities OSQ&A holds and participates in really focus on helping members to form deeper connections and lasting friendships. Michael Richard, Fundraising Chair of OSQ&A, said, “We want to set people up to have friendships that last into the future and to build relationships, because

Photo provided by OSQ&A Facebook page. that’s not something everybody has. There’s a lot of us that come from family that’s not accepting, so our group really focuses on creating connections and bonding. Sometimes all we have is each other.” Many members in OSQ&A agree with Richard and feel like they found a family out of the group. “People build a second

family out of Q&A, a chosen family, and while I’m privileged to have a decent family, seeing how this group has joined together and really made a difference for each other is very heart warming.” Clarke said. “We’re always open for new people and new experiences. We’re here to support everyone we can.” Anyone can get connected with OSQ&A through

their accounts on social media. You can find them on via the link Facebook.com/ OSQAokstate. Their Twitter handle is @OSQandA and their Instagram is @OSQ_ and_A. Also check out their discord through the link bit. ly/osqanda. entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

News

Let the commencement commence OSU announces in-person graduation ceremonies for spring 2021

Unsplash

OSU has announced in-person graduation ceremonies for spring 2021, fall 2020 graduates are invited to join.

By Megan Cherry With the onset of Covid-19, many in-person activities and events were cancelled or switched to virtual delivery. Now that the vaccine is becoming available to the majority of the Oklahoma population, events are beginning to return to face-to-face settings. The Oklahoma State spring 2021 graduation ceremony is one of those events. The ceremony will be held in person May 7-8 at Boone Pickens stadium. The event will enforce a mask policy and seating will be socially distanced. “I think it was the right decision to have the ceremony in person especially with the state transitioning to Phase 3

of the vaccine and the university making the vaccine available to students,” graduate student Katey Butler said. “They are taking the proper steps to still make it Covidsafe by enforcing masks, limiting guests and having it in Boone Pickens which is open and allows people to be spread out” The event is open to 2020 graduates as well. Students that graduated virtually that wish to have an in person ceremony must register in advance by April 16. Many students are seeing the recent vaccine availability as a valid reason to have the commencement in person. “I was actually supposed to graduate in 2020 , but had 2 minors to finish. I am glad it worked out that way, but was really concerned that the quarantine period would be

never ending” graduate student Alexis Skurnack said. Students may receive up to eight tickets and seating will be limited due to social distancing rules. Seating will be limited to four per group and masks must be worn in the stands. Cap and gowns will be available starting two weeks before the event, additional information can be found on the Oklahoma State University website. The decision was made by the commencement committee earlier this year with the knowledge that the vaccine would be available. “Everyone that I know of on the decision making side has been excited and we’ve all been looking forward to when we can return to in person ceremonies, the decisions last year were last year the deci-

sion was made with the best interest in mind.” Registrar board member Rita Peaster said. Students who are immunocompromised or do not feel comfortable attending the commencement ceremony can watch it live, or watch the recording whenever they choose. “I plan on attending the ceremony in person because I plan on getting vaccinated and have not felt unsafe up to this point being on Oklahoma State’s campus” Butler said. Oklahoma State University is working hard to ensure the public safety at this event for both graduates and their guests and encourages all attendees to follow the guidelines set in place. news.ed@ocolly.com

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sports Wrestlers Continued from pg. 1 nine Cowboys who will compete at the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis this weekend. Three days of constant whistles, blood and plenty of emotion. In football, 11 guys on each side are on the field at a time. Basketball contains lineups of five. Nine occupy positions on a baseball diamond. Wrestling is different. Most say you have to be somewhat crazy to wrestle, stepping out on a mat one-onone, with physical domination the goal in full focus and for all to see. No left guard to protect the quarterback. Nothing between the two wrestlers except thin air. “I fell in love with the aspect of controlling my own destiny,” OSU legend Kenny Monday said. This week, at least one Cowboy — Boo Lewallen will don the orange singlet for the final time. For seniors, the NCAA Tournament is the last shot to shine for most wrestlers. When the tournament ends, there is no wrestling draft, no professional leagues or promises of lucrative contracts. Mainstream fame is nonexistent. And when you fail, there are no fingers to point. The sacrifice and pain is what weeds out wrestlers from a young age. But for those who wrestle, that’s also the attraction of the sport. “It’s not on TV and you just don’t see wrestling often,” Monday said. “Growing up, the guys in my neighborhood were playing football and basketball.” At its core, it’s an individualistic sport with a close

Alicia Young Boo Lewallen realizing his victory during the finals matches of the Big 12 Wrestling Championship on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at the BOK Center in Tulsa.

community. “Sometimes you aren’t making enough sacrifices,” OSU manager Keenan Seymour said. “If you’re drilling hard six or seven times a week and getting beat, you aren’t sacrificing enough.” In many cases, winning still isn’t enough. Cowboy 133-pounder Daton Fix exudes an extreme level of mental toughness and a persistence that borders on insanity, one reason he’s the No. 1-ranked wrestler at his weight. “When you’re a young wrestler, and they get scratched and they see their own blood and then it happens repeatedly, they know it’s OK,” Gary Calcagno, OSU’s wrestling strength and conditioning coach said. “They wipe it off and carry on. Wrestlers work through so much more pain than anybody I’ve ever seen.” And Calcagno also

coaches football players. Kaid Brock embodies the wrestling mentality. The summer of 2019, after a second surgery to repair a damaged left knee, which revealed a torn ACL, MCL, LCL and meniscus, Brock returned to the mat. “When I was coming back in practice, I hit a fake and my repaired meniscus dislodged,” Brock said in December of 2020. “I re-tore it. “For about two weeks, it was jiggling around, and I could feel it in my leg.” He continued to wrestle and eventually figured out how to maneuver his knee to put the meniscus back in place. It’s a sight to make an ordinary human faint. In his college debut for the Cowboys, Brock beat Oklahoma’s Cody Brewer, the defending national champion in a stunning upset that projected great things to come.

Then injuries betrayed his career. This season, after using a medical redshirt in the 2019-20 season, another injury crushed Brock’s dreams of finishing strong. And a familiar injury, a mangled left knee. The two-time All-American finished his career on crutches. “I’m now looking forward to the future, not back at the past,” said Brock in an Instagram post addressing his retirement. “I do know that I can thank this sport for teaching me how to endure and overcome adversity.” Wrestlers are different. In 2018, Cornell freshman Yianni Diakomihalis won the 141-pound national title with a torn ACL. Back during the 2010-11 season, Arizona State’s Anthony Robles went undefeated in winning a national championship while wrestling with one leg. Sacrifices are common for wrestlers. That’s just the warrior mentality. At the beginning of this Cowboys season, freshman Trevor Mastrogiovanni was off the mat for two months after contracting mono and COVD19. Now, Mastrogiovanni joins AJ Ferrari and Plott as OSU’s three true freshmen competing at the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis. “This freshmen class is different because they’ve always won,” Calcagno said. “In their mind, they expect to win when they step out on the mat because that’s normal for them.” Two weeks ago at the Big 12 Championships, Ferrari was responsible for OSU’s ninth-consecutive conference title. A loss against No. 10-ranked Stephen Buchanan of Wyoming would mean heartbreak for the Cowboys and their quest of a ninth straight conference crown. A bonus-point victory would give OSU an outright title. See Wrestlers on pg. 5

16 T H O F APRIL The department of Design, Housing, and M e rchand ising presents its 10th annual Euphoria fashion show. This is a fully student-produced event where students gain valuable, hands-on experience in planning and executing all aspects of a fa shion show. For their final project, our graduating seniors create one -of-a-kind collections to showcase their skills and tale nt. For the first time in Euphoria histor y, these will be presented through individual designer vignet tes that display their creative vision to the audience. Please join us for an orange carpet af fair, coming to you virtually on Ap ril 16, 2021. To purchase tickets or learn more information about Euphoria, visit our Instagram @oksta te _e up horia.

sports

Wrestlers Continued from pg. 4

A win as the underdog would force OSU to share the title with rival Oklahoma. The outspoken freshman, with as much horsepower as his name suggests, delivered a legendary performance, upsetting Buchanan and nearly pulling off bonus points. With pistols in the air, Ferrari’s hand was raised and he walked off the mat as a Big 12 champ. “Wrestlers have to be selfish and that’s OK, but seeing guys wrestle for their team is refreshing,” Calcagno said. “‘You had AJ telling coach (Chris) Perry, ‘Don’t worry coach, I’ll get these bonus points to win outright.’ “That’s what he believed and he damn near did it.” Even off the mat, wrestlers live differently. In elementary school, Monday recalls taking his own lunch to school, a meal consisting of a turkey sandwich and bananas, while other students were chowing pizza and hot dogs from the lunch ladies. His classmates likely didn’t appreciate his eating habits until a gold medal dangled from Monday’s neck at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Perhaps the mental toughness of wrestling is best displayed in this maskfilled life during COVID-19. “The virus shouldn’t be taken lightly,” Lewallen said. “We train hard every

day. We make sure we’re taking the best food and things in our body.” Still, the wrestlers stride to the center of the mat and proceed to exchange sweat and blood over the course of a grueling seven minutes. In a wrestling career that often seems fleeting, there’s no retreating, not even from the virus. On a daily basis, wrestlers deal with cauliflower ear — a deformity of the outer ear caused by repeat trauma. Ringworm, staph infections and general bloody gashes are among the other obstacles, all rendered as mere irritants by these combatants. Wrestlers are different. Mental toughness isn’t the only trait possessed by wrestlers. “Wrestlers’ workout regimens top all others,” said Calcagno. “If you’re a wrestler at this level, you’re here for a reason. Their work ethic is damn near second to none.” As unassuming lightweight wrestler can be average height and present no bulky muscles, yet conditioning like stadium steps and constant late-night runs that fuel their strength. All these sacrifices are what makes wrestlers elite athletes. As legendary coach Dan Gable once said, “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

DON’T STUMBLE! (Part #1) “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” (Mt. 11:6) The words “fall away” are sometimes translated “offended” or “stumble.” Let me paraphrase; blessed is the man who does not stumble, get offended, or fall away because of the way I do things. This is Jesus’ answer to a question from John the Baptist. Are you the one who should come or do we look for another? John was now in prison. He is the one who baptized Jesus and said “Behold the lamb of God.” John is the one who had given witness who Jesus was. Now John is asking, “Do we look for another?” John believed the messiah was coming, but in coming he expected him to come in a different way than Jesus came. It is so easy to stumble at God’s ways,

because his ways are not ours Notice Paul’s quotation from Isaiah: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that make them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Is.8:14, 28:16 NIV) The Jewish leaders stumbled at Christ’s first coming because he did not come as they expected. They expected a conquering king, but he came as a servant in doing God’s will. (Phil.2:8) Peter almost stumbled and was very upset when Jesus began to tell his disciples what was going to happen to him: he was going to suffer. “Never, Lord!” Peter said. He did not understand God’s plan! Let’s be people of prayer and humility. Be open to God’s clear guidance in our lives!

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sports

Fix-ated Cowboys wrestler taking aim at national title Marcus Trevino Daton Fix was destined to dominate. It’s nearly a foregone conclusion that when he somersaults onto the mat, he will soon be proclaimed winner. Fix carries a 43-2 career record, including a 9-0 mark this season, into this weekend’s NCAA Championships, where he is the favorite at 133 pounds. Cowboys coach John Smith has been around Fix for a long time, having coached his father, Derek Fix, in his first year as Oklahoma State’s coach. Then 25 years later, Smith watched closely as Daton went 168-0 with four Oklahoma state championships in high school. “I knew he was a good wrestler,” Smith said. “Once I got to know him personally, there’s things I saw that (only) a few wrestlers in the world have.” At OSU, Fix has dropped a mere two bouts while on his way to two Big 12 titles. Competing -- and winning -- is Fix’s life, but the chance to do either was nearly taken away forever. Last year, he tested positive for ostarine, a prohibited substance. The United States Anti-Doping Agency suspended him from competition. The suspension could’ve lasted up to four years, thus ending his career.

Alicia Young Daton Fix wrestling during the finals matches of the Big 12 Wrestling Championship on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at the BOK Center in Tulsa.

But Fix pleaded his case, saying he was unaware of taking ostarine during a polygraph test. The USADA ultimately agreed and shortened his suspension to one year. Fix was saddened to be punished for bad luck, but he also saw an opportunity to become a better wrestler. “I wrestled with a bunch of different people over that year I was out. I feel like I developed some skills I didn’t have before,” Fix said. “I never stopped training even though I was on a suspension and COVID was going on. Training and competing aren’t the same, but I still stayed sharp.” Before the suspension, Fix wanted to score as many points as possible, but he spent the year learning how to earn falls.

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lose again. It has helped me jump levels in my wrestling.” Fix has been on a tear after regaining eligibility. He has earned major victories in all but one match this season. That one match was in the Big 12 finals. A major would’ve given the conference championship to OSU over OU. The two schools share the title instead. Fix was not happy after winning his second individual title. He blamed himself for failing to secure the outright team victory. Smith said that’s what separates Fix as a special wrestler. “He held himself responsible for a 6-1 victory at Big 12. I didn’t need to say anything to him,” Smith said. “When you have guys like that, they are quite often your guys that will compete for a championship.” Fix is the clear favorite to win a national title. He is the No. 1 133-pounder in the country and he maintained that ranking even while he was serving his suspension. The selection committee knew he was still the best. Now, Fix will try to prove them right. More importantly, he has to prove himself right for believing in himself while he was gone from the sport he loves. “I’ve always looked at myself as someone who could compete for national titles, even when I was a senior in high school or as a redshirt freshman,” Fix said. “I expect the most out of myself.”

“I never really tried to pin people,” Fix said. “It’s something that I decided I wanted to work towards more.” He pinned three opponents at the Cowboy Challenge Tournament, his first competition since the suspension. He followed that performance the next week by pinning Oklahoma’s Tony Madrigal. That’s four pins in five matches. He previously had only two through 36. “I feel like I’m wrestling the best I’ve ever wrestled in my career right now,” Fix said. “I have a different love for the sport after I’ve been off for so long. You forget how much it means to be able to go out there and compete. When you have that taken away from you, it’s sports.ed@ocolly.com something you don’t want to

FOR RELEASE MARCH 18, 2021

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Business Squares

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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 Winnipeg NHLer 4 Dwellings 10 Retirement outfit? 13 Tailless primate 14 Low-ranked British peers 15 “La Bamba” star __ Diamond Phillips 16 “No, no, more user-friendly than DOS. __!” 19 Make the same point as 20 Ran 21 Hogwarts letter carriers 22 Throws a bomb, in football 25 “No, no, flatter than sharks. __!” 29 Some Strads 30 Hosiery hue 32 “The Great” pope between Sixtus III and Hilarius 34 “Peanuts” character spelled with a hyphen until 1981 35 __ chi 36 At home with 39 Also mention 40 “No, no, bigger than Humvees. __!” 43 Former Cubs exec Epstein 45 Hardy heroine 46 Watchdog gp. created under Nixon 49 Traffic signals? 51 Two cents 52 “No, no, scarier than iguanas. __!” 57 Bottom line 58 Polite refusal 59 Numbered hwy. 60 Asian honorific 61 Leaves befuddled 62 Org. created in response to 9/11 DOWN 1 Mocking remark 2 Really cool

By Joe Deeney

3/18/21

3 Georgia __ 4 Disney monkey 5 Mop manager? 6 Promise of dire consequences 7 IKEA kit pieces 8 City about 250 miles NNW of Dallas, TX 9 Govt. ID 10 Clear of snow 11 Fleshy fold 12 Puzzle (out) 17 Alt-tab function 18 GI ID

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

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3/18/21

50 Serious violations 51 Brand with a paw print on its logo 53 Punctuating word indicating sarcasm 54 Long-legged runner 55 Lake Mead creator 56 Genre for Master P or Heavy D

Daily Horoscope Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes Today’s Birthday (03/18/21). Creative imagination abounds this year. Follow inspiration with steady action to realize plans. Adapt to market changes this spring, before fun with family and domestic renovations enchants your summer. Switching up the messaging this winter inspires

Level 1

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 9 — Take advantage of great conditions for moneymaking. Focus action and words on raking it in. Long-lasting gain is possible. Stash the surplus. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Invent and pursue an exciting possibility. Fortune favors dreams with heart. Talk about the results you’d love. Your personal passion builds satisfying rewards. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 6 — Peaceful privacy leads to productivity. Strategize and prepare for what’s ahead. Clean and organize. You’re especially sensitive, creative and inventive. Envision new possibilities. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Connect with friends. What you need can be found. Share information and resources. Invite participaLeo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Advance a professional opportunity. Visualize fantastic success. Put your creativity, talents and passion to work on a juicy project. Someone interesting is paying attention. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Investigate options and potential. Dive into an exploration. Learn valuable tricks. Let someone draw you into another world. Make amazing discoveries. Study with passion. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Transformation could seem expensive. But the savings makes staying home worthwhile. Lucrative Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate for success. Keep your word and deed. Do the homework and share the results. Share a mutual attraction. Together, you’re a formidable team. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Enjoy the great conditions for physical action. Nature feeds your spirit. Get out and move your body. Healthy practices build strength and endurance. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Have fun with people you love. Get creative with diversions, artistry and passions. Savor time with your sweetheart and family. Heed wisdom from youth. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Domestic improvements provide satisfying results. Upgrade your spaces. Fill them with delicious and diversions. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — You’re especially brilliant an intellectual puzzle. Prepare statements and reports. Edit and publish.

3/18/21 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

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