Friday, May 30, 2025
The Oklahoma State men’s golf team beat Virginia on Wednesday in the final round of the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California. The win secured the 12th NCAA title in OSU men’s golf history and the 54th title for the university across all sports.
Ateam tabbed as too young to win at the start of the season turned out to be too young to know it couldn’t. So it did.
Oklahoma State men’s golf beat Virginia 3-1 Wednesday in the final
BY WYATT TESSIER I STAFF REPORTER
round of the NCAA Championship, winning the program’s 12th national title and the 54th in school history across all sports.
Youth was the buzzword when it came to OSU golf this season. junior John Wild was the oldest player on the roster. Four of the five Cowboys
ALYSSA BRANDON SPORTS EDITOR
Projections here, D1Baseball’s regional guesses there.
There was quite the discourse on whether Oklahoma State baseball deserved an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament to mark its 50th all-time appearance. But when the last four in were announced, OSU heard its name called.
Despite an up-and-down season and a momentous Big 12 tournament appearance that was silenced by a
Kansas walk-off, OSU coach Josh Holliday drew confidence from a feeling deep down inside that his team would find its way in.
“As I told the players, I’m not an optimist — I’m a realist,” Holliday said. “But I had an unbelievably positive feeling about them because of the players. I just sensed that something about the way they continued to do this, something good was going to happen for them. I truly believed that.”
See NCAA on page 2
who competed in the national championship: Gaven Lane, Eric Lee, Preston Stout and Ethan Fang.
The lone freshman, Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson, certainly didn’t know he was too young to be there, as he won all three of his matches in match play, including a crucial
one in the round against Ole Miss. He would go on to win all three of his matches, including his match in the national championship where he led for all 18 holes and ended up winning by three.
See GOLF on page 3
meetings prior, after last year’s first 12-team bracket sparked national controversy.
Bottom line — conference champions will no longer receive first-round byes. Sorry, Boise State. But, what are the implications for Oklahoma State football this year?
ALYSSA BRANDON SPORTS EDITOR See CFP on page 4
The College Football Playoff committee has come to an agreement on a straight-seeding model that will award first-round byes to the top four teams beginning in the 2025 postseason. This comes after the group finished meetings Thursday, with months of
TIMOTHY CHRISTENSON STAFF REPORTER
The latest addition to the remade Oklahoma State men’s basketball roster is coming from overseas.
Lefteris Mantzoukas, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Greece, will join Steve Lutz’s program for the 2025-26 season.
Mantzoukas played most of his professional career in the Greek Basketball League. Despite turning 22 in July, Mantzoukas comes to Stillwater with eight years of basketball experience.
In May 2017, 13-year-old Mantzoukas became the youngest player to ever start a game in the toptier level of the Greek League. Since then, Mantzoukas has been a part of two Greek League Championships. He also earned a FIBA bronze medal with Greece’s under-20 team in 2023. Mantzoukas has shown elite shooting ability, making 40% of his 3-point shots. His percentages have
improved throughout his career, which was rewarded in 2023 when he won the Greek League’s Most Improved Player award.
Lutz and his staff were drawn to Mantzoukas’ combination of size, shooting prowess and championship experience.
“Lefteris is a proven competitor with championship experience at the highest levels of European basketball,” Lutz said. “He has a deep understanding of the game, and his size and elite shooting ability will fit well within our offense. We’re excited to welcome him to Stillwater.”
Lutz is entering his second year as OSU’s head coach. The 2024 campaign was underwhelming, mostly due to a massive player and staff overhaul the offseason before. Lutz seems to be attempting to have a more stable offseason this time around.
Lutz has certainly realized that OSU is not part of the top tier in the NCAA when it comes to NIL
spending money. This means that he has to be more strategic when finding players to recruit. Overseas is a less crowded recruiting area than the domestic scene, so looking across the pond gives Lutz a better chance at collecting commitments.
This is a lesson Jacie Hoyt has already mastered on the women’s side. Cowgirl basketball has recruited multiple impact players from foreign countries, including Ténin Magassa from France and Anna Gret Asi from Estonia. The Cowgirls’ success and tournament appearances are proof that this recruiting strategy can be valuable.
Lutz’s job now will be to help Mantzoukas make the transition from his European style of play to the American collegiate style.
If Mantzoukas is able to play the way he was able to in Greece, the sky could be the limit for his production as a Cowboy.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Continued from 1
Holliday’s squad has had to stick with it, even in the valleys this season; it opened Big 12 play with a 1-6 record before finishing on a 9-1 hot streak.
Because of a half-up, half-down season, not all the Cowboys were certain they would hear their name when watching the selection show on Monday.
“Little nerve-racking going in,” junior outfielder Nolan Schubart said. “But also what we’ve done the past month, really, and how we’ve finally been able to click together, everything working how we knew it could, put a lot of ease in a lot of guys’ minds. You’d be lying if you said it wasn’t nerve-racking, but when we finally saw our names called and we were going to Athens, it was a surreal moment. (It was) something special.”
The Cowboys were just hoping to get in, but hearing they were going to Athens brought a sigh of relief.
“Probably the most excited and rewarding feeling that I’ve had in quite some time,” Holliday said. “It 100% is about (the players) and their willingness to continue to lay it on the line for their team and the program, their school.”
A couple of players have emerged as the Cowboys revitalized their season in May.
That includes, Harrison Bodendorf who was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The lefty owns a 2.77 ERA and led Big 12 pitchers in wins with 10.
“We stuck to our plan that we have followed all fall and the way we were working towards being as a staff,” Bodendorf said. “You know, we didn’t start out that way, we kind of had some issues going along, but we just kept working at it. Rob (Walton) kept working with all of us, and the stuff that we were trying to do all season has just finally fallen into place these last few weeks for us.”
Now that the record is 0-0 and the best 64 teams are in the field, the Cowboys hope to keep building on what they’ve built as they travel for regionals for the first time since 2021. No. 3 OSU (28-23) will first meet No. 2 Duke (37-19) at 5 p.m. on Friday in the Athens Regional.
“In a day and age where the mindset of many young athletes and people in sport is to cut bait and run when things don’t go well, these guys just reaffirmed the magic in staying with something,” Holiday said. “I admire them, and I appreciate them. I’m thrilled for them.
“The coolest part is we’re playing well, and we’re excited to keep competing because we believe we can go make some noise.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
WILL THOROGOOD STAFF REPORTER
Steve Lutz and the Oklahoma State men’s basketball team will face Grand Canyon on Dec. 6 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, part of the Jerry Colangelo Classic. The event is part of the Hall of Fame Series.
Grand Canyon played in the event last season, losing 87-76 to Arizona State.
This will mark the first-ever matchup between GCU and OSU with the Cowboys and rival Oklahoma being the newcomers of this event. Oklahoma will face Arizona State the same day.
“Jerry Colangelo has made a lasting impact on the game at every level, and it’s an honor to take part in an event that bears his name,” Lutz said in a release. “This is a great opportunity for our guys to compete in an NBA arena and challenge themselves against a strong nonconference opponent.”
Grand Canyon has been here before and could present a tough battle for the Cowboys as they have earned four trips to the Big Dance in Bryce Drew’s five seasons as head coach.
“We are excited to play a program we respect like Oklahoma State and bring our students and fans downtown for the day,” Drew said in a release.
“Tying it all together and playing in an event with Mr. Colangelo’s namesake and involvement adds an extra layer of importance for our program and university.”
The inaugural Jerry Colangelo Classic took place in 2023 and has been held in Las Vegas, Charlotte, San Antonio, Toronto and Phoenix. Colangelo is seen as a pioneer in Phoenix basketball history, previously owning the NBA’s Phoenix Suns as well as the WNBA’s Mercury. He now serves on the Board of Trustees at Grand Canyon and is the namesake of the GCU Colangelo College of Business.
The classic is powered by Position Sports, a sports marketing company that has stated they intend to elevate non-conference play within the NCAA.
“(The Hall of Fame Series) is a premier collection of multi-game, singular events that feature top collegiate basketball programs in high-profile non-conference matchups played domestically and abroad,” according to a press release.
This will make the Cowboys’ second appearance inside of PHX Arena after facing No. 19 Arizona on Dec. 5, 1993.
sports.ed@ocolly.com Continued from 1
“Five freshmen will be among those battling for a fifth spot that could give Oklahoma State some headaches at times,” NBC Golf’s Brentley Romine wrote in a preseason story.
Fahlberg-Johnsson won the spot and gave the Cowboys anything but headaches. The freshman, ranked 111th in the nation, had an up-and-down year, but ended it in the best possible scenario.
He started his freshman year by finishing around the middle of the pack in his first two events, but after a Big 12 match play tournament, he won his next tournament and rattled off four consecutive top-25 finishes. He then returned to his average play until the Big 12 championship and NCAA Urbana Regional where he found himself in the top 20 in both tournaments.
Fahlberg-Johnsson ran into struggles this past week, finishing 60th in the stroke play tournament and almost losing the opportunity to win his match in the second round after missing a par putt. But that was the only lapse for the freshman during match play.
Resilience has also been a word synonymous with the Cowboys’ roster. They shot a +5 on the first day of stroke play, putting them well outside the cut, but they were able to fight all the way back to give themselves the chance at a championship banner.
Lane has been a strong leader for OSU all season, and the national championship was no different. The sophomore entered stroke play swinging a hot club, with five consecutive top-20 finishes, but he struggled in the tournament, finishing +9 and in 60th place.
He lost his first-round match, winning just three holes, and his second-round match, winning two.
Lane was seeing the same story at the beginning of the final match as he stood down two holes by the seventh hole.
But Lane was able to bounce back, bringing it back to even by the ninth and winning four straight holes to end the match by hole 15.
“What a performance by Gaven
Lane,” OSU coach Alan Bratton said. “He had struggled and hadn’t won matches the last couple days, and he was kind of down on himself. We talked, and overnight, he had some messages from some former players that inspired him, and I was hoping he would do something special today, and he did.”
First Team All-American Preston Stout has been the horse for this team. Listed as the No. 6 golfer in the nation, Stout won the Big 12 stroke play, finished third in the national championship stroke-play tournament and won his first two rounds of match play by a total of seven holes.
Stout is the reason the Cowboys won many of their tournaments and was a big part of the Cowboys making the cut to see the national championship.
Fang and Lee, two transfers from Cal, made immediate and lasting impacts on this Cowboy team. Lee had no trouble in his first couple of tournaments, despite switching schools, as he placed in the top 25 in his first three stroke-play tournaments of the year.
Lee continued his steady play all year until the national championship match play where, in round two, he two-putted on a tricky green, which sealed OSU’s chance to play for a national title. The sophomore oozes confidence, and there’s never a putt he thinks he won’t make, a shot he won’t put where he wants or a chip he can’t sink.
This confidence is a big part of Lee’s game and ability to stay calm during pressure-packed moments, like the putt to send OSU to the national championship. As part of his composure, Lee didn’t miss a beat despite feeling his swing not at its best during the biggest match of his life.
“To be honest, I didn’t hit the ball great today,” Lee said. “I kept having the same miss to the right. Stratton (Nolen) kept telling me, ‘Just push through,’ and a lot of good holes were coming up, so I could (take) advantage of those.
“I knew that as long as I was chipping it well or putting well even if I missed greens, I’d be able to win today. I had a lot of confidence going into today.”
Fang’s notable impact started from the jump for the Cowboys,
and his leadership as a transfer has been monumental. As the No. 10 golfer in the nation, Fang had been a highly sought-after transfer as he made the Pac-12 All-Freshman team last season.
Fang, like Lee, did not disappoint the Cowboy fandom. He finished in the top 10 in his first seven tournaments while sporting the orange and black and continued his year with major success as his lowest finish stood at 21.
Fang got punched in the mouth early in the championship round, getting down early by two holes. However, he was able to come back and win four holes and put an exclamation mark on the Cowboys’ 4-1 win.
“I was two-down early and knew if I just hung in there I would be fine,” Fang said. “Then I got some momentum and won four holes in a row.”
Bratton has been part of multiple championship teams: One as a player in 1995, one as an assistant coach in 2006 and now two as a head coach with his last one coming in 2018. He has taught this group the mindset and confidence that’s needed to be able to win a championship.
“They are just tough and have confidence,” Bratton said. “They’ve been resilient all year. We played a poor first round at the (NCAA) regional, and they didn’t bat an eye. We didn’t get off to the best start here in the first round of stroke play, but they just kept inching up the board and ultimately won the three matches like you need to.”
Cowboys are special, and now they are national champions.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Bratton said. “Oklahoma State has now won 12 (national) championships, but it’s the first one with these kids. They’ve heard stories, and we’ve had some of our best players of all time talk to them just a couple of weeks ago. Now they have their own stories to share and a responsibility for them to continue to deliver those messages to the younger players so that we can keep this thing going.
“You hope for that kind of chemistry in every group, and we’ve got it with this team.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Well, it’s simple. If OSU were to win the Big 12 Championship this season, it would not necessarily own the right to a first-round bye, but it would still be granted an automatic qualifying bid into the CFP.
This is no different from last year; the only distinction is that OSU would not be awarded a top-four overall seed simply for being among the highest-ranked champions. A No. 12 overall Arizona State can no longer be propelled to a No. 4 seed in the new playoff model.
Only the CFP’s selected top-four ranked teams will earn that bye. Hence, the straight-seeding model.
What does this do? Some are arguing that it devalues the conference championship games. And it would cause the Arizona States of the league — which could very well be OSU in the years to come — to have to scratch and claw just a bit more to create a genuine path to victory within the playoff.
But for the powers that be in the SEC and Big Ten, that might be the entire point.
Although nothing is official outside of the move to straight seeding, there is genuine talk that the CFP will expand to a 16-team format beyond 2025 and could award four (that’s right, four) automatic qualifying bids to the league’s biggest dogs—the SEC and the Big 10.
This type of model would leave the Big 12 ACC with two automatic bids.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey made waves within the national media by speaking out about this kind of 4-4-2-2-1-3 model and emphasized that the decision they made for the 2025 season is not expected to last beyond this year.
“We’re not committed to any particular format,” Sankey said Monday night.
“We’ll see how that conversation manifests itself this week and we’ll look a little bit more deeply at different ideas.”
Four for the Big 10 and SEC, two for the Big 12, two for the ACC, one for the highest ranked Group of Five champion and three more at-large bids, making a 16-team field. A format like this that would automatically award a set numbers of bids to certain conferences seems to once again take the decision off the playing field away from the playing field—and would
give the Big 12 and OSU the short end of the stick. But Sankey is adamant that he is seeking to do what’s best for the game.
“We’re trying to find a format to determine, whatever number it is, the best teams in college football, and I think where we are right now is we have used a political process inside a room to come to decisions about football,” Sankey said. “We should be using football information to come to football decisions.”
While the SEC is weighing this option among others — including a “play-in” scenario that would create a weekend of games to determine which SEC and Big Ten teams get into the playoff — the Big Ten appears to prefer the automatic-bid model that guarantees four of its teams a spot in the playoff.
The Big 12 and ACC favor the model that awards automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions. This is what they are calling the 5+11 model. After all, if another Arizona State-type scenario were to play out, surely Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark wouldn’t be too upset.
“It (the 5+11 model) has always been our first choice,” Yormarck said after meeting with P4 commissioners.
“It’s fair and rewards on-field performance.
“I hope what’s best for college football continues to be the priority in any discussions moving forward. All in all, what’s best for college football is different depending on who you’re talking to — and that’s the problem. There may be no “happy medium” for everyone.
But objectively, what would be best for Oklahoma State would be to have as fair of a chance as possible to get into that playoff.
OSU finished well out of the Top 25 in this year and winless in the conference, so the Cowboys need all the help they can get. But just one season removed from a 2023-24 run to the Big 12 Championship game, nothing is out of reach just yet for Mike Gundy and OSU.
If they can get back there once 2025 looks like their best shot at entering the CFP. Their upcoming conference schedule will determine their fate.
Four of OSU’s nine Big 12 games in the 2025 season will be against teams that finished over .500 in the league last season, but their first test will be that early September road game facing the CFP committee’s No. 1 overall seed, Oregon.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Friday, May 30, 2025
RAYNEE HOWELL NEWS AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
An email sent to Oklahoma State faculty outlined changes to policies regulating international travel and airfare to take effect immediately.
The email came Monday from Charles McCoy, an accountant in the Office of the President. The difference is in the permitted airfare class and the process for approving international travel. McCoy wrote in the email that the changes were at the request of executive leadership and as part of its ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility.
The policy changes will affect employees traveling on university business, which includes for purposes of teaching, research, extension, outreach and creative activities.
“These changes are designed to ensure that our resources are used efficiently and effectively, while maintaining the high standards of our institution,” McCoy’s email read.
Traveling on university business can be funded through state funds, foundation funds or grant funds. In light of a recent internal audit of OSU and its Innovation Foundation finding $41 million of legislatively-appropriated funds misused, the university has made statements claiming to ensure financial responsibility. The latest changes to the travel policy are in support of the commitment, according to McCoy’s email.
Because of the restriction on airfare class, travelers must obtain economy-class tickets for university-funded travel with no upgrades to business class, first class or additional amenities. If a traveler veers from this policy, there must be documented, pre-approved authorization from executive university leadership. This change applies to both domestic and international travel.
For international travel, the process for approval has changed. The previous policy required two department supervisors and the traveler to submit a signed form to OSU Global, the administrative
center for global engagement.
Randy Kluver, OSU Global associate provost and dean, would review the form. If accepted, he would send it to the OSU/A&M Board of Regents for final approval. Now, all international travel must receive prior approval from the appropriate vice president or the Office of the President.
The O’Colly asked McCoy for clarification on who the appropriate vice president
will be. He replied in an email stating he did not have many answers yet, but the new policy will require approval by one of the vice presidents or the Office of the President.
Kluver will still be the final approver for international travel.
“This is done to ensure compliance with a variety of issues, including making sure that international travelers are on OSU’s group travel insurance, U.S. Department of
state guidelines, and general safety issues,” Kluver wrote in an email.
In adherence with the new policy, travelers also must provide justification of the necessity of the trip.
“This measure is intended to ensure that international travel is essential and aligned with the university’s mission,” according to McCoy’s email.
Kluver echoed that statement.
He wrote that international trips will now need to be
thoroughly vetted through the appropriate vice president to ensure they support the mission of the university. Domestic travel already adhered to that standard and will continue going through the Office of the President for approval. The current travel policy is being reviewed and will be updated to reflect the changes to international travel and airfare class restrictions.
What to consider when choosing your next apartment
KENZIE KRAICH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Stillwater is saturated with student housing, and finding your right fit is not always easy, so I’ve compiled criteria to which I would compare and contrast each option.
Cost Midtown: Stands on the higher end of rent in Stillwater, but still stays within the $2,000 range for students. Residents can expect a — four bed four/bath — floor plan to run about $709 a person, while a single room could run up to $1,920.
Prime Place: This option has respectable pricing ranging from $589 — four bed/two bath — to $1,234 — one bed, one bath.
One on 4th: In the middle of the pack, residents can expect pricing to stay in a respectable range comparatively. A — four bed/four bath — will run close to $775 a person, with a — one bed/ one bath — unit hitting a $1,400 mark.
Cottage Row: This studenthousing option runs on the lower end of the market in Stillwater, with a — five bed/five bath — option hitting the $665 mark per person and a — two bed/two bath — running $820.
The Links: Running on a bit of the higher side, this off-campus option offers residents a — one bed/one bath — or — two bed/ two bath — unit for $1,050 or $820 a person, respectively.
The Quarters: With a variety of options, this student-housing complex provides residents with anywhere from a — one bed/one bath — unit to a — four bed/four bath — ranging from $1,350 to $635 a person, respectively.
Amenities
Midtown: As listed on its website, the complex offers a rooftop terrace, fitness center, residence clubhouse and swimming pool.
Prime Place: This housing option provides residents with a pool and fitness center for their use at any time.
One on 4th: With a fitness center, pool, residence courtyards and a clubhouse, these apartments offer residents a variety of community experience options.
Cottage Row: As per its website, this housing complex offers some of the most unique amenities in Stillwater with a fitness center, pool, arcade and game room, volleyball and basketball courts and tanning beds.
The Links: Debatably the most saturated in amenity options, these apartments offer residents the opportunity to golf at The Links anytime with a free membership, and they also sport a clubhouse, fitness center, tanning beds, pool, playground and lakes and ponds.
The Quarters: Boasting a fitness center, pool, fire pits, tanning beds and volleyball courts, this complex allows residents a nice variety of amenities to take part in.
Location and parking
Midtown: This complex is right next to The Strip in Stillwater, making for a bit of a noisy environment, but this does offer students a short walk to campus, just a block south of OSU’s Student Union. Parking, however, is not free; residents are charged an extra fee on top of rent to park in the parking garage attached to the complex.
Prime Place: With a couple of different locations, residents can choose if they would like to live closer to campus, just to the east of The McKnight Center for Performing Arts, or over by the Aspen Coffee Co. on Duck street. Parking is included with a tenant’s rent, allowing them to park in the garages attached to the complexes.
One on 4th: Located next to The Strip, similar to that of Midtown, this complex can find its nightlife to get pretty busy. But again, the distance to campus is a short walk. Parking, however, does allow residents to use the attached parking garage, which is included with their rent.
Cottage Row: Just a two-mile drive from campus, this housing complex offers a soothing getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday students, and with parking outside of each house, residents can normally expect to find a spot with ease.
The Links: Eight minutes separates this complex from OSU’s campus, but that’s to be expected when signing up to live on a golf course. Similar to Cottage Row, parking is almost always guaranteed in these lots and every building has plenty of parking outside.
The Quarters: Being one mile from the heart of OSU, this complex gives students the option to walk, drive or take a short bus ride to get where they need to go each day. With a bit of a smaller parking lot, residents might expect a bit of a walk if front-row parking isn’t available, but there never seems to be any issues with finding a spot somewhere in the lot. sports.ed@ocolly.com
Review 3.2/5
Leaves a mark—especially if you’re listening closely.
MJ NYAMDAVAA STAFF REPORTER
A boy covered in blood with a broken guitar neck entering a church.
That’s how “Sinners” begins — quiet, mysterious and full of promise. What follows is a slowburning, music-driven film that’s more interested in symbolism than scares.
Directed by Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther”) and starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role, Sinners tells the story of twin brothers returning to their hometown in search of something new. But beneath the surface of their return lies a deeper, darker presence — one shaped by family trauma, spiritual rebellion and a reimagining of vampire mythology.
With blues and gospel music at its core, the film does more than just entertain. Its soundtrack carries the emotional weight that some scenes don’t, especially for viewers with a love for poetry and musical traditions.
One of the film’s most compelling threads centers on Sammie, a character who rejects his family’s Christianity and chooses to follow his guitar melody. Sammie’s choice, while liberating, also brings a sense of horror to the role he plays.
This suggests that rejecting tradition carries a cost. However, there is strength in his rebellion: The film implies that his journey away from belief might be the key to understanding the vampire lineage. He could be the missing piece that completes the supernatural puzzle — if only he chooses to believe. Equally fascinating is Annie, portrayed by Wunmi Mosaku. As a character bound in magic and grace, Annie feels like a bridge between faith and folklore. Maybe if she remained among the vampires, the film suggests, the bloodline may have evolved and perhaps even become tolerant to sunlight. Without Sammie and Annie in its ranks, the vampire army remains fractured.
For nearly half its runtime, the story focuses on establishing atmosphere and emotional stakes. Some viewers may find the pace meandering, and certain plot points feel underdeveloped, but Jordan’s performance and the film’s symbolic richness hold the viewer’s attention.
The vampire trope of needing an invitation to enter a house is used metaphorically — to explore consent, boundaries and who we allow into our lives. It’s not just a horror rule; it’s a lens on human connection. And yes — there is not only one post-credit scene, but two. The final scene adds a closure that rewards patient viewers and completes the film’s arc in a quietly powerful way.
Final verdict: 3.2/5 stars
With stunning music, poetic symbolism, and a soulful take on vampires. It’s not perfect, but it leaves a mark — especially if you’re listening closely.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
RAYNEE HOWELL
NEWS AND LIFESTYLE
The American Music Awards has hit an all-time low.
After a two-year hiatus, Monday’s airing of the AMAs was not the comeback it needed. The missing presence of prominent artists and several not-so-anticipated performances contributed to the let-down.
The red carpet lacked appearances from Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish and several other nominees. That, paired with Swift’s absence debunking the widelypopular theory she would be announcing her next album’s re-recording, proved there was no way the viewership would move from the carpet to the show.
Poor Jennifer Lopez was the host and had almost nothing to work with. She opened the show dancing to a medley of hit songs in tribute to the past year of music. The majority of the singers of the songs JLo danced (and kissed her backup dancers) to were not even in the audience to see it.
Blake Shelton and his wife Gwen Stefani didn’t bother to perform live. Their performances were prerecorded and shown on the big screen for those in the audience. Benson Boone, who has been on a roll performing at awards shows recently, performed his newest song “Mystical Magical.” To no one’s surprise he found a way to work a side flip into the choreography.
And those who made the long trip down the street from their residencies in Las Vegas to accept individual achievement
awards also performed. Honorable mention for Janet Jackson’s performance, which was probably the best of the night.
The announcers of the awards at times were more exciting than the performances.
Seeing Megan Moroney and Jordan Chiles grace the stage was a highlight.
Billie Eilish won each of the seven awards she was nominated for but submitted several thank-you videos, as did many other artists who were on tour. Seeing an artist accept Artist of the Year through video is just not the same as the real thing.
With only 14 of the 36 awards announced on TV,
viewers were left scrambling on the internet to find the results for more than half of the awards. If the performances taking up air time were from the artists nominated, it would be justifiable, but it was not. Regardless, awards were received and some were less disappointing than the show as a whole.
Gracie Abrams won New Artist of the Year. Despite another video acceptance speech, the award was welldeserved. “That’s So True” alone earned her that accolade.
“Die With a Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga won Collaboration of the Year. The song sat at the top of the Billboard Top 100 for five
OUR EYES ARE ON CHRIST!
“ As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he show us his mercy.” (Ps.123:2 NIV)
“My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty...But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Ps.131:1,2 NIV)
“ I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit...he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear (stand in awe) and put their trust in the LORD.” (Ps.40:1-3 NIV)
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Is.40:31 KJV)
There is something definite and real about waiting on the Lord. I remember years ago when I sensed the Lord speak to me. “Make yourself available!” I thought I was! I was reading my Bible some and going to church regularly. As I considered this challenge from Lord, I felt I should spend some quiet time daily with the Lord. With my busy days,I decided to spend a hour (5 to 6 a.m.) each day. That decision brought about important changes in my life and service to God. I was learning to wait on the Lord. What a loving and faithful God we have to help us find his best for our lives. It pays off to have a definite, daily time with your Bible and Jesus
weeks straight. It’s one of the best songs to come out of 2024.
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar won Favorite Hip-Hop Song, which is only right after Lamar’s halftime show at Super Bowl LIX. As he said, “They tried to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence.”
SZA winning Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B Song for “Saturn” was also iconic. Her attendance gave the show a few brownie points.
The worst snubs were for Social Song of the Year and Favorite Touring Artist. Social Song of the Year went to “Anxiety” by Doechii. As much as I love Doechii and can’t wait to see what else she does, “HOT TO GO!” was played at every
sporting event and concert. I mean, it was even played at Boone Pickens Stadium during “The Boys From Oklahoma” concert series. For Favorite Touring Artist, Eilish won again. She’s a great performer with tour-worthy music, but put anyone against the Eras Tour, and it should be a guaranteed loss. Swift’s shows spanned across 21 countries and grossed more than $2 billion in ticket sales. The concert film accompanying The Eras Tour became the highest grossing concert film. Eilish’s dedicated fanbase gave her the leg up in the category, and for the 2025 AMAs as a whole.
KENZIE KRAICH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
With wedding season upon is, guests — including myself — have dozens of questions before entering a ceremony.
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned vet on the topic, there are a few things that stuck out to me in my most recent interview with one of Royal Generation Company’s lead planners, Micah Thorpe.
Dress attire
This might be the most-asked question when it comes to weddings: What do I wear?
What colors should I avoid?
What length of dress is appropriate? Do I need a tie?
The obvious answer here — don’t wear white to a wedding. Ever.
As for the other concerns, Thorpe has two main points of emphasis: Look at the venue and pay attention to the weather. Depending on these two factors, guests can make decent assumptions on the expected attire.
Museums establish a more classy look, while weddings taking place in a pasture with a wooden cross might call for a sundress and boots.
Indoor and outdoor weddings take the same approach, and Thorpe puts the responsibility on the guests to come wellprepared.
“If (couples) want to get married outside, they’re going to plan to get married outside, regardless of what season it is,” Thorpe said. “It’s up to the guest to accommodate for themselves and the
temperature.”
Plus ones
Another popular question among wedding guests: Can I bring a plus one?
“Pay attention to who’s been invited on the invitation,”
Thorpe said. “Don’t just bring extra people…; (the couple) might have a whole seating chart and they don’t have a seat for your extra person. They’re not going to be able to fix that for you during their wedding reception.
Thorpe encourages guests to check with the bride or those close to the wedding party to find out if a plus one is an acceptable move.
Leaving early
If you’re leaving a reception prior to the couple’s grand exit, Thorpe recommends doing the opposite of what most guests often want to do.
“There is no need to tell the (couple) you’re leaving,” Thorpe said. “This one feels kind of wrong because you want to tell them (the good things about the wedding).”
“No offense to the guests, but the (couple is) busy doing other things, so you don’t have to tell them that you’re leaving. Honestly, it might make them feel kind of sad that you’re leaving early.”
This advice can definitely be taken case by case depending on the flow of the reception, but for the most part, let the couple enjoy their time together. They only get one night to commemorate it all, and if they were bombarded by every guest who was leaving, they might never get
the time to enjoy it.
Meals
Weddings can be tricky with food, but most of the time, guests can expect some kind of appetizer or snack to be served during the reception.
“It is very common nowadays for the (couple) to serve a meal for the wedding guests,” Thorpe said. “If you have no dietary restriction and you’re not picky, then you can almost expect that.
“I’ve had guests come up to me as a coordinator before and say, ‘I can’t have gluten, so where’s the gluten free option?’ Well, the (couple) is not necessarily going to make (exceptions) for one or two guests, especially if the meal is not a major portion of their budget.”
If the RSVP doesn’t let you specify dietary needs, it’s safe to assume you’ll need to bring your own snack to hold you over.
But even if you were expecting a meal, don’t necessarily bank on it. Every couple is different, and every wedding will be conducted as they choose, so keep that in mind as you make your meal plans.
Open bar For those who like to partake in the open bars, this one’s for you. I, too, was wondering how many drinks would be appropriate for the average guest to consume in a night.
“If I was planning to drink at a wedding, I would be planning to have between two and four drinks,” Thorpe said. “That’s what I consider to be moderate or average.”
While you want to be mindful of how many drinks you’re taking, it is still a time to celebrate and have fun with those who found you special enough to invite to their big day — just make sure you do it responsibly.
Gifts
Registries, cards, gift tables — all are viable options for leaving gifts for the bride and groom.
One thing Thorpe stresses, though, is the importance of making sure you don’t show up empty handed.
“If you’ve been invited to celebrate the start of a marriage, you should definitely give the couple something,” Thorpe said. “It’s great to send a gift ahead of time if you can get that done…. Or a card with money is great, then the couple can use it however they want.”
Modern-day weddings can be
seen hosting an average of 150 people, so if everyone brought an in-person gift, it might make it difficult for the couple (or whoever is wrangling up the presents) to get everything they need out of the venue in time.
This is why registries have become so popular, and they’re usually attached to the RSVP guests get in the mail.
As far as how much you should be spending on said gift, Thorpe recommends basing it off of what your relationship and invitation from the couple looks like.
“If you’ve been invited to a wedding shower for the couple, I think it’s expected to probably spend a little bit more on the gift,” Thorpe said. “If you’ve only been invited to the wedding… I don’t think it’s expected to spend as much.”
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