Friday, July 24, 2026
37 years later
Radford looks toward change
BY CALESON COON I EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After 37 years, Lori Radford is retiring from her duties at The O’Colly. Although now she is known as the business administrator, Radford first began at The O’Colly as the graphic
designer on Aug. 7, 1989.
“You know, I think the best part – when I first came to work here, I was the graphic designer,” Radford. “I built all the pages and all the ads.”
And since they didn’t use computers, she said it was grid
paper the size of a newspaper page that they used to run the stories on with a sort of film that she couldn’t recall. Radford then cut it out and pasted it on the pages using wax.
See RADFORD on page 2
Study abroad provides both academic, social lessons
As summer comes, so do study abroad programs, and for sophomore Sophia Broches, her opportunity in May to travel through Greece provided lessons academically as well as socially.
Originally from Ohio, Broches chose Oklahoma State University for her major, horticulture, and took the study abroad opportunity as a way to expand her knowledge.
Traveling for 10 days and seeing agriculture outside of the United States provided Broches with the inspiration needed to fulfill her goals of greenhouse management and growing plants.
Several moments stood out to Broches, but two that connected personally were visiting water lily and pistachio farms. Broches was able to connect these experiences to her major and open her mind to the endless possibilities awaiting her.
See STUDY on page 2
Sabrina Thaler KOSU
The Oklahoma State Department of Health has identified 172 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis in the state, according to a Tuesday update to its online surveillance database. Last week, the OSDH reported 56 confirmed cases. The update comes as an outbreak of the parasitic intestinal illness continues across several U.S. states. As of July 13, the CDC reported more than 1600 cases across 34 states, including 141 hospitalizations.
In Oklahoma, 12 people have been hospitalized with symptoms of the illness. Public health officials are still working to determine the cause of the outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating shredded iceberg lettuce products distributed by Taylor Farms de Mexico to Taco Bell locations as a source of contamination in five Midwestern states.
Last Friday, Taylor Farms announced it would voluntarily recall iceberg lettuce products that were distributed to 27 states, including Oklahoma, according to a press releasefrom the company.
Courtesy Lori Radford
Lori had her retirement party at the end of the 2026 spring semester.
Courtesy Creative Commons As of July 13, there have been more than 1,600 cases of cyclosporiasis reported across 34 states.
Kalina Williams STAFF REPORTER
Courtesy Sophia Broches Sophia Broches in Greece.
“When I first started, because that’s what I did, I worked from one in the afternoon until they got done with the paper,” she said. “It might be 9 p.m., might be midnight, might be 1 a.m.”
Radford recalled an election day where it was 3 a.m. before they finished the paper.
And having two jobs for nine years, it was dedication and hard work that helped her balance her responsibilities.
“I would take our pages from here [The O’Colly] and get them ready for the press at the News Press,” Radford said. “And I had to be there at three in the morning and get them ready for the press by five, then I would go home, take a shower and come to work here.”
But hard work has never been something Radford has strayed from as she grew around that mentality.
“My dad was…‘work hard,’” Radford said. “That was his goal in life, work hard.”
She said her dad believed that if someone always works hard in life, they’ll be a good person.
Radford said she made it a priority to pass this same mentality down to her kids, and feels she sees it in her two kids and grandkids to this day.
“I’d tell my kids to work hard,” she said. “It sometimes doesn’t pay that well, but at the end of the day, you feel better about your work. It’s not good to sit.”
And looking back on her time with The O’Colly, she said it was her ability to be flexible
Lifestyle
in the roles she took on that allowed her to progress.
Flash forward to now as the administrator, Lori handles payroll for the student workers at The O’Colly.
“Which always stresses me out, because there’s nothing worse than a student that needs money that doesn’t get paid,” Radford said. “That’s one of my biggest worries, that I make a mistake when somebody doesn’t get paid.”
But she’s also a friend to students who work alongside her, and feels they give her inspiration.
“I’ve worked with some of
the best students ever, that have gone on to do great stuff,” Radford said. “So, it’s always nice to see somebody that, you know, made it big.”
She worked alongside one girl in particular who was taking five different languagen classes at one time to become a translator.
“You know, they have a dream and they do it,” she said. “So, that’s always inspiring to me.”
And after being in so many roles the past 37 years, Radford said looks forward to simply being a present grandmother as she has plans to make the move
from Stillwater to where her kids and grandkids reside.
“I have one little grandson right now, he’s my youngest grandson, and he’s 9, and he gets a big kick out of grandma coming to watch him play soccer” she said. “So, that’s a big thrill for me.”
Not to forget her plans of relaxation as she said sleep hasn’t been a huge priority since working all her life, and has already been implementing sleeping in during her free time.
“I’ve been getting up at 6 a.m. on the weekends, and it’s great,” Radford said.
However, she still plans on keeping on tradition alongside the new ones she plans to implement. Each Friday, since working at The O’Colly, she’s had the small tradition of reading the paper with a cup of coffee.
“And my kids knew, when I got home from work, ‘mom was gonna drink a cup of coffee and read the News Press,” All in all, Radford said she’s glad to be entering the new season she’s walking toward after 37 years of dedication to The O’Colly and all students a part of it.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Continued from 1
“That definitely was interesting for me as a horticulture major,” Broches said. “Since that’s more of a specialty crop, that would be something that I could possibly focus on with my degree.”
Other places weren’t directly involved with her major, but visiting a dairy farm and olive oil factory helped Broches grasp a better overall understanding of agriculture.
Visiting these places also allowed Broches the chance to taste the fresh produce and compare it to when it’s bought from a store.
“It was really interesting to be able to taste something that was extremely fresh,” Broches said. “I feel like we don’t
really have that ability here to have something that was just harvested off the tree. It was different from going to the store and buying a jar or bag of something.”
Coming out of her freshman year, Broches had connected with a few people but hadn’t spent time with a large group for several days. This made the trip essential to her growth socially despite the nerves that appeared in the beginning.
Once the journey began, her nerves had gone away and led her to realize that an experience like this is beneficial for anyone to go through.
“I think that experience being with the same people every day, and making plans with people you don’t even know really helps teach you how to connect with people that you normally wouldn’t
connect with,” Broches said. “It’s also a good way to outsource yourself and make new connections to help further on in life.”
A misconception that Broches hears about study abroad is that there isn’t free time to look around and learn about the culture. After her trip, she was able to confirm that this isn’t the case and was able to do several things that helped grow her cultural understanding.
“I feel like I even had a hard time envisioning before I went that I’d have free time,” Broches said. “I feel like there’s so much opportunity you don’t think of ahead of time. There’s so much shopping you can do and you get to go around and just see the culture of the area you’re in.”
Based on her experience, Broches had a list of “do’s
and don’ts” that would help make others’ experiences run smoothly.
She stated to have an open mind and that even though things could go wrong, it’s important to continue to have flexibility. Her second piece of advice was to make new friends and memories along the way. Even though her trip was short, Broches made memories that will stick with her and friends that made it even more enjoyable.
For “don’ts,” she emphasized the importance of not forgetting to be prepared. Knowing what to bring beforehand helped make her trip run smoothly, and despite the fact that things can change at the last minute, she acknowledged that being prepared helped make those moments easier.
The trip provided many lessons, but one in particular
that Broches took with her is to be willing to try new things no matter how scary. She believed that although it could cause worry in the moment, with not having your family and being in a new area, she sees it as a once in a lifetime opportunity that should be taken advantage of.
“I definitely suggest it because I think it really doesn’t prove you academically,” Broches said. “It teaches you a lot of important lessons and teaches you to be able to learn outside of the classroom while seeing how what you want to do is done in different areas of the world.”
For Broches, studying abroad won’t be a one-time thing. She stated that she wants to expand her learning in other parts of the world to continue receiving inspiration and knowledge that she can use in the future.
Courtesy Lori Radford
Lori’s last official day at The O’Colly will be July 31, 2026.
Courtesy Sophia Broches
Broches along with her fellow student travelers.
News
First responders prepare for a week of extreme heat in Oklahoma
Sierra Pfeifer KOSU
Oklahoma paramedics have responded to at least 29 heat-related calls in Tulsa and Oklahoma City service areas so far this week.
First responders expect cases of heat exhaustion, heatstroke and heat-related illnesses to continue as temperatures remain in the triple digits.
According to the National Weather Service, nearly every part of the state is projected to break 100 degrees each afternoon this week. Chances of precipitation remain low, as a high-pressure heat dome traps hot air in the region.
The state’s largest emergency response service, EMSA, issued medical heat warnings in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa after responding to repeated service calls, including for 13 people with suspected heat-related illnesses on Sunday.
EMSA Chief Public Affairs Officer Adam Paluka said the state’s paramedics have been prepping for the high temperatures and will be ready to help people who overheat.
“A lot of people might have Super Bowl Sunday on their calendar,” he said. “EMSA has summer heat on its calendar.”
Still, Paluka urged Oklahoma residents to exercise caution when spending extended periods outdoors. He recommends drinking lots of water and wearing light-colored, loosefitting clothing. He said it is important to take repeated 10- to 15-minute breaks from the sun and to avoid caffeine and alcohol if you’re planning to be outdoors, as they can exacerbate heat-related symptoms. Infants, children, pregnant
people and older adults are at higher risk of heat-related illness. If someone stops sweating, Paluka said it’s a clear sign that they need help.
“If your body is giving you any sort of indication via nausea, via lightheadedness or dizziness after you’ve been outside for a long time, do not try to over-explain that it’s not
a heat-related illness,” he said.
“Don’t write it off.”
Paramedic teams in Oklahoma City and Tulsa have responded to 167 suspected heat-related illness calls so far this July. 112 of the patients were transported to local hospitals for continued care or heat-related illness complications.
172 cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed in Oklahoma.
Paluka said a prolonged stretch of extreme temperatures, like the one Oklahoma is experiencing this week, can also increase a person’s risk of heat-related illnesses because they may overestimate their ability to handle the sun after a successful day outside.
“Just because you were
Cases
Continued from 1
On Sunday, the FDA announced that its finding of amplified Cyclospora — the parasite that causes cyclosporiasis — in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce was a false positive. In a Monday post on X, the agency clarified that its investigation is ongoing and that there remained “overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall” of Taylor Farms lettuce.
Cyclosporiasis infection can cause watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss and cramping, among other gastrointestinal symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms usually appear around one week after consuming food or water contaminated with Cyclospora.
safe yesterday does not mean you’ll be safe today,” he said.
“With the high temperatures, you really need to continue to take those heat precautions seriously each and every day.”
This article was originally published by KOSU, an independent news service based in Oklahoma.
The illness is not typically life-threatening, and treatment is available. People with healthy immune systems can expect to recover without treatment, according to the CDC, though symptoms can last from a few days up to a month or more.
People with compromised immune systems, the elderly and children can experience more severe symptoms.
To reduce risk of infection, the CDC recommends that people wash their hands before and after handling food, thoroughly wash produce and cook fruits and vegetables to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
The OSDH surveillance database is updated weekly with cyclosporiasis case counts every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.
This article was originally published by KOSU, an independent news service based in Oklahoma.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy Creative Commons
Courtesy Creative Commons
Caffeine and alchol can exacerbate heat-related symptoms. news.ed@ocolly.com
Lifestyle
The often forgotten essential items on a road trip
Delaney Waterman STAFF REPORTER
Summer calls for a vacation. A vacation requires packing. Even with a list, precise packing and double-checking, items are often left at home. Here are some of the most forgotten things when leaving for a trip.
Electronics & Device Accessories
Chargers are one of the most forgotten items when packing a bag. Due to being essentials, charging cords and wall blocks are often left in an outlet. Watch and laptop chargers should be rounded up as well, especially if the trip is business-based.
Portable chargers are often forgotten as well. Be sure to find, charge and pack your power bank before leaving for a trip. If leaving for an international trip, research what outlet types are offered, and if necessary, purchase the correlating blocks or adapters.
Medications & Supplements
Another necessity that is often left behind is medication. Often taken daily – at the same time, perhaps – medication and
supplements don’t always end up in a suitcase or bag. Instead, they are left on a shelf or in a drawer. Grouping the bottles or placing them near travel bags lessen the chance of leaving without them.
Other medications, such as aspirin or antihistamines, are important to have. A small emergency kit is useful as well and is good to have, even if not needed.
Hygiene Items
While these items are essential to everyday life, many hygiene items are left in the bathroom. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and other products should be left in a visible place so that they are seen, as they are often last minute additions to bags.
Identification & Documents
Anything that you may need – driver’s license, boarding pass, etc. – can easily slip your mind.
Locating and organizing these items beforehand, as well as making sure they are current – makes traveling easier.
How can you remember these items?
Putting together a list is one of the easiest ways to
remember these essentials. Whether material or digital, checking off items on a list once they have been packed ensures that everything you need is with you. A second way to ensure that all of the items you need make the trip, group them by need or category. Put tops and bottoms together, accessories in a case or bag, shoes side by side, hygiene items in leak-proof containers, and so on. It is easy to procrastinate when it comes to packing a bag or suitcase. Packing the things needed beforehand helps to organize what items you do and don’t have set aside. If flying, keep boarding pass, passports, photo ID and medications handy. Pack them in the same pouch, purse or backpack compartment to lessen anxiety and difficulty when at the airport. Packing for trips is a certain kind of science. Sometimes, it is smooth and simple. Other times, it is difficult and stressful. Remembering the essentials makes for less thinking and more relaxing while away from home.
Abrams’ new album, ‘Daughter from Hell’
Delaney Waterman STAFF REPORTER
On July 17, after much anticipation, “Daughter from Hell” began streaming. It is Abrams’ third studio album, following “Good Riddance” and “The Secret of Us.”
The album contains 16 tracks and clocks in at just over 56 minutes. Abrams’ catalog is full of heartbreaking, gut-wrenching tunes and “Daughter from Hell” is no different. With tracks such as “Break My Heart” and “Cold Goodbyes,” Abrams gets up close and personal.
“Afflictions” is the album’s “one true love song” while “The Knife” voices the ever-aching experience of heartbreak. “Men Like You” exposes the two-faced, malicious actions of people once in her life. “Humming” and “Minibar” discuss the awkward and cruel sides of life.
“What If It’s Right?”
featuring Marcus Mumford details the life and death of an unlabeled, unsure relationship from both perspectives. It is the other half of “Sober,” which brings the intoxicating and regretful wishing for a faulty relationship.
Abrams, who opened for Olivia Rodrigo in 2022 and Taylor Swift in 2023 and 2024, has become a notable star in the pop industry. Her first #1 hit in both the United States and U.K., “That’s So True” has become Abrams’ most popular song in front of “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and “I miss you, I’m sorry.”
Each track on “Daughter from Hell” was penned and produced by Abrams, alongside friend and collaborator, Aaron Dessner. He has been by Abrams’ side for each of her albums and has done notable work with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.
Paul Mescal, Abrams’ partner and A-List actor, co-wrote the twelfth track “Imaginary Friend.” Abrams recounted that writing the lyrics with Mescal came rather unexpectedly, as they exchange ideas at home but rarely does it become more.
Gracie Abrams album was released on July 17,
Unbothered by the possible negative reception, in a recent “Popcast” interview Abrams declared, “If you know how happy your experience was making something...it’s like, no amount of hate or trolling or whatever could take that away.”
The title track is, as Abrams put it, “a love letter” and “like, an apology” to her mother, Katie McGrath. Abrams
recalled how often the pair used to bicker, saying “I wish I could go back…just listening to every drop of wisdom she has for me.”
Abrams is far from discouraged by the comments of her “Nepo baby” status as she continues to cement her place in the industry.
She acknowledges the gift of growing up in a stable, financially abundant
environment and says that it was like a “safety net” for her creative endeavors.
Nepotism aside, Abrams’ “Daughter from Hell” follows all of her previous releases. It is fine-tuned to the emotions and experiences that Abrams has faced in her life thus far and has already racked up millions of streams since it hit streaming.
Courtesy Creative Commons Chargers and wall blocks are the most often forgotten items.
Courtesy Creative Commons
2026.
Friday, July 24, 2026
A new era begins Why OSU football has reason to believe again
Weston Wertzberger SPORTS EDITOR
Oklahoma State football has spent the offseason trying to move past the lowest point in program history.
But moving forward requires more than a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and a new roster; it requires belief.
Mike Gundy entered his 21st season hoping to rebound from a disappointing 3-9 campaign. Instead, the 2025 season unraveled quickly. Gundy was dismissed after three games, and interim coach Doug Meacham went 0-9 as the Cowboys stumbled to a 1-11 finish.
Over the past two seasons, OSU has gone 4-20, including an 0-18 record in Big 12 play, and enters 2026 riding an 11-
game losing streak. The days of competing for conference championships and national relevance felt distant, leaving fans frustrated and a program searching for a new identity.
Before Eric Morris could rebuild the Cowboys into a winner, he first had to convince everyone the program was moving in the right direction. Judging by the mood around the program this summer, he’s accomplished the first part. Now comes the harder task.
OSU went heavy in the transfer portal after a recordbreaking 64 players departed, bringing in roughly 60 players to Stillwater, with a third coming from North Texas, where Morris previously coached. Along with more high school newcomers, the Cowboys will feature 85 new players on the 105-man roster this season.
Bringing in experienced players was central to Morris’ approach. The Cowboys added 33 seniors and 28 juniors through the transfer portal. Morris also didn’t come alone, as he brought several of the offensive playmakers who helped the Mean Green become one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker led the nation in passing yards last season, while running back Caleb Hawkins rushed for more than 1,400 yards as a freshman.
Wide receivers Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman combined for nearly 1,800 receiving yards, and multiple offensive linemen followed Morris to Stillwater to help establish continuity up front.
If Morris wants OSU to quickly embrace his offensive identity, bringing in players who have already thrived in
his system is about as good a place to start as any.
Of course, every new coach arrives with optimism. Every fan base convinces itself that this time will be different.
The difference is Morris isn’t selling hope based on potential. He’s selling a track record.
Morris has produced the nation’s No. 1 offense at three different stops — Texas Tech as an assistant, Incarnate Word and North Texas as a head coach. His UNT offense led the FBS in both total offense (512.4 yards per game) and scoring offense (45.1 points per game) last season, earning him American Conference Coach of the Year honors. Before that, he won two Southland Conference Coach of the Year awards and two conference championships.
The Cowboys didn’t just add experience, but also talent.
According to 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings, OSU
assembled one of the nation’s top portal classes, highlighted by one five-star transfer, four four-stars and 50 three-star additions.
None of that guarantees the Cowboys will suddenly become a Big 12 contender. Statistics don’t win football games, and transfer rankings don’t automatically create chemistry. But for the first time in a long time, the optimism surrounding the Cowboys is backed by more than offseason hype. It’s backed by a coach who has done it before and a roster built to fit his vision.
Winning the Big 12 isn’t the expectation this fall; progress is. The Cowboys don’t need to erase the pain of 1-11 in one season. They need to prove that last year was the end of one era — not the beginning of a new standard.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
OSU football brings lots of optimism for the upcoming season as Eric Morris begins his first season as the head man of the Cowboys. sports.ed@ocolly.com
Lutz emphasizes chemistry on trip to Puerto Rico
Ryan Ruston STAFF REPORTER
Cowboy basketball plays in just three days.
Oklahoma State will be a part of the San Juan Summer Shootout, a three-game exhibition in Puerto Rico. The Cowboys will play Puerto Rico Fuerza twice Sunday, July 26 and Monday, July 27, while also facing off against the LBP All-Stars Wednesday, July 29. All games are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on BallerTV.
This gives OSU a chance to play someone other than themselves and grow together as a team.
“I plan to roll out different lineups in Puerto Rico,” said OSU coach Steve Lutz. “It’s four quarters over there; it’s FIBA rules. So, we may start different quarters each game. Now our goal is to win, like don’t mistake this. We’re going over there to compete and to win, but I also want to see who plays well together and try out different lineups.”
With only four returning players from last year’s team,
there will be a lot of new faces that Cowboy fans will get to learn Sunday evening. This year’s team seems to be further along than last year’s team was at this time in the summer.
“We’ve got a better sense about the game of basketball,” Lutz said. “Things that maybe you have to coach and teach in previous years. This group picks up on very well. There’s certain things you don’t even have to teach.”
More importantly to coach Lutz than the games are the 10 practices the NCAA allows you to have when going on a foreign trip over the summer.
“I’ve told you guys a thousand times. I like practice,” Lutz said. “I don’t necessarily like the games. The games are for the players. That’s their time to employ what we worked on in practice and their time to shine a little bit, but I like the practice and the teaching and the competition behind closed doors where people aren’t watching, because that’s when you truly learn about your team and you learn about your players. So, the 10 practices are invaluable.”
Even though it’s a business trip for the players, there is still time for fun and growing close
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
with your teammates on this trip.
“We’re gonna go paddle boarding. We’re gonna go on a catamaran,” Lutz said.
“We’re going to a rainforest and hiking through it. And that’s where you learn about
your teammates because I won’t allow them to take their phones. And so, you’ll have to talk to your teammates and that’s where the jokes start to come out and you really get to know one another on a personal level.”
“Just having fun, you know,” said OSU forward Ben Ahmed. “Just spending time with my teammates. I think this is where we get the chance to build more chemistry. Looking forward to that.”
The Cowboys will play three exhibition games in the San Juan Summer Shootout in Puerto Rico next week. sports.ed@ocolly.com
Thorogood STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State women’s tennis is off to a great start in recruiting with firstyear head coach Katarina Adamovic. Romanian talent Bianca Barbulescu joins fellow recruits Claudia Gasparovic and Arina Malygina, and transfers Jovana Grujic and Veronika Kliuch on Adamovic’s first signing class.
Barbulescu, who is a native of Bumbesti-Jiu, Romania, carries a 10.55 UTR Rating in addition to being listed as high as No. 549 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.
She has been a notable performer on the ITF World Tennis circuit in the past two years, with three doubles wins in that timeframe. In July 2024, she climbed as high as No. 110 on the ITF singles list, and her recent results include quarterfinal appearances at the ITF W15 tournaments in Osijek and Bucharest, and a semifinal finish at the ITF W15 Monastir in April.
Adamovic spoke at length about the talent Barbulescu brings to OSU.
“Bianca brings a wealth of experience and is a tremendous competitor,” Adamovic said in a release. “Her toughness, maturity and winning mentality will make an immediate impact on our program, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Cowgirl family.”
With Adamovic now at the helm and multiple players in her first signing class, the Cowgirls will look to get back on track in the 2026-27 season after last season saw the team forfeit its final five matches due to injuries that left the team without enough available players.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy Creative Commons
Romanian talent Bianca Barbulescu joins Head Coach Katarina Adamovic’s first signing class.
Sports
Clary embraces leadership role entering senior season
Every great team has a savvy veteran point guard.
While the 10.6 points and 4.6 assists per game senior Cowboy guard Kanye Clary will help lead Oklahoma State next year, Clary’s most important contributions will come from his leadership.
“Coming into this year, he’s stepped up and he’s playing a big role,” said sophomore forward Ben Ahmed. “When things are not going right, or when we are not going our hardest or he feels like we could give more, he’s always going to let you know.”
With a team that has six transfers and four freshmen, it can be hard to get the team to gel together and completely buy into the coaching staff and their vision. Having Clary as that senior point guard for the new guys to talk to can help that happen.
“Definitely at times I gotta tell them, because, you know, coach be getting frustrated, you know, when they’re not doing things at the rate he may want,” Clary said. “So, with me knowing how he kind of likes his practices, how he likes his stuff ran, I kind of try to help them when I see them frustrate him.”
Clary is the clear leader of the team on the court, being the
lead ball handler, and off the court being the vocal leader; he is also tied for the longest tenured Cowboy under coach Steve Lutz.
Clary decided to return to Stillwater even though he could’ve made more NIL money elsewhere. He credits coach Lutz and the culture around the program as to why he wanted to return.
“I’ve always been a loyal type guy,” Clary said. “So, if I feel like you genuinely cared about me, and you wanted my best interests, then I was going to do the same for you, and Steve Lutz has been that type of person.”
Clary had to adjust his role
TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR!
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Is.55:6 NIV)
It is worthwhile to take the time; to stop and consider your way of life and make resolutions; new steps to take to make your life more meaningful or productive. Maybe you are doing this, or maybe you have just given up on the whole idea.
Can you remember when you were a child, how time went by so slowly? It seemed like it took forever for the holidays to arrive. Now time passes so swiftly; the years seem to rush by. The turn of the century seemed so far away when I was younger. Now we are nearly twenty years into the 21st century.
I want to encourage you to stop and consider your life; especially the remainder. None of us know when our life may end. Jesus spoke of those who
would come into their purposes in the “eleventh hour;” right at the end of life’s work day.(Mt.20) You may think that it is too late to turn your life over to Christ; there is such little time left on “your calendar.” Yet, those who come in at the “eleventh hour” will receive the same wages as those who labored the whole day. We need to work in God’s purpose for our lives while we still have time. The Bible tells us the time is coming when “no man can work.” (Jn.9:4)
As you set your heart and get definite about trusting God with your life and serving him, you will find wonderful opportunities will open for you. You see God has his purposes for you planned out, and he will begin to open doors that you know nothing about. There will be such great satisfaction in serving and finishing what he has for you to accomplish. When your life does end, and it will, you will be so glad you have followed Christ. The Bible tells us that your labor for him is not in vain. (1 Co.15:58)
from what he was used to before coming to OSU. In his last healthy season during the 2023-24 campaign, he averaged 16.7 points per game at Penn State. Last year, he was asked to be more of a true pass-first point guard than a scoring guard.
Clary started to really fill that role as the season went along.
“I think he kind of had a turning point somewhere around January of last year,” Lutz said. “… I really thought he bought in and he’s continued to do that. He’s continued to try and help the young guys. He’s continued trying to help the new guys, especially those that need it.”
The latter half of last season,
Clary turned himself into one of the better guards in the Big 12 conference. He averaged 16.2 points per game in March, while still being the leading playmaker for a team that had one of the higher scoring outputs in the country.
“I expect him to be one of the better point guards across the United States this year,” Lutz said. “I’m going to be really disappointed if he’s not … he expects this to be an unbelievable senior year for him. And for us to reach our goals, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to get there, and that requires him to be a leader.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Ryan Ruston STAFF REPORTER
Megan Gibson, The O’Colly
Kanye Clary will be the only returning senior remaining as one of six veterans on the Cowboys’ 2026-27 squad.
OSU nominates Jepkirui, Stout for Big 12 Athletes of the Year
Timothy Christensen STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State has nominated golfer Preston Stout and cross country and track standout Billah Jepkirui for the Big 12 Athletes of the Year awards.
The conference honors its top male and female athletes from the previous academic year, with winners set to be announced Thursday. Last year’s winners included Colorado football’s Travis Hunter and Texas Tech softball’s Nijaree Canady.
All 16 teams submit one male and one female athlete for the conference to consider for the award.
The female athlete OSU nominated was senior Jepkirui. Originally from Kenya, Jepkirui has spent the past four years at OSU, competing in a variety of running events.
Jepkirui continued her dominant senior season by winning races in the 1,000, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 meters and helping OSU’s 4x800 relay team post the second-fastest time in NCAA history at the Drake Relays.
Jepkirui’s nomination is tied to her performance at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lubbock, Texas.
Jepkirui won the women’s mile with a 4:22.92, the fastest mile in school history and the fourthfastest in NCAA history. The win made her the second female athlete to win three straight Big 12 mile titles. Along with a firstplace finish in the 1,000-meter, she earned the Big 12 High Point Award at the event.
Stout’s season followed a similar path, highlighted by another dominant performance at the Big 12 Championship.
Stout has already had a historic three-year stint in Stillwater, collecting three straight AllBig 12 selections, two straight first-team All-American selections and three straight Big 12 championships. He also contributed to the team’s 2025 national championship.
Stout’s success continued this season. He tallied victories at the Cabo Collegiate, Maridoe Intercollegiate and Mountaineer Invitational. Along with his Big 12 championship, Stout was
named the Big 12 Men’s Golfer of the Year.
The highlight of Stout’s season was the individual NCAA championship he won at Omni La Costa North Course in Carlsbad, California, becoming the 10th golfer in OSU history to win a national title. After opening with a 73, Stout posted scores of 67, 65 and 69 to finish at 14-under 274, one stroke clear of Alabama’s William Jennings.
The championship was Stout’s fifth win of the season, the most for any Cowboy during his junior year. The title also helped Stout become the No. 1 amateur golfer in the world.
While not all the Big 12 nominees have been announced, Stout’s resume will give him a chance to be announced as a winner on Thursday. Among those announced so far are Baylor tennis’ Devin Badenhorst and the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
Whether either Cowboy takes home the conference’s top individual honor, both have already assembled seasons worthy of national recognition. sports.ed@ocolly.com
Stout named preseason No. 1 by PGA Tour University
Timothy Christensen STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout has once again found himself at the top of another ranking.
Stout will begin the 2026-27 season as the topranked player in the PGA Tour University’s Class of 2027. If he can remain in the No. 1 spot by May 31, 2027, at the end of the college season, he will earn an automatic PGA Tour membership. While there are numerous ways to gain PGA Tour membership, this would be the most straightforward and quickest way to achieve that goal.
Players who finish Nos. 2-10 earn Korn Ferry Tour membership, while those ranked 11-25 receive exempt status on PGA Tour Americas. Players would have to play up to PGA Tour membership from there.
In partnership with the World Amateur Golf Ranking, where Stout is also ranked No. 1, PGA Tour U ranks players based on the last two years of their collegiate careers. Eligible tournaments include NCAA team competitions, official PGA Tour tournaments, and select DP World Tour events.
Unsurprisingly, Stout’s last two years at OSU have been exemplary. He has earned consecutive first-team All-Big 12 and All-America selections, as well as a team national championship in 2025 and an individual national championship in 2026. Stout has shown heavy interest in PGA competition, participating in four PGA events so far this season, making the cut for the ISCO Championship (T49) and John Deere Classic (T15) while missing the cut for the U.S. Open and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Stout will also be participating in the 3M Open this week.
Stout’s first three collegiate seasons have earned him this No. 1 ranking, but all this does is raise the bar for the senior. Now he will have to provide another dominant year to earn the golden ticket to PGA Tour membership.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Davis Hicks, The O’Colly
Oklahoma State golfer Preston Stout was nominated for Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year after winning the NCAA individual golf championship.
Stone Brown, The O’Colly
OSU runner Billah Jepkirui was nominated for Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year after another standout season in cross country and track.