Steve Lutz and men’s basketball look to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
The Cowgirls eye an extended stay in the postseason after Jacie Hoyt’s record-setting third season.
David Taylor looks to keep the OSU wrestling championship standard intact with a rebuilt roster.
hunt.
BY PARKER GERL I CO-EDITOR-CHIEF
When Steve Lutz was introduced as Oklahoma State’s new coach in April 2024, he walked the walk and talked the talk.
With OSU administrators, students and fans in attendance at Gallagher-Iba Arena, Lutz made a couple of things clear — he was going to embrace the history of Cowboy basketball, and he had “lofty goals” of reaching heights those who came before him in Stillwater did.
“Legends have played on this court,” Lutz said. “Legends have practiced on this court. Legends have coached on this court. I understand the importance of all of that, and I absolutely understand the magnitude of being the steward of this program. I don’t take it lightly.”
Now, 18 months later, Lutz is in prime position to bring OSU back to prominence in his second season.
The Cowboys rebuilt their roster to bring in the necessary depth and talent. Lutz has postseason experience. The fan and student support is high. Everything is in place for an OSU men’s basketball revival and Lutz is tasked with making sure the chips fall in the right place.
“Going into year two… you’re a lot more comfortable,” Lutz said. You’re not as rushed. And I think we’ve had an opportunity to build a team that probably better fits the way I’d like to play a little bit better.”
The Cowboys are off to a 3-0 start this season with an average margin of defeat of 25. In that stretch, they beat Oral Roberts and Texas A&M by 24. The first jolt of excitement about what this season could be came when the Cowboys beat Auburn in a preseason exhibition.
Although, it’s a small sample size, OSU’s roster additions have quickly stepped in and elevated the team. Guards Jaylen Curry, Vyctorius Miller and Kanye Clary have brought a much-needed
combination of facilitating and shotmaking, while big man Parsa Fallah’s touch and low-post footwork have given the Cowboys an easy source of inside baskets.
These types of players are the ones Lutz missed out on when building his first OSU team, as he wasn’t hired until after the transfer portal had already been open for an extended period and are key to why OSU has higher expectations this year.
“We had more (resources),” Lutz said. “Plain and simple. We had more. But we also had more time to recruit… Last year, when I was hearing about people in the portal, I was (still coaching at) Western Kentucky.”
Lutz went 17-18 last season and took the Cowboys to the NIT Quarterfinal. Key contributors such as Bryce Thompson, Abou Ousmane and Brandon Newman exhausted their eligibility, while others opted to transfer elsewhere.
Now, Lutz’s current squad features only three players from last season’s team, but it is more versatile offensively and is deeper from top to bottom. It can score from all three levels and has enough talent to compete with anybody on any given night — something that wasn’t always the case last season.
The Cowboys still have several games to play and will deal with the gauntlet of the Big 12 Conference later this season, playing against Kansas, Houston, Texas Tech, Baylor and Iowa State.
It’s hard to predict how many games OSU will win. But reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2020-21 season seems to be a realistic expectation for the Cowboys, and that’s a testament to the progress Lutz has made in the last year and a half.
“I think we’ve got a good group of guys,” Lutz said. “I like them all… I’m excited about what this year could be for us.”
For the Oklahoma State Cowboys, their offense catches eyes.
But coach Steve Lutz insists their success will be written on the defensive end.
When Lutz replaced Mike Boynton as the Cowboys’ coach in 2024, his goal was clear: return to the NCAA Tournament. Now in his second season, OSU (3-0) has shown stretches of strong defense, but Lutz said maintaining consistency in that area remains their biggest area for growth.
“This team offensively, I think, is going to be okay,” Lutz said. “But, our biggest area for growth is defensively.” Systematically, Lutz and the Cowboys want to run and transition and get quick shots. The Cowboys’ average possession lasts 16.2 seconds, and
10th in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom. This means the Cowboys and their opponents will have plenty of opportunities to score.
While the Cowboys speed up the game, they also force thier opponents to do the same. Opponents’ average possession length is 14.9 seconds; the D-1 average is 16.8. A plausible question is whether opponents are rushing shots because the Cowboys allow quality looks early. So far, it could not be more opposite.
While the Cowboys force their opponents to attempt 65 shots a game (most in the Big 12), teams have shot a combined 26.8% from beyond the arc and 35.4% from the field, which ranks second-best in the Big 12.
The Cowboys’ defense under Lutz was poor in his first year. In 2024-25, they ranked last in the Big 12 in fieldgoal percentage allowed (45.5%) and
NO. 0 JAYLEN CURRY - G
Slashing playmaker with two years of college experience. Consistently finds the open man.
NO. 1 KANYE CLARY - G
Left-handed point guard whose speed and strength make him a tough cover. Averaged nearly 17 points as a Penn State sophomore.
NO. 4 CHRISTIAN COLEMAN - F
Lanky athlete who wreaks havoc in passing lanes and projects to be one of the Cowboys’ best rebounders.
NO. 5 VYCTORIUS MILLER - G
Combo guard who scores at all three levels and averaged 8.9 points as a freshman at LSU last season.
NO. 7 KIRK COLE - G
Former Troy guard who appeared in seven games off the bench for OSU last season.
NO. 8 DANIEL GUETTA - G
Pass-first guard who brings a high IQ from Israel to Stillwater with sneaky-good defensive instincts.
NO. 9 ANTHONY ROY - G
Effortless bucket-getter who can play in multiple systems. Averaged 25.7 points at Green Bay before suffering a season-ending injury.
NO. 13 MEKHI RAGLAND - C
Physical post presence with a great feel for the game as a passer. Can knock down shots outside the painted area and behind the 3-point arc.
NO. 19 ANDRIJA VUKOVIC - C
Serbian big man in his second season with OSU. Brings size and strength to the front court.
NO. 21 ISAIAH COLEMAN - G
Led Seton Hall in scoring last season with 15.6 points. Capable of having a two-way impact with his defensive and rebounding skills.
NO. 22 PARSA FALLAH - C
Veteran big man who earned all-conference honors last season at Oregon State. Gives the Cowboys a consistent source of low-post scoring.
NO. 23 BENJAMIN AHMED - F
Freshman with a 7-foot-3 wingspan who can dominate the glass. A former four-star recruit and was ranked as high as No. 54 in the 2025 class.
NO. 24 RYAN CROTTY - G
Freshman sharpshooter who set the Virginia state record for single-season 3-pointers. A consensus four-star recruit in the 2025 class.
NO. 25 ROBERT JENNINGS II - F
Explosive 6-foot-7 athlete with a high motor. One of three returning players from last season.
NO. 72 LEFTERIS MANTZOUKAS - F
Spent parts of eight seasons on club teams competing in the Greek Basketball League.
gave up 76.3 points per game. In this season, the script has flipped. Although a small sample, the Cowboys are allowing only 67 points per game on 35.4% shooting.
A key development for Lutz and company has been forcing teams to shoot from distance. Teams have not shot the ball well, yet the Cowboys force a Big 12-high, 32.3 3-point-attempts.
In the win versus Texas A&M, the defense paved the way to victory against a prolific offensive Aggies team. Lutz said the difference in roster construction showed how players could cover more ground and disrupt offenses.
“We obviously try to turn people over quite a bit,” Lutz said. “We aren’t as extended up the floor as we were last year, but we have guys now that can plug gaps a little bit more.”
Vyctorius Miller, a sophomore guard and LSU transfer, is averaging 22 points
per game and has been the team’s leading scorer. After scoring 19 points against Oral Roberts, Miller said he is focusing on how he can help his team other the other end of the court.
“Scoring has never been a problem for me,” Miller said. “I’m just trying to work on my defense.”
Despite the team’s tempo and scoring ability, Lutz said the Cowboys’ defense is still flawed. He noted that the team can perform well for stretches, but lapses continue to allow easy points and shift momentum in the opponent’s favor.
“We are still a work in progress.” Lutz said. “We have a long ways to go on defense. We’ll be good for a stretch, and then you see a free-throw go in and give up a transition basket on the other end… it can be mind-blowing sometimes.”
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The proof was in the pudding for Oklahoma State basketball last season.
The Cowboys just weren’t good enough offensively and they didn’t have enough ways to attack opposing defenses. It was their most consistent struggle throughout coach Steve Lutz’s first season.
Last season’s data tells the story, too. OSU finished 13th out of 16 in the Big 12 Conference in team field-goal percentage (42.8%) and was 11th in points per game (73).
“I think at times we were really strapped last year in terms of being able to score,” Lutz said. “If we didn’t score in transition or if we didn’t score at the free-throw line, we had a hard time scoring baskets.”
So, how did Lutz respond? He hit the open market with scorers and creators high on his shopping list and used the transfer portal to expand the Cowboys’ offensive repertoire. Now, putting the ball in the bucket is perhaps OSU’s best skill.
Six transfers came to Stillwater having averaged 10 or more points at least once in college. Lutz brought in only three players who accomplished the same feat entering last season.
Anthony Roy is the most prolific, having averaged an NCAA-best 25.7 points in 11 games last season at Green Bay before suffering a seasonending ankle injury. Roy’s 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame, combined with his deadly 3-point shooting, makes him a tough guard for any defense.
Roy has yet to play this season due to a groin injury but his status is considered day-to-day. He did play against Auburn in a preseason exhibition and scored 28 points.
Some Cowboy basketball fans may remember Roy from last season, too. He scored 27 points and hit seven 3s against OSU in the season opener, showing Lutz how easily he can create offense.
“I be in awe of some of the moves (Roy) does,” Cowboys guard Kanye Clary said. “I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness. That’s tough.’... I feel like he’s just
an energy-giver. He’s just special.”
Alongside Roy, OSU also brought in Vyctorius Miller (LSU), Jaylen Curry (UMass), Isaiah Coleman (Seton Hall), Christian Coleman (UAB) and Clary (Mississippi State) for an offensive boost.
Curry averaged 13.3 points last season for the Minutemen. Isaiah Coleman led the Pirates with 15.6 points. Clary nearly averaged 17 points two seasons ago, and Christian Coleman put up more than 11 points in two of the prior three seasons.
Miller has been a standout through the Cowboys’ first three games, averaging 22 points on 59.4% shooting. He’s quickly shown a knack for scoring at all three levels and has given opposing defenses problems as a driver.
The former LSU guard also scored a career-high 30 points in OSU’s win against Prairie View A&M on Wednesday, becoming the first Cowboy to score 30 in a game since March 9, 2024, when Javon Small put up 34 against BYU. So far, Miller has found ways to generate easy points
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
It was only the second game of the season, but inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, it felt like a midseason Big 12 Conference game.
Each time Pop Isaacs possessed the ball, “Airball! Airball! Airball!” chants rained down on the Texas A&M guard. Oklahoma State fans weren’t going to let him forget about his two bad misfires, and it shook the talented Aggie out of his game.
For 40 minutes on Sunday, OSU fans and students were rowdy and raucous. They wore costumes, had Steve Lutz and player cutouts and participated in a well-executed orange-out game theme. From top to bottom, they were one of the Cowboys’ best weapons in an 87-63 win.
“They’re crazy,” OSU guard Jaylen Curry said. “They’re crazy. I love it, though.”
That should just be the start of something this season inside GIA. OSU fans and students have no reason not to put their butts in seats at home games — Lutz has a vastly improved squad. Football, the biggest sport on campus, is in the midst of a 1-8 season. And most importantly, that building was once a consensus top basketball atmosphere in the country. Fans are hungry, and the Cowboys have elevated expectations. GIA should once again be a real home-court advantage.
The Cowboys are 3-0, and it’s a real possibility they could enter Big 12
Conference play in January with only a couple of blemishes on their record, if not fewer.
Now take the crowd from Sunday and think about what it could be once teams like Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State and Houston come to town, and there being a general belief that OSU has enough talent to compete with almost anybody on a nightly basis.
Lutz felt as if the fans had a real impact on the win against A&M. That could be a nightly occurrence as the season progresses.
“Terrific environment. I thought the fans were fantastic. The students were great, and I thought that really gave us an opportunity early… I really credit the crowd with helping us (in the win).”
Rowdy crowds haven’t been nonexistent in the last couple of years. But in most seasons in the 2020s, it’s felt as if they’ve only been an occurrence two or three times — not to the extent they once were at GIA.
But now, with football struggling badly, another sport needs to step in and give students and fans another weekly sporting event to look forward to alongside David Taylor’s wrestling team and Jacie Hoyt’s high-powered Cowgirl basketball offense.
When Lutz was introduced as OSU’s new coach, he said GIA needs to “be the fiercest place in the Big 12 Conference to play,” and encouraged students to show up and “be loud and proud.”
589 days later, and now is the perfect time for the Cowboys to have some of the best crowds they’ve had in years. sports.ed@ocolly.com
A SPECIAL PEOPLE!
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet.2:9-10 NIV)
The apostle Peter is writing to a people who previously had no real relationship with God, but as they came to Christ, to trust and follow him all things changed. They are now special people, a pure people, chosen to be a special group who were taken from spiritual darkness. They are God’s people!
If you have come to Jesus, and received forgiveness of your sins; this is also your new condition. The Apostle Paul said it this way; “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Co.5:17 NIV)
We are the people of God and we have sto ry to tell. We can proclaim it clearly and sincerely to all. This happened to me in Japan, November, 1956. I heard the good news of Christ and things begin to change in my life. Jesus became real and began leading my life. It has been an adventure, learning to fellowship and walk with the Lord. I have made many mistakes, but the Lord keeps encouraging me to keep following Him.
The God, who has started a good work in me and you (fellow believer) will finish it with eternal consequences. All through the ages to come we get to experience life with Christ. If you have not yet put your trust in Him and begin following him. I urge you to do It now. He is faithful to lead your life into the best (sometimes difficult) things and will glorify Himself and produce lasting blessings. It’s open to al!.
for himself by drawing fouls.
He made 7 of 8 free throws against ORU, went 5 of 5 from the line against the Aggies and made nine foul shots against the Panthers.
“I feel like scoring has never been a problem for me,” Miller said.
With Miller and Roy’s consistent scoring punch next to Curry and Clary, two guards who consistently find the open man, the Cowboys’ offensive creation is night and day better compared to last
season and it’s why they’re better suited to compete against Big 12 Conference teams on a nightly basis. Through three games, OSU is averaging 92 points and has been able to score with ease.
The Cowboys hope to make that a season-long trend.
“We went into the recruiting process knowing that we needed to be better offensively,” Lutz said. “We knew that, and so we tried to remain cognizant of that.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Nov. 16: vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Nov. 19: vs. USF
Nov. 22: vs. Nicholls
Nov. 27: vs. Northwestern (Chicago, IL)
Dec. 2: vs. Sam Houston St.
Dec. 6: vs. Grand Canyon (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Dec. 13: vs. Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
Dec. 18: vs. Kansas City
Dec. 21: vs. Cal State Fullerton
Dec. 29: vs. Bethune-Cookman
Jan. 3: at Texas Tech
Jan. 6: vs. UCF
Jan. 10: at Iowa State
Jan. 13: vs. Baylor
Jan. 17: vs. Kansas State
Jan. 20: at TCU
Jan. 24: vs. Iowa State
Jan. 31: at Utah
Feb. 4: vs. BYU
Feb. 7: at Arizona
Feb. 10: at Arizona State
Feb. 14: vs. TCU
Feb. 18: vs. Kansas
Feb. 21: at Colorado
Feb. 24: vs. West Virginia
Feb. 28: at Cincinnati
March 3: at UCF
March 7: vs. Houston
REPORTER
Thirty-three votes is all that separated the first and fourth place teams in the Big 12’s women’s basketball preseason poll, showcasing the balance amongst the conference’s top teams.
TCU, Iowa State, Baylor and Oklahoma State were among the conference’s top four teams, with all four receiving first-place votes. Not only were these schools close in the conference poll, but they were also neck-and-neck in the Associated Press preseason poll.
Eight spots separated the Big 12’s top four teams in the AP’s week one poll. ISU was the highest-ranked conference team at No. 14, BU was No. 16, TCU came in at No. 17, and No. 22 OSU closed out the Big 12’s top 25 teams. Outside of the rankings, Kansas State, West Virginia and Kansas also received votes.
consistent from top to bottom. Last year, OSU dropped games to Houston, BYU and Kansas, all of which finished towards the bottom in the conference. Hoyt believes the team learned the level of competition that the conference provides with some stinging losses last season.
“We learned that the very, very hard way last season,” Hoyt said. “I think the leaders that we have on this team from last season understand (that it) doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you need to be on your A game, in the Big 12 especially.”
Stailee Heard is one of those key returners from last season. Heard was the lone Cowgirl to appear on the Big 12’s preseason all-conference team, being a unanimous selection.
BY CAYDEN COX I STAFF REPORTER
Last season was one to remember for Oklahoma State women’s basketball. But it wasn’t the ending the Cowgirls hoped for.
After going 25-7 and setting the program record for most wins in a season, OSU hoped to carry that momentum into the NCAA tournament. Instead, the Cowgirls entered the offseason with a sour taste in their mouth, as they were one-anddone in the tournament after losing in the first round to South Dakota State.
Although the Cowgirls came up short a season ago, they feel something brewing this season. Aside from those who exhausted their eligibility, none of the key contributors from last season left Stillwater and coach Jacie Hoyt retooled her team with experience, bringing in six players who have combined to play 388 games at the collegiate level.
“The kids who stayed and the kids that came here, they wanted to do something really special,” Hoyt said. “We got a taste of that last year… but we’re all very, very hungry to take that step forward as a program.”
The Cowgirls entered the season ranked No. 22 in the AP poll and have climbed their way to No. 20 following the first week of the season. This marks the first time OSU entered a season inside the Top 25 since 2014-15, but the Cowgirls still want to prove more.
“I feel like we’re still probably underestimated,” OSU guard Stailee Heard said. “But honestly, the rankings don’t matter to me.”
While some voters have the Cowgirls at the bottom of the Top 25, others have completely written them off, excluding them from the poll, despite their dominant on-court performance.
Rather than focusing on the undervaluation of their team, the Cowgirls are focused on believing
in their philosophy and proving themselves right.
“We want to prove the people who count us out wrong,” Hoyt said. “But more importantly, we want to prove ourselves right and that’s what we really focus on.”
So far this season, the Cowgirls have showcased their hunger and winning mindset. OSU completed a stretch of five games in eight days, beating all of its opponents by at least 38 points. The Cowgirls won four of those five games by a 50-point margin and topped 100 points in each game.
OSU has showcased its hunger early on, taking full control of every game its played this season. They’ve had key contributors across the board, having four different players lead the team in scoring amongst the team’s first five games.
Hoyt has installed a motto into her team, and they have showcased that so far.
“I say this to our team all the time, if you can, you should,” Hoyt said.
OSU’s team is filled with proven winners across the board. South Dakota State transfer Haleigh Timmer has won 82% of her games at the collegiate level, Tyla and Stailee Heard won a state championship in high school. Freshman Lena Girardi is entering Stillwater fresh off winning a high school title and Hoyt has only had two losing seasons in her seven full seasons as a head coach.
With all the proven winners on the squad, the Cowgirls believe they have more to accomplish and only got a taste of what a championship program looks like a year ago.
“We’re hungry,” guard Jadyn Wooten said. “We have a lot of people who came here because they want to win. Coach Jacie coaches a winning culture, that’s what we want to do, we want to get after it.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Being picked fourth in the conference is the highest OSU has been since Jacie Hoyt took over as the Cowgirls’ coach. Every year Hoyt has been in the conference, her team has surpassed its preseason ranking. The Cowgirls however, aren’t thinking much of their preseason position.
“It’s not something I put a lot of stock into,” Hoyt said. “Our kids don’t either. I think it’s great to have that affirmation that we’re pretty dang good, but at the same time there’s so much work to be done and we’re just focused on one day at a time.”
While the Cowgirls may be one of the top teams in the conference, they learned a year ago that the level of play across the conference is
Heard was also one of the seven Big 12 players that appeared on the USBWA’s Ann Meyers Drysdale Award watchlist, an award that is given to the best national player. She was joined by ISU’s Audi Crooks and Addy Brown, TCU’s Olivia Miles, BYU’s Delany Gibb, WVU’s Jordan Harrison and BU’s Darianna Littlepage-Buggs.
While the level of competition in the conference is high, Heard believes OSU’s team has what it takes to win its first conference title since 1991.
“We know we could be the best team in the Big 12,” Heard said. “We just have to prove that.”
Despite the fact that she is amongst the conference’s best players, Heard has her mind on one accolade — a team accolade.
“My goal is to win a Big 12 championship, and that takes all of us,” Heard said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Nov. 19: at St. John’s
Nov. 24: vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Nov. 28: vs. Charlotte (Cayman Island Classic)
Nov. 29: vs. Miami (Cayman Island Classic)
Dec. 3: at North Texas
Dec. 6: vs. Mississippi Valley State
Dec. 13: vs. Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
Dec. 15: vs Tulsa
Dec. 21: at Cincinnati
Dec. 31: vs. Baylor
Jan. 3: vs. Houston
Jan. 7: at TCU
Jan. 11: vs. Colorado
Jan. 14: at Kansas
Jan. 18: vs. Iowa State
Jan. 25: at Colorado
Jan. 29: at BYU
Feb. 1: at Arizona
Feb. 4: at Arizona State
Feb. 7: vs. UCF
Feb. 10: at Kansas State
Feb. 14: vs. Texas Tech
Feb. 16: vs. Utah
Feb. 21: at West Virginia
Feb. 25: at Iowa state
Feb. 28: vs. Kansas
Cayden Cox STAFF REPORTER
As she was being recruited, many people marked one flaw in Lena Girardi’s game — her 3-point shooting.
However, through Girardi’s first five collegiate games, that flaw has turned into one of her strengths, as Girardi is leading the nation in made 3-pointers, with 21.
“That’s the cool thing about Lena,” OSU coach Jacie Hoyt said. “She wants to identify any weakness that she has, then she’s going to obsess over it and she’s going to do everything she can to fix it.”
Girardi entered Stillwater as a four-star prospect and the highest-rated recruit in Hoyt’s tenure as a head coach, being the No. 61-ranked prospect in ESPN’s Top 100.
Since her arrival on campus, Girardi has spent countless hours in the gym working on improving her game. She has fit into Hoyt’s fast-paced offense. Her drive to improve her game is something that has stood out to her coaches.
“The kid lives in the gym,” Hoyt said. “She puts in so
Breakdown
much work, she is borderline annoying to the coaches about wanting film, she’s just so hungry to get better every day.”
Girardi saw that hard work pays off in just her third collegiate game, as she etched her name into OSU’s record book.
In OSU’s Nov. 6 game against Langston, Girardi set the new OSU freshman record by hitting nine 3s. She ended that game only one make shy of tying Micah Gray for the individual record for 3s in a game.
“It means a lot,” Girardi said. “I work really hard and want to see the hard work pay off.”
As just a freshman, Girardi has proven that she’s confident, something Hoyt loves about her play style. Girardi has fired 53 attempts from deep and has shown that she’ll continue to shoot no matter how hot or cold she is.
“She’s just fearless,” Hoyt said. “She’s going to let it fly. She’s got the memory of a goldfish, which is a good thing in the game of basketball. It’s just that short-term memory. (If) things don’t go well, she’s going to let it fly the next time. That’s just who she is.”
NO. 1 AMARI WHITING - G
The former BYU guard is the best defender on the team while also being a three-level scorer who can facilitate and rebound.
NO. 2 LENA GIRARDI - G
Girardi doesn’t have a shot she doesn’t like, and is rubbing off on her teammates, despite being the lone freshman on OSU’s team.
“I think that she gives confidence to her teammates even though she’s a freshman,” Hoyt said. “For the lone freshman to be out there doing that, it’s contagious to her teammates as well.”
Girardi is the biggest recruit for Jacie Hoyt. She is the lone freshman on the team and is a 3-point specialist.
NO. 3 MICAH GRAY - G
Gray is one of the most experienced players on OSU’s roster and leads the team in shot attempts.
NO. 6 JADYN WOOTEN - G
If she isn’t pulling up from the elbow, she is finding an open teammate for a bucket.
NO. 10 FAVOUR ONOH - C
Onoh has battled injuries and missed all of last season, but she averaged 13.9 rebounds in the Philippines.
NO.11 ACHOL AKOT - F
With Tenin Magassa gone, OSU is desperate for defense in their frontcourt. In comes Akot from UCF who can play a similar role.
NO. 13 HALEIGH TIMMER - G
The sharpshooting South Dakotan has started the year shooting 64% from the field and an astounding 53% from 3.
NO. 22 MACEY HUARD - G
Huard was looking to build off her season a year ago where she shined, however, she will miss the entire season with a foot injury.
NO. 24 PRAISE EGHAREVBA - F
Egharevba is the longest-tenured Cowgirl, having been at OSU since Jacie Hoyt’s first year in 2022-23.
NO. 32 STAILEE HEARD - G
She is OSU’s lone All-Big 12 preseason selection and averaged 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds during her breakout campaign last season.
NO. 33 TYLA HEARD - G
An ORU transfer who was a part of the 2023 state championship Sapulpa team with her sister, Stailee, averaging 17.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
NO. 35 WILNIE JOSEPH - C
Joseph is the tallest player on the team at 6-foot-5 and has played at different schools.
NO. 55 FAITH ACKER - C
with Wooten,
In just five games, Girardi has left her stamp on what she can be for the Cowgirls as the season progresses.
“We love what we’re getting out of her right now,” Hoyt said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Despite the fact that the knock on Girardi was her 3-point shooting, she has worked on her game, shooting 40% from beyond-the-arc, and has looked comfortable doing so, with 88% of her made shots coming from deep.
this would be her first time living and playing basketball outside of South Dakota.
How does the old saying go? “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” and if you can beat them, still join’ em?
However it goes, OSU coach Jacie Hoyt is glad that guard Haleigh Timmer decided to transfer to Oklahoma State in the offseason.
Timmer spent her first four years at South Dakota State, where she was a major part of the Jackrabbits team last year that beat the Cowgirls in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
She was one of four Jackrabbits to score in double-digits in the 74-68 upset.
Fast forward 12 days after Timmer beat OSU, she entered the transfer portal and committed to play for the Cowgirls for the 2025-26 season.
The tournament game, however, was not the only time Hoyt had faced off against Timmer in her coaching career. During Timmer’s freshman year in 2021-22, she faced off against Hoyt’s Kansas City team twice, winning both of those games.
“I have had to play against this girl way more times than I ever would’ve liked at my previous schools and here at Oklahoma State last season,” Hoyt said. “I have so much respect for her and the way she plays the game and how she goes about her daily work. Now getting to know her as a person, she’s even greater than I ever could’ve thought.”
The decision to join Hoyt’s squad here in Stillwater was a huge decision for Timmer, not only because it would be her first time playing for a Power Five team, but also because
Timmer grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, where she lived all the way through her high school career.
Even though Stillwater is 800 miles from Rapid City, Timmer says it has that feeling of home, which made her decision to transfer to OSU an easy one.
“I picked Oklahoma State because it felt like home when I visited here, and I think that made the acclimation really simple and easy,” Timmer said. “I’ve honestly felt such a peace ever since I got here. I think it just speaks to the coaching staff and the community and just like the culture thats cultivated here.”
Timmer has made an immediate impact for the Cowgirls. Joining Amari Whiting and Achol Akot as one of the three newcomers for the Cowgirls to be apart of the starting lineup.
Through five games Timmer is averaging 16.6 points (2nd most on the team), 3 rebounds, 2.8 assists (her career high) and 2.4 steals (1st on the team).
If those stats don’t already show her impact, she is also shooting 68.8% field-goal percentage and a teamhigh 52.9% from 3-point range.
“She’s a winner, we were just talking the other day as a team I think she’s won (82%) of the games that she’s played in in college,” Hoyt said. “That is insane. We lost a lot last year from a couple of people, and feel like she is the perfect person to come in and fill some of those holes.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Wertzberger STAFF REPORTER
For Konner Doucet, the road back to Oklahoma State’s starting lineup wasn’t about waiting — it was about growing.
After spending last season as a backup behind NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Wyatt Hendrickson, Doucet could have easily looked elsewhere for an opportunity. Instead, the redshirt senior chose to stay in Stillwater, trusting that his time would come again. Now that opportunity has arrived.
Doucet opened the 2025–26 season as OSU’s starting heavyweight, reclaiming a spot he once held during two NCAA-qualifying seasons. His return marks a quiet but powerful story of perseverance in a sport where transfers and quick exits have become the norm.
years at OSU, the performances reflected the steady progress head coach David Taylor described.
“He had a great opportunity last year to wrestle with Wyatt,” Taylor said during a press conference last month. “It’s a good example like (Doucet), who could have taken an easy way out, and he didn’t. He learned from the best guy in the country, arguably one of the best guys in the world.
“Konner is taking this opportunity this year, and he’s making the most of it. His body looks different, and his commitment level to wrestling is different than what it’s been before, and it’s been really exciting.”
That commitment shows in how Doucet approached his offseason.
BY WESTON WERTZBERGER I STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State wrestling opened its 2025–26 season last week against Stanford and defeated the Cardinal, 33-7.
And while the Cowboys’ lineup looked drastically different, the energy inside Gallagher-Iba Arena was anything but.
That’s exactly how head coach David Taylor wants it.
After spending his first year reshaping the culture of OSU wrestling, Taylor now faces a new challenge — keeping that same level of intensity and belief with a roster that’s almost brand new.
Troy Spratley, the reigning NCAA runner-up at 125 pounds, is the only returner.
“I’d say the biggest thing is just the buy-in and the excitement around our program,” Taylor said during a press conference last month.
This year’s lineup blends highprofile transfers with elite newcomers, forming a roster that’s as talented as it is untested.
At 125, Spratley anchors the group with his championship experience and relentless pace, giving the Cowboys a proven leader at the top of the lineup. Behind him at 133, Richard Figueroa, an NCAA champion and All-American transfer from Arizona State, provides another elite-level threat.
The next few weights highlight the youth movement Taylor has embraced.
True freshman Sergio Vega debuts at 141, while former Iowa State AllAmerican Casey Swiderski steps in at 149, offering both production and leadership in the middleweights.
freshman Landon Robideau at 157 and LaDarion Lockett at 165 continue the trend, giving a glimpse of the program’s future.
At 174, Alex Facundo, a transfer from Penn State with Big Ten experience, joins redshirt freshman Zack Ryder at 184 and Cody Merrill at 197 — both former top recruits developing quickly under Taylor’s system. Rounding out the lineup is heavyweight Konner Doucet,
a redshirt senior who spent last season backing up Wyatt Hendrickson, but now reclaims his starting role.
That combination of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers is what Taylor hopes will keep OSU competitive in the national conversation amid roster turnover.
Taylor said building depth in today’s college wrestling landscape is more challenging than ever — but is also essential to sustaining success.
“I think it definitely is a challenge,” Taylor said. “If you look back on the history of wrestling and you think about programs that have had the most success, depth was definitely a part of that. Every place that had success had depth. But back in the day, once the kid signs, they’re there for four or five years.
“There are a lot of temptations that these kids are going to face on a daily basis, and the best thing that we can do is just show them that we care about them.”
He added that competition will play a major role in determining the Cowboys’ identity this season.
“We definitely have some weights that are going to be a little more competitive than others,” Taylor said. “But we want a room where guys are challenging each other all the time. I think that’s ultimately going to get the best out of everybody, and then we’ll just keep getting better.”
Taylor’s emphasis on energy and accountability — the same mindset he introduced last season — has become the defining trait of his program. Whether it’s a returning All-American or a true freshman making his debut, Taylor expects every wrestler to compete with the same intensity that’s long defined Oklahoma State wrestling.
“This is the group that we’re bringing in,” Taylor said. “This is the start to what we’re building. Last year was an integral (year), and every day was just trying to help those guys get better. Now, these guys are going to be a part of our program for a really long time. I think that’s really exciting.”
“It was a reality check,” Doucet said after OSU’s dual win over Stanford. “People always ask, like I could have went somewhere else, but I think I can be the best and I thought I could be the best then. So, why would I run? This is where I want to be. This is going to make me better.
“The year I sat behind Wyatt was different, and I kind of had to take a different role, but I had a lot of fun, and I learned a lot and it just made me a lot more hungry to come back this year.”
That hunger was built long before the season started. During the 2024–25 campaign, Doucet went 5–0 in the heavyweight division, including a first-place finish at the Michigan State Open and a dual victory over Air Force in January.
For a veteran who’s been through nearly every role imaginable in five
“I felt way different (on the mat),” Doucet said. “I know I’ve always had it, but just the preparation I put in, I had a full year of training last year. When guys were getting ready for duels and kind of tapering off, me and coach Taylor were grinding.
“After nationals, all the way through the summer, I just kind of stayed here. I didn’t go to a lot of places — I just stayed and worked out, worked with our strength coach a lot, and practiced and just kept grinding until now. It’s finally here.”
For Doucet, that grind also came with perspective. Now one of the team’s most experienced wrestlers, he’s embraced a leadership role on a young roster loaded with transfers and true freshmen.
“We got 15 to 20 guys that coach (Jimmy) Kennedy thinks can win the national,” Doucet said. “When you’re in a room like that, especially with Wyatt, coach Taylor and just being surrounded by people like that, it gives you a lot of confidence.”
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For Richard Figueroa, Oklahoma State represents more than a new team — it’s a new chapter.
After an NCAA championship run and two standout seasons at Arizona State across four years, Figueroa made the decision in the spring to transfer to OSU.
The move came not out of frustration or fallout, but out of faith in himself and OSU’s coaching staff and in a room he believes can help him reach new heights.
“A lot of college coaches reached out and stuff, but (coach David Taylor) stuck out the most,” Figueroa said last month. “I believe in coach Taylor and what they have going on over here.”
Those goals remain ambitious.
Figueroa, who captured the 125-pound national title in 2024, now hopes to add a second championship — this time in orange and black. After spending much of his career cutting weight to stay at 125, he’s made the move up to 133 for his final season.
“I thought about it last season,” Figueroa said. “The weight cut was a little hard on me toward the end. I think it was time for me to go up a weight class for my last year and just wrestle freely, not worrying about cutting weight all the time.”
That decision, he said, has already paid off. With less focus on making weight, Figueroa feels recharged and stronger than ever heading into his final campaign.
“Definitely, I’m able to eat — not like, whatever, but just healthy, like steaks and stuff, just stuff I couldn’t eat in the past,” Figueroa said. “It just feels good to be able to roll around and just be free.”
That sense of freedom extends beyond the mat. Figueroa said he’s felt immediately embraced by the OSU wrestling community from the fans to his new teammates.
“It’s been great,” Figueroa said. “The fans and the wrestlers have treated me with respect like family. They invite me to dinners and stuff, play games, so it’s been really fun and just relaxing.”
For Figueroa, that environment has made all the difference. His confidence has continued to build under Taylor and the OSU coaching staff, who have emphasized attacking more freely and trusting his instincts.
“I would say just believe in myself and transition wrestling, chain wrestling and just my strength and stuff, getting up there,” Figueroa said. “I just feel like the coaches and our training staff have helped me so much. I feel strong right now, feel great, feel fast, feel slick.”
Despite being one of the newest faces in the lineup, Figueroa brings championship experience and a quiet sense of leadership to a reloaded OSU roster.
“I’m kind of chill back,” Figueroa said. “I let my wrestling show the work and show the leadership in that. There are different types of leadership in the room, and it’s a scary team right now, I would say, to have all 10 guys that are about to compete.”
And though his surroundings are new, Figueroa’s goal remains familiar: a second national title, earned the hard way.
“It’s exciting seeing those people that transferred win a national title,” he said. “I want to win my second national title here — that’s the goal. Just keep aiming high and take it day by day.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
125 POUNDS - TROY SPRATLEY
Spratley is coming off a Big 12 and NCAA runner-up finish and has two years remaining under his belt.
133 POUNDS - RICHARD FIGUEROA
Figueroa had a successful career at Arizona State, winning the 125-pound NCAA Championship in 2024.
141 POUNDS - SERGIO VEGA
Vega went 140-2 in high school in Arizona and won four state championships.
141 POUNDS - TAGEN JAMISON
Jamison is coming off a Big 12 runner-up finish with two years of experience in the starting lineup.
149 POUNDS - CASEY SWIDERSKI
Swiderski is a transfer from Iowa State who earned All-American honors in 2024 but suffered a seasonending injury prior to last season.
157 POUNDS - LANDON ROBIDEAU
Robideau went 283-6 in high school in Minnesota and won three state championships.
157 POUNDS - TEAGUE TRAVIS
Travis was injured for most of last season but finished fourth at the Big 12 tournament and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
165 POUNDS - LADARION LOCKETT
Lockett is a homegrown talent from Stillwater, where he went 151-3 in high school and won four state championships.
174 POUNDS - ALEX FACUNDO
Facundo is a transfer from Penn State. He didn’t make the PSU starting lineup in the last two seasons with a 5-0 record last season.
184 POUNDS - ZACK RYDER
Ryder is also a transfer from Penn State, where he sat behind five-time national champion Carter Starocci and recorded an 8-0 record last season.
197 POUNDS - CODY MERRILL
Merrill redshirted last season and had a 12-2 record, but now moves up to the starting lineup as a freshman.
Doucet was previously the starter at heavyweight for two years before sitting behind Wyatt Hendrickson and went 5-0 last season. Roster Breakdown
HEAVYWEIGHT - KONNER DOUCET
McClain Baxley is an Oklahoma State athletics beat writer for 247Sports and heavily covers football and basketball recruting.
Berry Tramel: 8-2
Nicole Auerbach: 8-2
Scott Wright: 7-3
Davis Cordova: 7-3
Shehan Jeyarajah: 7-3
Mason Young: 7-3
Patrick Prince: 7-3
Braden Bush: 6-4
Jacie Hoyt: 5-5
Kenny Gajewski: 5-5
Sam Khan Jr.: 5-5
OSU alum needs help cleaning out a 3 bedroom house during the break. Looking for trustworthy males/females to help remove large quantity of household contents and clothes from the home. Pay is $20/hour & lunch as needed. No set hours stay as long as you can. A dumpster will be provided. If you have questions or want more information contact Rick Schneider, 214-454-4783 or email
Oklahoma State President Jim
Tyler Tripodi STAFF REPORTER
Scholarships can change a student’s life. For Oklahoma State junior Lizzie Cowan, that life-changing moment came right when she needed it most.
with Pistol Pete during The Code Calls rally after announcing a new campaign Thursday.
“I just found out that my previous funding is ending in spring 2026, so I would have been having to work more hours to save money for that,” Cowan said. “So, this is literally a blessing from God. That’s what this is.” Cowan was named the first recipient of OSU’s new Code Calls Scholarship.
the
Marching Band against the
in
flag football game. Players poured water on him after CMB won the Bedlam game. Bedlam football is back... kind of
Bedlam football made its return to Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday — just not in the way fans might have expected.
Members of Oklahoma State’s Cowboy Marching Band and the University of Oklahoma’s Pride of Oklahoma traded instruments for flags, facing off in their second annual Bedlam flag football game. What began as a casual idea between two friends, Charlie Harris of OSU’s band and Caden Chase of OU’s band,
turned into a lighthearted rivalry of its own. OU’s band maintained a flag football league for nearly a decade, and Harris thought it was a perfect opportunity to bring a similar experience to the Cowboy Marching Band.
“I thought surely we could; we gotta be able to make this happen here,” Harris said.
That small spark ultimately led to the reimagined Bedlam game, first played on a Pride of Oklahoma practice field last year, and now on the big stage at Boone Pickens Stadium.
See BEDLAM on page 6B
That scholarship will go a long way in assisting Cowan with her education goals, as the OSU-Tulsa junior already works a full-time job while undergoing a difficult class load.
OSU announced the scholarship Thursday as part of a sweeping fundraising campaign that aims to
reshape the university’s future. The initiative, unveiled at the McKnight Center for Performing Arts, seeks to raise $2 billion by summer 2030 — the largest philanthropic effort in the university’s history.
See CAMPAIGN on page 3B
Ashley Yarbrough STAFF REPORTER
Nostalgia filled the room as Nickelodeon stars Josh Peck and Jerry Trainor shared stories from their early days on the set of “Drake and Josh” and gave advice to Oklahoma State students.
“I think that we all have a bit of nostalgia we revert to when we are going through a rough time and go back to our childhood shows,” OSU student Emily Lair said. “‘Drake and Josh’ got me through some hard
times in my childhood and its served the same purpose in my college life.”
Students lined up for the Student Government Association’s Speaker’s Board event to learn more about the duos acting careers and memorable life experiences.
The event was mediated by Todd Misener, OSU’s chief wellness adviser. However, Peck and Trainor often took the reins on the conversation reminiscing about old times together on set.
See ADVICE on page 6B
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A Stillwater resident set fire to her apartment Monday after voicing intentions to burn down the building. Stillwater Police officers responded to a report of assault and battery at about 8:45 a.m. at the Remington Ranch apartments on North Boomer Road. A police report revealed Lyss threw a “halfull” beer can at someone in the parking lot and threatened to burn the building down.
Officers were informed the suspect Cassidy Lyss, 35, was involved in a robbery at the OnCue located at 2224 N. Washington St. earlier in the morning. She grabbed an 18-pack of Bud Light, but the gas station employee told her that she could not purchase it as it was between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. She then went around the counter, backed the employee into the corner and threatened them before grabbing a pack of Marlboro NXT cigarettes off the rack and leaving, according to an officer’s description of surveillance footage.
Officers attempted to speak to Lyss at her apartment. She barricaded herself inside and screamed at officers through
a broken sliding glass door, according to a police report. She repeatedly spoke about burning down the building.
Surrounding residents in nearby apartments were evacuated and the Stillwater Multi-Jurisdictional Special Operations Team was called for back up.
Lyss asked Officer Miguel Najera to shoot and kill her to avoid jail. When Lyss was told she would not be able to avoid jail, she set fire to a couch and said she wanted to “burn alive.”
Officers continued to try and speak with Lyss when smoke began coming from her apartment. Lyss tried to break out of a bedroom window to escape the fire. Officers broke the window and pulled Lyss out and she had no injuries.
Stillwater Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. Fire damage was contained in Lyss’ apartment, but connected units had smoke damage. No residents were injured.
Lyss was taken into custody and brought to the local jail. She was charged with arson in the first degree, robbery in the second degree, threatening a violent act and obstructing an officer. Her bond was set at $75,000.
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The
Cassidy Lyss, 35, set fire to her apartment Monday and was taken into custody for arson in the first degree among three other charges.
Editorial board
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Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl editorinchief@ocolly.com
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Groups ready for song and dance revue
Lady Marmalade, drag queens and baseball are just some of the things that will highlight the 2001 Freshman Follies in the Student Union Theater this week.
The follies are composed of seven paired fraternity and sorority groups that perform skits. The theme for this year’s show is “Opening Night.”
Each group’s performance revolves around getting ready for a big event with some stress involved and then debuting the event. The performances range from “Under the Big Top to “On the Nile.”
The performers themselves have been working long hours on the show, trying to get it together.
“It’s been a lot of hard work — a lot of work,” said Ryan Cooper, member of Gamma Phi Beta and interior design freshman.
Layton Johns walked through Stillwater’s abandoned library and said six words: “I have to have this building.”
Layton and his wife Lauren are converting the 1938 building, full of architectural character, into a boutique hotel expected to open in fall 2026 with help from an OSU student. The Bookend Hotel, once known as the Stillwater Public Library, is expected to have 15 rooms and space to hold small community events.
The building served as the Stillwater Public Library until the early 1990s, when the city’s library services moved to a new location. The building later housed dental offices until the Johns purchased it in 2024.
Layton graduated from OSU in 2012, then moved back home to California with Lauren. Layton, a fourth-generation builder, and Lauren, working in real estate, spent eight years flipping homes and completing renovations. After almost 12 years of trying to convince her to return to Stillwater, they saw the original library building was for sale.
“We just really felt like the Lord was calling us back here,” Lauren Johns said.
The couple’s vision focuses on bringing the old library feel back to life. They are preserving the original bookshelves and traveling
everywhere to find the perfect books to fill the shelves. Lauren is planning a bar on the lower level with a dark and moody vibe featuring velvet, leather, oak and brass finishes.
The Johns want to ensure that there are at least 15 rooms, which requires careful planning for spaces including the bar and basement-level event center. They hope to become Stillwater’s top choice for hosting baby showers, bridal showers, corporate meetings and maybe someday, small weddings. The pair found event inspiration from the Iron Monk football kickoff party and the Mid South bike races.
While the Johns loved the building’s exterior, the interior presented major design challenges. Layton said the previous owners had stripped the building of a lot of character and ruined the architectural story. He has spent a lot of time researching ways to bring back the joy that once lived in the bookshelves.
“We’ve been having a lot of fun trying to find old pictures, and I got to walk through the building with a historian who used to work at the library when he was younger,” Layton Johns said. “He kind of walked me through each of the spaces and explained what was in each space when he worked there. And that’s preserving that history and those memories.”
Lauren isn’t designing alone;
she has OSU architectural design student Lauryn Pilgrim by her side. Pilgrim, a junior, has taken on the role of an intern and spends time learning as much as possible while shadowing the project.
“I’m very passionate about the fact that I think a lot of modern architecture has lost original character,” Pilgrim said. “I think before we got into this mindset of newer, better, faster, all the time, there was a lot more intentionality in design. While working on this project I’ve gotten to see how things used to be and learn how to bring it back to life in a way that is cohesive.”
The community has responded enthusiastically. A couple has already reached out about having their wedding at the hotel.
“For the most part, anybody that’s had an experience with this library seems very excited that it’s being converted into something that can be used again, versus sitting empty,” Layton Johns said.
Finding the perfect name for the hotel required a lot of backand-forth from Lauren and Layton. They spent a lot of time trying to find something that sounded cozy, but something that also paid homage to the building.
When “The Bookend” came up, everything began to fall into place.
“I think we kind of fell in love with the story of it,” Lauren Johns said.
Continued from 1
OSU President Jim Hess said the campaign’s primary goal is to provide every OSU student with a renewable scholarship, ensuring long-term affordability and access. He called the initiative “pivotal” to the university’s mission as a landgrant institution.
“This $2 billion fundraising goal is absolutely pivotal to our future together,” Hess said. “We are prepared to meet this moment with optimism and hope and a sense of urgency that will ensure a legacy that will thrive for generations far beyond today.”
Funds raised through the campaign will support student scholarships, improve campus facilities, enhance athletic programs and help launch a new career readiness model, according to OSU officials. Under that plan, every scholarship recipient will be paired with several mentors and support partners.
“So every student who receives a scholarship will be connected to the donor who gave the scholarship,” Hess said. “Every student, when they arrive on our campus, will have an academic advisor, a career readiness advisor, an alumni mentor and a donor connected to them who helps sponsor them.”
The university launched the campaign in July 2021, but it has been in a “silent phase.”
During that phase, more than 81,000 donors stepped forward to raise $900 million toward the campaign goal, allowing OSU to begin implementing parts of the plan as early as next fall.
The OSU Foundation is now looking toward its next $1.1 billion to complete its goal.
While that search continues, Hess said the early momentum highlights widespread belief in OSU’s future and reflects the university’s longstanding role in serving the people of Oklahoma.
“It’s a historic opportunity, and it’s a reminder that Oklahoma State University is the people’s university,” Hess said. “As a land-grant institution, that is our mission, and we will never shy away from that.”
For students like Cowan, the impact is deeply personal. She said the scholarship eases financial pressure and gives her room to focus on her education. One day, she hopes to pay that forward.
“Hopefully one day I can be a donor,” Cowan said. “Now that this has been given to me, I hope to try to relay that again when I get older and have some funds.”
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Oklahoma State has two students elected to the national Future Farmers of America officer team, one as president and the other as western region vice president.
Trey Meyers, an applied exercise science major, was elected to serve as president of the team.
Jael Cruikshank, an agriculture business major, was elected to serve as the western region vice president. The two will spend the next year in Indianapolis, Indiana, and will take a gap year while serving the organization.
Both students received lots of help from OSU for their application and journey to becoming a national officer.
“(Ryan Best) was the person that kind of pushed me, like helped me grow and kind of showed me the path necessary to go and achieve what I have,” Meyers said. “But also, another student Josiah Cruikshank a master’s level student here just poured into me.”
Having support from outside the university is an important part of Jael Cruikshank’s journey on becoming a national officer. She leaned on her family to reach her goals.
“My family has definitely (been) my biggest support system throughout the entire process,” Jael Cruikshank said “I am lucky to live with my brother since we’re both students at OSU and he was always available to reach out and practice rounds or just talk things out whenever needed.”
Being a year away from college and putting his education on pause can be scary but it can also be a
place to find a sense of meaning, Meyers said.
“I think the growth that comes from this year is going to be one that’s unmatched and I would never be able to learn the skills that I’m going to get this year in any other way,” Jael Cruikshank said.
Being away from home has been a chance to grow and expand horizons for the students.
“I joined Aggie-X, the big agbusiness club,” Jael Cruikshank said. “I joined the butter churning club just for the fun of it … I did quiz bowl but the biggest thing that I found is the BCM Sunnybrook. Those are my church communities that I found that I really started to plug in the most.”
OSU has two officers elected to the team, a rare occurrence for any university to have.
“I feel blessed is probably the word I would go with right of the bat,” Meyers said. “ I understand that Jael is a very special human and we’ve grown pretty close over the past couple of months, training together but that doesn’t discount the four other teammates that I’m going to spend a year with.”
After serving as a national officer many people’s next step is giving back as an alumni.
“Something that we do in Oregon is when we retire as an officer we actually get FFA life membership,” Jael Cruikshank said. “So I’m super excited that I’ll be able to be that life member, but also not just have that title but like what I can to support it.”
The choice to run for national office is a different one for everyone that decides to run for office.
“I’m not your typical story,”
Meyers said. “I didn’t go to convention eighth-grade (year) here and think this is what I wanted to do. It was kind of late in the game for me. I attended our state convention back in May and someone pushed me and said ‘You should consider doing this’ … And I bumped into somebody else at the convention and they said the same thing and thought OK, maybe I ought to give this a shot.”
Through their time in FFA, they have learned many things they didn’t know when they started.
“I think the biggest thing for me is I was for so long letting the fear of not being elected keep me from running,” Jael Cruikshank said. “I think the most important thing to understand is why are you running. Because that is ultimately going to drive your purpose not just as an officer, but also through your entire year that you would serve.”
Serving as an officer is an experience that can be scary going into the year, Meyers said.
“Do something that scares you, and do something that may feel a bit vulnerable, but also understand that you can’t build Rome in a day,” Meyers said. “This is a long, long process, and I think the way to become successful in it and to have a great chance to get elected is to simply work really, really hard every single day and do it over and over again and on those days when you don’t want to do it keeping showing up and doing it again.”
Meyers and Jael Cruikshank will be leaving after Thanksgiving break to prepare to go to Indianapolis, Indiana, to spend the next year serving the FFA community before coming back to OSU in fall 2027.
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Caden James STAFF REPORTER
At the Student Union Ballroom, five performers gathered around Wednesday to put on a show.
The story followed a teacher, a high school sweetheart, a Christmas fanatic, an ex-partner and a friend. They all meet up when suddenly the lights go out and someone is murdered.
The characters broke the fourth wall and interacted with a crowd of participants who attended the Student Union Activities Board event to solve a murder and receive a free dinner.
The performers interacted with the crowd while they tried to figure out who committed the murder.
“It was a lot of fun,” OSU student Mia Newman said. “It was really entertaining to talk with the actors.”
Newman said her favorite character was Mrs Grudge, the teacher.
“She just reminded me of my English teacher,” Newman said. “And she was good to talk to... I think she sold it.”
OSU student Ava Loter had the opportunity to speak to most of the cast while she tried to determine who the killer was.
“I thought it was so fun,” Loter said. “And I like that the actors came over and interacted, but I was a little confused that it was one scene. I also kind of liked the little plot twist.”
Erin Rogers, the actress playing Mrs. Grudge, said there was much planning and coordination involved in making the event a success.
“Our amazing director Jacob Pollard, he writes the script for us, and then we do the auditions in mid-toearly October,” Rogers said. “So we do our audition, we get our role and usually, we have just as many roles for people who audition.”
Rogers said she would love for more people to audition in the future, but with its short timeline, having a small cast helps perfect the show.
“We really only have three rehearsals, and then it’s showtime,” Rogers said. “As these rehearsals go along we have to learn how to cast reasonable doubt on others, as well as putting some doubt on yourself and so trying to point the people in the right direction, killer, a red herring or two.”
After finding out who the murderer was, a person dressed as Santa and putting them behind bars. The crowd gave the performers a standing ovation.
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Audie Martin STAFF REPORTER
As the longest government shutdown comes to an end, many are left wondering what happens with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and students’ free and reduced meals.
President Donald Trump signed a bill to fund the government last night, and the historical 43-day shutdown has come to a close. Yet, this shutdown has not deterred Jennifer Weber, program director for Oklahoma State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs, who has worked throughout the shutdown to encourage schools to apply for aid for free and reduced meals, regardless of the federal government’s state.
“A lot of people just think, ‘Oh, I can just come on and I’m going to start filing claims, I’m going to have reimbursement, I’m going to feed all these kiddos,’” Weber said. “Which, yes, that’s what we want you to do, but there are program requirements that have to take place first.”
Weber helps schools get the proper funding necessary to pay claims for statewide lunch programs, childcare programs and a summer feeding program. Because of the government shutdown and SNAP benefits providing food aid to nearly 1 in 8 Americans, there was an expected increase of Oklahoma families eligible for free or reduced meals for their students because they were no longer receiving paychecks or SNAP benefits. For the fiscal year of 2025, Weber reported drawing money for $365 million in claims across the state.
OSDE Child Nutrition Program receives claims and sends money to support programs, acting as a middleman to ensure any uptick in students requiring free or reduced meals are accounted for. Passing from the federal government to the state, who then issues out the aid, this “draw down” money comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Weber said the organization can draw down as much as needed to pay valid claims submitted by people administering the program in the state.
“The only change with the shutdown is, if we have a specific off the wall question that we’re unsure of, we really don’t have a point of contact to ask most of those at USDA right now,” Weber said. “They’re not allowed to check their emails during the shutdown, so we are doing our absolute best when a question comes in that we’re unsure of to dig in as much as we can and come up with the best response we can at this time; because with these programs, while the regulations do guide these programs a lot, they’re not just black and white. There’s quite a bit of gray, believe it or not, in these programs and the regulations.”
As the government reopens, Weber will be able to continue her role with more efficiency and contact the USDA with questions. With a weekly average
of $6.5 million being distributed across Oklahoma through the OSDE’s Child Nutrition Program, public schools are reliant on state fundings to provide meals to students.
Kristie Newby, Chief Financial Officer for Stillwater Public Schools, stated Stillwater receives “a little over $400,000 that is paid for by the state of Oklahoma,” with an additional estimated $3 million coming from the federal government.
“Our district is heavily dependent on the federal government as far as for child nutrition and its funding,” Newby said.
A former employee of the federal government as a chief financial officer for the United States Probation office
“We’re the one person in the school who doesn’t ask anything of the student— just take a fruit or a vegetable. We’re not testing you; we’re not asking you to do anything. You know, we’re not asking anything of these kids.”
KRISTA NEAL SPS NUTRITION
SERVICES DIRECTOR
in Arkansas, Newby said she never had a true budget, but rather ran on the continuing resolution. This resolution essentially is temporary spending bills to allow federal government operations to continue when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the president, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. From her experience, Newby’s advice is to be as proactive as possible whether the federal government is open or not.
“Not being disrespectful, but I learned early on that, especially after working with the federal government, you can’t panic when something like (a government shutdown) looks like it’s going to happen,” Newby said. “You just take care of business; you make sure that you make good plans so that it doesn’t impact the teachers and the students in the district, and it’s scary to think about, ‘OK, the federal government shut down. What if they don’t provide funding?’”
SNAP benefits have been confirmed to provide funds through the end of next September, but Krista Neal, nutrition services director for Stillwater Public Schools, is encouraging families to apply for free and reduced meals regardless of SNAP outcomes. Neal said her role remains in being “a smiling face” feeding kids, stating schools may sometimes be “the
only food a child gets.”
“We’re the one person in the school who doesn’t ask anything of the student — just take a fruit or a vegetable,” Neal said. “We’re not testing you; we’re not asking you to do anything. You know, we’re not asking anything of these kids.”
Neal said, if given the option of an unlimited budget, she would “just need $14 billion across the country” each year. Citing the School Nutrition Association as her source for said figure, Neal said the amount would not only provide for students qualifying for free and reduced meals, but rather for all students in public schools.
“It’s nothing — $14 billion is nothing in the grand scheme of the federal government,” Neal said. “And (with that), we can serve every kid across America free school meals, free breakfast and lunch, for $14 billion a year. It’s nothing.”
Working with Neal, Natalie Brown, family resource specialist and McKinney-Vento liaison for Stillwater Public Schools, has also been a large advocate in gaining free and reduced meals for students. In the government shutdown, Brown said she has seen a great increase in applicants for free and reduced meals, and in Brown’s perspective is considered a win.
“I used to get excited if I denied, like, a couple hundred applications, because that meant everybody was applying even if they didn’t qualify,” Brown said. “And I think we have denied 1,500 applications. And it that’s not because I’m mean, it’s just those families don’t qualify.”
To Brown, this increase in applications means more families are able to apply to get the support needed to ensure their child is fed while at school. Neal said, “not everyone has a Natalie,” to encourage families to apply for aid. However, it is still vital for families statewide to be applying for free and reduced lunches to see if they qualify.
“We definitely want people to keep coming, keep getting lunch, keep getting the nutrition that they need to learn,” said Barry Fuxa, PR & Communications Coordinator for Stillwater Public Schools. “Also, related to SNAP benefits, we do have more kids that need food.”
With encouragements to apply for free and reduced lunches regardless of the federal government’s state, Weber encouraged regional food banks in eastern Oklahoma and Oklahoma City, as well as churches and faith-based organizations providing food boxes and backpack programs across the state.
“They’re all working together right now to find the best way to get food to children right now because of the shutdown,” Weber said. “But as far as this actual program, we always love it when people come to us to get that information, because we do know the ins and outs and to keep the integrity of the programs intact, we can give them the right information.”
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
President Donald Trump signed a bill that ended a government shutdown Wednesday.
The 43-day shutdown began on Oct. 1 as appropriation bills were not passed to fund federal agencies and programs for the next fiscal year.
Democrats were pushing for an extension of a tax credit that lowered the cost of healthcare acquired through the Affordable Care Act. When they refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include the extension, the shutdown began.
The U.S. Senate passed a bill that would end the shutdown Monday. The House passed the measure with a vote of 222-209 Wednesday. A few hours later, Trump signed the bill, ending the shutdown.
The bill funded three annual spending bills and extended the rest of government funding through Jan. 30. One of the three extended bills was for the Agriculture Department, which funds key food assistance programs, including SNAP, for the next fiscal year.
Leadership promised to hold a vote by mid-December to extend the tax credit for those who qualify for ACA. Without the tax credit, premiums will more than double for millions of Americans, according to the Associated Press. More than two million could lose health insurance coverage altogether, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
SNAP benefits were partially paused, flights were canceled at major airports and federal workers went without paychecks.
How the shutdown affected Oklahomans
Stillwater Regional Airport remained fully functioning as it was not on the list of high-volume markets that were set to be reduced by 10%. No Oklahoma airport was on that list.
“This directive is intended to ease pressure on the national aviation system and maintain safety,” said Kellie Reed, Stillwater Regional Airport Director.
While travel in Stillwater was not directly affected, the pausing of SNAP benefits affected families across the country.
Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center, a Stillwater food bank, prepared for an increase in the number of families visiting. One food drive alone received more than 6,000 pounds of food.
The Staff Advisory Council at Oklahoma State started a food drive to stock Pete’s Pantry, an on-campus food bank, to support students and staff. It will continue to run through Dec. 12.
Gov. Kevin Stitt directed state agencies on Oct. 23 to submit a review of federally-funded programs by the next week. He called for each agency to create a plan to access and align federal programs with their intended purposes, according to a press release.
donations for El Sistema Oklahoma, a nonprofit providing free music education to underserved children.
Originally, Jerry Trainor was set to just be a one-time guest star on “Drake and Josh,” Peck recalls that Trainor almost didn’t get the infamous role of Crazy Steve.
“Jerry came in and truly, I’m not just saying this because we’re friends over here, but it was like, the thing that you prayed for,” Peck said. “Especially when someone comes into a guest star role, is that they just get it. And Jerry hit his mark on set, and we’re like, ‘Oh, we’re going to see him now forever.’”
Trainor and Peck said filming for Nickelodeon was a different level of child-star professionalism that wasn’t seen in other acting gigs. Although, Trainor was previously unsure on the path life would take him on after college.
“The funny thing about the entertainment industry is, when you’re young, it feels so far away,” Trainor said. “I was just like, I know one day I want to get there, to have no idea how to get there.”
A college drama professor encouraged Trainor to major in fine arts, which led him to writing and performing improv comedy. One night, an agent in the audience changed his path completely.
“I didn’t know (at) the time, but there was an agent in the audience who had gone through that same program” Trainor said. “Immediately afterwards, she was just like ‘Do you want to come down to audition in Miami?’”
would happen.”
Lair said she has fond memories of growing up watching “Drake and Josh.”
“I’ve been watching Josh and Jerry since I can remember,” Lair said. “I would sit inside, eat honeybuns, and watch ‘Drake and Josh’ and ‘iCarly;’ that was my childhood.”
Although they are both beloved childhood stars, Peck and Trainor don’t know what life has ahead of them. However, both have learned to have different outlooks on life than their 20 year-old selves.
“With a little bit of hindsight, at 39 years old, I look at things and I go even if I’m having a rough time, I picked the short stick today,” Trainor said. “Someone’s gonna have a rough day today and it might as well be me because I know as sure as the tough days come, the great days come.”
Since “Drake and Josh,” Peck has written his memoir, ‘Happy People Are Annoying,” that discusses his struggles with childhood fame and what he learned from those experiences along the way.
“I wanted to write sort of a window into the halfway and say, ‘This is what I’ve done thus far, this is what I’ve learned, this is what I hope to do, and what hopefully will be next,’” Peck said. “And then I also knew that there were you guys and people who had watched me and grown up with me, and I could tell them all these things I was going through at that time.”
With the stage set and the excitement building, the teams took the field for a spirited showdown. That’s when something unexpected happened. Beyond the bands themselves, the event drew support from across the OSU community.
OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt and the team came out to cheer from the sidelines. Hoyt even gave the OSU band a pre-game hype speech to help inspire them. Harris recounted reaching out to Hoyt prior to the Bedlam matchup.
“And then last night after the women’s game, myself and the drum major for the pep bands for the Bedlam flag football game went over and talked to coach Hoyt. She said that she would love to go and that we just need to send her details, and she’ll be there.”
The audience’s presence showed just how far the event had grown in a single year.
The Cowboys ultimately took the win, 31–14, but the final score barely captured the spirit of the day. Laughter, playful banter and plenty of chants punctuated the game. The structure of the game itself reflected a playful rivalry. Teams were drawn from each band, often mixing members from different sections to encourage collaboration and unity.
Both Harris and Chase emphasized that the goal was to build connections and foster community in a setting that was, at its core, celebratory rather than outright cutthroat.
This year’s game carried a purpose on top of just rehashing the Bedlam Rivalry — raising awareness and
For both bands, the connection felt natural. Music had brought them together in college, and it was music that gave them the opportunity to impact a larger community.
“We’re so lucky to be able to play this game in this stadium with these people,” Chase said. “And we’re doing it for an underprivileged community so that one day they can have those same experiences.”
Looking ahead, both organizers hope this event continues for years to come. Harris, who is graduating this year, acknowledged that he might not be around for the next edition, but he hopes the tradition continues.
“The hope is absolutely that this turns into a regular thing,” Harris said. “We continue to foster community and really bring everybody together through band flag football. It sounds ridiculous, but it really does make a difference.”
In many ways, this Bedlam game was more than a football matchup. It was a chance to unite students, alumni and the local community around something joyful and meaningful.
Rivalry didn’t divide the bands; they coexisted with creativity and some determination to make something long-lasting.
“Personally, it’s just an awesome feeling,” Chase said. “As someone playing in the game, it’s really cool to look around the stadium… it won’t be completely full, but just being part of something like this is special. You don’t get opportunities like this every day. And from the organizer side, there’s a lot of pride in seeing how our idea has grown into something bigger.”
First airing in 2004, “Drake and Josh” has left a lasting impact on the generation that grew up watching it. Its legacy has continued online on social media, which Peck still finds surreal.
“You guys probably didn’t see it when it first aired, but only over the last 15 years, I think the social media and reruns have continued to make people happy,” Peck said. “I think that’s pretty special. And I never could have expected that for me I had no idea this
Misener said he believes that its important for people with platforms such as Peck and Trainor’s to continue to speak up about mental health struggles for their fans that grew up watching them who now may be in college or navigating their adult life facing these issues.
When asked what advice they had for college students as well as their younger selves, both Peck and Trainor agreed on one message: to slow down and appreciate the moment.
“You realize in your life that at every checkpoint there’s more to come and there’s more to discover,” Peck said. “And that’s the exciting thing is being present for all of life.”
