Rep. Ranson
to run for fifth term as representative
A teacher walkout in 2018 is the reason Trish Ranson is running for her fifth consecutive term as an Oklahoma representative in the upcoming election.
Ranson, D-Stillwater, had no prior experience in politics. She was an elementary music teacher for 15 years before she joined thousands of other Oklahoma teachers at the Capitol to protest a lack of funding for public education. She entered the office for her first term in 2018, just months after the walkout.
“While I was there (at the Capitol during the walkout), I realized there was a huge disconnect between what reality is in the walls of the Capitol and what reality is in the state,” Ranson said. “So I decided to run and ran in 2018 after never being involved in politics whatsoever and was able to win that election.”
Ranson won the next three elections in 2020, 2022 and 2024, respectively. She garnered more than 5,000 votes in each election. Ranson announced this month she is running for another term and will be up for re-election Nov. 3, 2026.
See RANSON on page 6A
Native American students tour OSU with Lindy Waters III Foundation
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
The Lindy Waters III Foundation brought 50 Native American high school students from all over the state to tour Oklahoma State and attend a men’s basketball game Sunday as a part of its new college prep program. Former OSU basketball player
Lindy Waters III created the foundation when he joined the National Basketball Association. His goal was to enhance and support Native American youth, according to its mission statement.
“He was sort of like a someone that that youth could look up to and say, like, ‘Oh, there’s a American basketball player, and he plays at OSU, and so when he went into the NBA, they formalized that work with the foundation, and now the foundation has grown to do basketball tournament every year in the summertime,” said Nizhóní Begay, the foundation’s event and grant manager and college prep mentor.
See WATERS on page 4B
‘He became a completely different kid’
How IEPs, 504 plans can help students
When Sherri’s son, Miles, struggled in school because of his sensory processing disorder, she knew something had to change. Bright lights, noise and rowdy classrooms made learning difficult for Miles. So, Sherri, whose last name is being withheld to protect her son’s privacy, worked with his teachers and administrators to create a plan that helped Miles feel comfortable and confident in the school.
The plan allowed him to wear sunglasses outdoors, use noise-cancelling headphones when things got too loud and bring his own breakfast to help regulate his sensory needs.
“Once we met his sensory needs, he became a completely different kid,” Sherri said. “He’s thriving now, he’s calm, confident and part of the classroom. Before, he was anxious and overwhelmed. Now, he just gets to be Miles.”
See 504 on page 6B
Marcus Mesis, The O’Colly
Miss American Indian OSU Cyndee Miller speaks to group of Native American students touring campus.
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Courtesy Trish Ranson
Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, is running for a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing District 34 for her fifth consecutive term.
Courtesy Sherri Miles in the second-grade program at age 8. His mother Sherri made a 504 plan for her son to accommodate his needs.
Lilian Easter STAFF REPORTER
OSU alumnus to open boba shop
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
Stillwater has many different types of businesses but there is one missing, and an Oklahoma State alumnus is stepping up to fix that.
Aaron Chambers is a OSU graduate with a bachelor’s in finance and management information systems. Chambers is bringing a Lucky Tea Boba House franchise to Stillwater to give the city its only dedicated boba shop. Chambers has done work in the corporate world for Koch Engineered Solutions and then did remote work after that before realizing that he was unfulfilled by his work.
“I actually had a limbo space in between where I got a remote job and that was better, but definitely left me feeling like, ‘Oh, there’s definitely something else that I want to be doing besides this,’” Chambers said.
That feeling of wanting something more made Chambers look back at his freshman year.
“Me and my roommate at the time, one of the first things we did was like, ‘Oh, let’s find a good boba spot,” Chambers said.
Not being able to find a good Boba place would, after a few years, become a benefit for him. He realized it was missing and decided to start one of his own.
The goal he has for the business is to be a third space in the city; home, work and boba shop. It will be a place where people can come and chill or study with their friends, Chambers said.
A lot of thought has been put into the design of the shop down to the number of outlets, so people can charge their things while there.
Starting a business is no easy feat, but Chambers had a lot of support from the community he built at OSU. He was a part of Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity during his time at OSU.
One of Chambers’ fraternity brothers owns a franchise in Tulsa. Once he made the choice to start his own, he was able to ask for architecture help from other members.
Building a third space is one of the goals Chambers has put a lot of thought into, making a space he would have liked to be in.
“I guess for me, like I’m the kind of person
that enjoys more, that has like been curated to sort of be a comfortable space to be in for long periods of time, and that includes the environment or the atmosphere,” Chambers said.
The fraternity he was a part of was not the only spot at OSU that prepared him for being an entrepreneur.
“I mean, going or being part of business school definitely didn’t hurt anything. I would honestly say, like, I guess this is my plug for the Riata Center,” Chambers said “... like humoring the idea of doing anything entrepreneurship wise, because I did have experience with the Riata Center.“
The projects that he did with the Riata Center helped prepare him for being an entrepreneur, having given him a background in market research and the start of opening a business, Chambers said.
Although, there have been challenges Chambers has faced along the way.
“First one (is) funding. No one tells you where you are supposed to get money from, generally,” Chambers said. “I was like, ‘Where do people get that?’ I was like, ‘because this isn’t like Silicon Valley. Where you can go pitch yourself and get a million dollars.’”
This was not the only problem that he faced in getting the business closer to opening.
“Timelines,” said Chambers about the construction process. “I think it’s just a lesson to take later on, which I think would be to overestimate how long it’ll take, like severely generally.”
Chambers said he recognizes his location on Main Street is a great asset for the business as the location is quite walkable being close to campus.
“I think that being able to have something that you can be consistently passionate about, or at least find different avenues to stay passionate about that thing I always did that with compettitons or thinking about ideas,” Chambers said.
Lucky Tea Boba House is eyeing an opening in early January around the time the semester starts with hopes of being open when college students return to Stillwater.
news.ed@ocolly.com
On This day
1995. 30 years ago.
Internet addiction is slowly becoming a danger for some students at Oklahoma State University, says one university counselor.
Patrick Murphy, director of university counseling services, said this type of addiction is slowly breaking apart families and marriages and ruining students’ attendance in classrooms.
“Some students are beginning to find that using the Internet is more enjoyable than going to class,” Murphy said.
Dan Chaney, an OSU librarian who teaches Internet classes, agreed with Murphy.
“There is an analogy to narcotics and ‘Net addiction’” Chaney said. “Certain people are more prone to (internet addiction) than others.”
Martin McCormick, network specialist in computing and information services, said 755 OSU students accessed the Point-to-Point Protocol, a method for connection off-campus students to the internet, in the last two weeks.
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl editorinchief@ocolly.com
Design editor Katie Lehew design.ed@ocolly.com
Social media editor Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com
Jose Brito
Assistant photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com
KRISTEN SPENCER | STAFF REPORTER, 1995
Bobby Cox, The Daily O’Collegian
She Roe, an accounting junior, surfs the internet Monday morning (Nov. 20, 1995) in the computer lab in the Willham Residence Hall.
Kaitlyn Robertson, The O’Colly
A new mural at Chris’ University Spirit celebrates former OSU golfer Viktor Hovland as a reward for winning the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship in March.
The plan she helped make is known as a 504 plan, named after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It ensures that students with disabilities receive the classroom accommodations they need to learn alongside their peers.
An Individualized Education Program, or IEP, is a legally binding plan under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for students who require specialized instruction. Both plans are legally binding and designed to give students equal access to the education they need and deserve. The plans work together and in different ways to ensure students’ accommodations are met in the general education classroom.
IEPs and 504 plans are built on a collaboration between parents, advocacy and educators.
Understanding the system
Stillwater Public Schools currently has 1,096 students with active IEPs and 450 students with 504 plans. The IEPs have increased since last year, but the 504 plans have decreased, said Austin Hula, director of special services. In Perkins-Tryon, there are 287 IEPs and 88 504 plans, both have increased since the previous years.
Hula, who began his career as a special education teacher in Stillwater, said every IEP and 504 plan is tailored to meet the unique needs of each student.
“It’s really a team process,” Hula said. “Our goal in special services is not to be a lifelong solution. We want to meet the kids where they’re at, help them build their skills and then get them back to general education as quickly and effectively as possible.”
He said the process can feel overwhelming, especially for parents new to special education.
“We fully understand it. It’s really scary as a parent when you walk into that IEP or that eligibility meeting and there’s one parent and there’s six other school staff,” Hula said. “Sometimes, unintentionally, that can, if there’s a disagreement, create tension. Our goal is never to create tension, but we understand that happens sometimes.”
These plans aren’t just paperwork; they represent a lifeline for their children’s education and mental health.
Inside the classroom
Hula said teachers play an essential role in ensuring students’ accommodations are implemented correctly.
“Don’t be intimidated by the process,” Hula said. “We really value general education teachers’ input because they see the kids in that setting
News
every day. Their professional expertise matters.”
Managing multiple students with varying accommodations can be difficult, especially at the high school level, Hula said.
“High school teachers might have 20 to 30 kids every hour,” Hula said. “We work with them on finding a system that helps them track who needs what support in their space.”
There are 13 federally defined eligibility categories for IEPs, ranging from learning disabilities to autism. This does not automatically determine the students’ plan.
“A category doesn’t drive placement,” Hula said. “A student might qualify under autism, but that doesn’t mean they follow a specific path. Those needs are individualized for each kid.”
Students with sensory impairments, such as visual or hearing loss, often require more intensive support.
“Our students learning braille aren’t just learning to read, they’re learning an entirely new language,” Hula said. “They might be studying fourth-grade science but still working on firstor second-grade reading and writing skills.”
Advocacy and awareness
Lynn Hodge, former Stillwater special services director and current adjunct professor at Oklahoma State, said parents must understand both IEPs and 504 plans.
“The Rehabilitation Act was passed because of advocacy,” Hodge said. “One’s not more important than the other; they’re both focused on the needs of the child.”
Hodge said that advocacy from families has always driven progress in special education
“Parents are often the first to notice when something isn’t working,” Hodge said. “Their voices are what led to the creation of these protections in the first place.”
Courtney Meyers, a speech-language pathologist and mother of three, has experienced the process as a parent and a professional. Her two sons, Max and Reed, have 504 plans.
“It can be overwhelming at first,” Meyers said. “You want to do what’s best for your child, but it takes time to learn what to ask for and how to communicate that to the school.”
Meyers’ 14-year-old son, Max, has dyslexia, while her younger son, Reed, has ADHD. Both receive classroom accommodations as a part of their 504 plans. She said their plan’s effectiveness often depends on the teacher and the year.
“Some years we feel really supported, other years not as much,” Meyers said. “It’s so dependent on how well the teachers understand and follow through with the accommodations.”
Meyers’ biggest takeaway is that awareness and advocacy are the key.
“You are your child’s advocate, always,” Meyers said. “It was stressful at first, but once we knew what was going on, we could help our kids succeed. That’s what every parent wants.”
Funding and mental health
Funding remains a challenge. Hula said much of Oklahoma’s special education funding is determined by categorical weights, which have not changed in years, even as services have expanded.
Hula said SPS are seeing
an increase in mental health needs.
“Our district has added counseling staff and partnered with community providers,” Hula said. “For many students, school is where they first learn social and emotional skills.”
For Sherri, the progress has been successful.
“Once we figured out what Miles needed, he wasn’t surviving school; he was enjoying it,” Sherri said.
“That’s all any parent wants.”
The big picture
IEPs and 504 plans are more than just legal documents; they are commitments to understanding equality and inclusion. They reflect how families and schools work together to ensure that each kid is included in general education classrooms.
Advocates like Sherri and Meyers talk about how it begins with awareness and communication.
“No one knows your child better than you do,” Meyers said. “When schools and parents work together, that’s when real progress happens.”
THE LORD! (Part #1)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (Jn.14:1 NIV)
Jesus had just told his disciples of his betrayal. He also told to them of his leaving and they could not go with him. I am sure that it seemed to the disciples that everything was “caving in, falling apart.” The future seemed so uncertain. Then Jesus speaks these words; DON’T BE TROUBLED; TRUST ME!
Jesus tells them that he is going to the Father (God) and in his house there is plenty of room. He tells them that he is going to make a place for them all and he will return to take them there. As we look around us there is much uncertainty about this planet that we live on; safety is a premium, and what about when death comes? What is going to happen to you and me? Many are betting on losing consciousness and never
awakening. They live on that assumption. However, Jesus tells us all are going to experience a resurrection from the dead; some to everlasting life and others to be condemned . (Jn.5:28-29, Dan.12:2)
Again, the Lord Jesus makes things clear to his followers: “I am going to my Father’s house to prepare a place for you. I will return to get you and take you to be with me.” when asked about the way to this wonderful place, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No
TRUST
Courtesy Sherri
Miles in the pre-k program at age 3. His mother Sherri made a 504 plan for her son to accommodate his needs.
Lifestyle
Angel Trees return to campus, bring Christmas cheer through service
Raynee Howell
Freshman Sarah Goddard walked across the Student Union Plaza on Wednesday and entered a Christmas wonderland.
Students surrounded two Christmas trees, a hot cocoa station and live reindeer. The Christmas trees had close to 200 Angel Trees hanging from its limbs. Each one contained a list of needs and wants for a child in need of a Christmas gift. Goddard adopted four angels — one for each member of her immediate family.
“For my family, we always give back in some way,” Goddard said. “I absolutely love it… Charity and giving back is one of the biggest things I’m passionate about. So, being able to do that, especially around the holiday season, means a lot.”
Adopting an angel consists of buying the items on the list and returning them to room 211 in the Student Union by Dec. 5. The trees will be relocated to the second floor of the Student Union near the Campus Life offices until each angel is adopted.
The opportunity to shop for children in need during the holidays on Christmas is a longstanding Oklahoma State tradition, inspired by a Salvation Army program. Organizer and coordinator of Student Volunteer Center Haley Osiek said she is unsure of when it started at OSU, but she said it’s important to her that it continues.
“It’s just (about) wrapping our arms around everyone here in Stillwater so that we can come together and help the most amount of people possible,” Osiek said.
Osiek and her team worked with agencies across Stillwater, including the Payne County Youth Shelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Family Resource Center and more to gather the list of names and gift ideas for the angels.
To reach as many people as possible, SVC partnered with the Off-Campus Student Association to plan the Angel Tree Kick-Off, an event that hasn’t fully happened since COVID-19.
“I thought that was a perfect way to collaborate because one of the big emphasis of Off-Campus Student Association is community,” said Alex Comer, adviser for the Off-Campus Student Association. “(Being) active in the community, supporting community members... And so I thought it paired very naturally with what they’re doing with Angel Tree.” Hot cocoa carried over from the previous year, but the Off-Campus Student Association brought its
when he was here to wear the N7 jerseys and just represents Native Americans being on a higher platform for that event, just being recognized.” Lisa Waters said.
separate winter-time tradition, live reindeer, to the event.
The purpose of the event was not only to bring holiday cheer to campus but to also bring awareness to the Angel Trees program. OSU President Jim Hess joined the celebration and adopted trees of his own alongside First Cowgirl Angela Hess.
“I want you to remember, behind every card is a child, a child who needs encouragement, a child who needs support, a child who is leaning on us for a holiday season,” Jim Hess said to the crowd of students and faculty. “And what child does not deserve a great holiday season?”
Jim Hess said giving back to the community aligns with the Cowboy Code pillar on character. Goddard in her first semester at OSU has watched that character shine through. Character she represented when adopting an angel for the first time.
“One of the things that sold me on coming to OSU was the fact that we care so much about those around us and we want to give back to our community,” she said. “Seeing that OSU has this event and so many other events and people actually (are) participating and want to help others, that says a lot about the culture of the people here on campus.”
Osiek and Comer acknowledge some students may not always be able to afford to buy gifts for the angels, but there are alternatives. Comer suggested students form groups or collaborate with their student organizations to each pitch in a few dollars to buy the angel’s items. Osiek said there are volunteering opportunities after the gifts are collected.
“The week of finals is when we’re sorting, we’re doing inventory, which we recognize is a really busy time for students,” Osiek said. “But we also find some students that are like, ‘I had one test on Monday, but I’m not going home until Thursday.’ They’ll come and just help us sort the room for those few days… and students get a lot of joy out of that.”
For the few angels that may not be adopted before Dec. 5, there is a budget set aside to accommodate them. Usually only a handful are leftover, Osiek said, though the goal is for each angel to be adopted.
Students like Goddard who adopted an angel have the same goal as the organizers. To bring joy to a child on Christmas.
“I just hope it makes their Christmas,” Goddard said. “I hope they’re able to use the gifts that they get and that it just brings them a little bit of light, smiles and just a little joy.”
Lindy Waters III was recruited to OSU after playing high school basketball at Norman North High School.
“When Lindy was a high schooler, we were recruiting him here,” said Bradley Lewis, a former graduate assistant working for the OSU men’s basketball team. “I was on the coaching staff, and he committed to Travis Ford, who I worked for at St. Louis as well and ended up staying on with the new staff that came in.”
When Lindy Waters III was in college, he did a lot of unofficial work in basketball camps for Native American youth in Oklahoma, Begay said.
The foundation encourages representation for Native American students — something that is important to Lindy Waters III, said Lisa Waters, his mother and COO of the foundation.
“It (the representation) can make or break a decision for a Native student, depending on their background, where they’re coming from,” Lisa Waters said. “Homesickness is a big thing that deters students from staying on campus, so they might get there on campus and then experience that homesickness, and it’s hard to handle that, and then we lose them as a student.”
The foundation provides scholarships to students. $60,000 was given out in scholarships in the last three years, Lisa Waters said.
“Every senior that participates in that basketball tournament and fills out an application gets a scholarship, and so it’s like an educational component to some of this,” Begay said.
The tour was done in partnership with the foundation’s college prep program to help Native American students interested in applying for college.
“Something that Lindy is always talking about is the talent in Indian country,” Begay said “Especially in the basketball world. I was like ‘Well that doesn’t help if they don’t fill out the college application.’”
Fifty high school students came to tour the campus and attend the N7 basketball game against Texas A&MCorpus Christi on Sunday. N7 is Nike’s way of representing Native American tribes on college campuses, especially through its N7 jerseys.
Having the tour on N7 night was a highlight for the students as the night recognized Native American tribes. The halftime show featured Iowa Tribe citizens performing Indigenous dances in traditional attire.
“Well, it was important for my son
The foundation partnered with the Native American Student Association to help the students learn about OSU more from a Native American Student. NASA brought six students to the tour including its Vice President Rodney Stryker.
“We invited some of the NASA students to be with us today, so that our high school students can see these college students that are here, these Native students... they’re making it, and you know we want our high school students to know that they can too,” Lisa Waters said.
Miss American Indian OSU Cydnee Miller was there with NASA to speak to the students about her time at OSU as an accounting and finance double major.
The tour held importance outside of representation of Native Americans for the foundation; it was just as important to bring students to a college campus.
“It would be cool to continue that every year, just to make sure kids get on a college campus and never been on a college campus, and then to be at one that does have a good representation for Native Americans is also important for them, and this school has that,” Lisa Waters said.
Starting at Gallagher-Iba Arena, the tour showed students a behind-thescenes look at parts of the university. The students got a chance to see the men’s locker room and the weight room and track the team uses beneath GIA.
Next spot was the Student Union where the NASA students spoke about what university is like and what is offered at the union. After that, the tour stopped outside of the Edmon Low Library where NASA members were able to talk about what they do and the benefits of being involved with NASA.
“But now you come to this club you have all the people that know how to sing, they know their culture, and that’s good. Think it’s important to keep these cultures around, because it’s not gone,” Stryker said.
The tour was also done during Native American Heritage Month, a month dedicated to celebrating the history and traditions of Native American tribes. The N7 program is a part of the way that representation is seen through the university.
“We didn’t have it for a couple years, but now it’s back,” Lewis said. “It’s huge. It means a lot to those high schoolers, and it gives them a little spotlight... to natives in this state, so it’s a great way to represent them.”
Taylor Tiberg, The O’Colly
An Oklahoma State student looks for Angel Trees to adopt at the Angel Tree Kick-Off.
Lifestyle
OSU student reflects on ‘American Idol’ journey
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Skylie Thompson used to pretend to audition for “American Idol” in her living room with her parents as judges.
Now, she has auditioned for the show twice, and it’s intertwined itself into her music journey.
Thompson is a senior at Oklahoma State, but before she stepped onto campus, she auditioned for “American Idol” at 17. She didn’t make it past the first TV audition.
“I didn’t make it to Hollywood when I was 17, and I cried,” Thompson said. “And they aired it on national television.”
The crying didn’t last, though. Thompson picked herself back up and continued to work on her music career. She performed several solo shows in Stillwater. Three years later, she decided to audition again in early 2025.
Thompson said she felt she might have a better chance with Carrie Underwood, an Oklahoma native, as a judge.
“Carrie Underwood came up, and I was like, that’s perfect,” she said. “I’m from Oklahoma, she’s from Oklahoma, like maybe it’ll be better. And my brother just pretty much called me a sissy for not going back.”
In her second audition, Thompson received three “yes’s” and secured a golden ticket to go to Hollywood. The judges at first were questioning her emotional connection to the songs, but when Thompson said she felt she would start crying if she fully let herself feel it, Underwood related to her.
“Carrie Underwood was like, ‘I was kind of that way… in Oklahoma, they kind of tell you to put your feelings back… don’t really express yourself as much, and I had to kind of learn that in Hollywood week,’” Thompson said. “And then Lionel Richie had turned to her and was like, ‘because you said that, I’m hopeful and I’m going to say yes.’”
The experience was like no other for Thompson. She said she’s never been to a place with so many creative individuals who were passionate about the same thing.
“It’s a really weird place to be in because the amount of talent that was in Hollywood was insane,” Thompson said. “They have everyone sitting around watching for two days straight. It’s just performance after performance, after performance, and you’re watching your competition. And so I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Man, I’m going home,’ like these people are insane.”
Thompson survived the first couple of rounds of Hollywood. She sang “Heads Carolina, Tails California” in the showstopper round before being eliminated.
Although her Idol journey was over, she made several friends and remembers earning a standing ovation from her fellow contestants.
After the elimination, the waiting game to hear whether she was going to air began.
“You’re just kind of sitting and waiting, and they don’t tell you if you’re gonna air until like two weeks prior to it actually airing,” Thompson said. “So it’s just a waiting game and that’s not very fun because you are really hoping that you air.”
Thompson’s second journey through “American Idol” did not make it to the big screen, but she had her confidence tested and learned some valuable lessons.
“Music is so subjective,” Thompson said. “Everyone’s going to have a different opinion on you and if I was making music for other people, I would have to release like 800,000 versions of my song just to please everybody. I learned a lot about my confidence from it.”
Being in a reality TV show, even in a competition-style
format, is an experience that causes heightened stress and emotions, Thompson said. She said you can only understand it when you’re in it.
Marc Marcuse, the president of Reel Management, has helped young stars navigate life after being on a reality TV show as it can have psychological effects.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in that time of your life where you don’t know quite who you are yet, and you’re sort of trying to figure out your future and rectify that with your past,” Marcuse said. “That’s a very tenuous time where you don’t know who you are too well, and you’re trying to figure it out. When being on a show comes into the mix at that point, you’re now given something on a plate that feels real and feels permanent, and in most cases, it is not.”
Thompson remembers feeling as though the
competition would dictate the next step in her career and life. That paired with the stress of auditioning and performing for stars created a unique environment Thompson had never been in before.
“When you are in it, it feels like your whole life is riding on it,” Thompson said. “It feels way bigger than maybe it is, but at the end of the day, it can change your life. Did American Idol change my life? Probably not, but it had the opportunity to fully flip it around.”
Thompson graduates in May and plans to have an EP or album out in summer 2026. She said she may even move to Nashville after graduation to continue to pursue her passion. Her released music can be found on all platforms under Skylie Thompson.
“If it is God’s will for me, I will give it all that I got,” Thompson said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Music duo juggles college life, making music
Mesis STAFF REPORTER
Juggling classes and social life is hard enough for most students, but some take it further with work or extra-curriculars... others take it even further and play in musical festivals.
Ella Poe and Macy Lambert just played Oct. 3 in Shreveport, Louisiana, at the 49th edition of the Red River Revel musical festival, a celebration of the arts from Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.
“Playing the festival was fun,” Poe said. “We did one day and two nights at the festival and had a great time at the performances. Our favorite was the second night that we did; it felt the best.”
At the festival, the duo, who perform as Ella & Macy, played their new album “Self Sabotage” that was released July 25.
This album is a Paramoreinspired album that they said is inspired by the feeling of “not getting out of your own way.”
The group has been singing together since high school and have continued at Oklahoma State. Although, finding the time to make music while they’ve been here has been a struggle. Between classes for both, choir and jobs finding time to be able to make music has been few and far between.
‘“We thought that living together we’d have more time to write music, but we actually don’t; getting our schedules to line up has been a struggle,” Poe said. “When one of us is free the other has work to do, so we spend a lot of time on the weekends and over breaks working on the music.”
The pair has been putting music out since 2021 and plans to continue to through college. They also have ideas about remastering old albums they’ve released.
The group is looking to expand from just two singers into getting an actual band together.
“We’re looking to get a band together here,” Poe said. “It would open up the shows that we can play.”
While at OSU it has brought some changes to how they make music and the roles each one holds behind the scenes.
“We’ve actually started to get into each other’s roles normally Macy writes our songs and I (Ella) produced the beat but that started to flip after being here,” Poe said.
The duo has also started to find its own groove in the musicmaking process since being at OSU.
“A lot of our older music is heavily inspired by songs that we like and sometimes you can hear that but we’ve started to figure out what we want our sound to be,” Poe says.
With Thanksgiving and winter break on the horizon, the band hopes to be able to have time to put out new music.
“I’ve gotten better at using a camera from my classes and hope that we can use that to make some music videos,” Poe said. “We have two music videos out already, ‘Autumn Show’ and ‘Still With Me,’ and we hope to get a few more out.”
The duo plans to continue to grow their music following and plan to continue to put out music and play in festivals nearby.
Courtesy Ella Poe
Ella Poe and Macy Lambert posing for their “Self Sabotage” album cover.
Raynee Howell, The O’Colly
Skylie Thompson has played multiple shows in Stillwater, including a charity concert called Jammin’ at the Weed in February.
Marcus
The Master of Business Administration Association is expanding its partnership with The Eddie Sutton Foundation to host the 2025 Toy Drive for Cowboys vs Cancer at Oklahoma State from Monday through Dec. 5 to benefit Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa.
Anyone can bring toys to the dropoff location at the Watson Graduate School of Management office and in the General Academic Business HR room 201.
“We’re collecting a bunch of toys for all age ranges,” said Natalie Friend, MBAA president. “Then we’ll be dropping them at the hospital to the kids who are staying there for the holidays, or even kids who have maybe finished their cancer treatment, depending on the volume of toys that we get. It’s just a way to encourage them and let them know that they’re seen and be able to support them through the journey and same for their parents and siblings.”
Friend said there is also potential for bigger boxes to be added to the set locations on campus because of its partnership with Greek life as they hope for this to be a big thing campus wide.
Friend said that while the MBAA has partnered with The Eddie Sutton Foundation for at least 10 years to host the families that are a part of the Cowboys vs. Cancer program for OSU’s annual homecoming parade, this year
it felt as if that wasn’t enough.
Kendria Cost, co-president of The Eddie Sutton Foundation, said the foundation is a group of dedicated volunteers who really have a heart for children going through pediatric cancer.
She said if students have ideas about what they should do and how they should do it, they welcome that.
“We were previously affiliated with The American Cancer Society under the Coaches vs Cancer program,” Cost said “And so, in true Cowboy fashion, our program extended to all sports, not just specifically basketball.”
The program, now known as Cowboys vs Cancer, hosts children at a variety of OSU sporting events and does hospital visits as well. Creating The Eddie Sutton Foundation was a nod toward the late OSU men’s basketball coach, Eddie Sutton, who founded Coaches vs Cancer.
Cost said it has been awesome to work with the MBA Association and see students become involved and engaged in a cause that is so important to each of them.
She also said that the foundation is relationship-based as once they connect with the families, they become a part of their family. The benefit of the program is to help the children in need and “make their days just a little bit brighter.”
“We all have a personal connection, and so I think for each of us, it just makes it so much more meaningful.”
Cost said.
As a Democrat in a Republican supermajority, her success thus far has not come without hardship.
“I think you have to decide what winning looks like,” Ranson said. “I’m not going to get a lot of legislation passed, however, that’s not really my focus. My focus is to make sure that whatever legislation is passed, that it has been challenged, that it has been looked at, that it has been questioned, and that the policy that goes through is beneficial to all Oklahomans.”
Since Ranson stepped foot in office, she said she has remained dedicated to making sure Stillwater has a voice at the capitol. She’s able to do that because she lives in Stillwater among her constituents.
Avery McIntyre, president of the OSU College Democrats, is from the Stillwater area and knew Ranson before she became her field intern during the last election cycle.
“We’ve known her for a long time, and then when I came to college, she really mentored me and a number of other students and helped us to find our place and support us,” McIntyre said. “She really cares deeply about the voice that young people can offer in politics and loves to sit down and have conversations.”
The three main issues Ranson’s campaign focuses on — healthcare, education and equal opportunity — affect every person in District 34. She said all three are connected and important for the betterment of the community.
“Education is linked to health,” Ranson said. “If we’re healthy, we can learn. If we’re healthy, we can work… And then equal opportunity and the ability for every Oklahoman to be able to to step up, to show up, to do the work they need to do, is important. We shouldn’t be saying, ‘Oh, well, we don’t want you here, or we don’t like you, so therefore, if you don’t have as many rights as anybody else,’ That’s not the American way.”
Ranson said although Oklahoma may be at the bottom of several national rankings, there is room for growth and progress. She said older generations often show up for
elections but she wants the younger generation, including Oklahoma State students in Stillwater, to get involved as well.
During the last election cycle, the OSU College Democrats helped Ranson during her campaign. The club also educated members and other college students about the voting process through campus meetings.
“We help every election cycle, getting out and knocking doors, as well as doing volunteer phone banking, post card writing wherever we can try and help fill volunteer gaps,” McIntyre said. “And so it’s been a really great experience for our members because they have the opportunity to get experience and help out in a place that they call home.”
McIntryre acted as a liaison between Ranson’s campaign team and the club. This year, she will continue her work, but as Ranson’s campaign manager. By the time the general election rolls around, McIntyre will have graduated from OSU, but she has high hopes for the future of OSU College Democrats’ involvement.
“Whoever steps into the leadership positions in the spring, when we have our elections is ultimately steering the ship in terms of what the volunteer engagement and coordination looks like,” McIntrye said. “And I’m really hopeful that whoever steps into that role is going to be open to partnering with us, and I think that we have some really great members on our exec team right now who may be interested in stepping into that role.”
Ranson encourages all college students, regardless of political affiliation, to learn more about local politics and get involved. Even as a college student who may be a temporary resident, the results of a vote can set the path forward for the next two to four years, Ranson said.
“You spent nine months of the year in the state of Oklahoma in Stillwater, you should register to vote, because then that way, you’re going to be more likely to vote on election day than you would if you had to vote by mail or if you had to return home to go vote,” Ranson said. “The elections that we vote on that are closer to us, the closer the person that you’re voting for lives to you, the more impact it has on your life.”
Megan Gibson, The O’Colly
The Cowboys vs. Cancer toy drive donation box is located in the graduate student lounge in the Spears business school in room 022.
Courtesy Trish Ranson/AJ Stegall Photography Trish Ranson served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for four consecutive terms. OSU College Democrats often volunteer during her re-election campaigns.
Lifestyle
The Coffee House pours into community one cup at a time
Only a block away from the Oklahoma State campus, The Coffee House, a nonprofit that intends to make a difference through its mission of combining Jesus, hospitality and coffee, welcome those near and far.
Owned by The University Heights Baptist Church, the coffee shop originally began as a place to invite and help transition international students, first named The International Coffee House before closing down for some years. However, it reopened in 2008 as The Coffee House everyone knows today.
Manager Anne Lawson said The Coffee House is owned and operated by the church as a ministry outreach.
“We’re just an extension — an olive branch from the church and we work as a ministry,” Lawson said. “We visit with the students that come in here, when their parents come in we visit with them.”
From studying students to ladies who come to sit and knit, The Coffee House intends to serve as a ministry to all.
Lawson said The Coffee House was strictly ran by volunteers as it first began by a youth minister who happened to like coffee. A Keurig and drip coffee was all they had with not one paid worker.
The Coffee House chooses four organizations each semester to donate to and each organization gets an even amount of proceeds at the end of each academic term.
People from any organization can call or message and ask for a donation.
However, The Coffee House is used for more than a warm drink going into fall.
“We do a lot of bridal showers and baby showers,” Lawson said.
“We do have several different groups that rent areas of the facility for different Bible studies — and just different activities.”
A professor in the chemistry department even hosts weekly office hours, along with a French teacher who has his students come in and speak strictly in French as an assignment and afterward will buy them coffee.
University Heights Baptist Church even hosts free lunch every Sunday for college students after service at 11:30 a.m. and have had a minimum of 75 students almost every Sunday this semester.
Lawson said they try their best to interact and make connections with each customer or write little notes on their cups to give words of encouragement to brighten someone’s day.
She said it’s certainly a benefit being so close to campus, especially during game days, orientation or simply visiting, which gives them
a chance to speak to parents about the mission of the church and the university.
The church has a university committee that helps out anytime its needed. Whether its with expresso beans, equipment, maintenance or even stopping by to grab a coffee on occasion.
The Coffee House also offers students volunteer opportunities with no prior experience needed. All that’s required is an email or if someone has a couple hours open in their day. Volunteers are allowed a free drink and are able to do homework while volunteering as well.
Lily Bull, an OSU student, has worked for The Coffee House since her freshman year and said she invites other pre-med students who need volunteer hours.
She said working for The Coffee House has helped her become a leader and prepare her professionally to go into the medical field by helping others and interviewing as she plans to go to physician’s assistant school.
Bull said the job allowed her to find a community and strengthen her faith.
All in all, The Coffee House welcomes a variety of guests from students, OSU faculty, church members and more.
Lawson said even if they just reach one person, that’s the whole point of The Coffee House.
news.ed@ocolly.com
OSU students, community walk against tobacco
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State did its annual Gobble Wobble walk to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, encourage people to quit and celebrate those who have.
The 1-mile walk around the campus was the main event for the push against tobacco use.
Open to OSU students and members of the Stillwater community, the event was meant to bring people together.
It was a part of the larger Great American Smoke out that is put on by the American Cancer Society.
“We kind of go into the physical activity aspect, and so part of participating in the event is that you go on a one mile walk around campus,” said Ryan Draper, assistant director of Campus Wellness in the department of wellness “So just promoting connection with your peers, moving your body throughout the day and the education piece around the (use of) tobacco.”
Community involvement is a large part of the event as many community members come out to support and participate in the event.
“Oklahoma State University, obviously, we are our own community, but we are also part of a much larger community here in Stillwater and just the overall state of Oklahoma. And so you think about our land-grant mission and the things that we’re really trying to achieve as an institution, being able to support the initiative of a larger organization is really important to us as well,” Draper said.
Many of the people from the community that participated in the event had family members that had negative health effects from the use of tobacco.
Around 480,000 people die from the use of cigarettes every year and people who smoke die roughly 10 years earlier than those who don’t, according to the American Cancer Society.
“I’ve had many friends die with either emphysema or esophagus cancer from smoking, even if they smoked years ago, it comes back to haunt them,” said Debra Higgins, Stillwater resident.
The event also encourages healthy exercise.
“I’m really excited so I can come and enjoy time with my coworker and get some exercise from being out of the office,” said Angela Welch, Stillwater resident.
This year’s Gobble Wobble walk was the 10th annual walk. The OSU Department of Wellness looks forward to it each year, Draper said.
“I think it’s an important way that the community gets together, and it involves something that everybody can get involved,” said Giullana Gonzalez, an OSU student.
The walk was led by a person in a giant turkey costume that was loved by the people that participated in the walk.
“I love it (the turkey costume). It’s absolutely awesome,” said Lauren Steele.
news.ed@ocolly.com
‘The Running Man’ outruns its own pace
Caden James STAFF REPORTER
The concept in “The Running Man” is interesting on paper, at least the way Stephen King wrote it.
How it was executed in movie form, however, turned the story into what is known as a “popcorn movie.” It’s entertaining, but when you think a little deeper you realize how much of it falls apart.
The plot follows a man joining a deadly game show to earn money for
his sick daughter. He has to run for his life to avoid people trying to kill him. That’s not the main problem.
Production is where this movie lacked.
The worst part of the film by far is its score. It blends into the background so much it feels more like white noise.
It’s such a shame seeing this from Edgar Wright, the man that made “Scott Pilgrim” and “Baby Driver;” two movies with amazing soundtracks.
The pacing is another flaw. The worst example is when they introduce a character, give him backstory in next
scene and then immediately kill him, leaving the crowd barely anytime to connect to the character.
The actors gave a good performance, though, with Glen Powell portraying Ben Richard with such anger that even Stephen King commented on it in USA TODAY.
“I bet he really enjoyed getting that part of him on screen,” King said “It’s interesting to see that anger channeled for a new generation, because I’m not that guy anymore. I still have some antisocial characteristics, but I’m not
angry the way that I was.”
Another good performance, Colman Domingo, played Bobby Thompson who was a a fun TV host who had a lot of charisma, even when antagonizing the main character.
This movie does enough to where it’s not mediocre but only barely scrapes the surface on its potential. If you just want to be entertained, this is for you, but if you’re a fan of Edgar Wright’s work, “The Running Man” isn’t close to his others.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Caleson Coon STAFF REPORTER
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly
A volunteer at the Coffee House pulling an espresso shot.
Lifestyle
the OSU Shotgun Club Visits colorado for shooting competition
Needing help during Thanksgiving break
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 colhighguy@yahoo.com
Oklahoma State Shotgun Club after the first day of shooting at Pikes Peak Gun Range on Nov. 15.
Shotgun Club Vice President Thomas Rutkouskie shooting trap at a two-day competition.
Shotgun Club Member Aaron Chesnut waiting his turn at a skeet shooting event.
Shotgun Club Secretary Tucker Colby shooting a shotgun while Social Media Manager Aaron Broyles and President Kayla Workman watch.
The Shotgun Club Cocial Media Manager Aaron Broyles fist-bumping Shotgun Club President Kayla Workman after she shot at Pikes Peak Gun Range in Colorado.
Photos by Lilian Easter, The O’Colly
Friday, November 21, 2025
Connor Fuxa, The O’Colly
‘A point guard’s dream’
REPORTER
Amari Whiting saw the Cowgirl culture from day one.
When Oklahoma State hosted its 2025 NCAA Tournament Reveal Watch Party on March 16, Whiting, who had just entered the transfer portal, was in attendance.
Now, fast forward to today, and Whiting is a catalyst in the Cowgirls’ lineup.
In her two years at Brigham Young University, Whiting showcased her defensive ability, forcing 110 steals in her time as a Cougar.
While Whiting caused chaos on the defensive end, OSU
Why Meacham
will
coach Jacie Hoyt found an instant connection with her point guard, as she has gotten into a bigger role in Stillwater.
“We’ve been able to really earn trust with one another as time has gone on,” Hoyt said. “She has seen that a lot of the things I’m telling her are helping her.”
See WHITING on page 4B
OSU heads West
Fresh off a 3–1 showing and a third-place finish at the National Duals Invitational, No. 4 Oklahoma State will head west for its first true road stretch of the season, taking on Air Force on Friday before traveling to Tempe, Arizona, for a Sunday dual against Arizona State.
OSU coach David Taylor said last weekend’s duals provided meaningful clarity, both in the areas where the Cowboys excelled and where they still need to grow.
“I think there were a lot of really good takeaways,” Taylor said. “Just gives us some clarity on some areas that we’ve got to work on with our team… a lot of really good stuff from this weekend. And we’ll just keep getting better.”
The Cowboys enter the weekend 4–1, their only loss a razor-close 18–16 semifinal to Iowa. The lineup has taken shape quickly, blending experienced returners with fast-rising freshmen who continued to build momentum at National Duals.
The event forced OSU through four duals in two days, but Taylor wasn’t concerned about the team’s ability to bounce back.
See WEST on page 3B
team
Doug Meacham cracked open a can of Diet Pepsi, approached the podium and gathered his thoughts.
The Oklahoma State interim football coach was more emotional than usual in his postgame press conference after the Cowboys suffered a close 14-6 loss to Kansas State on Saturday and were a couple of plays away from potentially picking up a win.
It was another unwanted outcome for Meacham, of course, though not for anything to do with himself — that’s why it hit a bit harder.
“You just want it so bad for these kids,” Meacham said. “You gotta look them in the eye every day, and they go to it and they work hard. They believe what you tell them. You sell them on an idea and a scheme, they believe in you, and you go out there and you fall short. It’s like, eventually, it kind of wears you out.”
For Meacham, he still senses unwavered passion and fight in the majority of his players despite the way their season has gone. It’s a daily reminder of why he badly wants to reward that fight, and why this group will stay with him long beyond the season.
Cayden Cox STAFF
OSU guard Amari Whiting is in her first season as a Cowgirl after transferring from BYU.
Weston Wertzberger STAFF REPORTER
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly OSU will look to improve to 6-1 this weekend.
Little, The O’Colly Despite a losing season, Cowboy players have continued to “fight,” which has stood out to interim coach Doug Meacham.
Kaytlyn Hayes, The O’Colly
Casey Swiderski attempting to take down Cornell’s Jaxon Joy in session one.
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly
Landon Robideau wrestling against Nebraska’s Dez Garterall in session six.
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly
Zach Ryder holds third-place trophy during the placing ceremony.
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly Konnor Doucet receives a win against.
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly Cody Merrill receives a win against Cornell.
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly Sergio Vega receives a win against Cornell.
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly Casey Swiderski recieves a win.
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly
The Oklahoma State team receives the third-place trophy of the National Duals tournament at BOK Center in Tulsa after defeating Cornell, NC State and Nebraska.
Kaytlyn Hayes, The O’Colly
Troy Spratley taking down NC State’s Vincent Robinson in session three.
Kaytlyn Hayes, The O’Colly
Alex Facundo wrestling neutral against Cornell’s Simon Ruiz in session one.
will be a good opportunity to go out and wrestle again… they’re expecting a pretty good crowd.”
Ramirez, Vega leading OSU freshmen surge
Oklahoma State left the National Duals Invitational with more clarity at several weights, but no storyline stands out more than the emergence of true freshman Ronnie Ramirez at 133 pounds.
Ramirez didn’t wrestle in the opener against Cornell, but once inserted, he delivered one of the weekend’s biggest surprises.
The true freshman went 2–1 with two impressive decision wins — a 4–2 upset over No. 18 Zach Redding of NC State and a dominant 9–3 performance against Nebraska’s Kale Lauridsen.
His lone loss came in sudden victory to Iowa’s No. 2 Drake Ayala, where he pushed a national-title contender to overtime.
Inside the room, his teammates weren’t shocked by the breakout.
“(Ramirez) is just as good as any of us,” 157-pounder Landon Robideau said. “I think now he believes a little bit more… this was his first big match in a big arena. I think it’s good for him to get that match, and I think he realizes how good he actually is.”
OSU coach David Taylor echoed the confidence but said he’s in no rush to announce a permanent starter between Ramirez and returning AllAmerican Richard Figueroa.
“We’ll see, I guess,” Taylor said. “It’s a little bit like 133 last year — we’ve got two good guys there. We’ll kind of see how things continue to materialize. Never going to really give opponents something to get ready for. Get ready for both. They’re both really freaking good.”
Freshmen trio joins top of rankings
Few teams in the country are getting more production out of freshmen than the Cowboys.
In the first three weeks of the season, Sergio Vega (141), Landon Robideau (157) and LaDarion Lockett
(165) all climbed from unranked to No. 2 in their respective weight classes — a meteoric rise that reflects both their talent and the workload they’ve embraced. Their success, Taylor said, comes from a shared mindset — one that’s raising the standard inside the room.
“We had some young kids step up in big moments,” Taylor said. “There are going to be times the older guys have to step up too… then there are times we’re all going to do it and take a really big jump.”
Lockett said the group feels the momentum building.
“I think that it’s going to boost our team’s confidence, and now we have something to work for,” Lockett said. “This weekend, we thought we were the top dogs, and now we have to go catch some people.”
Vega, in particular, has made an impact with the way he trains and competes.
“He’s really comfortable in those positions, and he’s doing that to our guys in the room,” Taylor said. “He’s challenging them so they’re ready for that kind of stuff.”
Vega tabbed OSU’s third straight Big 12 Wrestler of the Week
After a 4–0 weekend at the National Duals Invitational, true freshman Vega earned the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week honor, giving OSU its third straight weekly winner, all freshmen. It is the first time in conference history that freshmen from the same program have won the award in three consecutive weeks.
Vega’s résumé from the event was staggering: wins over three All-Americans (Nassir Bailey, Ryan Jack, and three-time All-American Brock Hardy), including a 13–2 major decision over Hardy — who hadn’t surrendered bonus points in any of his 31 matches last season.
Five matches into his college career, Vega owns wins over the No. 2, 7 and 9 wrestlers in the country.
“It’s just college wrestling,” Taylor said. “These kids have been wrestling their entire lives… you’re going to be banged up. It’s like wrestling at the Big 12 tournament and shortly after that getting ready for the national tournament.
“For our team this year it was really good.”
OSU leads Air Force in the all-time series at 6–0 and is 3–0 in Colorado Springs, outscoring the Falcons 237–40 since their first meeting in 2007. This marks the fifth meeting since 2019, and the Cowboys dominated last year’s dual, 43–6.
Air Force brings a young roster with several interchangeable spots, though OSU will be a heavy favorite across most weights. The Falcons’ strongest position is 197 pounds, where No. 31 Karson Tompkins is projected to face OSU’s No. 9 Cody Merrill.
Taylor said he’s just as eager for the environment as he is for the competition.
“To go to a military academy is pretty special,” Taylor said. “Air Force
OSU holds a commanding 41–4 series lead over Arizona State (0-2) and hasn’t lost to the Sun Devils since 1993. The Cowboys have won 21 straight meetings and outscored ASU 61–15 in the last two duals, including a 33–6 victory last season.
Despite ASU’s slow start, its lineup features ranked threats — No. 4 Kaleb Larkin at 149, No. 17 Nicco Ruiz at 165 and No. 23 David Szuba at heavyweight. The middleweights, particularly 157–174, are where ASU tends to fluctuate most in performance and matchups.
Taylor said OSU’s approach won’t shift based on past results.
“You can’t look ahead; You’ve got to stay in the moment,” Taylor said.
“Going down to Arizona State, they have some pretty good guys that we’ve got to get ready for.”
The Cowboys’ coach is also looking forward to what the trip means for team chemistry.
“They’re a bunch of goofballs — really good energy,” Taylor said.
“You learn a lot about your team on trips like this… It’s a good bonding experience.”
Bailey Schmitz, The O’Colly
David Taylor said he expects to ‘learn a lot’ about his team on their road trip.
Weston Wertzberger STAFF REPORTER
Kaytlyn Hayes, The O’Colly
Ronnie Ramirez earned wins against NC State and Nebraska at National Duals.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Fuxa, The O’Colly Amari
is averaging a career-high 11 points.
With an offensive-minded coach in Hoyt, Whiting has taken the role of leading the Cowgirls’ offense, not only as a facilitator but also as a scorer. Having a fast-paced offense and a coach that buys into that mindset has been a dream come true for Whiting.
“It’s been a point guard’s dream,” Whiting said. “I feel like we like to play fast and aggressive.”
After a slow start, Whiting has grown comfortable in the new system and with new players around her. She has been able to take what Hoyt has given her and run with it, leading the up-tempo, high-powered scoring attack from OSU.
With seven Cowgirls averaging double-digits, Whiting has been able to facilitate the offense with ease and has seen her work with her coach pay off.
“(Working with) Jacie, from the beginning, (it was) always pushing the ball whenever I can,” Whiting said. “When I can push the ball and spray out, I just know it’s an automatic bucket.”
Pushing the ball inside has allowed Whiting to be in a position for missed shots. In OSU’s second game against East Texas A&M, she grabbed a team-high four offensive rebounds and helped lead the Cowgirls’ offense to 23 second-chance points.
Improving on offense has just bolstered Whiting’s game, as she has also improved defensively. With OSU implementing a full-court press style defense, Whiting has been the leader of the defense. Whiting has brought energy to the defensive side of the court, as she leads the team in steals with 17 and has forced several five-second and 10-second violations with her aggressive defensive efforts.
When the Cowgirls dug a deep hole against St. John’s, Whiting led the defensive surge, as OSU forced 19 Red Storm turnovers and she recorded a career-high six steals.
“We identified her as being a great defender for us and really leading the charge for us on that end of the floor,” Hoyt said. “She has definitely set the tone there.”
While Whiting is living the point guard’s dream now, it wasn’t always easy.
After two seasons in Provo, where she ran the offense for the whole game, she joined the Cowgirls, who already had Jadyn Wooten at the point guard position.
Despite playing the same position, Whiting learned how to balance her game with Wooten and find her role on the Cowgirls’ roster.
“I think she’s feeling really confident in why we brought her here,” Hoyt said. “I think sometimes when you’re going to a team that has a lot of great players like we have, it can be kind of hard to find your spot and figure out what your role is going to be.”
With Wooten running the offense for parts of the game, Whiting has been able to play off the ball and improve her shooting. She’s one of the seven Cowgirls who are averaging double-digits, and has increased her numbers from a year ago. At BYU, Whiting averaged 10.3 points; now that number has jumped to 11, despite having two games where she has only taken five shots.
Playing off the ball has allowed for Whiting to take more efficient shots. Her shooting percentage is up more than 15%, even though she’s attempted three fewer shots a game.
In OSU’s six games, Whiting has shot 50% or better from the field in five of the six games and has turned into a weapon offensively.
“She’s scoring it really well right now,” Hoyt said. “I think she’s realizing the power of having so many weapons around her. She’s realizing the power of playing off the ball.”
With a talented group of players around her, Whiting has filled a new role well and has grown her game working with Hoyt.
“I feel like I’ve seen the game in a different way,” Whiting said. “It’s been a dream.”
Clary, Miller lead Cowboys past USF to stay unbeaten
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
It didn’t come easy, but Oklahoma State punched its way to a lead in the second half and never looked back.
The Cowboys hosted South Florida on Wednesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena and found themselves down by as many as 13 in the first half. But just like it has in most games, the OSU offense had too much shot-making for its opponent to beat, leading the Cowboys to a comeback 103-95 win against the Bulls.
The win put OSU at 5-0 on the season and marked the third time this season the Cowboys scored more than 90 points.
“Sometimes, better offense beats better defense, right?” OSU coach Steve Lutz said. “... Having a lot of (offensive) options is good. We’ve got to continue to figure out our roles. We’ve got to continue to figure out our substitution patterns and we’ve got to figure out the best way for us to be successful.”
OSU trailed 45-44 at halftime after cutting into a 44-31 deficit with a 13-1 run to close the first half. The highlight of the run came when guard Anthony Roy hit a 3-pointer with 1:09 left, then stole the ball on the next play and took it coast-to-coast for an and-1 layup.
And with 19 seconds left in the opening half, forward Christian Coleman scored an and-1 layup of his own to cap off the run that sparked OSU going into halftime. A 13-point Bulls lead was quickly turned on its head.
Then, the Cowboys stifled USF early in the second half and shot 66.7% from the field. They took an 11-point lead at the 11:39 mark and held onto the advantage the rest of the way for the win.
“I felt like for us to continue to grow, we needed to fight our way out of it,” Lutz said. “And I thought that those guys did that.”
Clary, Miller lead offense
The Cowboys had 19 assists as a team, but one man was responsible for 11 of them.
OSU guard Kanye Clary constantly sliced through the USF defense and generated several open looks both in the interior and from outside — his first assist was on the Cowboys’ second bucket of the game, a transition pass to Vyctorius Miller, who threw down a powerful dunk.
Clary’s 11 dimes were a part of his near triple-double performance. The 6-foot guard also scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
With OSU leading only by one point, Clary knocked down a 3 with 13:58 left to give the Cowboys a four-point lead. Then, at the 12:33 mark, he hit another outside shot before scoring a layup nearly a minute later to give OSU a 10-point cushion. His creativity as a scorer and facilitator was key for the Cowboys in a matchup against another potent offense.
“(I was) just reading the feel of the game, the flow of the game,” Clary said. “I’m trying to get my teammates involved and fit in where I can. That was my mentality today.”
The dunk Miller threw down off of Clary’s pass marked two of the seven points Miller scored by himself before USF or any other Cowboy got on the board. Miller also hit a 3-point shot and stepped inside for an easy mid-range jumper in that stretch, a sign he was on pace for another big scoring night.
Miller finished with a teamhigh 24 points and grabbed five rebounds, giving the former LSU guard his third 20-plus point game in an OSU uniform. Through five games, Miller is averaging 20.6 points and has yet to shoot below 50%.
Defensive improvement
At Lutz’s preseason media availability one day before the Cowboys started practice for this season, the second-year coach said defense is where OSU had the most room for growth.
Five games into this season, Lutz still holds the same thought.
On Wednesday, USF jumped out to that 13-point lead by gashing the Cowboys’ defense for looks at the rim, which also opened up 3-point shots. In less than minutes, USF guard CJ Brown easily drove to the basket twice for a pair of layups, while the Bulls also knocked down a 3 in that span. The USF lead then grew from 30-25 to 41-28. And while the Cowboys responded with a late first-half run of their own, Lutz wants to see his players give up fewer easy opportunities.
“You’re gonna (hear me continue) to gripe about our defense,” Lutz said. “We’ve got to get better defensively. We just can’t allow people to shoot open 3s when we know they’re great 3-point shooters, and we can’t continue to allow people to beat us off the bounce.”
The Cowboys’ next four games are against Nicholls, Northwestern, Sam Houston and Grand Canyon.
Sam Houston is averaging 82.3 points through its first four games, and Northwestern, who OSU plays on Thanksgiving, is averaging 89 — that set of games will offer the Cowboys some good tests defensively.
“We’re 5-0, and we’ve got a heck of a ball team that I think can do big things this year if we’ll continue to grow on the defensive end,” Lutz said.
“That pretty much goes to visual reps,” Miller said. “I like to do a lot of visual reps. And I knew when I came out there (today), I was on straight timing.”
Connor
Whiting
Chance Marick, The O’Colly Oklahoma State guard Kanye Clary was three rebounds shy of a triple double against South Florida.
Blackmon was a no-brainer; Who could OSU honor next?
While the Oklahoma State football team’s struggles continued Saturday, fans who purchased a ticket did get an extra treat.
At halftime of the Cowboys’ 14-6 loss to Kansas State, former standout wide receiver Justin Blackmon was inducted into the OSU football Ring of Honor, celebrating his brilliance with a stamp of his name and jersey number atop Boone Pickens Stadium. Blackmon joined Thurman Thomas, Barry Sanders, Terry Miller, Bob Fenimore and Leslie O’Neal.
Blackmon has a case for the best wideout in college football history — he had back-to-back Biletnikoff Award-winning seasons in 2010 and 2011 and is a two-time All-American.
He finished his OSU career with 3,564 yards and 40 touchdowns and is one of only two players to win the Biletnikoff twice, the other being Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree.
“I’d say in my career, (Blackmon is the) best receiver I’ve ever been around,” OSU interim coach Doug Meacham said.
The inductions began in 2020 and happen only once a season. So, that poses the question: Who is next for the Ring of Honor? O’Colly writers Cayden Cox, Connor Fuxa and Parker Gerl conducted a 12-player draft for who they think should go next.
Cayden Cox: Aside from Blackmon, Rashaun Woods is one of the best wide receivers to suit up for OSU. His name is near the top of nearly every receiving record; he’s second in yards and catches with 292 career catches and 4,414 yards but owns the touchdown record with 42.
Continuing on the trend of receivers, I selected Hart Lee Dykes, who recorded more than 3,100 yards in his career playing alongside Barry Sanders. Dykes was also drafted 16th overall in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Then I opted for defense with OSU’s all-time leading tackler, John Corker, who racked up nearly 500 tackles during his time in Stillwater.
He earned All-American status in 1978, as well as being named the Big Eight Defensive Player of the year. And some love to the trenches with Russell Okung. Okung was a two-time All-American and was named to the All-Big 12 team twice. He was also named the offensive lineman of the year in 2009.
Connor Fuxa: Brandon Weeden should’ve been picked first overall in my opinion, so it was a no-brainer at No. 2. The quarterback of the best OSU team of the century (2011), in two seasons as the starter, Weeden put up 9,004 passing yards and 71 touchdowns.
My next pick was maybe a player not a lot of people are familiar with: Jason Gildon, who was a defensive end from
1990-93. In his four seasons, the Cowboys were a combined 11-31-2, so his performances get swept under the rug. But Gildon still holds the OSU record for most career tackles for loss with 63 (2nd closest is 47), and he is second all-time in career sacks with 33 (one behind the record).
For my last two picks, I chose guys who may not be the next one to make it into the Ring of Honor, but there is no doubt these two will have their names etched into the side of Boone Pickens Stadium one day.
Mason Rudolph, the most recent name in this draft, is the current all-time leader in almost every passing stat for the Cowboys. He had 13,618 passing yards (4,065 more than 2nd) and 92 passing touchdowns (17 more than
RING OF HONOR DRAFT
Cox: Rashaun Woods (WR, 2000-03)
Fuxa: Brandon Weeden (QB, 2008-11)
2nd). Last but not least, I had to show some love to the most under-appreciated position in football, the kicker. Dan Bailey is second all-time in Cowboy history for points and has the best kicker season in OSU history, winning the Lou Groza Award in 2010.
Parker Gerl: Picking Mike Gundy as my first draft choice was a no-brainer. He’s the most important figure in OSU football history, as he is the school’s all-time winningest coach and led the Cowboys to two 10-win seasons in his days as a quarterback. Without Gundy, OSU would never have become a football school.
I started the second round by picking Dez Bryant, because in my eyes, he’s one of the most gifted players in program history and would have added
Gerl: Mike Gundy (QB 1986-89; HC 2005-25)
Gerl: Dez Bryant (WR, 2007-09)
Fuxa: Jason Gildon (DE, 1990-93)
Cox: Hart Lee Dykes (WR, 1985-88)
Cox: John Corker (LB, 1976-79)
Fuxa: Mason Rudloph (QB, 2014-17)
Gerl: John Kolb (OL, 1965-98)
Gerl: Chester Pittman (RB, 1958-60)
Fuxa: Dan Bailey (K, 2007-10)
Cox: Russell Okung (OL, 2006-09)
on to his 2,425 career receiving yards had he not been ruled ineligible by the NCAA in 2009. Bryant was a jump-ball beast, an electric punt returner and he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Everything about Bryant was cool. My next two picks, Jon Kolb and Chester Pittman, were easy choices. Kolb is arguably OSU’s all-time best lineman and won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Pittman was the school’s first black letterwinner — a great part of the school’s football history.
Honorable mentions: Mark Moore (defensive back, 1983-96), Mike Greene (linebacker, 1980-82) and Emmanuel Ogbah (edge, 2012-15).
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy Tulsa World Archive
Former OSU wide receiver Dez Bryant has garnered buzz as a potential Ring of Honor inductee in the near future.
said. “I’ll always remember this team. Always. I’ll always remember this team because I don’t know how many teams could lace them up and go fight like our guys do. I don’t think there is one.”
Golesh comments on OSU candidacy
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
For nearly two months now, Oklahoma State has been in the process of finding its next football coach.
Alex Golesh, Eric Morris, Collin Klein and Zac Robinson, among others, have been constantly floated as names to watch for the job, which opened on Sept. 23 when Mike Gundy was fired, though athletic director Chad Weiberg has deployed a quiet search.
On Tuesday, though, Golesh, South Florida’s coach, was asked at a news conference in Tampa if he has interviewed or had any communication with OSU about its head coaching vacancy.
“I have not, and I addressed it a couple of weeks ago,” Golesh said. “I’m so focused and locked in on this program, this team. We’ve got so much work to do. But I am not trying. I try to stay away from the social media piece.”
Golesh’s first season at USF was in 2023, when he led the Bulls to a 7-6 record after the program went 1-11 in the prior season. USF has made bowl games in each of his first two seasons and has two wins against Top 25 opponents this season.
Golesh has garnered buzz for multiple jobs this cycle, though his name gets brought up with OSU, along with the success he has had in Tampa, Golesh was also on the Cowboys’ staff in 2008 as a graduate assistant.
As for his other high-level experience, Golesh has been on staff at Tennesee as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, UCF as cooffensive coordinator and tight ends coach and Iowa State as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.
“It’s humbling that people bring up your name (for jobs),” Golesh said. “It’s because these guys have done an elite job of building this place to where people are taking notice. Credit to our staff, credit to our kids. But I have not (interviewed for the job.)”
Weiberg has hired search firm TurnkeyZRG — the same firm he used when he hired men’s basketball coach Steve Lutz — and said in September candidates both with and without ties to OSU would be considered.
The Cowboys’ season ends Nov. 29 against Iowa State. Weiberg said in September that he expected most candidates to still be potentially coaching elsewhere while they are vetted for the job, and that he wants to run a “high-integrity search.”
Golesh and USF are no longer in the race for the College Football Playoff after their loss to Navy on Saturday, though the Bulls are still in play for the American Conference Championship, which is held Dec. 5.
“I think that virtually everyone that we’ll be looking at is going to be coaching,” Weiberg said. “But I think that what this does is it allows us to be in a good position for moving as soon as they are finished with their coaching (this season).”
OSU’s season collapsed several weeks ago when it lost to Tulsa on Sept. 19. Four days later, the school fired Mike Gundy, and Meacham took over his alma mater.
The roster was gutted when several players entered the transfer portal and injuries continued to plague the shorthanded Cowboys.
Wide receiver Sam Jackson V started multiple games at quarterback while Hauss Hejny and Zane Flores were injured. Senior 5-foot-8, 185-pound wide receiver Gavin Freeman has put forth every ounce of production possible. Former walk-on safety Parker Robertson has played like a human battering ram in the secondary, making the most of the final few games of his senior season.
Those players and all the ones who stuck around have continued to fight, and that’s why Meacham wants so badly to get a win. OSU’s next shot will be against UCF at 3 p.m. Saturday in Orlando.
“I will always appreciate every one of these guys the rest of my life,” Meacham
The Cowboys’ roster is filled with players who transferred in during the offseason, believing better days would come in Stillwater. But despite their coach being fired and a nine-game losing streak with other bumps along the way, they’re still fighting hard for a Big 12 Conference win.
Wide receiver Terrill Davis came to OSU after leading the NCAA in yards at Central Oklahoma last season. He expected to have a winning season, though he has still found joy in getting to play on this stage in his last season.
Davis also credited Meacham’s leadership for helping him and the Cowboys through the lost season.
“I’m thankful for it,” Davis said. “I’m thankful I get to experience it. And kind of like how coach Meach said he’s never gonna forget this team, I’m the same way. I love every person in that locker room, and we got a strong bond.
“... With how everything is going, it’s easy to be down. But (Meacham) lifts us up every day and we appreciate it.”
Chance Marick, The O’Colly Terrill Davis said playing for OSU has given him more appreciation for football.
The o’colly sports picks
ABOUT OUR GUEST PICKER:
Raynee Howell is Co-Editorin-Chief at The O’Colly. She is a multimedia journalism major and graduates in December 2025 after spending all of her academic career at The O’Colly.
GUEST PICKER LEADERBOARD
Berry Tramel: 8-2
Nicole Auerbach: 8-2
McClain Baxley: 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
Luke Mazza
Cayden Cox
Raynee Howell
