Friday, September 12, 2025
Assassination leaves student leaders reeling
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk shot dead at 31 in what Utah governor calls ‘political assassination’
BY RAYNEE HOWELL / CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
As news of the shooting and killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk spread across Oklahoma State’s campus Wednesday, political student leaders and organizations spoke out.
Kirk was the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA. He visited OSU on April 1 as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” TPUSA at OSU helped Kirk set up and plan the event.
Associated Press confirmed a shot rang out around 1:20 p.m. CDT on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk was seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushed from the left side of his neck. Kirk was transported to a local hospital and died shortly after.
The TPUSA at OSU organization posted to Instagram asking for prayers for Charlie shortly after the shooting.
“We ask that you pray for Charlie Kirk and those around him in this uncertain time,” the post read. See KIRK
Sept. 10 Timeline
TIMELINE DATA IS BASED ON ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS.
TIMELINE IS IN CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME. UTAH IS IN MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME.
12:52 P.M.
The shooter arrived on campus, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.
1:20 P.M. Kirk was shot in the left side of his neck.
3:30 P.M.
News outlets confirm initial suspect taken into custody was not believed to be the suspect. Authorities continue search.
4:35 P.M.
UVU’s campus is completely evacuated.
7:54 P.M.
An all-clear is issued for UVU campus.
1:00 P.M.
Charlie Kirk sat under a tent in a courtyard at Utah Valley University as his event began.
2:45 P.M. Kirk is confirmed to be in critical condition at hospital.
3:40 P.M.
President Donald Trump posts to Truth Social, announcing Kirk died as a result of his injury.
5:25 P.M. FBI director confirms a new suspect is in custody.
7:58 P.M.
Second initial suspect is released with no “current ties to the shooting.” No suspect is in custody for the shooting and the search is ongoing.
At the end of the day, we want to be able to have conversations with people and the fear of political violence is always at the back of our minds. AVERY
What’s Inside
3A
OSU students, first responders honor 9/11 victims with memorial stair climb
4A
Couple raises awareness to honor son through suicide prevention efforts
5A Nepalese students gather in shared grief amid political unrest in home country
Electric scooter thefts increase on campus
Electric scooters are a hot commodity on Oklahoma State’s campus.
OSU Police Department released a statement Sept. 4 announcing an increase in scooter theft. Six scooter thefts have occurred since the beginning of the fall semester. OSUPD urges those who use bikes or scooters to secure them with U-bolt locks to prevent theft.
The email sent to students states: “The OSUPD also provides an online
Personal Asset Inventory where students and staff can record the details of valuables. Information stored remains confidential, and items documented are automatically deleted when a student graduates or transfers, or if a staff member leaves.” Documenting personal belongings increases the possibility of OSUPD recovering lost or stolen items. If you see suspicious people or activity, report it to OSUPD at 405-7446523, or chat with OSU 911 dispatchers through the Rave Guardian app.
news.ed@ocolly.com
OSUPD is investigating
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Editorial board
Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl editorinchief@ocolly.com
Design editor Katie Lehew design.ed@ocolly.com
Social media editor
Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant social media editor Jose Brito news.ed@ocolly.com
Photo editor Chance Marick photo.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com
On This day
2001. 24 years ago.
State and local officials, and Oklahoma State University students responded Tuesday (9/11/2001) amid a national chaos to the worst terrorist attack in America’s history.
Hundreds of students filled empty chairs throughout campus, watching television news reports in stunned silence as once-towering symbols of American pride smoldered and gruesome scenes of the thousands of dead and injured unfolded on the screen.
“This is the terrorist equivalent of Pearl Harbor,” said L.G. Moses, OSU history professor. “The implications of this attack are much greater (than the Oklahoma City bombing). This is not an act of domestic terrorism.
THE DAILY O’COLLEGIAN STAFF REPORT 2001
The O’Colly Staff
News & Lifestyle reporters: Brianna Bergin
Rhema Coleman
Caden James
Marcus Mesis
Richard Robertson
Alli Themer
Olivia Upton
Aliyah Young
Newsroom
Sports reporters: Photographers & Designers:
Timothy Christensen
Cayden Cox
Gina Foster
Pearson Gilliam
Luke Mazza
Sam Mitchell
Tanner Revas
Will Thorogood
Weston Wertzberger
Matt Burk Trey Creel
Teaguen Harbour
Hannah Lissiak
Brianna Martinez
Rhema Coleman STAFF REPORTER
Stone Brown
scooter thefts as six have been stolen since the semester started.
Oklahoma State University students bow their heads in prayer on the Edmon Low Library following what has been called the worst terrorist attack on the United States. Mika Matzen, Staff Photographer, 2001.
OSU students, first responders honor 9/11 victims with memorial stair climb
Tyler Tripodi STAFF REPORTER
This year marks the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and Oklahoma State students joined first responders over the weekend to commemorate the day with a memorial stair climb inside Boone Pickens Stadium.
The annual event, hosted by the Fire Protection Society, challenges participants to climb the equivalent of 110 stories — the height of the World Trade Center towers. For some students, it serves as a way to honor the sacrifices of first responders who died that day.
Rudy Solano, an OSU student who participated in the climb, said the tribute is deeply personal.
“I have a few family members who were paramedics, volunteers, police officers and in the Army during 9/11,” Solano said. “It’s a big tribute to me because I’m representing them.”
Although many current students were not alive when the attacks happened, Fire Protection Society President Nick Shaffer said the climb keeps the memory alive.
“This being the eighth year that we’ve done this as a club and as a school, it’s important that we show respect for those who had fallen during 9/11,” Shaffer said. “Even after 24 years, even if we weren’t there when it happened.”
This year’s event was the largest yet, drawing more than 300 participants. For Shaffer, the day also carries personal meaning — his father was a firefighter in New Jersey when the towers collapsed.
“It keeps us connected,” Shaffer said. “Every year we can connect as a family and as a community, remember what happened in our country and grow stronger from it.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Megan Gibson
Firefighters participating in 9/11 memorial stair climb.
Megan Gibson Kraft, Zeliff and other OSU ROTC members hold the state and American flag during the national anthem.
Megan Gibson
Firefighters, OSU ROTC, police and civilians sing the national anthem together.
Tyler Tripodi
Participants climbed 110 floors, the number of steps first responders took at the World Trade Center, in full firefighter gear at the stair climb.
Megan Gibson Firefighters, Police officers, Military, OSU ROTC, Civilians, and students all unite together to participate in the 9/11 memorial stair climb.
Megan Gibson
Firefighters from various departments across Oklahoma cheering for each other while participating in the stair climb.
Megan Gibson
Firefighter T. Noakes rings the bell signifying his completion of the stair climb.
‘You Matter, We Matter’
Couple raises awareness to honor son through suicide prevention efforts
Michele and Billy Magalassi, graduates of Oklahoma State, turned their pain into change.
Shortly after their son Brandon Magalassi finished eighth grade, he lost his life to suicide. Brandon spent nine days in the hospital, including his 15th birthday, before he died.
“You know, when we lost Brandon, I thought, ‘What are we gonna do?’” Michele Magalassi said. “And ‘How do we move forward?’”
The loss of Brandon prompted the couple to pursue suicide prevention work. The Magalassi Foundation was created as a result in 2004. The foundation is dedicated to advocacy in suicide prevention and community outreach.
The Magalassis used the support from their church and community to begin the foundation with the creation of a scholarship program. The pastor of the First Methodist Church in Owasso, at the time, suggested creating a scholarship in Brandon’s honor.
“We were very scholarship focused,” Magalassi said. “I mean honestly, we didn’t know what we were doing. The
focus was on the community.”
To receive a scholarship, applicants must submit an essay on suicide prevention. The recipients are chosen from a pool of high school seniors from Owasso — Brandon Magalassi’s previous school — Collinsville and Skiatook high schools. As of 2025, $135,000 has been awarded to almost 140 students.
“We see that as a way for the students to educate themselves, and we hope that maybe they talk about the topic,” Magalassi said.
One of the 2025 recipients, Carter Acree, a first-year OSU student, received a scholarship for his essay entry, which was published on the foundation’s website. He has a strong appreciation for the Magalassi Foundation.
“Their foundation is a beacon of light that brings awareness to students about suicide and its prevention,” Acree said.
“The Magalassis are incredible people who truly desire for every student to know they are loved and valued. Their work is important not only for ‘stopping suicide dead in its tracks,’ but also for fostering leaders to make a positive difference in their communities.”
The work of the Magalassi Foundation has grown beyond scholarships. The foundation has created different ways to advocate for suicide prevention, including community events like the Shadow Run — a speakers event — and local car shows to garner support and push for the cause.
An impactful branch of their outreach is the development of the “We Matter” campaign. A former youth board
member, Hannah Coker, created it in 2013. Magalassi said it is the foundation’s most meaningful work.
The goal of the campaign is to create a space where people are comfortable talking about suicide as its viewed as a difficult subject.
“Suicide is a hard topic; you know, it’s (that) no one really wants to talk about it,” Magalassi said. “(Hannah) says, ‘We need to put a positive spin on suicide prevention,’ and she just came up with ‘You Matter, We Matter.’”
The “We Matter” campaign spreads this message of positivity with shirts and activities. Area schools including Owasso and Collinsville high schools receive “We Matter” T-shirts and are encouraged to take pictures and make posters during the “We Matter” week, which spans Sept. 15 through Sept. 19. September is also Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the Magalassis host a training for suicide prevention at Owasso High School.
“The main thing is... every suicide could be prevented,” Magalassi said. “Some people have this misconception, ‘Well, if they wanted to kill themselves, they were gonna do it anyway.’ Well, no. You can intervene and really stop a suicide, and that’s what suicide prevention training is all about.”
The Magalassi Foundation’s youth board allows members to bring different ideas for advocacy to the foundation. The president of the leadership group, Abram Smith, a freshman at OSU, said he’s had a good experience working with the Magalassis.
“Michele and Billy Magalassi have been great to work with,” Smith said. “They have a true passion for the work that they do, and their efforts have touched the lives of tens of thousands of our community members.”
The focus on this year’s campaign is “Stronger Together.” Grace Rogers, a scholarship recipient came up with the slogan for the T-shirts. The T-shirts, advocacy, scholarships and outreach all serve as a reminder that suicide prevention is possible. The weeklong initiative is highlighting the importance of community and connection in suicide prevention.
“In all the essays we got this year, every one of them talked about the importance of interconnectedness,” Magalassi said. “And so that’s why I kind of wanted to keep that thing going, because when you’re connected, you’re more likely to be able to recognize if somebody is struggling and be able to help them.”
The Magalassis hope their work connotes to suicide prevention, reaching people and changing lives.
“We don’t want anyone to go through what we went through,” Magalassi said. “To have a suicide in your family is a terrible thing, and I think in the beginning, we didn’t want that to happen to other people, so that’s why we keep doing what we do. That’s really our mission, to stop suicide for as many people as we can, and let a lot of people know that their life is important.”
Aliyah Young STAFF REPORTER
Chance Marick
Carter Acree (left), Michele Magalassi (middle) and Abram Smith (right) hold a sign to bring awareness to the Magalassi Foundation’s “We Matter” campaign.
Nepalese students gather in shared grief
Political unrest in home country reaches OSU
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Thousands of people took to the streets of Nepal to protest the government’s recent social media ban starting Monday and continuing through the week. The authorities responded with deadly force, killing at least 19.
As protests escalated, the prime minister resigned, government buildings were set on fire and political leaders seeked shelter from attacks.
One group of students felt the impact of Nepal’s turmoil from across the globe.
The Nepalese Student Association gathered somberly Tuesday to hold a candlelight vigil to honor and show solidarity with the young lives lost in Nepal. Candles were lit around the Flag of Nepal and students sang the National Anthem of Nepal.
“We want to say to everybody who is involved there, stay strong, even if we cannot do anything directly, we are with you,” said Mehraj Ansari, a member of NSA. “We are with you to support you. We just want to send a strong message to everybody, not only who is in there (Nepal), but to all the people throughout the world, to stay strong in this hard situation.”
The protest in Nepal, made up of mostly young people, has been called the protest of Gen Z. The rally was planned to be peaceful and was supposed to be a stepping stone toward reform for those concerned about corruption in the government.
The social media bill, which called for social media platforms to register and submit to local oversight and regulation, was widely viewed
as a tool for censorship.
Rights groups, according to the Associated Press, have called it an attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and violate rights.
The social media ban was the last straw for Nepal residents who hold the longstanding view that there is corruption in the government. The ban was lifted after an emergency meeting Tuesday, but it was too late for fellow protestors who had watched those next
to them die the previous day.
“The first time it (protests) happened, it was seen as good news, because we do have corruption in our current political environment,” said Bhawna Thapa, OSU professor and NSA adviser. “We looked at this favorably, but then when we heard the deaths, that’s when things took a drastic turn, and we were alarmed. Here, we could only be alarmed.”
The vigil became a space for students to seek support from their Oklahoma State
community. Prayers and words spoken in Nepali were a sense of unity for those who felt helpless being so far from home.
Thapa said the students shared with each other the toll the news had on them — from missing class and losing sleep to calling each other to check in about their families.
“Many members of this association here have families back home,” Thapa said. “Students, at first, might think that they are alone in their thoughts and mental anguish,
but now they are realizing that there are other students out there who are going through the same emotions as me, so that makes them feel stronger and more united in their grief and hopefulness.”
The violation of the fundamental right to expression and years of continued corruption started the protest, but as it went on Ansari felt other rights were violated. He said human rights were violated as a result of an inappropriate use of force.
“Even if bullets are to be used, they should be shot in the legs, or on the hands, or some other part,” Ansari said. “They were shot on the head, on the neck and on the vital parts of the body. That was very inappropriate, and the government should not have used those kinds of forces.”
Ansari shared with The O’Colly that no current members of NSA have injured family members in Nepal, but the uncertainty of the state of the country is concerning for members of the organization. Thapa said she hopes the situation in Nepal doesn’t take the developing country back in terms of institutions, economy and infrastructure. Ansari and Thapa both spoke about the hope of a quick recovery for the country, resulting in the creation of a new government that does not thrive off injustice and corruption. The vigil not only spread the message that the NSA is standing with Nepal, but also was a way for students to come together in shared grief and hope.
“Most of us had no idea of what was going on (at first),” Ansari said. “Then all of us wanted to be together and share our griefs. This thing was deep inside our hearts making us sad, so we just decided to get together and then share.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Stillwater residents speak out against new townhomes
New townhomes are coming to a Stillwater street near Greek Row, and some nearby residents are not pleased.
The Stillwater City Council voted 4-0 to rezone 320 S. Walnut Street to allow for the building of townhomes on the property at Monday’s City Council meeting.
The proposed building will have three townhome units with four bedrooms in each, as well as 12 required parking spaces. The start date for construction is unknown.
Stillwater residents expressed concerns about the effects of the upcoming construction.
William Stockel, for example, lives at 321 S. Orchard St. His backyard is directly adjacent to the Walnut property, and he expressed concern about the City Council’s unanimous decision.
“The city has their interests, and I have my own personal financial interests,” Stockel said. “You know, real estate and investments. I guess I came in expecting the worst, and I kind of got it.”
Other residents expressed concern about the potential traffic to come with the townhome construction, adding on to already unfavorable traffic conditions from being close to Greek Row.
“Bottom line is, I feel like it’s out of place,” Stockel said. “I feel like we’re really kind of putting a square peg in a round hole here.”
This construction would not be a first for residents of Walnut and Orchard Street, though. There are already two
townhomes under construction on Orchard, and nearby residents have already been affected.
“It’s been a real inconvenience, having (the townhomes) there,” Walnut Street resident Mary Elizabeth Cordia said. “There’s about seven cars per house; there’s about six houses. With how they’re built, too, every time
they just have a little piece of trash, because it’s all concrete, it rolls into my yard.”
Despite the pushback from residents, support for building the townhomes was also present at the City Council meeting. James Murray, a property developer and owner of the Walnut lot, defended the rezoning proposal.
“We’ve really worked
diligently with city staff, and we’ve been (working on) a two-year project trying to get something to work here,” Murray said. “All we really ask is that we be treated like every other developer here in the last several years.”
The City Council seemed to agree with Murray, as evidenced by its unanimous approval of his proposal.
“There is a concern, and from my standpoint, a need to find ways to do responsible redevelopment of some of these areas like this,” Mayor Will Joyce said just before the vote. “In a way that both preserves existing neighborhoods to the extent we can, and also recognizes that we need more housing in Stillwater.”
Courtesy William Mantzel
Chip Stockel, a Stillwater resident who owns property near the lot approved for townhouse construction, spoke to city council about his concerns.
William Mantzel O’COLLY CONTRIBUTOR
Bryson Thadhani
An OSU student praying at a candlelight vigil, honoring the loss of life in Nepal during recent protests.
suspect has also been released with no “current ties to the shooting,” the Utah Department of Public Safety said in a statement.
political beliefs are.
Since the death of Kirk, the organization announced the hosting of a memorial service Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. on International Mall Lawn — the same area he debated students in five months ago. A moment of silence, prayer and distribution of American flags is planned for the event. The O’Colly reached out to TPUSA at OSU and received no comment.
UVU spokeswoman, Ellen Treanor, said Kirk was shot about 20 minutes after he began speaking. She said the suspect fired from 200 yards away from the roof of Losee Center. Kirk was debating a student, surrounded by a crowd of more than 3,000 people, in the Sorensen Center courtyard.
Two suspects were initially in custody as suspects of the shooting, but the first one, confirmed to not be a student, was released. The second person in custody was detained around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. That
In an 8 a.m. press conference with the Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI on Thursday, it was released that the shooter “blended in” with the campus, and is most likely college-age. The weapon was retrieved in a wooded area near where the shooter fled. Around noon Thursday, the FBI released a photo of the shooter and offered an up to $100,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for the shooting.
As of Thursday, The O’Colly’s print production day, no one is currently in custody as a suspect, and the search is ongoing.
The College Democrats of OSU President Avery McIntyre said her thoughts are with his family and friends. McIntyre said the OSU Democrats stand for the free opportunity for people to have discourse, no matter what their
“Regardless of what side you’re on, I think we can all agree that it’s detrimental to our democracy and our society to not be able to have civil discourse and diversity of options,” McIntyre said. “At the end of the day, we want to be able to have conversations with people and the fear of political violence is always at the back of our minds and something we wholeheartedly condemn as an organization.”
The College Republicans of OSU Vice President Joshua Wilson said acts of violence against anybody, regardless of political stance, is disgusting and horrendous.
“I hope our country, as divided as it can be, can come together after such a terrible action,” Wilson said. “We are praying for him. We hope that our students and people who do have different ideological ideas can come together instead of moving toward violence.”
The presidents of the organizations released a joint statement after Kirk’s death was confirmed.
“The OSU College Democrats and OSU College Republicans are committed to fostering an environment in which students feel safe to express their opinions, regardless of their political affiliation,” the statement read. “We condemn the violence seen today at Utah Valley University. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kirk family, and his loved ones as they go through this difficult time, as well as all those who were at the event.”
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt posted to X. He said “I’m praying for Charlie Kirk.” After his death, he released an additional statement.
“Charlie was a great American,” the post read. “The world will be a darker place without him here. I am praying for his wife and children and all those who knew him and looked up to him.”
In the aftermath, Stitt and President Donald Trump ordered public buildings to fly flags at half-staff. Flags at OSU are half-staff as of Thursday morning, and students have placed signs and memorials around campus in Kirk’s memory.
Bryson Thadhani
Charlie Kirk visited Oklahoma State for his “American Comeback Tour” in April. After the event, he passed out MAGA hats to students.
Charlie Kirk: 1993 - 2025
Political activist Kirk dead at 31
Bryson Thadhani SOCIAL MEDIA
Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot while debating at Utah Valley University. He was 31. Kirk was shot in the neck at approximately 1:20 p.m. while addressing an outdoor crowd under his “American Comeback Tour” banner during a “Prove Me Wrong” debate table event. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and
pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Born October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at 18. The purpose was to organize and energize conservative students nationwide. He later helmed several affiliated organizations — including Turning Point Action, Turning Point Academy, Turning Point Faith and Turning Point Endowment — and became a key voice in conservative campus politics.
As a media personality, Kirk hosted The Charlie Kirk Show podcast and
Himalayan Grocery Store
authored several books. His blunt style made him a lightning rod in culture wars, particularly among young conservative circles, and he played a central role in mobilizing youth support during Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, a businesswoman, podcaster, and former Miss Arizona USA, and their two children: a daughter (born August 2022) and a son (born May 2024).
Kirk’s death sparked bipartisan condemnation. OSU student
organizations, specifically the OSU College Democrats and OSU College Republicans condemned political violence in a released joint statement. Other political leaders across both decried the shooting and called for unity against political violence.
President Donald Trump mourned him as a “beloved and influential voice,” and ordered flags to be displayed at half-staff on public grounds and military bases in his honor.
news.ed@ocolly.com
TRUST THE LORD! (Part #2)
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Is.30:15 NIV)
This is what God was saying to his people, but their reaction was to reject his counsel, then struggle and try to work out their troubles in their
God was telling them to turn to him (repentance), stop your fretting, quiet yourselves and look to me; trust me! Let God be the objecGod never gets tired, but he strengthens the tired and weary. (Is.40:28-29) It is so easy to go the way of his ancient people; trying to work things out
When we talk of quieting ourselves; this is not passiveness or inactivity, but a turning in our thoughts to the one who has promised so much to those who will
trust him. Look at Ps.123:2, “As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master...so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.” How about Ps.131:1-2 “...I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother.” Our activity is turning and quieting ourselves before the one who is truly our helper.
Returning to Is. 30; verse 18: Here is God’s attitude toward us; “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.” Isaiah finishes by saying; “Blessed are all who wait for him!” God is good toward us because of Christ. He wants to take action, so He says stop! (seems contrary) Spent some time with him and trust him in the challenges of life. He will lead and work his way! Trust him; you will not be ashamed! (Ro.10:11)
Payton Little
A framed photo of Charlie Kirk and his family sits next to a sign that reads “Left or Right, a father, son husband/friend is DEAD Galatians 5:13-19” outside of Edmon Low Library the day after Kirk was shot and killed.
Bryson Thadhani Sigma Nu fraternity hoists a “Pray for our country” sign outside of the chapter house to condemn political violence.
Payton Little
President Donald Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for Charlie Kirk. The day after his death, the flags were also at half-staff to commemorate 9/11.
Bryson Thadhani
Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity hangs a sign in rememberance of Charlie Kirk.
Small bodies, big hearts
Olivia Upton STAFF REPORTER
Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue’s new event is a cat-lover’s dream.
Kitten Korner, an event offered the first Saturday of each month, lets participants have a 50-minute “playdate” with the kittens available for adoption at Tiny Paws.
For a $15 fee and an application, those interested in adopting can see if a kitten is a good fit.
“So it’s (Kitten Korner) good, because not only are we raising money, but we’re also influencing people on whether they want to adopt or not,” said Luanne Campbell, a Tiny Paws board member.
Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue is a nonprofit, founded in 2004, specifically designed to take in premature, abandoned or sick kittens. To adopt a kitten, a person
must fill out a form and schedule a visitation. Kitten Korner is an open event for those interested in adoption to attend and come see several available kittens in the designated sun room.
Kitten Korner is a no-pressure, safe environment for the person and the kittens. It gives people the opportunity to gauge the personality of the kittens and whether they will work for them and their families.
For Tiny Paws, Kitten Korner is a way for them to reach out and impact the Stillwater community.
Jennifer “Rooney” Baustert, recent board member and experienced cat foster mother said the support from the community is essential for the nonprofit.
“I hope the community knows how much we appreciate their support,” Baustert said. “People in the community spending their money, their hard earned money, through hard times to support our rescue... that’s amazing,”
Tiny Paws hopes to continue their Kitten Korner event and bring more awareness to orphaned, neonatal kittens.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Award-winning author visits Stillwater
Sheldon Russell visited Stillwater to talk about his new book and his experiences as an author.
Russell is a former public school teacher and retired professor from the University of Central Oklahoma. The 15-time published author is known for his detailed retellings of historical events and his extensive research put toward each of his titles.
“The Bridge Toll Murders” received high praise and was the winner of the Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction, and “A Forgotten Evil” was the winner of Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Historical Fiction.
Growing up, Russell recalls one notable author who helped shape his present love for literature. When asked about the most influential author in his childhood, one name came to mind.
“Just thinking about them, probably the most obvious answer is Mark Twain; Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were some of my favorites,” Russell said. “I just fell in love with going down that river and taking that journey. I thought it was the greatest thing, and years later, we took a trip South and came up on the Mississippi River. I had to be about eight or nine, and I climbed a tree and I could see way down that river. I thought about Tom Sawyer;
that’s who I was.”
As time went on, Russell grew closer to literature. Although, his steps toward becoming an author were unconventional.
“Later on in junior high, I got in trouble for talking,” Russell said. “I got detention and they put me in study hall. The study hall and library were the same thing. Then I discovered books in that
detention, and I read all kinds of books. I was sure I could write like Ernest Hemingway.”
Attendees came with copies of Russell’s “Listen,” along with questions on the book.
“Listen” follows Liam, an ambitious man during the Great Depression who is assigned to compile stories of life in rural Oklahoma.
“It was a perfect structure for this kind of idea,” Russell
said. “You got a stranger that comes to town, which is one of the classic plots. He sits down with people he doesn’t know, and they don’t know him, and he listens to what they say.
That means you really have to listen to them to digest it.”
“Listen” also touches on the fragility of faith during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, noting how tough times can leave
those wondering what they believe in. Since church and Christianity was a fundamental part of his childhood, Russell made note of how adversity can shake one’s beliefs.
“Hard times will have you doing some questioning, some thinking, of what you believe and what you don’t,” Russell said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Matt Burk
Sheldon Russell signs a book for a fan at the Stillwater Public Library.
Rhema Coleman STAFF REPORTER
Hannah Lissiak
Kitten plays on cat tower at Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue playroom.
Hannah Lissiak
Visitation for the cats is available on the first Saturday of the month at Kitten Korner.
Friday, September 12, 2025
‘Stay with us’
After suffering the worst loss of his coaching career, OSU
Gundy confident OSU football can bounce back
Mike Gundy faced the music after the worst loss of his coaching career.
Oklahoma wasn’t even a state the last time Oklahoma State football suffered as bad a defeat. After the Cowboys were throttled by Oregon 69-3, Gundy, in a time when the spirits of people associated with OSU were so low, asked fans to stay on board. He acknowledged the disappointment but expressed optimism in the remainder of the season.
The 66-point margin of defeat was the worst the Cowboys had suffered since a 67-0 loss to Bedlam rival Oklahoma on Nov. 9 in 1907. A week later, on Nov. 16, Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state by President Theodore Roosevelt.
And in OSU’s last two games against FBS opponents, they’ve been outscored 121-3. Its previous defeat was a 52-0 loss against Colorado to end the 2024 season.
“My message to the fans is to stay with us,” Gundy said. “That’s what we do. It’s in our alma mater. It’s loyal and true.”
What should OSU focus on during its bye week?
After just two games, Oklahoma State football has a week of rest.
They have extra time to sit back and prepare for Tulsa, which OSU will host at Boone Pickens Stadium next Friday (Sept. 19) at 6:30 p.m.
“It’ll be good for us now to get back to basic football and reprogram these guys,” Gundy said.
Here’s a look at what the Cowboys should focus on during their bye week:
Continue helping Flores get settled in This one is the most obvious. It’s also the most important.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Zane Flores made his first-career start against Oregon this past weekend after Hauss Hejny broke a bone in his left foot during OSU’s Week 1 game against UT Martin. And with Hejny expected to miss several weeks, Flores will continue to start behind center. Parker
Chance Marick
coach Mike Gundy said his message to Cowboys fans is to “stay with us.”
Chance Marick OSU is on a bye week preparing for a game against Tulsa.
Continued from 1
The Ducks’ beatdown started quickly. It only took a few minutes to see how outmatched the Cowboys were.
Oregon scored two touchdowns on its first three plays from scrimmage. It also scored six touchdowns in the first half, while OSU managed only five first downs on offense. It was clear that one team won its conference last season and that the other didn’t win a single conference game.
After the loss, Gundy said the Cowboys’ game plan was “too complicated” in all three phases and that they overlooked execution of the basics.
“I didn’t do a good job of getting our players in position,” Gundy said. “... We ended up not being good at anything (in the game). We didn’t execute.”
Now, things look bleak for this OSU (1-1) team.
Quarterback Hauss Hejny remains sidelined after getting surgery on his left foot, which he broke in Week 1 against UT Martin. Zane Flores is still adjusting to being the starter. And all-around, the Cowboys’ roster is young.
After an underwhelming 3-9 season in 2024, fans online called for
Gundy’s job. In December, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Gundy and OSU were in a “standoff” over his contract and that the school had discussions about firing Gundy if he didn’t agree to take a pay cut and a drop in his buyout. Gundy later agreed.
If the Cowboys’ season spirals out of control, uncertainty surrounding Gundy’s job could arise again. Frustrations would continue, both in the fan base and within the program. Now, OSU’s next game — Sept. 19 against Tulsa — is massive. The Cowboys badly need a win.
“I’m never worried about myself,” Gundy said. “I’m worried about the team. And what my job is, it’s to continue to try to build this program with the new players we have and get into a position where we’re in a competitive nature (like we previously were). That’s really the only thing I’m concerned about.”
The Cowboys are currently on a bye week. They have more time to digest the film against Oregon and prepare for next Friday’s game.
Gundy is confident in his players, despite their youth and inexperience, responding well to a blowout loss. He thinks they’ll be able to quickly move on and focus on TU.
“I think they’ll practice really well next week,” Gundy said after the loss.
“I really do.”
AT A GLANCE
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- OSU has been outscored 121-3 in its last two games against FBS opponents.
- The Cowboys’ 66-point loss to Oregon is their worst margin of defeat since Nov. 9, 1907, when Oklahoma wasn’t an official state yet.
- OSU is on a 10-game losing streak against FBS opponents, worst in the Power Four.
- Oregon scored more touchdowns on its first three plays from scrimmage than OSU did in four quarters.
- The Ducks were on pace for 80 points and 1,000 yards of offense at halftime.
Continued from 1
Against the Ducks, Flores struggled, just like the entire Cowboy team. He went 7-of-19 passing for 67 yards with two interceptions and was consistently pressured by Oregon’s defense.
But with Tulsa being next on OSU’s schedule, Flores won’t have to deal with another top defense. The Cowboys have almost two weeks to watch film and dial up sets that could give the Golden Hurricane trouble and best fit Flores’ pocket-passing skillset.
So far, OSU hasn’t thrown downfield a ton with Flores, an area in which he is capable of doing damage. Now the Cowboys have extra time to see how they can unlock some explosive plays and be aggressive.
After the Oregon loss, Gundy said Flores held on to the ball a bit too long and that he and the Cowboys’ staff need to coach him up in that regard, too. Overall, OSU has several days to help the inexperienced Flores get more comfortable.
“There is no substitute for repetition and live reps,” Gundy said. “So, (Flores will) be better in the next game just because he played (in the Oregon game), and he’ll be able to see some things and the timing of it… You just kinda get more reps and get more used to it.”
Limiting big plays
Against UT Martin, the OSU defense only gave up seven points and 109 passing yards. That level of play didn’t carry over against the Ducks, as the Cowboys gave up multiple scores of more than 50 yards and 631 total yards of offense.
TU doesn’t have the talent Oregon does. But if OSU doesn’t do a good job of containing its skill players, the Golden Hurricane could put points up early and threaten the Cowboys. Through two games, TU is averaging 437.5 total yards of offense. The Golden Hurricane has shown it can put up points, and if it finds a hole in the Cowboys’ defense, it could be in for another big day.
And if OSU can slow down TU’s offense, it would help take some pressure off Flores and the offense. That would be a bonus.
Getting back to the basics
After the Oregon loss, Gundy said OSU’s game plan was “too complicated.”
So, the Cowboys should just focus on getting back to the basics, especially with a young team. That could mean continuing to work on establishing a running game. The Cowboys rushed the ball decently against Oregon, picking up 3.4 yards per carry on 42 attempts. But Gundy previously said he wants that number closer to 4.
With several skilled running backs in Rodney Fields Jr., Kalib Hicks, Sesi Vailahi, Trent Howland and Freddie Brock V, OSU has the personnel to improve on the ground. It just needs to create more running lanes up front.
The Cowboys also had eight penalties and two turnovers last week. Cleaning up self-inflicted wounds could be a focus for a young team.
“We have to be better and fundamentally sound and execute better,” Gundy said. “That’s really what it comes down to.”
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OSU-Tulsa kickoff time moved
to 6:30 p.m.
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Oklahoma State’s football game against Tulsa next Friday (Sept. 19) will now kick off at 6:30 p.m, OSU Athletics announced Monday.
The game was originally set for 6 p.m. and will remain on ESPN. The Cowboys, 1-1 overall, are coming off a 69-3 loss to Oregon, their worst margin of defeat since 1907. They are on a bye week.
The Golden Hurricane, also 1-1 on the season, is set to face Navy on Saturday before coming to Stillwater the following week. TU most recently suffered a 21-14 loss to New Mexico State.
TU and OSU faced off last season, with the Cowboys winning comfortably, 45-10.
OSU leads the all-time series 4427-5.
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Chance Marick
OSU players will have to respond to their blowout loss against Tulsa next Friday.
Chance Marick
OSU quarterback Zane Flores finished 7-of-19 passing against Oregon.
Payton Little Tulsa and OSU will continue their longtime football series in Week 4.
Gundy’s
Under coach Mike Gundy, when Oklahoma State football has picked up a win after a bye week, it has propelled the Cowboys’ season. OSU is 19-13 overall coming off a bye with Gundy at the helm. And in seasons in which the Cowboys have won following a bye, they have recorded at least nine wins in 10 of those seasons.
Now, OSU has an opportunity to bounce back from its 69-3 loss to Oregon. The Cowboys are currently on a bye week ahead of next Friday’s game against Tulsa. Here’s a look at how OSU teams have finished seasons after picking up a win after a bye week.
2008: 9-4 (5-3 Big 12)
After starting the year 3-0, the Cowboys defeated Troy to start a four-game winning streak. OSU took down Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor before falling on the road against Texas. The Cowboys went on to go 2-1 in the three games before their bye week, defeating Iowa State and Colorado, and losing to Texas Tech.
2009: 9-4 (6-2 Big 12)
The Cowboys had a solid 3-1 start to the campaign with wins against Georgia, Rice, and Grambling State. Following the bye week, OSU went 6-3 to wrap up the season. The team had 2 three-game winning streaks in that timespan. The first three involved wins over Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor before falling to Texas. The second threegame winning streak were from wins against Iowa State, Texas Tech and Colorado. The team lost their final two games with a 27-0 shutout at the hands of OU and a 21-7 loss to Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl.
2010: 11-2 (6-2 Big 12)
This season marked OSU’s first
double-digit win season since 1988. The Cowboys started off the season 6-0 as they followed up the bye week with wins over Texas A&M, Louisiana and Texas Tech before Nebraska snapped that winning streak on homecoming. OSU wrapped up the season with a 5-1 record following the Nebraska game with the only loss coming against Oklahoma. That 5-1 span included a 33-16 win over Texas for Gundy’s first win against the Longhorns as head coach.
2011: 12-1 (8-1 Big 12)
The best season in the Gundy era as OSU was crowned Big 12 champions. After a 4-0 start, the Cowboys came out firing after the bye week with a 6-1 span before the second bye week leading up to Bedlam. That stretch included a 70-28 win over Kansas, 59-24 win over Baylor and a 66-6 win over Texas Tech. The team responded emphatically to the 37-31 double overtime loss to Iowa State with a 44-10 blowout of Oklahoma for Gundy’s first Bedlam win and the team’s first since 2002. They would cap off the season with a 41-38 win over Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl.
2013: 10-3 (7-2 Big 12)
After only playing two games following the first bye week, OSU started off the six-game period after the second bye week with a tight 24-10 win over TCU before steamrolling Iowa State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Texas and Baylor.
The Cowboys just fell short against OU and lost 41-31 to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl to end their three-game winning streak in bowl games.
2015: 10-3 (7-2 Big 12)
The Cowboys carried their momentum after the bye week, defeating Kansas, Texas Tech, TCU and Iowa State to put their record at 10-0. After a close win on
the road against Iowa State, OSU dropped their final three games by losing to Baylor, Oklahoma, and the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss.
2016: 10-3 (7-2 Big 12)
Following a 4-2 start, OSU went 5-0 before the second bye week which included wins with 40 or more points scored from the games against Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech. After losing 38-20 to Oklahoma, the Cowboys capped off the season with a 38-8 win against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
2017: 10-3 (6-3 Big 12)
This season marked the first time OSU has recorded threeconsecutive double digit win seasons. Post-bye week saw the Cowboys appear in some very close games with the only blowouts being a 59-16 win over Baylor and a 58-17 win against Kansas. They defeated Virginia Tech 30-21 in the Camping World Bowl to go 6-2 to finish the season.
2021: 12-2 (8-1 Big 12)
Coming off of a 5-0 start, OSU went 7-2 to finish the season with the losses taking place against Iowa State and the Big 12 Championship game against Baylor. The highlight wins of that season were the 37-33 Bedlam win and the 37-35 comeback win against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
2023: 10-4 (7-2 Big 12)
After two-straight losses prior to the bye week, the Cowboys went 8-2 to cap off the season. That 8-2 span included a five-game winning streak from Oct. 6 to Nov. 4, a 27-24 win over Oklahoma in the last Bedlam game to date, and a 40-34 double overtime win over BYU to qualify for the Big 12 championship game.
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Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Chris Klieman took the blame and remained optimistic in his most recent postgame press conference.
So did Mike Gundy.
This past weekend, Klieman’s Kansas State football team and Gundy’s Oklahoma State squad each suffered disappointing defeats. Two programs that have been reliable in the Big 12 Conference already need to turn their seasons around badly after only three weeks, a sign that maintaining consistency in the current college football landscape isn’t how it once was.
K-State was upset by Army 24-21 at home, a week after the Black Knights lost to FCS Tarleton State. The Wildcats are sitting with a 1-2 record for the first time since 2009, unfamiliar territory for a program that has won 36 games since 2021, the best mark in the conference.
OSU went out to the Beaver State and got pummeled by Oregon 69-3, the worst margin of defeat for a Cowboys team since 1907. OSU is now 4-10 in its last 14 games and has been outscored 121-3 (!) in its previous two games against FBS opponents.
Just two seasons ago, the Cowboys played for a Big 12 Championship and appeared in their 18th straight bowl game. Under Gundy, OSU has finished with eight 10-win seasons.
Now, Klieman and Gundy are each having to do something they haven’t had to do often: try to climb their programs out of an early-season hole.
“They can hammer me to death about not getting this win,” Klieman said. “I’m gonna come back. I’m gonna come back and tomorrow, and I’m gonna give it my all with those guys.”
Gundy offered a similar sentiment after the worst loss of his coaching career.
“I said (to the players), ‘Look, guys. The good news is that it’s only one game,’” Gundy said. “But I’m gonna take the blame with them… Sometimes, things like that happen. The one thing they can do is come back next week and work their butt off.”
The roads ahead for both teams aren’t easy, either.
All nine of K-State’s remaining games are against Big 12 opponents. The Wildcats play on the road against Baylor, which just beat then-No. 17 SMU, Kansas and No. 20 Utah.
OSU is on a bye week before it hosts Tulsa at Boone Pickens Stadium next Friday. The Cowboys will be the favorite in that game, but the following week, they’ll open conference play against Baylor and still have games against two ranked opponents, Iowa State and Texas Tech, along with a road game against Kansas’ explosive offense.
Gundy and OSU had a knack for developing players in their system before the name, image, and likeness era. Now, most of the Cowboys’ players are young or in their first season in the program. They’ll have to respond to a bad loss and look to kickstart a bounce back with a win against an instate opponent.
“In most cases, we’ve always had (our players in our program) for years, and so we’ve kind of trained them and know who they are,” Gundy said. “So, the most important thing now will be how they react to this moving forward.”
Klieman’s team didn’t have as much turnover as Gundy’s did, but it still has to respond to a bad loss that the Wildcats haven’t been accustomed to recently.
“(We need to) have each other’s backs as we’re going through a tough time,” Klieman said. “... Our fix is making sure we stay together.”
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Will Thorogood STAFF REPORTER
Payton Little
Mike Gundy’s OSU teams have won at least nine games in 10 of the seasons in which they won after a bye week.
photos from osu vs. oregon
The OSU offense and the Oregon defense getting in position for a play.
Photos by Chance Marick
Wide receiver Shamar Rigby attempts to catch a pass from Zane Flores over two defenders.
Quarterback Zane Flores throws a pass over a defender.
Quarterback Zane Flores prepares to take a snap.
Rodney Fields Jr. runs the ball.
The OSU offense in a huddle prepares to run an offensive play.
Cornerback Kale Smith presses an Oregon player.
OSU fans cheer for the Cowboys at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium.
Tight end Josh Ford blocks an Oregon pass rusher.
Week 3 Big 12 football power rankings
Weston Wertzberger STAFF REPORTER
The Big 12 Conference experienced significant movement in this week’s power rankings, as several teams faced better competition than in Week 1.
With a bit of chaos already taking place ahead of Week 3, here’s where everyone stacks up in The O’Colly’s Big 12 football power rankings.
No. 1: Iowa State (AP No. 14; 3-0, 1-0 Big 12)
The Cyclones take over the No. 1 spot after defeating in-state rival Iowa in a low-scoring game of 16-13. Now, ISU has two wins against Power Four opponents. Last year’s conference runner-up appears to be the new favorite to win the league.
No. 2: Texas Tech (AP No. 21; 2-0)
The Red Raiders had a field day against Kent State after producing 601 total yards on offense, a hat trick of passing touchdowns from quarterback Behron Morton and a pick six from defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard in their 62-14 victory.
TTU will be big favorites at home against Oregon State for their first meeting since 1959.
No. 3: Utah (AP No. 20; 2-0)
The Utes throttled Cal Poly 63-9 after quarterback Devon Dampier matched his career best with three touchdowns. Utah also put up eight total touchdowns.
No. 4: Arizona State (1-1)
Despite quarterback Sam Leavitt throwing two interceptions against Mississippi State, ASU had a chance to win on the road until it gave up game-losing 58-yard touchdown with 30
seconds remaining.
The Sun Devils fell out of the Top 25 and will look to rebound at home against Texas State.
No. 5: TCU (1-0)
The Horned Frogs were on a bye week in Week 2 and will return to the field for their home-opener against Abilene Christian. They’re 1-0 on the season with a 48-14 win against North Carolina.
No. 6: BYU (2-0)
The Cougars only found the endzone twice and kicked four field goals against Stanford, but their defense forced three turnovers and allowed only 161 yards in a 27-3 victory.
No. 7: Baylor (1-1)
The Bears were minutes away from suffering a 0-2 start, trailing 14 with six minutes remaining, but found a way to come back and steal a win against then-No. 17 SMU in a 48-45 shootout.
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson helped the Bears put up 601 total yards of offense.
No. 8: Kansas (2-1)
The Jayhawks held an early 21-6 lead, but couldn’t maintain it against rival Missouri in a 42-31 loss. KU gave up 595 yards while only gaining 251.
No. 9: Arizona (2-0)
The Wildcats beat Weber
State in a 48-3 domination, as quarterback Noah Fifita threw five touchdowns, and the defense forced two turnovers. Arizona will seek revenge against Kansas State at home after losing by 24 on the road last season.
No. 10: Colorado (1-1)
The Buffaloes are still determining a starting quarterback for the future, as they used three arms against Delaware. Nonetheless, they held firm in their 31-7 win against the Blue Hens.
No. 11: Houston (2-0)
The Cougars struggled in the first half against Rice, but rebouded in the second half thanks to two touchdowns
from quarterback Connor Weigman, running back Dean Connors and a pick six by defensive back Will James in a 35-9 win.
No. 12: Cincinnati (1-1)
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby scored all four touchdowns for the Bearcats, three passing and one running, against Bowling Green in a 34-20 victory.
No. 13: West Virginia (1-1)
The Mountaineers performed well on defense against Ohio, coming up with three interceptions. Still, the offense could only muster one touchdown and was limited to 20 minutes on the field in a 17-10 upset loss.
WVU will head back home for the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh.
No. 14: UCF (2-0)
The Knights no longer find themselves at the bottom after a prevailing 68-7 win over North Carolina A&T, with seven rushing touchdowns total. The Knights have a bye week in Week 3.
No. 15: Kansas State (1-2, 0-1 Big 12)
The Wildcats are easily the most disappointing team in the Big 12 right now after an upset 24-21 loss to Army, which had lost to FCS opponent Tarleton State the week prior.
K-State’s road only gets tougher from here, with a nonconference match on the road to Arizona on Friday night.
No. 16: Oklahoma State (1-1) 69-3, that’s all you need to know. The Cowboys suffered their largest margin of defeat since 1907, and that was the score before the third quarter had ended.
OSU will take Week 3 off before hosting Tulsa in Week 4.
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‘We’re in an amazing position’
Hoyt, OSU looking to build off 2024-25 season
Cayden Cox STAFF REPORTER
With success comes momentum and Oklahoma State’s Jacie Hoyt is looking to carry that energy into this season.
The 2024-2025 season was one to remember for Hoyt’s Cowgirls, as they broke several program records, including most wins at home, going 17-1 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. OSU also finished the season ranked No. 24 in the AP poll, the first time it closed a season ranked in 10 years.
Now, Hoyt has a new team faced with new challenges but looks to build off what her team last season left behind.
“We want to take the momentum from last year and keep building off it,” Hoyt said. When the offseason rolled around for the Cowgirls, the likes of Tenin Magassa, Alexia Smith and Anna Gret Asi were gone. With three starters exhausting their eligibility, Hoyt and her staff turned to the transfer portal to fill out the Cowgirls roster.
OSU brought in six new faces via the transfer portal and ranked as ESPN’s No.7 ranked transfer class. The Cowgirls brought in Amari Whiting, Faith Acker, Achol Akot, Tyla Heard, WIlnie Joseph and Haleigh Timmer.
“That’s the best portal class we’ve had,” Hoyt said. “I’m
Connor Fuxa
Jacie Hoyt’s Cowgirls finished 25-7 last season and are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
really proud of the way our assistants have just picked it up and ran with it.”
With the new faces on the court for the Cowgirls, Hoyt believes her team is in a great position.
“I really feel like we’re in an amazing position as a program right now.” Hoyt said. “I’ve never felt like we’ve been positioned this well or this strong at this point of time.”
With the six transfers, the
Cowgirls also brought in Top-100 ranked freshman Lena Girardi as well as Favour Onoh from overseas.
With eight new faces joining Stailee Heard, Micah Gray, Jadyn Wooten, Macey Huard and Praise Egharevba, Hoyt believes the Cowgirls depth is key for them this season.
“We have such a talented roster,” Hoyt said. “We have so much depth, so now it’s just a matter of putting it together and helping the team
to understand that our depth is our biggest strength.”
In many games last year, the Cowgirls fanbase rocked GIA including a 30-point victory over No.12 Kansas State and the Jan.22 contest against TCU where the students stormed the court following the Cowgirls victory. While the noise was always present at GIA last season, the historic arena only averaged a crowed of 2,809, which ranked 11th in the Big 12 conference.
With a program coming off a historic season and projections to be in the preseason top 25, Hoyt hopes to see more sporting orange and black.
“I think one of the biggest things is just continuing to grow our fanbase,” Hoyt said. “And with that, help them understand what a great product they get to watch and how much we need them to show up and support us.”
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Payton Little Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson helped the Bears beat then-No. 17 SMU this past weekend.
Six members of the Cowboy RTC are ready to rumble at the highest stage of international wrestling.
The Wrestling World Championships have arrived, as the world competition will take place Sept. 13-21 in Zagreb, Croatia.
Jax Forrest, Wyatt Hendrickson and Zahid Valencia will compete for Team USA. The other three wrestlers competing for different countries are Roman Bravo-Young (Mexico), Mirzo Khayitov (Uzbekistan) and Rin Sakamoto (Japan).
“Preparation for worlds here at the Cowboy RTC, it’s been pretty similar to the training plan we set up for the national tournament,” Hendrickson said in a video posted by the club’s X account. “The past month or two has been nothing short of amazing. The training room is just electric. There’s no better place to be.”
Hendrickson has been on a tear since last November, with no defeats and more accolades to add to his name, including the 125-kg Pan American Championship and the series victory at Final X this summer. This year will be his second appearance on the Senior World Team, having previously made the 2023 team after winning gold at the U23 World Championships.
Valencia will also be making his second appearance on the Senior World Team, but his first for Cowboy RTC at 86 kg. Since joining the club last October, his new bond, which he’s been with for nearly a year, has helped him grow stronger as a veteran in his return to the World Championships.
“It’s been a grind, but I’m looking to come out on top in the next few weeks,” Valencia said. “It’ll be kinda more maintenance because the work is done. I feel like I’m more of a vet now, so just the things that you pick up along the way and on the losses that you’ve taken, so I think I’ve been able to evolve and learn. I just think I’m just more experienced, stronger, faster, more technical.”
Bravo-Young is another veteran who has also been able to evolve and learn with Cowboy RTC since joining in August of last year, and will make his first trip to the Senior World Team at 57 kg.
The team Mexico representative also competed in the Paris Summer Olympic Games last year, but described the process as being “thrown into the fire right away.” With more preparation this year, Bravo-Young is now looking to make a statement.
“I think now it’s just I can go hard six minutes, and now I’m just more disciplined, picking my shots and making guys have to work in every position,” Bravo-Young said. “I’m gonna go out there, just let it rip, have fun, and then whatever happens, happens, and on to the next thing. I’m happy in Stillwater. It’s helped me a lot just growing up as a person, too.”
Eighteen-year-old Forrest has had a phenomenal year so far in 2025, claiming a U.S. National Championship, a Pan American
Championship and securing the 61 kg spot on the Senior World Team by winning his Final X series against former World Champion Vito Arujau. He will be the youngest U.S. male freestyle wrestler to compete at the Senior Worlds since 1974.
Despite a lack of experience on the international stage, the high school senior doesn’t worry one bit about who his competition will be.
“I can go win a world title,” Forrest said. “It doesn’t matter how old I am. I have the same goals and just as much heart or will as any of these other guys.
“...Most importantly, staying focused in on the moment, not letting it get too big for me, not letting the little things take over and become big. Whoever they put in front of me, whatever the draw is, that’s what it’s going to be, and that’s what I’m looking for it to.”
OSU freshman Sakamoto will have his biggest matches as a representative of Japan in his first appearance on the Senior World Team at 57 kg. He previously earned a spot on the Japan U20 World Team in 2023 and claimed his first senior national title at the Emperor’s Cup in December 2024.
Khayitov is back at the World Championships for a second consecutive year but competing in a new weight class for Uzbekistan. Last year in Albania, he fell in the quarterfinals at 79 kg. This year, the 30-year-old will be in the 74 kg class.
Overall, all six wrestlers have shown significant improvements in 2025 and are ready to prove to the world their potential to become world champions.
“You kind of rise to the level of the room,” Hendrickson said. “I’m trying to be the best in the world. My partners are trying to be the best in the world. We’ve gotten exactly what we needed to get in every single week, and so now we’re at that point where we’re confident.
“We’ve put in that work, so now we start to back off and sharpen the edges, make sure our bodies are feeling 100% so we step out there on the world stage, we’re ready to compete.”
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Nine OSU wrestlers ranked InterMat initial rankings
currently sits at No. 21, this could be a spot where Jamison ends up returning during the season.
The college wrestling season is fast approaching, and Oklahoma State is entering its second year under coach David Taylor. InterMat released its preseason individual rankings last week, offering a first look at how wrestlers around the country stack up heading into the season.
The Cowboys were represented in nine of the ten weight classes, with five wrestlers earning spots inside the top 10. Here’s a look at where each OSU wrestler stands in the rankings.
125: Troy Spratley, No. 2
133: Richie Figueroa, No. 11
141: Cael Hughes, No. 21
149: Tagen Jamison, No. 6
157: Teague Travis, No. 17
165: No Cowboy ranked in this class
174: Alex Facundo, No. 16
184: Zack Ryder, No. 7
197: Cody Merrill, No. 10
HWT: Konner Doucet, No. 10
125: Spratley has quickly become one of the faces of the Cowboys’ lineup. After putting together a 24–5 record and finishing as the NCAA runner-up last season, he proved he can compete with anyone in the country. Spratley sits at No. 2, only behind NC State’s Vincent Robinson, who defeated him in the NCAA Championship match in March.
133: Fresh off winning the NCAA championship at 125 pounds in 2024, Figueroa arrives in Stillwater with a resume full of accolades and went 17-4 with a perfect 12-0 record in dual matches before transferring from Arizona State. Figueroa is placed right outside the top 10 at No. 11, ranked second out of all Big 12 wrestlers behind Iowa State’s Evan Frost.
141: Hughes tallied an 8-1 record last season at 133, including five bonus-point wins. The Stillwater hometown product has experience at 141 after spending the majority of his redshirt year in 2023-24. Although he
149: Jamison racked a 23-6 record last season with more than half coming by bonus points and finished as a Big 12 runner-up. Jamison is set high in the rankings at No. 6, but Iowa State transfer and former AllAmerican Casey Swiderski could be poised for the spot after missing all of last season with an injury.
157: Travis has had his share of adversity, but his toughness keeps him in the conversation at 157. Injuries slowed him down last season, but he returned in time to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row and won three matches. Travis is ranked No. 17, which is sixth among the Big 12.
165: No Cowboy was ranked in this weight class. LaDairon Lockett could lock in as the starter this season as a freshman and might be an underdog for fans to watch out for.
174: Facundo is another big piece added to the Cowboys’ puzzle. He is a former NCAA qualifier at Penn State, having gone 11-2 in the 202223 season, and went 5-0 last season before transferring to OSU. Facundo is ranked No. 16, fourth among the Big 12, but has the potential to become a Top 10 candidate easily.
184: Ryder is another transfer from Penn State with high potential. He redshirted last season while going 8-0 and taking the Southern Scuffle title. Unlike Facundo, Ryder is set in the top 10 of his class at No. 7, the highest-ranked wrestler outside of the Big Ten.
197: Merrill comes in with a lot of excitement surrounding him. One of the top recruits in the country, Merrill proved himself last year with a 12–2 record in open tournaments, including a tournament win at the Michigan State Open. He is ranked No. 10 and is only the fifth-highest in the conference.
HWT: After one year behind the Dan Hodge Trophy winner, Doucet makes his return as a starter. He is a veteran who went 5-0 last season, winning the Michigan State Open, and qualified for nationals as OSU’s heavyweight in both 2023 and 2024. Doucet is positioned at No. 10, second in the conference behind top-rated Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Weston Wertzberger STAFF REPORTER
Charles White
Wyatt Hendrickson is representing team USA at the World Championships.
Payton Little
Troy Spratley is coming off a 24-5 season and is No. 2 in InterMat rankings.
DeFini making early impact for OSU soccer
Sonora DeFini could not have asked for a better start to her career with Oklahoma State soccer.
The freshman forward has been a bright spot for the Cowgirls in several recent games, as she entered Thursday night’s game having scored two goals with an assist in her past three outings.
DeFini, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, and played high school soccer at Gretna East High School. The team went 84-1 and won four state championships in her four years on the team. She was named the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025.
DeFini’s junior season was one for the record books, tallying 55 goals and 11 assists. She finished her high school career on a great note, scoring 44 goals and totaling 10 assists during her senior year.
On the club soccer side, DeFini was a part of Gretna Elite Academy. She received All-Midwest Conference Second Team honors at the U15 and U16 levels for Gretna Elite. At the U17 level, she earned All-Midwest Conference First Team honors.
DeFini and Gretna Elite were very successful. They won the Nebraska state cup in 2021, qualified for the North American cup in 2022-23, and the Champions League in 202324. She participated in the Olympic Development Program and the 2022 ECNL National Selection Program while playing for Gretna Elite.
DeFini was heavily recruited, being the 35th ranked forward nationally in the 2025 recruiting class and fourth
in the Heartland Region. Along with being No. 112 on the 2024 IMG Academy Top 200, she was listed as a three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.
DeFini comes from a soccer family, starting with her Dad, and spreading to her and her two sisters, Savannah and London.
Her Dad, Keith, was an All-American soccer player at Creighton. He played professionally in the National Professional Soccer League and the United States Interregional Soccer League. Savannah currently plays soccer at SIUE while London plays for Lipscomb.
DeFini’s first appearance for the Cowgirls was when she entered the game as a sub against Mercer. She would do the same in the next three games against Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Arkansas State. Against ASU, she recorded her first career assist.
Her first start came against Rice, when she scored her first-career goal. She has started in every game since leading up to Thursday’s match against East Texas A&M. DeFini’s second goal came in the last match against Oral Roberts where she headed a cross from the corner by Landry Fieker into the back of the net.
OSU head coach Colin Carmichael spoke highly about DeFini’s performance so far following the Cowgirls 1-0 win over ORU.
“She’s killing it for a freshman,” Carmichael said. “She’s doing the things we hoped she would do as we recruited her. Her hold up plays great and her work ethic is amazing. So really proud of her and the best has definitely yet to come from that kid.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Fang, Stout help U.S. retain Walker Cup
STAFF REPORTER
Two Oklahoma State Cowboys weren’t wearing orange this weekend.
Instead, they were draped in red, white and blue. Ethan Fang and Preston Stout played key roles for Team USA at the 50th Walker Cup, held Sept. 6–7 at Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, California. The Americans defeated Great Britain & Ireland 17–9 to secure their fifth consecutive Walker Cup title.
The biennial event, contested between amateur teams from the United States and Great Britain & Ireland, featured some of the best young players in the world. For Fang and Stout, both juniors at Oklahoma State, it was their first appearance in the historic competition, and each contributed important points to the U.S. victory.
On Saturday afternoon, Stout made one of the most dominant statements of the event. Paired in singles against England’s Charlie Forster, he closed out the match early with a 6&5 win. His victory helped extend Team USA’s lead heading into the second day of competition. Fang, meanwhile, was matched against Stuart Gehan. Their battle remained close throughout, with neither player able to build a significant margin. The match ended all square, giving Fang a half point that added to the U.S. total.
The Americans entered Sunday singles with a lead, but the competition was far from over. Fang gave the team an early boost by winning his match 5&4. Coming off his Amateur Championship title earlier in the summer at Royal St. George’s, Fang maintained control throughout the round, securing one of the first points of the day for Team USA. His performance helped establish momentum as the
Americans looked to close out the overall contest.
Stout provided a key moment later in the day. Facing Luke Poulter, son of former Ryder Cup player Ian Poulter, Stout held steady through the back nine before sealing a 2&1 victory. The win delivered the clinching point, ensuring the United States would retain the Walker Cup. It was a fitting end to a strong weekend for the 21-year-old, who earned two full points for his team. Team USA’s eventual 17–9 win reflected steady contributions across the roster, but Fang and Stout stood out for their consistency and composure. Each earned points in both sessions, demonstrating the depth of the American squad. For both players, the event also represented valuable experience in international match play, where pressure and expectations are heightened compared to collegiate or individual amateur tournaments.
The Walker Cup has long been a platform where top amateurs test themselves against the best competition in the world before making the jump to professional golf. Many past participants, including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, have gone on to successful professional careers. Fang and Stout added their names to the list of players who have contributed on this stage, while gaining experience that could shape their future development.
With the 50th edition complete, the Walker Cup once again highlighted rising talent in the amateur game. For Fang and Stout, the weekend at Cypress Point provided both a chance to compete for their country and an opportunity to showcase their skills in one of golf’s most prestigious amateur events.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Weston Wertzberger STAFF REPORTER
Davis Hicks
Sonora DeFini has quickly made an impact for OSU soccer as a freshman.
Davis Hicks
Ethan Fang was one of two Cowboys to participate in the Walker Cup.
Peyton Steward
Week 1 Games
Georgia Tech vs. Clemson
The o’colly sports picks
ABOUT OUR GUEST PICKER:
Davis Cordova is the sports editor at the Norman Transcript and covers Oklahoma athletics. Cordova graduated from OSU and covered several sports at The O’Colly.
CAYDEN COX
No, OSU shouldn’t be a big favorite against Tulsa. The Cowboys have managed only 406 yards of offense in the last seven quarters they’ve played. Meanwhile, Tulsa’s defense has only given up 275 yards per game this season. For OSU to be big favorites, it has to move the ball with ease, and that’s something the Cowboys haven’t done.
SHOULD OSU BE A BIG FAVORITE AGAINST TULSA NEXT WEEK?
PARKER GERL
The Cowboys should be favorites over Tulsa next week because of what Mike Gundy’s teams have shown following bye weeks. Under Gundy, the Cowboys are 19-13 after a bye. Although I don’t see this Cowboy team bulldozing TU, I think they should be picked to win by a couple of scores.
Sam Mitchell
Luke Mazza
Cayden Cox