May 19, 2021 Issue, Page 5 of 28

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5 May 19, 2021 Sports Big Elk Sayre Tennis eagles Travel totakes Thomasfifth Coaches Corner in 4A State Meet By Kerry Hookstra Elk Coaches Corner Big Elk Football got off to an early start May 17 with sum- mer conditioning beginning at 6 a.m.Spring football opened after the conditioning sessions with an estimated 65 athletes working to make Elk City an even more improved team over the 2020 squad. Basketball camps are in the works with summer league baseball also coming soon. Softball witl get into summer league in July while cross country has a July camp planned. Oilers Coaches Corners Merritt Basketball sees the Oilers having open gym for sum- mer league Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 5 p.m. Junior summer league is set for Tuesday and Thursday at 3 p.m. Hydro- Eakley hosts the first team camp June 7-11. The junior high goes to Hydro-Eakley May 27-28 and June 3. Oilerette Basket- ball will get their in house summer league in action shortly and By Kerry Hookstra me more proud of anything most respected because it’s craft is unlike any athlete I’ve run through June 16. They have a camp at Cache June 21-23. I’ve seen that awesome young the hardest to attain. You have had in this program and it Baseball will be in summer league and football is set for condi- Once again the words of athlete do his entire career as to win four straight matches paid off for him. It was awe- Elk City Head Tennis Coach a three year varsity player.. against some of the best play- some to witness. If you see tioning sessions. Gina Curtis best describe the His ornery, sassy, aggravating, ers in the state; and he did it. Carter around, shake his hand performance of the Big Elks at funny, sneaky, lovable per- If you see him around, shake because he made more posi- the State Tennis Tournament sonality will be sorely missed his hand because there aren’t Trojan Coaches Corners tive Elk City Tennis history May 14-15 at the Oklahoma next year. Well done young many that could accomplish yesterday. We are so proud Baseball begins summer league at Weatherford May 24 and City Tennis Center. man-love you to pieces. Our this feat. This kid’s work ethic, of him. We’re looking for Vici comes to Canute May 25. The junior high travels to Vici According to Coach Cur- #2 doubles team, Syvan Syri- dedication, and determination another top finish next year. tis, “This roller coaster...what a bouth/Matthew Thompson, is so rock solid. It’s awesome May 27 and hosts Weatherford May 28. Trojan Basketball starts Our team placed fifth over- great ride! The boys were ready placed eighth in their very to witness. I can’t wait to see all. We missed fourth by two their camp sessions at Mooreland. They will be in a Thurs- for State, and boy, did they first appearance as sopho- what he does next year as a points.First, second, and third day Summer League May 26-June 17. Trojanette Basketball deliver. They represented Elk mores, and helped us secure senior. Our #2 singles player, were all private schools and welcomes a new head coach in Tatum Ridling who comes from City so well this weekend, and points for our overall team. Carter Senger, was the State Henryetta (the equivalent of we could not be more proud. It We are so proud of them. They Champion, which is something Sentinel. The plans for their summer are still being developed. didn’t go as planned for our #1 have learned more in the past that hasn’t been accomplished Elk City on the east side of the doubles team, Grant Graham/ week about the level of tennis in 25 years since Joni Jordan state) placed fourth. I told the Softball opens summer league in July. Caden Thomas, as they got the that has to be played to be McConnell (my beloved HS boys that they were the public toughest draw in one of the successful than they did their teammate) won her last one in school State Runner-Up. Once hardest divisions in Oklahoma entire season. They took a set 1996! That simply shows you again, for those that know the tennis world, that is a grand tennis meeting up with the #1 seed second round. We learned some difficult les- sons with sportsmanship and off the #2 seed in the second round, and you could see the hunger in their eyes for more. The drive and focus that they how difficult it is to win an in- dividual State Championship in tennis. It’s not from lack of talent, I assure you. Those accomplishment. They are all ready to begin their success story for next season, and we Big Elk Golfers defeatism that I know will are already planning for next from the tennis world know can’t wait! Thank you for all be overcome by next season because passion always beats negativity. We look forward season is obvious,and we can’t wait to see what these two will do with that next year what I mean. We have put a lot of players on the podium in the last 11 years from second of your love and support for these boys and our program. It doesn’t go unnoticed and take 4A to that outcome. Caden is our with bright futures ahead for to fifth, but he’s our first State we appreciate it. We, espe- lone varsity senior boy, and the way he left everything on that court to the very end marked by his dignity and them. Our #1 singles player, Evan Senger, placed fifth in the hardest division in all of Oklahoma tennis. That cov- Champion! Carter put down any questions about who the top player was in his division with style and grace. His drive, cially, thank you parents! We couldn’t get through these fast and furious seasons without you! We have the best parents Runner-up “never give up attitude made eted spot on the podium is the focus, and dedication to his that help us run this program By Kerry Hookstra behind the scenes. You are the real MVP’s!” Elk City had an excellent golf season. They entered the 4A Oklahoma While the Elkettes did not score any points at the State State Meet as Regional Champions and challenged for the State Meet three members of the Title through the first two rounds. Third round action saw the team competed. Judith Adrade team struggle to keep the scores down and they finished well was the #1 singles player for Elk City and was eliminated off the pace for the crown but collected the Runner-up Trophy. State softball: in the second round. Maddie Tres Hill closed the gap from the first day of play to win the Benton and Kyla Walter were third round and the Individual Title. He will represent Elk City entered as the #2 doubles. in the 2021 Oklahoma All-State Golf Games. The team earned They also went out in the what is arguably the top trophy of the season as they were second round. Each of these Cowgirls earn No. 5 overall athletes gave their best effort for the Elk City Tenis Program. named 4A State Academic Champions. Congratulations to the Big Elks and Coach Brian Hunt for a job well done seed for NCAA tournament Oilerette Golf claims Scott Wright, The Oklaho- I’ll hold onto for a long time. we’re the No. 5 team in the man STILLWATER — Okla- You’re just putting another one of those moments in the jar that you want to keep country.” The winner of the dou- ble-elimination Stillwater 2A State Academic homa State earned the No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA softball championship and having.” The Cowgirls had been ranked between No. 7 and Regional will advance to the best-of-three super-regional round to face the winner of Championship will host a regional at Cowgirl No. 12 in the top 25 polls all the Austin, Texas, Regional Stadium including Mississippi year, and their RPI continued which includes Texas, Oregon, State, Boston and Campbell. to climb late in the season Texas State and St. Francis of Regional action will begin as they faced other ranked Pennsylvania. with the Cowgirls vs. Camp- opponents on a regular basis. Gajewski took his team on bell at 1 p.m. Friday, followed OSU finished the season at a brief retreat to Broken Bow, by Mississippi State vs. Bos- No. 5 in RPI. giving them Sunday off from ton at 3:30 p.m. Both games Gajewski felt a No. 5 seed softball to relax together as will stream live on ESPN3. was a possibility for his team a team before watching the “It’s a cool day for our heading into Sunday night. ESPN selection show. program. I’m excited for “It just continues to tell He planned late Sunday our kids,” OSU coach Kenny the story — something that night to begin digging into Gajewski said. “It was kind I’ve felt the whole time and game tape of Campbell, a of a surreal feeling to see our that we felt in our room the team he knew little about. On name pop up in a top-eight whole time — that this team seed. is really good,” said Gajewski, Monday, the team is sched- “I can remember the first now in his sixth season as uled to practice at Broken moment that we had like this, OSU’s coach. Bow High School. that first year, not knowing if “This is the most tal- “I had some older kids we were in. I got a phone call ented team that we’ve had who came to me and wanted Jamie Peffer, Kierra Stehr, Lexie Frazier, Dayli Taylor, Taylor Ford, and Coach Heath about two minutes before our up to this point here at OSU. to get away and do a little Stehr holding their Class 2A State Academic Championship Trophy. Courtesy photo. name popped up that said, They’ve played like it. They’re team-building stuff,” Gajew- ‘You guys are in,’ so I got a starting to become a team, ski said. “I think this team By Kerry Hookstra little heads-up and I got to which is maybe as important feels pretty good about them- really enjoy the reaction from as the talent. On this day, the selves, knowing that we’ve Merritt topped off an outstanding year on the links as the Oilerette Golf Team earned the 2A State Academic Championship Trophy.They placed fifth in 2A in the State Tournament held at our team like I did here today. 16th of May, that’s what the got to play good, though, to Guthrie/s Cimarron National Golf Course. It was just something that outside perception is, that win.”