January 11, 2025 Issue, Page 6 of 12

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6+ SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025 The Elk City News Oakley Blankenship - Golfer - Wres- Cali Blankenship Dr. John Edwards - Hole in One #10 Bryce Mouse - EC Pitcher Keyshaun Smith Jayden Manning - Golfer tler - Baseball A NEW SPORTS YEAR IN ELK CITY By Alex Alvarez play football or basketball after in Oklahoma City and goes to. next few years. Who knows, both basketball teams at 2-A and the “Voice of Elk’, Shawn. Wilson, who can call a game doing your homework. Why? wrestling meets all over out of dad and mom, being “heavy” Canute are 10-2. The boys are Living in a small city has on the spot five minutes after Because you get to experi- state, where he has excelled as Oklahoma Sooner fans may coached by Brock Steffes and many advantages, one of them having received a list of names ence different things, you get well as he has in golf (has won one day be watching Cali play the girls are coached by Tatum being that when you follow of players. You can call either to meet different people, dif- several junior tournaments for the Sooner team that has Ridling, The Elk City Elkettes, sports, you get to meet a larg- one of them, and you will get ferent coaches, different out- and won the fall season in the won the World Series several coached by Sean Hamm are er percentage of people than ideas of who to contact for any looks of why you play a certain Green Bellt and Golf Tours. A times, and may even have two now 8-1 in the 4-A Class, you would in a big town. You sports story: they know stats of game. You get to learn that good athlete? Yes, but talent kids playing Division I col- climbing in the state ranking meet more “big fish in the little local teams, names, schedules, time is valuable and that there if not developed and used is lege sports at the same time. It from out of the top 20 to 15th. tank” In Elk City where most coaches and players in person, are other people who know wasted, and he is not one kid could happen! We'll check on Tucker Gar- people are crazy about sports, etc., not to mention college more than you in certain ar- to waste time. He practices all By the way, you would never za and Jeremiah Jackson, both from “peewee” leagues to fol- and professional sports. You eas, in short, YOU LEARN sports he likes. He'll play golf, guess that these two very ath- of whom are playing basket- lowing professional sports, it go to the stadium to watch a THINGS THAT YOU DID and then go to 5P Gym to get Ietic kids’ mom, April Blan- ball now, but who, gave us a is inspiring to see how par- game, and you can hear the NOT KNOW WERE THERE. trained in strengthening and kenship, who barely weighs “first ever coincidence” last ents encourage kids to play all calling without mistakes. Re- I remember some of our conditioning. When the sun over 90 pounds and who is year: Tucker, who wears #1 in sports. It is a bigger local story cently I went to take pictures golf kids who played multiple goes down, and he can't be at not even remotely athletic, is a the football team, scored the to have a Kash Mayfield join at a wrestling meet, and there sports and were pretty good at the golf course, he'll do home- mom who makes sure her kids seasons first touchdown for the San Diego Padres, than if was Shawn Wilson showing all of them. At the time, it was work and then go to Keyshaun appreciate their fortunes, and the Elks, and Jeremiah, who you lived in Oklahoma City me things I never even heard Joby, Berek and Brock for Elk Smith’ Battin Barn to swing makes them work hard to be wears #2, scored the second or Dallas TX, cities that are of about wrestling, and if you City, now you have kids like his bat at baseballs. Not a day the best they can be at whatev- Elks’ touchdown! Was that 30-100 times bigger than ours, know him, some of this infor- Oakley and Cali Blankenship wasted. er they try! planned? even when the result is the mation came via funny jokes. who play more than one sport. Then you have Cali, 15 years As spring comes, we will fol- Can't wait to go talk to same: a young man was giv- I learned that there is an ex- A new generation, but not a old, who is not to be outdone low golf, basketball, wrestling coaches Jason Xenos and en a position in a profession- pression where when a wres- new “sports lifestyle” for Elk by her younger brother as she and soccer. We will give you Zak Stamm, who coach my al team. In Elk City, everyone tler twists you and locks you City. Good students who hap- plays softball and basketball updates on one Kash Mayfield, favorite team sport: “futbol” seems to “know” Kash, but where you can do anything, pen to play various sports and for Merritt, and also goes to now a professional pitcher, (AKA “soccer”), watch some in Dallas, TX with the same he “turned you into a pretzel’, are encouraged at home to be conditioning and _ strength and of former teammate Bryce of the games, especially the circumstances, you would be just like someone is “dormie” the best they can be at whatev- training at the 5P gym. She Mouse, who did great with the girls where one lady, Cam- lucky to find more than 20 when they can't lose a golf er they choose after hitting the already made the softball team South Plains Nationals last ryn Edney, will be playing people who knew of him. match. A word to describe books. as a freshman and earned “All summer and is the #1 pitcher her last high school season So, that was part of my ad- something about the sport Oakley, whom I helped with Conference” and “All District” for the Elks. Big shoes to fill! ever. And after summer, I'll go vantage in Elk City when I be- you're watching. his golf game in the last few awards last year. Additionally, Some of our area basketball and visit with coach Gillette gan writing about sports other In Elk City, fourteen years years, not only loves golf, but she plays for the Oklahoma teams are doing great: Mer- who helped so much in 2024! than golf: I knew that I knew ago, I quickly learned that kids he is a great baseball player Rebels travel softball team, ritt Girls, who were 3-A Class (Thank you!) nothing, and I know that I'm were encouraged to play any and wrestler as well. A 12 year- pitching, playing left field State Champions last year, are Thank you to alll players and lucky to know a tiny bit more sport, and the more sports old 7th grader who somehow and third base as well. An all- 8-1 thus far under coach Jeff coaches who helped me with than nothing. I admire peo- you played, the better off you got introduced to wrestling, around player that will be dif- Daugherty, and on their way my columns in 2024 and see ple like Aaron “Skinny” Kauk were. In the off season of golf, joined Prodigy Elite Wrestling ficult to keep off any team the to another state title chase; you in 2025. State & Local Sports Professional Sports Teams By Alex Alvarez Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7). Packers vs Eagles and Com- By Alex Alvarez injured. Our prayers go to all Crimson Tide by a score of manders vs Buccaneers of those families whose week 107-79. It was their first con- NFL NFC WINNERS AND Monday: Vikings vs Rams ELK CITY GOLF was so horribly affected. ference game. Their overall Both Conferences, AFC WILD CARD TEAMS Detroit Lions (15-2) in Elk City Golf & Country On December 3lst, the record is 13-1, and are 2-1 and NFC completed their Division Winners: Phila- the NFC and Kansas City Club members ended the Penn State Nittany Lions (#6 in their last three games, los- regular season of 17 games, delphia Eagles (East: 14-3); Chiefs (15-2), have a week season with three Decem- ing to Alabama and winning seed) defeated Boise State and the last spots on the Detroit Lions (North: 15- off and will have home field ber hole-in-ones: Danny De Broncos (#3 Seed) 31-14. against Prairie View (89-67) playoffs were decided on 2); Tampa Bay Buccaneers advantage during the play- Leon on #5, Tony Lopez on ‘Then, on January Ist Tex- and Central Arkansas (89- Sunday January Sth. (South: 10-7) and Los Ange- offs. #7 and the last one, Doctor as Longhorns (#5) defeated 66). Their next three games les Rams (West: 107). Wild NEL SIDE NOTES: John Edwards on #10. That Arizona State (#4) in a great will be Texas A&M, Georgia AFC WINNERS AND Card Teams: Washington Jahmyr Gibbs made sure isa first, at least in the last 14 game that needed two over- and Texas. WILD CARD TEAMS Commanders (12-5), Min- the Detroit Lions will be seasons. Congratulations to times to get finished. In the Division Winners: Buffalo nesota Vikings (14-3) and rested when they start the all! game, the Sun Devils were OKLAHOMA STATE Bills (East: 13-4); Baltimore Green Bay Packers (11-6) playoffs in Round 2 with a 16 points behind and tied UNIVERSITY Ravens (North: 12-5); Hous- Wild Card Games this home game. Gibbs ran for NCAA FOOTBALL the game. Texas missed 2 BASKETBALL ton Texas (South: 10-7) and weekend: 139 yards and three touch- SECOND ROUND OF field goals to end it in regu- The Cowboys are tied for Kansas City Chiefs (West: Saturday: Chargers vs downs on 23 carries and PLAYOFFS lation time late in the game. last in the Big 12 conference 15-2) Wild Card teams: Los Texans and Steelers vs Ra- caught five passes for 31 ‘There were four second In the first overtime, the Sun despite having a winning re- Angeles Chargers (11-6), vens; round (quarterfinals) games Devils scored first and Texas cord of 8-5. They have lost Denver Broncos (10-7) and Sunday: Broncos vs Bills, See TEAM page 7 onthecollege playoff, one was tied them in the next posses- the two conference games played on December 31st, sion. In the second overtime, they have played in. They are and three were scheduled for ‘Texas scored first, and then 1-2 in their last three games: January Ist. As most people intercepted a pass from Ar- now know, the Sugar Bowl izona State to end the game. winning against Oral Roberts 86-74 and losing against West Professional Sports Individual in New Orleans, scheduled as ‘Texas won 39-31. In the sec- Virginia 69-50 and Houston By Alex Alvarez tournament winner and see or hole out... But 35 un- the last game on January Ist, ond game, Ohio State Buck- 60-47. The next three games if he can catch up with the der par? Good God! Collin was delayed 24 hours to Jan- eyes (#8) beat the Oregon will be against Kansas State, GOLF year’s leader. That's it. “Nuf Morikawa, who shot 32 un- uary 2nd due to the horrible Ducks (#1) 41-21 who were Utah and BYU. It is a new year and a new said”, der par (8 under average per terrorist attack in the early never close. The Sugar Bow! season for the PGA Tour that ‘The year started with a re- day!) was asked about the morning of the new year. No was won by Notre Dame (#7) LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL went back to the “calendar cord setting during the Sen- Japanese’s star performance: words can describe the terri- over Georgia (#2) by a score BASKETBALL year” season, instead of a try Tournament in Hawaii. “Sorry for the language, but ble results of that attack and of 23-10 on January 2nd. Only one local school “wrap around” season that The formerly “Tournament F&%$#! I shoot 32 under consequences of loss of life In short, every team that played the week of New included the last few tourna- of Champions” is no longer and lose by three? ‘That's in- of so many young people. It was seeded #1 to #4, lost in Year's, our Elk City High ments of the previous year. for the 25-30 winners of the sane!” Yes, it is! did not change sports histo- the quarterfinals. The semi- School. Both, boys and girls Thank you PGA, the former last 12 months on Tour, but Some other _ highlights ry, but it changed ones mind final games will be Texas won against Altus. Boys was really confusing. there are other qualifiers, and were the albatross by Taylor that sports are only entertain- (4 times National Champi- (Coach Tyler Foale) won Now, let’ also change the the field is 60. Nevertheless, Pendrith on hole #5 which ment, not life. Seventy-five ons) vs Ohio State (8 times 46-44, and girls (coach Sean format of the FedEx cup fi- Hideki Matsuyama estab- was playing downwind. It thousand fans, watched the National Champions) and Hamm) won 65-43, The boys nale for the Tour Champi- lished a new record for the was the first albatross on any game at the Superdome on Penn State (3 times National have a 2-6 record, and the onship. What is this thing tournament that is played hole at this course ever in the January 2nd, and aside from Champions) vs Notre Dame girls have an 8-1 record. about starting the leader in at the Plantation Course, in 27 years that this course has having a moment of silence (11 times national champi- Merritt Oilers: | Coach points at 10 under par, with Maui, Hawaii with a 35 un- held this event. at the beginning of the game, ons). More history to come to Donnie Husband. Record the next at 8 under par and der par performance on a Give these guys wide fair- most of them forgot what these great schools with great 4-5, Merritt Oilerettes: Coach so on? It really doesn’t make course that measures 7,596 ways, large smooth, fairly flat happened the day before football programs! Jeff Daugherty. Record 8-1. any sense. The Tour Cham- yards at sea level. I know, the greens and there's no telling and watched the game with Canute Trojans: Coach Brock pionship Tournament itself, undulations make the course what they'll do. That’s why enthusiasm, along with mil- OKLAHOMA Steffes. Record 10-2. Canute should be a finale where ev- play much shorter in several there will never be a 35 under lions at home on TV. Mean- UNIVERSITY ‘Trojanettes: Coach Tatum eryone who qualifies has the holes, but par 4’s of over 540 par in a major, where hitting while, while about 50 fam- BASKETBALL Ridling. Record 10-2. Elk same chance of winning. I yards? The greens are mostly narrow fairways is a must, ilies directly affected by the The Oklahoma Sooners City 7th Grade Girls: Coach truly like the old format bet- flat (not a bunch of mounds), rough is truly punishing, and attack, grieved the loss of 14 are tied for 8th (one game Denny Geno. Record 1-3. Elk ter: you had a tournament even though they slope to greens are mostly undulating young lives and several doz- behind 7 teams tied for 1st) City 8th Grade Girls: Coach winner and a year-round one side or the other, and and lighting fast. en people who were severely after a loss to the Alabama Denny Geno. Record 1-3. winner. No problem with putts of 20 feet or more are that. Give more points to the not as difficult to get close See INDIVIDUAL page 7