January 17, 2026 Issue, Page 10 of 13

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SPORTS 10• SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2026 The Elk City News Amy Busby Aces Her First Tennis Coaching Season For Elk City High school When Amy stepped onto the familiar courts at Elk City High School midway through the season, she never imagined she’d be making history. A proud graduate of Elk City herself, Amy had returned to her alma mater under unexpected circumstances—stepping in to replace the previous coach with the season already underway. The challenge seemed daunting. As a first-year coach, she was inheriting the boys team in the middle of the season, with established routines and player dynamics already in place. But Amy brought something special: she understood the Elk City spirit. She knew these courts, this community, and what it meant to wear the brown and white. Amy quickly established a culture that valued both excellence on the court and in the classroom. She insisted that her players were students first, athletes second—a philosophy that resonated deeply with the team members. Afternoon practices were followed by study sessions. Game strategies, form, new routines, backhand, forehand, service shots were discussed with the same intensity as test preparation. The boys’ team responded with a new determination to make things happen, their serves growing sharper, their volleys more precise. Each team member helping the other ones, evidently, Amy created not only a team, but a family united by common purpose. As the season progressed, the team had a definite new attitude, on and off the court, and they traveled to the State Tournament for 4-A schools, you could see a quiet confidence, not arrogant, just confident. The result was that her team brought the first ever Tennis title to Elk City. The members did great individually: Spencer Brewer & Kyler Welch took 2nd in the doubles of #1 teams, Quinn Brewer took 2nd individ- ually for #1 players; Max Murray took fifth in the #2’s singles and they all helped the team take the team title. In addition to the Tennis Title, because of Amy’s encouragement, the boys team won the Academic Championship as well, something that the girls team also did under coach Joni McConnell. The boys were recognized during a basketball game last week. Congratulations! The trophy case in Elk City’s hallway will need to be expanded! But more importantly, Amy has proven that with the right leadership, belief, and balance, anything is possible. Tennis Coaches - Joni McConnell & Amy Busby College & High School Basketball As the college football season ends on January 19, and professional football in Mid-February, the focus begins to change to basketball, high school, college and professional. Sports fans want to know how our local colleges are doing along with the Thunder in Oklahoma City, and of course, your local high schools, where our kids begin their chase of higher skilled competition. We have three high schools that we follow: Canute, Merritt and Elk City. Our state universities are doing well in basketball, and though they are not on top of their conferences, they have a winning record as the records below show. Only Canute has a boys’ team with a winning record. On the girls, all three teams have a winning record, with Canute doing the best in the “A” division with a record of 14-1. Here are the records of our colleges and local high schools: OKLAHOMA COLLEGES BASKETBALL Oklahoma Sooners. Men. Southeastern Conference Coach: Porter Moser Record: 11-5 overall, 1-2 in SEC Conference. Last three games: 1-2. Win vs Ole Miss 86-70, losses vs Mississippi St 53-72 and Texas A&M 76-83 Coming up: Florida (01/13), Alabama (01/17) and South Carolina (01/20) Conference Position: Tied 10th. Vanderbilt Commodores 16-0. #13 Oklahoma Sooners. Women. Southeastern Conference Coach: Jennie Baranczyk Record: 14-3, Conference 2-2 Last three games: 1-2. Win vs Mississippi St 91-47, losses vs Ole Miss 69-74 and Kentucky 57-63 Coming up: Texas A&M, Mississippi St., Ole Miss Conference Position: 9th Conference Leader: Vanderbilt Commodores 17-0 Oklahoma State Cowboys. Big12 Conference Coach: Steve Lutz Record: 13-3 overall, 1-2 Conference Last three games: 1-2. Win vs UCF 87-76, losses vs Texas Tech 80-102 and Iowa St. 71-83 Coming up: Baylor (01/13), Kansas St (01/17) and TCU (01/20) Conference Position: 9th Conference Leader: Iowa State Cyclones and Arizona Wildcats 16-0 #18 Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Women. Big-12 Conference Coach: Jacie Hoyt Record: 14-4 overall, Conference 3-2 Last three games: 2-1. Wins vs Houston 83-52, Colorado 63-56, loss vs TCU 61-69 Coming up: Kansas (01/14), Iowa St (01/18) and Colorado (01/25) Conference Position: 8th Conference Leader: Texas Tech Lady Riders at 18-0 ELK CITY BASKETBALL – IDLE NEW YEAR’S WEEK CANUTE CLASS A BOYS: Coach Brock Steffes. Record 12-3 Last three games: 2-1. Wins versus Turpin 51-48 and Canadian 5844, Loss vs Hooker 41-50. Coming up: Hooker (01/10), Cheyenne/Reydon (01/13), Mangum (01/16) CANUTE CLASS A GIRLS: Coach Tatum Ridling. Record 14-1 Last Three 3-0: Wins vs Frederick 75-16, Hooker 54-13 and Merritt 41-24 Coming up: Cheyenne/Reydon (01/13), Mangum (01/16) and Ft. Cobb/Broxton (01/27) MERRITT CLASS 2-A BOYS Coach Tyler Snowden. Record 5-6 Last Three: 1-2. Win vs Frederick 55-31, losses vs Canadian 36-47 and Turpin 42-44 Coming Up: Sayre (01/13), Burns Flat/Dill City (01/16) and Hollis (01/19) Last Three: 2-1. Wins vs Hooker 63-16 and Mooreland 28-26, loss vs Canute 24-41. Coming Up: Sayre (01/13), Burns Flat/Dill City (01/16) and Hollis (01/19) ELK CITY CLASS 4-A BOYS Coach Tyler Foale. Record 0-11 Last Three: 0-3. Losses vs Guthrie 40-65, Weatherford JV 44-52 and Elgin 45-53. Coming Up: Weatherford (01/13), Blanchard (01/16), TBA (01/22) MERRITT CLASS 2-A Girls Coach Jeff Daugherty. Record 8-3 ELK CITY CLASS 4-A GIRLS Coach Mason Jones. Record 8-4 Last 3: 2-1. Wins vs Altus 40-28, and Weatherford JV 43-27, loss vs Bishop McGuinness 53-55 Coming up: Weatherford (01/13), Blanchard (01/16) and TBA (01/22) state’s Forensic Science Center, along with $1.1 million to add critical personnel. The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System and several court systems requested additional funding to retain current staff and hire new employees. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Safety is asking for an additional $26 million to fund more cadets in future Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper academies. Throughout this month, Senate Appropriations subcommittees will hold budget hearings with agency leaders to review and discuss these funding requests. These requests, hearings and the recommendations made by the subcommittees are all available on the State Senate website under the Budget Transparency Dashboard. The Board of Equalization will meet again on Feb. 13 to certify final revenue projections, which the Legislature will use to build the state budget during session. To contact me at the Capitol, please write to Senator Brent Howard, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 427, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at [email protected], or call (405) 521-5612. NEWS Senate Notes from Sen. Brent Howard | Jan. 9, 2026 The State Board of Equalization met in late December to certify initial revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal year, marking an important step in the state budget process. These estimates provide a baseline of how much state funding can be appropriated in the year ahead. The governor uses these figures to craft the executive budget proposal he presents to the Legislature. The Board, which consists of statewide elected officials, reviews state revenue projections prepared by the Oklahoma Tax Commission and the Office of Management and Enterprise Ser- vices. Early projections for the fiscal year that begins July 1 estimate an expenditure authority of about $12 billion — roughly $694 million less than the $12.67 billion appropriated in the current fiscal year. In short, state revenue collections are slowing. This is largely due to the elimination of the state portion of the grocery tax in 2024, a 0.25% income tax cut last year and lower oil prices. While the state has approximately $4 billion in reserve accounts, the challenge this year will be identifying enough recurring revenue to cover ongoing ex- penses. If these estimates hold, it appears likely we will have to rely on one-time cash sources to maintain current agency budgets and preserve existing service levels. Compounding the issue, the state faces roughly $400 million in new spending obligations. These are partly due to federal changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill. At the same time, state agencies are requesting more than $1.5 billion in new funding. Many of these requests may be difficult to accommodate unless the reve- nue outlook improves. The State Department of Education — the largest recipient of state funding — is seeking a mostly flat budget, with limited increases to offset higher costs for teachers’ benefits. The State Regents for Higher Education, on the other hand, requested $426 million in new funding for workforce initiatives, institution-specific support and deferred maintenance on college campuses. Several public safety agencies are also seeking targeted funding increases. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has requested $14 million to repair the Meals on Wheels Dining in Rebranded to Grandma’s House By Sheryl Ponce In an effort to invite the community to eat at the Meals on Wheels Dining Hall, located at 1510 W. 9th St., the name has been changed to Grandma’s House. The mantra for the event is, “One table. One Community. One purpose.” It is said that every meal is created with thought, cooked with care, and packaged with love. The grand opening for the dining hall was Thursday, Jan. 8th, from noon to 1 p.m. The Elk City Rotary Club was there for the re-dedication and celebration. It is a place to find nourishment, connection, and community. With the Rotarians moving their Thursday’s noon meetings to the dining hall, others should follow their lead by making it a point to try out a meal. The meals for the week of Jan. 19th through the 23rd include – Monday – steak finger, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuit, and pudding; Tuesday – chicken broccoli and rice casserole, salad and pineapple cake; Wednesday – king ranch casserole, pinto beans, tortilla chips, and brownie; Thursday – beef tips and mashed potatoes, broccoli, roll, and mandarin oranges; and Friday – southwest tator tot casserole, Mexi-corn, Texas toast, and lemon cake. The following week; Monday, Jan. 26th through the 30th - beef stroganoff; broccoli, roll, pudding; Tuesday – potato soup, salad, breadstick, and fluff. Wednesday – crispy chicken sandwich, tator tots, cucumber salad, and chocolate pudding; Thursday - Cowboy stew, salad, cornbread, and pears; and Friday - biscuits and gravy, home fries, sliced okra, and desert. Go by Grandma’s House to see what’s cooking and enjoy meeting new people. It should be a grand ole time. SWOSU to Host 56th Annual Jazz Festival in February 2026 The Department of Music at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) will host the 56th Annual SWOSU Jazz Festival on February 19–20, 2026 in Weatherford. This festival is open to the public and will feature two days of concerts, clinics, and social events. The festival will feature acclaimed guest artists trombonist Andy Martin and the Stockton Helbing Trio, alongside the SWOSU Jazz Orchestra. Festival events begin Thursday, Feb. 19, with a free public concert at 7 p.m. in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center Auditorium. Trombonist Andy Martin will be joined by the Stockton Helbing Trio for an evening of small-group jazz. A kickback will follow at 9 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Lobby Lounge, providing an informal space for conversation after the concert. Snacks will be provided by the SWOSU Music Department. Friday’s schedule includes the SWOSU Big Band Festival, which runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bands from across the region will perform throughout the day and receive ratings and written comments from judges, many of whom are SWOSU alumni. The festival is non-competitive and open to middle school, junior high, high school, junior college, and university ensembles. Non-performing groups are encouraged to observe performances, clinics, and concerts. Admission to Big Band Festival events and clinics is free and open to the public. Registration for the SWOSU Big Band Festival is open through Jan. 23, 2026. Participating bands will perform and receive ratings and comments from judges. Certificates will be awarded to outstanding high school or middle school soloists in each band, with two soloists receiving free tuition scholarships to a 2026 SWOSU Music camp of their choice. Registration details are available at www.swosu. jotform.com/252358241442857. In addition to the Big Band Festival, Andy Martin will present free jazz clinics at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday in the Hilltop Theatre. The SWOSU Jazz Orchestra will perform concerts at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday in the SWOSU Fine Arts Center Auditorium, featuring Andy Martin and the Stockton Helbing Trio as guest artists. A Jazz Sip and Slide Happy Hour will also take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the Timothy D. Day Business Enterprise Center. Tickets for Friday concerts and the Jazz Sip and Slide Happy Hour are available for purchase at share. swosu.edu/swosujazzfest26. The SWOSU Jazz Festival is generously supported by the SWOSU Foundation. Donations help provide participating high school bands with masterclasses and support guest artists and festival organizers. Those interested in supporting SWOSU Jazz can visit www. swosufoundation.com/give/giveto-swosu-jazz/. For more information, contact Dr. Richard Tirk at Richard.tirk@ swosu.edu or visit www.swosujazzfest.com. ABOUT THE ARTISTS Andy Martin is a nationally recognized jazz trombonist known for his work as a soloist, lead player, and educator. Based in Los Angeles, Martin has performed with major big bands including Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, the Tom Kubis Band, and the Bill Holman Big Band. His recording career spans jazz, television, and film, with appearances on more than 150 motion picture soundtracks and numerous television productions. Martin is also a frequent guest artist and clinician at colleges and universities across the United States. The Stockton Helbing Trio features drummer and bandleader Stockton Helbing alongside pianist Peter Rioux and bassist James Driscoll. Helbing is an active performer, composer, and educator who has released eight albums as a leader and worked with artists such as Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, and Arturo Sandoval. Pianist Peter Rioux is rooted in blues and jazz traditions and has performed throughout Canada and the Dallas–Fort Worth area, collaborating with a wide range of jazz and blues artists. Bassist James Driscoll has been a fixture of the Dallas–Fort Worth jazz scene for more than two decades and has performed with nationally known musicians across jazz and commercial genres.