Whatzup Sports (297)
This weekend my family and I celebrated Memorial Day a little differently. We attended a team roping for a friend that lost a battle with cancer. This Memorial Day weekend we celebrated the first annual Mike Felder memorial team roping.
Kendall Stacy, coupled with his Integrity roping productions put the entire thing together. He bought prizes and furnished the cattle for the roping. Towards the end of the first day he spoke about why they were having the roping. He said, “we are honoring Mike Felder not because he was a great roper, but because he was a great man.”
Mike moved into our area about twenty years ago. He played college baseball and drove race cars. He didn’t start roping until he was fifty three years old. He really liked to team rope. He struggled for a good while. Kaleb Kirby really helped Mike get better.
Mike’s easy going disposition coupled with a big grin and ready handshake allowed him to make friends anywhere he went. He was liked by everyone. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years and I bumped into him at a new church. The first thing Mike said was that boy of yours can really rope. He always had a compliment. He was so encouraging.
Mike ran a warehouse for a company in Poteau that made these little funny looking trucks. Several of his roping buddies would stop by to visit at his office and rope the dummy. Mike kept a dummy in the warehouse, it was a good conversation starter.
Mike always made time for everyone. He was one of those rare people who was at ease with corporate executives or the janitor. He made everyone feel important. He always listened intently when talking to someone.
I can remember a few times it was really, really hot when we practiced roping. Mike would be covered in dust and sweat. He would laugh and cut up even though he had enough dirt on him to stop up the shower drain. That’s how I remember him. Roping and having fun even it was over a hundred degrees in the shade.
The event was held at Kendall Stacy’s arena at his ranch on highway 270 between Wister and Heavener. Over three hundred teams competed in the two day event. They gave away three saddles, about a dozen belt buckles and over twenty thousand in prize money.
Kaleb Kirby was given a special award. A local artisan, Janna Mankin took one of Mike Felder’s head ropes and made it into a clock. Kaleb helped Mike until he took he last breath.
As they were doing the presentation I was reminded of the scene in Lonesome Dove where Gus died. Woodrow and Gus were close friends. Mike Felder was that close to several of us around here.
Memorial Day 2022 was special, it’s one I won’t ever forget. We honored a fine man who was a good friend to those who knew him. He rode a fine horse and lived a life worth remembering. Rest In Peace my good friend, Mike Felder. You won’t soon be forgotten.
James Lockhart lives near the Kiamichi mountains in southeast Oklahoma. He writes cowboy stories and fools with cows and horses.
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Wednesday, 18 May 2022 11:14
Cameron Middle School Archers Qualify for NASP World Championships
Written by Press Release
The Cameron Middle School Archery team competed at the NASP Eastern National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky on May 12-14. The team finished ranked 28th out of 205 middle school teams from across the nation.
7th graders Leighton Dyer and Hayle Parker qualified individually for the NASP World Championship. Dyer finished 45th out of 2,054 middle school girls and Parker finished 55th. Both girls scored a 284, with just three bullseyes separating the two. The girls will compete June 23-25 at the world championship in Louisville.
The Yellowjackets had a successful season. The team was county champion, finished 4th in Oklahoma, and left nationals as the third highest ranked team from Oklahoma. They competed in 13 tournaments, earning five tournament championships, two runners-up, and four 3rd place finishes. The team brought home 46 medals, including 16 individual championships.
“To say I am proud of these kids is an understatement. Their work ethic, attitude, integrity, and commitment to each other is unmatched,” said Hank Austin, Cameron archery coach. “We are looking forward to the next few years for both our middle and high school teams.”
The archery program will have its own practice facility opening in the early fall as part of the new buildings currently under construction at Cameron School. “Now is a great time to be a Yellowjacket,” Austin said.
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Wednesday, 18 May 2022 11:06
Dills, Pinnell Celebrate Golf Bills, First Tee
Written by Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell on Tuesday celebrated the signing into law of legislation that will elevate the status of golf in Oklahoma.
Speaking at the Cedar Ridge County Club in Broken Arrow, the two talked about the passage of bills that establish Golf Day in Oklahoma and that create a commission to develop a list of golf courses to be designated as the Oklahoma Golf Trail.
"Oklahoma has a number of tremendous golf courses that deserve to be promoted," Dills said. "This legislation allows us to preview not only our incredible courses but the sport itself, which is an economic driver in our state and one that improves our quality of life."
House Bill 3646 designates the third Wednesday in June each year as Golf Day in the State of Oklahoma. The goal is to help the state golf industry promote the game and generate additional revenue.
House Bill 3647 creates the Oklahoma Golf Trail Commission that will be charged with developing a list of 15 to 25 golf courses to be listed as the official Oklahoma Golf Trail. The nine-member commission would be responsible for issuing requests for proposals for the marketing component of accepting courses to be located along the trail. They also would help solicit funding from public-private partnerships.
Both bills have been signed into law by the governor.
“Oklahoma has some of the best golf courses in the country," Pinnell said. "After seeing the economic impact of the Alabama and Louisiana golf trails, Representative Dills and I knew it was Oklahoma’s turn to highlight our Top Ten golf scene. I look forward to the growth this trail will bring to our state.”
Dills and Pinnell spoke Tuesday evening during a celebration of golf in Oklahoma benefiting the First Tee program. The youth development organization integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum to create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that youth can carry to everything they do.
The event came after the second day of practice rounds for the PGA Championship scheduled Thursday through Sunday at the Southern Hills Golf Course in Tulsa. The tournament is estimated to bring $143 million dollars into Oklahoma and will have global media coverage.
Dills herself has won multiple golf championships and attended Oklahoma State University on a golf scholarship. She later had a successful career on the course and in the classroom. She served seven years on the Board of Directors of the Women's Oklahoma Golf Association and as president of the organization for four years. She was instrumental in converting the 101-year-old organization from a social organization into a 501c3 public charity.
Dills also developed successful programs such as a scholarship program for high school seniors, a grants program for underfunded Oklahoma high schools and a grass roots program to introduce young girls to the game of golf. She also served on local, state and national boards of directors, including the First Tee and the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame.
Sheila Dills, a Republican, serves District 69 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Her district includes Jenks, South Tulsa and Bixby in Tulsa County.
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CARL ALBERT STATE COLLEGE ANNOUNCES HIRING OF NEW SOFTBALL COACH
Carl Albert State College is excited to announce the hiring of new head softball coach, Lexi Watson. From Smithville, Watson earned All-Conference honors in fast and slow-pitch and helped lead the team to a state runner-up finish. She received All-State accolades as a senior and was named Offensive Player of the year. During her time at Seminole State College, Watson garnered 19 home runs, drove in 59 runs and had a .405 average in her freshman year, earning AllRegion II honors and leading the team to the national tournament.
The following season she returned to hit .364 with16 doubles, 10 homers and 35 RBI as the Trojans finished that season 48-11. Watson transferred to UCO where sheearned first-team All-MIAA recognition and was also asecond-team All-Central Region pick by both the ConferenceCommissioners Association and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Watson ranked among the elite players in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and NCAA Division II. At UCO, she was known as the team’s mainclean-up hitter, batting .358 in the 2016 season.
Watson served her alma mater, Smithville, for two years as the high school/junior high head softball and head basketball coach; she was the first female to coach the Smithville high school girls’ basketball program. Most recently, Watson
furthered her coaching career at Crowder Public Schools, serving as the head softball coach for high school and junior high.
“I’m excited and thrilled for the opportunity to represent Carl Albert State College as the new head softball coach,” said Watson. “This job opportunity allows me to build a strong program and create a hardworking culture of sportsmanship
and camaraderie. The future is bright for our softball program and I’m looking forward to working with these young ladies.”
Watson earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology Exercise Science/Fitness Management from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2018 and will graduate with a Masters in Sports Administration from Southeastern Oklahoma State University the summer of 2022.
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Fanshawe Public Schools is pleased to announce a new coach for at the school for the 2022 - 2023 school year.
Shane Mabry is the new coach for the upcoming school year.
Welcome Coach Mabry!
Proud to have him and his family as part of the Fanshawe Grizzlies.
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Monday, 11 April 2022 22:05
SWOSU, WECK TAKE LEADS AT #theGAC 2022 MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Written by Press Release
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Led by Gregor Weck’s 4-under-par 68 round, Southwestern Oklahoma State grabbed a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Great American Conference Men’s Golf Championships. Weck’s bogey-free round on Monday on the Arlington Course at Hot Springs Country Club gave him a three-shot cushion in the individual competition.
Weck began his round one shot behind Arkansas Tech’s Santiago De La Fuente. He birdied the second and third holes to take the lead. He added birdies on the 10th and 17th holes to post 4-under after 36 holes. Conner Boydston collected four birdies against only two bogeys to shoot a 2-under 70 and move up 10 places into a tie for eighth. Anders Strand stayed inside the top 10 following a 2-over 74.
The Wonder Boys played the second round in even par to finish two shots behind the Bulldogs. Santiago De La Fuente backed up his opening round of 1-under with an even-par card that featured two birdies to place second. Henry Frizzell shot his second-straight even-par 72.
He stands in solo third. Henderson State shot 1-under par and ended the second round three shots behind Southwestern Oklahoma State. Josh McNulty recorded one of the three sub-70 rounds on Monday with a 3-under 69. He made four birdies to ascend nine spots into a tie for fourth.
Nick Shapiro, sixth, and Alex Hadden, eighth, joined McNulty in the top 10. Harding cut 15 strokes off of its first-round score of 17-over 305 with a 2-over 290 to move up to fourth in the team competition. Finlay Cummings rattled off five straight birdies on the front nine as part of an even-par round. Sam Tandy and Caleb Nichols matched Cummings with even-par second-round scores. Southeastern Oklahoma State finished in fifth, followed by Southern Arkansas. The Savage Storm’s Jordan Holifield and Dalton McGinnis maintained their positions in the top 10. Holifield recorded an even-par round while McGinnis recovered from four early bogeys to shooti 1-over on the day.
The Muleriders’ Roman Timmerman made the biggest move up of Monday as his 3-under 69 shot him up 15 positions into a tie for eighth. He made six birdies in the round. Arkansas-Monticello, Southern Nazarene and Northwestern Oklahoma State rounded out the team scoring. Tuesday’s final round begins at 8 a.m.
- -- WWW.GREATAMERICANCONFERENCE.COM ---
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Last week was a great honor for me as I got to recognize the Pocola Lady Indians basketball team on the House floor to celebrate their winning the Class 2A State Championship after losing only one game all season to the Heavener Lady Wolves.
I am so proud of this group of talented young ladies. Their coach said they were behind at halftime in all three games at the state tournament, but their never-give-up attitude propelled them to the win. I'm equally proud of the dedication of their coach, Mark McKenzie. During a time-out late in one of the games, he told the girls win or lose he loves them and he knows they love him, and that's what is most important. Championships are nice, but his real goal is to help these young ladies become self-sufficient so they become lifetime positive contributors to society.
McKenzie and his wife Shana lost their only daughter in 2017 at the age of 23. While the couple has severely grieved the loss of their child, they have not let that stop them from pouring their love into their community and the school district they serve. Coach McKenzie said this group of girl basketball players has filled a mighty void in his life over the past three years, becoming like family to him and his wife. I presented each young woman and coach McKenzie with a citation on the House floor.
Also last week I got to help recognize Macy Nobles and Hayden Workman from the 2022 All-Oklahoma Academic Team from Carl Albert State College in our House Chamber. Great job to these incredibly smart and talented young people and to the faculty and staff that helped them achieve this great honor.
On a local matter, I've requested a state attorney general's opinion about public hunting lands owned or managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Some roads located within these lands are blocked or gated by the state or federal agencies preventing access to vehicles and are only accessible by foot. By blocking these roads, it prevents the disabled who are unable to walk from accessing and enjoying these public locations.
A group of disabled veterans brought this issue to my attention, and I'm reaching out to the attorney general on their behalf to ask if this is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or a violation of any state statute. In my opinion, these are public roads on public lands, and the public should be granted access, especially our disabled veterans.
That's all for now. Remember to listen to me on KPRV Radio at 7:30 a.m. every Thursday for my legislative update.
As always, if I can help you with anything, feel free to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.
- Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.
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Friday, 01 April 2022 15:59
Fanshawe Student named to the ORES Archery All Tournament Team
Written by David Deaton
Fanshawe Public School is pleased to announce that Tripp McGowen was named to the ORES Archery All Tournament Team
Congratulations Tripp!
The Fanshawe Archery Coach is Anthony Borden, he is pictured with Tripp McGowen
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Wednesday, 30 March 2022 09:40
Trapp and Welker Finish Strong at OKNASP, Cameron Middle School Archery Headed to Nationals
Written by Press Release
Two 5th grade archers from Cameron placed in the Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools Program (OKNASP) Tier Two East Region Tournament. Kambree Trapp was female champ in the elementary division and Brayle Welker placed third.
The Cameron Middle School archery team placed 4th in the OKNASP Grand State Shoot (Tier One) and is headed to Louisville, Kentucky in May to compete in nationals. The team will have a spaghetti dinner and silent auction on Friday evening, April 22nd, 6:00-8:00, at the Cameron School cafeteria to raise funds for the trip.
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Wednesday, 16 March 2022 00:19
OSBI INVESTIGATING KINGFISHER FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Written by News release
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 14, 2022) - The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has an open investigation into the Kingfisher Football Program.
The Kingfisher Police Department requested OSBI assistance in February regarding accusations of misconduct within the program.
There is no additional information available since the investigation is ongoing.
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