Drew Turner and Gunner Beasley Earn Anglers of the Year on OBN Trail

The Charles Page High School fishing teams wrapped up the Oklahoma Bass Nation trail with a strong finish at the Ft. Gibson tournament on April 7th.

Gabe Castellano and Ean Williams took fifth place out of 66 teams with a haul of 15.52 pounds, finishing the season 18th in the overall standings. They also had the sixth largest fish of the tournament at 5.11 pounds.

Drew Turner and Gunner Beasley placed 12th with 12.04 pounds to secure the crown of Anglers of the Year, finishing first out of the 85 teams this season.

Nate Griffin and Caden Strawn placed 14th at Ft. Gibson with 9.94 pounds and finished eighth in the AOY standings.

Eli Rogers placed 21st with 8.84 pounds, finishing fifth overall on the season.

Jessen Cox and Rylan Matherly caught 6.94 pounds for 29th place and finished the season 29th overall.

Decana Strawn and Abby Tabor caught 3.85 pounds for 38th place at Ft. Gibson and were 37th on the season.

Zane Downey and Tyler Barnes didn’t fish the Ft. Gibson tournament but placed 49th on the season. Jonathan Isley and Jaxon Trotter placed 50th in the AOY standings while Hayden Lowrance and Hunter Spencer placed 59th.

Next up for the Sandites is the two-day State Championship tournament at Grand Lake on April 20-21.

Sandite Recruiting Report: Nine Sandites Sign College LOIs

#55 Marcus Sims, middle, signed with NWOSU and #2 Kenneth Page, right, was offered by NSU. (Photo by Charity Emigh).

Nine seniors from Charles Page High School signed letters of intent to play collegiate sports Wednesday morning at the Ed Dubie Field House on National Signing Day.

For the football team:

Offensive linemen Mason Harris, Marcus Sims, and Marcum Sims and linebacker Keagan Gilman signed to play at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Marcus, a 6’1”, 270-pound guard picked Northwestern over offers from Southwestern College, Langston University, and Kansas Wesleyan University.

Marcum (5’11”, 225-pounds) didn’t announce any other offers prior to committing to Northwestern on Tuesday, nor did Harris, a 6’0”, 260-pound center.

Gilman (5’10”, 190 pounds) picked Northwestern over Bethel College. He had 58 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries this season.

Marcus and Gilman were All-District selections this year while Marcum was an All-District Honorable Mention. Harris was an All-District and OCA All-Star selection.

Northwestern is an NCAA Division II program competing in the Great American Conference. The Rangers went 1-10 this year in a rebuilding season under first-year head coach Ronnie Jones.

The assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the program is Jason Medrano, who coached offensive line at Sand Springs for two seasons before joining the Rangers.

The four seniors will be reunited with fellow Sandites Blake Jones, Drake Fain, Kyle Morrall, and Jacob Blevins, who also followed Medrano to Northwestern.

Offensive lineman Tyler “Tank” Smith (5’10,” 285 pounds) signed with Hendrix College, a Division III program in Conway, Arkansas.

The Warriors compete in the Southern Athletics Association and went 3-7 last season under 11th-year head coach Buck Buchanan.

Smith was an All-District selection and chose Hendrix over offers from McPherson College and Southwestern College.

Lineman Evan Williams (5’10”, 215 pounds) signed to play at Bethel College, an NAIA program in North Newton, Kansas.

The Threshers went 6-5 last season in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Championship under first-year head coach A.B. Stokes.

Several other football players have received offers but have yet to commit or sign.

Senior linebacker Owen Floyd (6’0” 190 pounds) holds offers from Oklahoma Baptist University, Hendrix College, Oklahoma Wildcats Prep, and Kansas Wesleyan University.

Senior running back Kenneth Page (6’0” 190 pounds) holds two offers from Northeastern State University and Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Senior defensive end Dallas Elifrits (6’1”, 230 pounds) holds offers from McPherson College and Bethel College.

Sophomore lineman Ryley Kester (6’4” 270 pounds) holds offers from North Texas, UNLV, Houston, Tulsa, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech, and Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Sophomore quarterback Easton Webb (6’3” 175 pounds) is committed to playing baseball at Oklahoma State University, but he also holds a Division I football offer from UNLV.

Sophomore receiver Brock O’Dell (5’10” 170 pounds) holds one college offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Junior receiver Kooper Kelly holds one offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Girls Basketball

5’10” forward KiAryn Taylor signed with Ranger College, an NJCAA program in Ranger, Texas.

Taylor averaged 8.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals over the first five games of the season before tearing her ACL. She chose Ranger College over Cleveland Community College, Western Texas College, and Lincoln Trail College.

The Rangers are 4-19 this season under first-year head coach Mark Morefield.

5’7” guard Taiona “Yonnie” Morris signed with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, an NJCAA team in Miami.

Morris is averaging 10.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per game this season, leading the team in scoring six times.

5’3” senior guard Sakauri Wilson signed a letter of intent to play at Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Wednesday, November 8th.

Boys Golf

Zane Downey signed with Southern Nazarene University, an NCAA Division II program in Bethany, Oklahoma.

The Crimson Storm competes in the Great American Conference, taking third place in the GAC Preview tournament in September and seventh in last year’s GAC Championship in April. They are coached by Derrick Taylor in his 13th year.

Downey was an Academic All-Conference selection last year, placing as high as third at the Muskogee tournament last season.

Mason Ward signed with Coffeyville Community College, an NJCAA program in Kansas. The Red Ravens placed 10th in the KJCCC Championship last season under fourth-year head coach Conner Murrell.

Ward was an Academic All Conference selection in 2022 and an All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2023 as a State qualifier. Ward took first place at the Jenks S.L.A.M. event last year.

Baseball

Senior RHP/OF Cole Pearson (6’2” 150 pounds) signed to play at McPherson College next season.

McPherson is an NAIA program competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs went 37-16 overall and 26-7 in conference play last season. The program is led by Chris Dawson in his first year.

Six Sandite baseball players signed letters of intent to play college ball on November 8th.

Senior INF/RHP Jackson Stewart (5’11” 195 pounds) signed with McPherson College.

Senior RF/LHP Kayden Campbell (5’9” 165 pounds) signed with Cowley County Community College.

Senior right-handed pitcher Eli Buxton (6’6” 185 pounds) signed with Arizona State University.

Senior OF/LHP Miller Tavaglione (6’2” 190 pounds) and senior INF/RHP Jace Arnold (6’2” 180 pounds) signed with Allen County Community College.

Senior INF Wyatt Rutledge (6’2” 170 pounds) signed with Northern Oklahoma College at Enid.

Softball

Senior RHP/INF Kelsi Hilton signed an LOI with Southern Nazarene University on November 8th.

Junior RHP/IB/OF Addison Hughes announced on X this week that she has received an offer to play at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany. She also holds offers from East Central University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and Coffeyville Community College.

Boys Basketball

6’4” junior guard Deke Thompson holds one offer from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Soccer

Two senior soccer players signed LOIs on November 8th.

Senior Ava Watts signed to play Division I soccer at Texas A&M-Commerce.

Senior Kate Webb signed to play at University of the Ozarks.

Coaches, players, and parents can send recruiting updates to sanditepridenews@gmail.com.

Sandite Recruiting Report: Sims Commits to NWOSU, 4 Other Sandites Announce Offers

#55 Marcus Sims, middle, committed to NWOSU and #2 Kenneth Page, right, was offered by NSU. (Photo by Charity Emigh).

Charles Page High School senior lineman Marcus Sims announced on X Thursday that he has committed to playing football at Northwestern Oklahoma State University next season.

"I would like to thank God for everything he has done in my life and the opportunities he has given me,” tweeted Sims.

“Thank you to my mom who had poured everything she has into me and my brother to be the best athletes we can be. Thank you to my brother who pushes me to be the best I can be everyday. I also want to thank all of my coaches, friends, and gf who have helped me make the best decision possible.”

The 6’1”, 270-pound guard picked Northwestern over offers from Southwestern College, Langston University, and Kansas Wesleyan University.

Northwestern is an NCAA Division II program competing in the Great American Conference. The Rangers went 1-10 this year in a rebuilding season under first-year head coach Ronnie Jones.

The assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the program is Jason Medrano, who coached offensive line at Sand Springs for two seasons before joining the Rangers.

Sims will be reunited with fellow Sandites Blake Jones, Drake Fain, Kyle Morrall, and Jacob Blevins who also followed Medrano to Northwestern.

Senior linebacker Owen Floyd (6’0” 190 pounds) announced on Thursday that he has received an offer to play at Oklahoma Baptist University, a Division II program in Shawnee. OBU went 6-5 this season under 11th-year head coach Chris Jensen.

Floyd also has offers from Hendrix College, Oklahoma Wildcats Prep, and Kansas Wesleyan University.

Sophomore lineman Ryley Kester (6’4” 270 pounds) announced on Thursday that he has received an offer to play at the University of North Texas, an NCAA Division I program in Denton.

The Mean Green went 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the American Conference last season under first-year head coach Eric Morris.

Kester has also received offers from UNLV, Houston, Tulsa, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech, and Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Senior running back Kenneth Page (6’0” 190 pounds) announced on Tuesday that he has received an offer to play at Northeastern State University, an NCAA Division II program in Tahlequah.

NSU went 1-10 last season and fired head coach JJ Eckert. The Riverhawks will be coached by Darrin Chiaverini next season - a former NFL star who coached Chaffey junior college to an 11-0 record in 2023.

Page also holds an offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Senior linebacker Keagan Gilman (5’10”, 190 pounds) announced on Sunday that he has received an offer to play at Bethel College, an NAIA program in North Newton, Kansas.

Bethel went 6-5 last season under first-year head coach A.B. Stokes, winning their straight KCAC championship.

Six other Sandite football players have received offers to play at the collegiate level:

Senior OL Tyler “Tank” Smith (5’10,” 285 pounds) is committed to playing at Hendrix College.

Senior DE Dallas Elifrits (6’1”, 230 pounds) holds offers from McPherson College and Bethel College.

Senior lineman/TE Evan Williams (5’10”, 215 pounds) committed to play at Bethel College on November 10th.

Sophomore quarterback Easton Webb (6’3” 175 pounds) is committed to playing baseball at Oklahoma State University, but he also holds a Division I football offer from UNLV.

Sophomore receiver Brock O’Dell (5’10” 170 pounds) holds one college offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Junior receiver Kooper Kelly holds one offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Boys Golf

Senior Zane Downey is committed to Southern Nazarene University.

Senior Mason Ward is committed to Coffeyville Community College.

Softball

Junior RHP/IB/OF Addison Hughes holds offers from East Central University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and Coffeyville Community College.

Senior RHP/INF Kelsi Hilton signed an LOI with Southern Nazarene University on November 8th.

Baseball

Senior RHP/OF Cole Pearson (6’2” 150 pounds) is committed to playing at McPherson College next season.

Six Sandite baseball players signed letters of intent to play college ball on November 8th.

Senior INF/RHP Jackson Stewart (5’11” 195 pounds) signed with McPherson College.

Senior RF/LHP Kayden Campbell (5’9” 165 pounds) signed with Cowley County Community College.

Senior right-handed pitcher Eli Buxton (6’6” 185 pounds) signed with Arizona State University.

Senior OF/LHP Miller Tavaglione (6’2” 190 pounds) and senior INF/RHP Jace Arnold (6’2” 180 pounds) signed with Allen County Community College.

Senior INF Wyatt Rutledge (6’2” 170 pounds) signed with Northern Oklahoma College at Enid.

Girls Basketball

5’10” senior small forward KiAryn Taylor is committed to Ranger College.

5’3” senior guard Sakauri Wilson signed a letter of intent to play at Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Wednesday, November 8th.

5’7” senior guard Taiona “Yonnie” Morris recently announced her commitment to play at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

Boys Basketball

6’4” junior guard Deke Thompson holds one offer from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Soccer

Two senior soccer players signed LOIs on November 8th.

Senior Ava Watts signed to play Division I soccer at Texas A&M-Commerce.

Senior Kate Webb signed to play at University of the Ozarks.

Coaches, players, and parents can send recruiting updates to sanditepridenews@gmail.com.

Sandite Recruiting Report: Sims and Floyd Offered by Kansas Wesleyan, Downey Commits

#55 Marcus Sims, far right, was offered by Kansas Wesleyan.

Charles Page High School senior Zane Downey recently announced his commitment to play golf at Southern Nazarene University.

“I want to give thanks to my Lord Jesus Christ for blessing me with this opportunity,” Downey posted on Instagram. “I want to thank all my family and friends for believing in me and pushing me to be the best that I can.”

“I also want to thank my coach Matt Webb for always reminding me to stay level headed and take it one day at a time. And most importantly my Dad for all those times driving me to the course to practice and always being my biggest supporter and competitor.”

SNU is an NCAA Division II program in Bethany, Oklahoma, competing in the Great American Conference. The Crimson Storm tied for seventh in last year’s GAC tournament and tied for 17th at the NCAA Super Regional Preview in October. They are led by 13th year head coach Derrick Taylor.

Fellow senior Mason Ward announced his commitment to Coffeyville Community College on Monday, November 13th.

Football

Two senior football players announced offers to play college ball recently. Owen Floyd and Marcus Sims were both offered by Kansas Wesleyan University.

Wesleyan is an NAIA program in Salina, Kansas, competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Coyotes went 8-3 on the season and 4-1 in the KCAC under second-year head coach Matt Myers.

Floyd (6’0” 190 pounds), a linebacker, also has offers from Hendrix College and Oklahoma Wildcats Prep.

Sims (6’0,” 265 pounds), an offensive lineman, also holds offers from Southwestern College, Langston University, and Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Eight other Sandites have received offers to play football at the next level.

Senior OL Tyler “Tank” Smith (5’10,” 285 pounds) is committed to playing at Hendrix College.

Senior DE Dallas Elifrits (6’1”, 230 pounds) holds offers from McPherson College and Bethel College.

Senior lineman/TE Evan Williams (5’10”, 215 pounds) committed to play at Bethel College on November 10th.

Sophomore quarterback Easton Webb (6’3” 175 pounds) is committed to playing baseball at Oklahoma State University, but he also holds a Division I football offer from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

Sophomore lineman Ryley Kester (6’4” 270 pounds) has received offers from UNLV, Houston, Tulsa, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech, and Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Sophomore receiver Brock O’Dell (5’10” 170 pounds) holds one college offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Senior running back Kenneth Page (6’0” 190 pounds) holds one offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Junior receiver Kooper Kelly holds one offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Softball

Junior RHP/IB/OF Addison Hughes announced on Wednesday that she had received an offer to play at East Central University, an NCAA Division II program in Ada, Oklahoma.

The Tigers went 21-27 overall and 14-19 in the Great American Conference last season under 17th-year head coach Destini Anderson.

Hughes went 12-7 in the circle this season with a 2.89 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, 115 strikeouts, and two perfect games.

She also holds offers from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Coffeyville Community College.

Senior RHP/INF Kelsi Hilton signed an LOI with Southern Nazarene University on November 8th.

Baseball

Senior RHP/OF Cole Pearson (6’2” 150 pounds) is committed to playing at McPherson College next season.

Six Sandite baseball players signed letters of intent to play college ball on November 8th.

Senior INF/RHP Jackson Stewart (5’11” 195 pounds) signed with McPherson College.

Senior RF/LHP Kayden Campbell (5’9” 165 pounds) signed with Cowley County Community College.

Senior right-handed pitcher Eli Buxton (6’6” 185 pounds) signed with Arizona State University.

Senior OF/LHP Miller Tavaglione (6’2” 190 pounds) and senior INF/RHP Jace Arnold (6’2” 180 pounds) signed with Allen County Community College.

Senior INF Wyatt Rutledge (6’2” 170 pounds) signed with Northern Oklahoma College at Enid.

Girls Basketball

5’10” senior small forward KiAryn Taylor is committed to Ranger College.

5’3” senior guard Sakauri Wilson signed a letter of intent to play at Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Wednesday, November 8th.

5’7” senior guard Taiona “Yonnie” Morris recently announced her commitment to play at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

Boys Basketball

6’4” junior guard Deke Thompson holds one offer from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Soccer

Two senior soccer players signed LOIs on November 8th.

Senior Ava Watts signed to play Division I soccer at Texas A&M-Commerce.

Senior Kate Webb signed to play at University of the Ozarks.

Coaches, players, and parents can send recruiting updates to sanditepridenews@gmail.com.

Eli Rogers Wins OBN Tournament at Lake Texoma

For the first time since 2021, Sand Springs brought home the gold from an Oklahoma Bass Nation fishing tournament.

Eli Rogers, fishing solo, hauled in 20.6 pounds during the two-day event on Lake Texoma, October 7-8th, 2.6 pounds more than the runner-up duo. His largest bass was 5.12 pounds, the third-largest of the event.

The win marks a first on the OBN trail for Sand Springs since March of 2021 when Cruz Norris and Gunnar Casey won on Grand Lake. It was Rogers’s second top-five finish of the year.

Drew Turner and Gunner Beasley turned in their second top-ten performance of the season, catching 13.6 pounds for 10th place out of 63 teams.

Decana Strawn and Abby Tabor placed a season-best 15th with 11.01 pounds.

Nate Griffin and Caden Strawn placed a season-best 17th with 10.32 pounds for their second top-20 finish of the year.

Zane Downey and Tyler Barnes placed 38th with 5.37 pounds; Gabriel Castellano and Ean Williams placed 49th with 2.42 pounds; and Jessen Cox and Rylan Matherly placed 50th with 1.95 pounds.

Turner and Beasley are now second overall in the Athletes of the Year standings, followed by Rogers in third out of 84 teams.

Griffin and Caden Strawn are 12th; Castellano and Williams are 30th; Cox and Matherly are 33rd; Decana Strawn and Tabor are 41st; Downey and Barnes are 43rd; Jonathan Isley and Jaxon Trotter are 58th; Hayden Lowrance and Hunter Spencer are 69th; and Christian Orcutt and Diego Voight are 83rd.

The Lake Texoma event was the last of 2023 for Bass Nation. The OBN Trail will resume on March 17th at Pine Creek Lake in McCurtain County. Some of the Sand Springs teams may also return to Texoma for the Student Angler Federation event on October 21st.

Sandite Sports Weekly Roundup: Girls Soccer Wins Collinsville Tournament

Track and Field

The Sand Springs junior high team kicked off its season at Ft. Gibson with several first-place finishers.

Avery Voight won at 110- and 300-meter hurdles; Kaizen Freese won in high jump; Cole Higgins won the 800-meter run; Chloe Grona won the 1600-meter run; and the seventh-grade boys won the 3200-meter relay.

Golf

It was a three-way race to lead the team at the Jenks tournament as Mason Ward, Zane Downey, and Coleman Hight all scored 85s and Cameron Villines was right behind them at 86. Next up is the Rock Creek Tournament at Sapulpa on April 12th.

Soccer

The Lady Sandites soccer team (5-2) wrapped up a successful non-district slate with a tournament title Friday, March 24th at Collinsville.

Sand Springs won 2-0 against Bartlesville JV and 3-0 against Durant (3-6) before taking down Oologah-Talala (7-2) in penalty kicks in a rematch of the previous year’s finals.

Ava Watts scored the team’s lone goal in regulation and a save from Sophia Hart secured the 5-3 shootout victory to repeat as tournament champions.

The Sandites suffered a 4-3 loss in their district opener Friday at Enid (5-2) despite a hat trick from Alyssa Cunningham.

The shorthanded visitors were down to only 12 players, missing leading scorer Watts as well as Jayden Ellenburg and Avery Miller. Those three are expected to be back in the lineup by next week but Carson Sargent also suffered a sprained ankle during the match.

Sand Springs rallied from a 2-0 deficit and tied it at 3-3 but the Pacers pulled ahead on a 25-yard penalty kick from Ava Burnett late in the match.

The boys (4-1) suffered their first loss of the year, 2-1 at Enid (6-3). The Plainsmen took a 2-0 lead before Nic Roberts averted the shutout with a penalty kick in the second half.

Both teams will return to action Tuesday at Jenks before hosting Choctaw Friday for Senior Night.

Tennis

The Lady Sandites had a successful outing at the Skiatook quad Wednesday against Skiatook and Victory Christian.

Kira Shipley defeated her Skiatook opponent 6-1, 6-1 in No. 1 Singles and Daffaney Snyder won 6-0, 6-0 against Victory Christian in No. 2 Singles.

Caitlin Shipman and Abigail Dunn won 2-0 against both Victory and Skiatook in No. 1 Doubles, beating the Conquerors 6-0 in both sets and the Bulldogs 6-4, 6-2.

Mary Alvarez and Stephanie Horton won 6-2, 6-0 against Victory in No. 2 Doubles.

Sand Springs will host a home event against Rejoice Christian and Sapulpa on Monday, April 10th.