State Basketball Tournament and all Spring sports canceled

March 26, 2020—1:30 p.m.—On March 25, the State Superintendent announced that all public schools would remain closed until the end of the academic year for each respective public school. The academic year for schools will end between May 8 and May 15.

In conjunction with this decision the OSSAA Board voted unanimously, at the March 26, 2020 Teleconference Board Meeting, to cancel the State Basketball Tournament for Classes 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A; additionally, all spring activities have been cancelled for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. 

For the purpose of all OSSAA member school activities, all school personnel, including certified, adjunct or volunteer coaches, as well as teachers, directors, or instructors are prohibited from engaging in any type of OSSAA member school activity involving secondary students; no practice, instruction, training, weight lifting, tryouts, competition or travel is permitted.

SUMMER TIME ACTIVITIES: Until further notice, no OSSAA member school activities will be permitted. The timeline for the beginning of summer activities will be provided to member schools at a time when CDC recommendations as well as State and Local government recommendations allow for safe participation.

WSA soccer club suspends activities through April 12

The West Side Alliance (WSA) soccer club has announced that it will extend its suspension of all organized training and game activities through April 12, 2020. “The purpose of this suspension is in the interest of the safety of our own families, and also in accordance with our more global responsibility,” reads a statement from Executive Director Roger Bush.

“As we understand disease transmission, and the current caveats associated with COVID-19, such as incubation periods, potential unknown carriers, and unknown pathologies, we acknowledge our need as an organization to limit transportation and mobilization of people.“

“These measures will help in the solution to sourcing localized outbreaks, learning more about the disease pathology, and also limiting contact for potential further transmission. This decision is NOT based SOLELY on the threat to our kids and families, but a threat to our global and national community.“

“We know this is an inconvenience to your regular programming. We will do our best to create a revised, new, reinvented experience for you and your team, during the interim time to return to play.”

The WSA plans to make decisions in 2-3 week increments and announcements will be made via club text alerts. To sign up, text “@theside” to 81010. They will also be posting updates on social media.

The WSA Cup tournament has been rescheduled for May 23-24. In the event that the tournament is canceled due to COVID-19, 100% discounts will be offered to the teams. A planned 5K Giveaway fundraiser will be rescheduled for May 1. The Spring Break Camp has been canceled and 100% refunds have been issued to those registered. Coaching staff will also be paid during the break.

Also postponed is the home-opener event for Side FC 92, the organization’s new semiprofessional team.

CPHS Soccer: Jack Bratcher scores hat trick in 6-1 rout of Muskogee

The Charles Page High School boys’ soccer team (2-1) posted a dominant 6-1 non-district win against Muskogee (0-1) Thursday night at Memorial Stadium behind a three-goal effort from Jack Bratcher. It was the first hat trick in the junior forward’s career, and the first of the season for the Sandites.

Muskogee was first on the board with a goal in the sixth minute, but Bratcher tied it up in minute 13 with a header. He recorded a brace in the 30th minute, then Fernando Saldana put the Sandites up 3-1 with just thirty seconds left in the half.

Luke Jeffus made his way into the score book fifteen minutes into the second half. Bratcher had his first shot at a hat trick three minutes later but had a penalty kick saved. He made up for it in the 62nd minute, then Saldana recorded the final goal in minute 69 for a brace.

Sand Springs had twelve shots on goal in the match while limiting Muskogee to only three. Junior goalie Xander Quiroga came away with two saves.

Sandite Soccer will take two weeks off before playing Enid (4-1) in a non-district road match. Muskogee will play a non-district match against Union (0-1) after Spring Break.

CPHS Soccer: Boys beat Sapulpa 2-1 in overtime shootout

For the second year in a row and the third time in the past four years, the Charles Page High School boys’ soccer team (1-1) won the Highway 97 Rivalry. The boys came from behind with a late goal to force an overtime shootout against Sapulpa (1-2) Tuesday night at the Westside Sports Complex.

The Sandites were the more aggressive and accurate team offensively, with eight shots on goal in the first half, but Sapulpa keeper Gabe Boyd was exceptional and saved all of them. Nick Ryan got the Chieftains on the board with a goal in the 28th minute, with his team’s only on-goal shot of the half, and they would lead for the next 44 minutes.

Fernando Saldana had a shot blocked by Boyd in the first half that Hayden Brooks appeared to put back, but the goal was disallowed and Brooks was called offsides.

Boyd came up with four more saves in the second half, and Sandite goalie Xander Quiroga had two.

The Chieftains were given six yellow cards, leading to two ejections, and were out-manned for most of the second half. TJ Hale drew his second yellow card in the 58th minute and Evan Finch was ejected in the 68th minute.

Saldana finally hit pay dirt for the Sandites, sneaking one in the bottom left of the net with only eight minutes left to play.

Because the match was non-district, they went straight to a penalty kick shootout to decide the winner. The first three kickers for both teams made their shots. Saldana, Jack Bratcher, and Luke Jeffus scored for the Sandites, while Caden Stevenson, Joel Carlson, and Hayden Moore made their kicks for Sapulpa.

The next shot from both teams was saved, then Cameron Summerton put the visitors up 4-3. Quiroga saved a shot from Damien Kloeckler to secure the win.

Sandite Soccer will return to action Thursday at 8:00 p.m. with a non-district home match against Muskogee (0-0). Sapulpa will take two weeks off before hosting Claremore (1-2).

CPHS Soccer: Bartlesville sweeps season opener, Saldana scores 2

The Charles Page High School varsity soccer teams are still looking for their first wins of the season after Bartlesville won both the boys and girls’ season-opening matches last Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. The girls were shut out 2-0, but the boys led 3-1 in the second half before the Bruins (3-1) scored four goals in the final twenty minutes for the 5-4 non-district comeback.

The Bartlesville girls (4-0) were aggressive on offense, out-shooting Sand Springs 14 to 3, but junior goalie Ali Day made seven saves to keep her team in contention. Hannah Sparks had a goal called off on an off-sides call in the 11th minute, but Reagan Klose made up for it four minutes later and Zoe McCabe made it 2-0 in the 35th minute.

Sand Springs didn’t get off its first shot till the final minute of the first half, and they only made two shots in the second half. The Sandite defense made a strong second half effort, only allowing four shots and no goals, but offensively they couldn’t find an answer for the still undefeated Bruins.

The boys were conservative but accurate in the first half, only taking five shots, and scored on two of them. Senior Luke Jeffus made the first goal of the season in the 8th minute, but Gabriel Ontiveros tied it up with a putback a minute later. The Bruins took three shots in a row, with one bouncing off the goal post. Junior goalie Xander Quiroga blocked the second shot, but the third time was the charm for Ontiveros.

Jeffus almost had a brace on a free kick in the 11th minute, but it traveled just a hair to the right of the goal, and instead it was Fernando Saldana with the go-ahead goal with 1:24 left in the half.

The Sandites opened up in the second half, taking far more shots. Jack Bratcher made it 3-1 with an assist from Saldana, but Bartlesville came storming back. Jalen Belong scored in the 61st minute, Dylan McCoy tied it in the 74th minute, and Ontiveros scored the go-ahead goal with 4:16 left to play.

Saldana tied it up with a penalty kick at the 77:00 mark, but Belong had the final score of the night just a minute later. Saldana got a free kick in the final minute that was deflected and Cameron Summerton tried to score on a header but the shot traveled out of bounds and the Bruins ran out the clock.

Both teams took 17 shots in the match. The Bruin keeper came away with four saves and Quiroga had six.

Sand Springs Soccer will return to action Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. with a non-district Highway 97 Rivalry match-up. The Sapulpa boys are 1-1 and the girls are 2-0.

Sandite Alumni Report: Fall sports wrapping up, lots of Sandites see action

Gloria Mutiri was the No. 2 scorer on her team in a 3-0 loss to Iowa State.

Volleyball

Kansas State University (8-15, 3-8) fell 3-0 to Iowa State (16-8, 7-5) last week in sets of 25-21, 25-20, and 25-18. Sophomore Gloria Mutiri played all three sets and recorded 5 kills, 1 solo block, and 2 digs as the second-highest scoring player on her team. The Wildcats will travel to No. 1 Texas (17-2, 11-0) Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Golf

University of Denver sophomore Carson Griggs finished the fall season with an even performance for 31st place at the Hoakalei Country Club Invitational in Hawaii, helping his team to a ninth-place finish. The Pioneers will return to action in the spring at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate tournament in Mobile Alabama on February 10th.

Men’s Soccer

Former Sandite and Men’s Head Coach at Oral Roberts University, Ryan Bush has led the No. 20 ranked Golden Eagles to a 13-3 record thus far in the season. ORU will play at Denver in the first round of the Summit League Championship Thursday at 5:00 p.m.

Oklahoma Wesleyan University (16-3) won a KCAC Conference Quarterfinal match 9-1 against Southwestern (10-9). Next up is fourth-seeded York College (13-6) Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. in Wichita. Sandite Ignacio Garcia is a freshman on the team.

Women’s Soccer

The Oral Roberts University soccer team coached by former Sandite Roger Bush ended the season with a 6-9-4 record following a 1-0 loss to South Dakota State in the Summit League Championship semifinals. Sandite Brooklyn Eardley started sixteen games this season, primarily as a defender.

Southwestern Christian University finished the year 6-9-1 following a 4-0 loss to Texas Wesleyan (13-5). Junior Megan Deshazo finished the season with 9 goals and 3 assists.

Northern Oklahoma College at Tonkawa ended its season with an 8-8-2 record last weekend after a 1-0 loss to Seminole State College (19-0-3) in the first round of the NJCAA Region 2 Tournament. Sophomore Emma Peak scored two goals and one assist on the season, with a brace against the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain (2-12-3).

Oklahoma City University (9-9) was eliminated in the first round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament with a 1-0 loss to Mid-American Christian University (12-4-1) to end the season. Sophomore goalie Abigail Banks saw action in two matches this season.

Missouri University of Science and Technology senior Kayla Foster ended the season with a bang, scoring both goals in a 2-1 upset at Southern Indiana (10-6-1). The Miners went 6-8-3 this year, and Foster scored 6 goals and 1 assist with 17 starts.

Men’s Cross Country / Track and Field

Colby Community College placed tenth at the NJCAA National Championships Saturday, and crowned a national champion. Ian Baustert is a sophomore on the team, but hasn’t seen action this year. He is also on the Track and Field team, which has not released its spring schedule yet.

The Oral Roberts University Track and Field team will kick off the season Friday, December 6th at the Bob Timmons Challenge in Lawrence, Kansas. Freshman Mitchell Mefford will throw discus and shot put for the Golden Eagles.

The Savannah College of Art and Design won its fifth-straight Sun Conference Championship Saturday. Freshman Jacob Smith placed 47th in the 8-kilometer run in 29:22.58. SCAD will return to action at the NAIA National Championships Friday, November 22nd in Vancouver.

The U.S. Air Force Academy placed fifth at the Mountain West Conference Championships. Freshman Aden Baughman did not see action. The Falcons will compete at the NCAA Mountain Regional Friday in Salt Lake City.

Women’s Cross Country / Track and Field

Grand Canyon University placed third at the Western Athletic Conference Championships, but junior Cheyenne Walden did not see action. The Antelopes will compete at the NCAA West Regional Friday in Colfax, Washington.

Southern Nazarene University placed 31st at the NCAA Division 2 Central Regional Championship, ending their season. Sara Abbet ran her last race at the Great American Conference Championship, in which SNU finished eighth. The Sandite was 118th in the run with a 5K time of 24:47.1.

Baseball

Seminole State College broke ground on a new athletic facility recently. The $7.25 million Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex will eventually be home to the Trojan Baseball team, featuring freshman Cal Watkins. Seminole Baseball will kick off Monday, February 3rd at Bacone College.

Freshman Kyler Copeland will make his college debut at the College of the Ozarks this spring. The Bobcats have yet to release their 2020 schedule.

Eastern Oklahoma State College will begin their 2020 season Tuesday, February 11th at Carl Albert State College. John Miller will be in his freshman season with the Mountaineers.

The Northern Oklahoma College Enid Jets will start the 2020 season Saturday, February 1st with a double-header against Northeast Community College. The Jets feature freshman Cale Savage.

The University of Central Oklahoma picked up two Sandite transfers for the coming season. Junior pitcher Jake Terry from the University of Oklahoma, and Jacob Bailey from Seminole State College. The Bronchos have yet to release their 2020 schedule.

Softball

Kennedy “Goose” Salyers is in her senior year at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Savage Storm will kick off the season February 1st at Texas Women’s University.

Jacie Taber will kick off her freshman campaign at Missouri State University on Friday, February 7th against Mississippi State in the NFCA Lead-Off Classic at Clearwater, Florida.

Destanie Garrett will be a freshman at Southwestern Christian University this spring. The Eagles have yet to release their 2020 schedule.

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma has yet to release its 2020 schedule. Madelyn Blair will be a freshman this year.

Jessica Schuler is in her senior year at Northeastern State University, and Cameron Clemons is a freshman. The RiverHawks will begin their season Friday, February 7th at the Harding Invitational against Harding and Midwestern State.

Oklahoma State University went 7-0 in the fall season and junior Sydney Pennington was on fire offensively. The Cowgirls have yet to release their 2020 schedule.

Rogers State University will travel to Gulf Shores Alabama to start their season Friday, January 31st. Sandite All-State selection Kimi Presnell will be a freshman this year.

Freshman Elizabeth Luttrell will play for Cowley County Community College this spring. The Tigers have yet to release their 2020 schedule.

Former All-State Sandite Joely Rogers is entering her second season as the Coffeyville Community College pitching coach. The Red Ravens will take on North Arkansas College in a double-header Saturday, February 8th.

Men’s Tennis

Oklahoma Baptist University will feature freshman Logan Bateman this coming season. Bateman saw action in one pre-season tournament. The 2020 schedule has yet to be released.