Ty Pennington Enters Transfer Portal

/

Photo by Derek Livingston, Pitt State Media.

Ty Pennington is on the move.

The backup quarterback at Pittsburg State University announced on X Friday that he had officially entered his name into the transfer portal.

The redshirt freshman was 46-of-69 passing this season for 447 yards, six touchdowns, and only one interception.

He was also fourth on the team in rushing yardage with 76 carries for 359 yards and four touchdowns.

Notably, he wasn’t relegated to cleanup time and was frequently called upon early in competitive games due to his dual threat capabilities.

The Gorillas went 11-2 on the season, winning the MIAA before falling 24-21 to No. 2 Grand Valley State in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Following the end of the season, head coach Brian Wright departed Pitt State to become head coach at Northern Arizona University. Pitt State hired former defensive coordinator and associate head coach Tom Anthony to the top position last week.

Pennington was an All-State selection and a four-year starter at Sand Springs, where he holds most of the school passing records. He threw for 6,455 yards and 54 touchdowns in his prep career and picked Pitt State over a preferred walk-on offer from Oklahoma State.

Hailey Jackson Scores 26 to Lead Hutchinson Past Cowley

/

Hailey Jackson scores a career-high 26 points to lead the No. 11 Blue Dragon women to a 12-0 record in the first semester after a 72-47 victory over Cowley on Saturday at the Sports Arena. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

Freshman Hailey Jackson poured in a career-high 26 points and the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team turned in another impressive defensive performance as the No. 11 Blue Dragons rolled to their 12th-straight victory to start the 2023-24 season.

Jackson is a 2023 Charles Page High School alum. 2022 CPHS alum Journey Armstead had a season-high eight assists, her seventh career game of eight or more assists.

The Blue Dragons held their eighth opponent this season to less than 30 percent shooting as Hutchinson closed the first semester of play with a 72-47 victory over the Tigers at the Sports Arena.

Hutchinson is now 12-0 overall and 6-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons open the second semester at No. 3 Butler on January 3 and will return to the Sports Arena on January 6 against Northwest Tech. Cowley is now 7-6 overall and 1-6 in the conference.

Jackson knocked down a Blue Dragon individual and personal high five free throws in seven attempts to power her career-high 26-point performance, which ties for second most by a Blue Dragon this season. Overall, Jackson was 9 of 14 from the field. Jackson added seven rebounds and two steals.

The Blue Dragon defense held Cowley to 25.0 percent shooting (12 of 48) and just 2 of 18 from 3-point range. The Blue Dragons also forced 22 Tiger turnovers, which Hutchinson turned into a 24-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Leading 12-8 after one quarter, the Blue Dragon defense clamped down on Cowley in the second stanza, holding the Tigers to 2 of 12 shooting. The Dragons didn't allow Cowley to score for the first 7 minutes, 12 seconds – that scoreless streak was 9 minutes, 18 seconds going back to the end of the first quarter.

The Blue Dragons held Cowley 22 points under its season scoring average.

Hutchinson shot 40.9 percent (27 of 66), hitting 9 of 31 from 3-point range and 9 of 16 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Cowley 45-30 and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.

Hutchinson's 12-0 start is the ninth-best start in program history.

Sandite Recruiting Report: Dallas Elifrits Offered by Bethel College

/

Dallas Elifrits (left) was recently offered by Bethel College. (Photo by Charity Emigh).

Charles Page High School senior Dallas Elifrits recently announced that he has received his first offer to play college football.

The defensive end was fifth on the team in total tackles this season with 64 and had a team-leading 10 tackles for loss to earn All-District honors following an 8-4 season.

Elifrits was offered by Bethel College, an NAIA program competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Threshers went 6-5 last season under second-year head coach A.B. Stokes.

In addition to Elifrits, nine other Sandites have received offers to play at the next level, including senior lineman/TE Evan Williams (5’10”, 215 pounds) who committed to play at Bethel College on November 10th.

Senior offensive lineman Tyler “Tank” Smith (5’10” 285 pounds) holds offers from McPherson College and Hendrix College.

Senior offensive lineman Marcus Sims (6’0”, 265 pounds) has received offers to play at Langston University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

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 linebacker Owen Floyd (6’0” 190 pounds) has earned two offers this season from Hendrix and Oklahoma Wildcats Prep.

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 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 holds offers from Cleveland Community College, Western Texas College, Ranger College, and Lincoln Trail 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 recently announced his first college offer from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Golf

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

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: Addison Hughes Offered by Coffeyville Community College

/

Addison Hughes announced on X Wednesday that she has received her second offer to play softball at the collegiate level.

The junior RHP/IB/OF visited Coffeyville Community College in Kansas and was officially offered by the Ravens.

Coffeyville is an NJCAA program competing in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. The Red Ravens went 6-38 last season under first-year head coach Meredith Smith.

Hughes was an All-District selection this past season as the Lady Sandites went 19-15 overall and finished as Regional Runners-Up. She went 12-7 in the circle, finishing the year with two perfect games, 115 strikeouts, and a 2.89 ERA.

She also holds one offer from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

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.

Football

Senior offensive lineman Tyler “Tank” Smith (5’10” 285 pounds) holds offers from McPherson College and Hendrix College.

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

Senior offensive lineman Marcus Sims (6’0”, 265 pounds) has received offers to play at Langston University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

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 linebacker Owen Floyd (6’0” 190 pounds) has earned two offers this season from Hendrix and Oklahoma Wildcats Prep.

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.

Girls Basketball

5’10” senior small forward Kiaryn Taylor holds offers from Cleveland Community College, Western Texas College, Ranger College, and Lincoln Trail 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 recently announced his first college offer from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Golf

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

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.

Undefeated Hutchinson Tops Cloud County, Armstead Surpasses 200 Career Assists

/

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information.

The No. 11-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team won a convincing 77-50 Jayhawk Conference victory over the Cloud County Thunderbirds (6-5) on Wednesday at the Arley Bryant Gym.

The Blue Dragons won their 11th consecutive game to start the season and remain unbeaten in Jayhawk Conference play at 5-0.

The Blue Dragons raced out to a 23-9 lead, then went through a 6-minute, 36-second scoring drought and Cloud County pulled within 23-18. A Hailey Jackson three-point play ended the drought and sparked the Blue Dragons to a 15-3 run to close the half and take a 36-21 lead at halftime.

Jackson was one of two Blue Dragons to score in double figures with 11 points. She also had eight rebounds, a career-high five assists and two steals. Journey Armstead finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Jackson graduated Charles Page High School in 2023 and Armstead is a 2022 Sand Springs alum.

The Blue Dragons came out cold in the second quarter as Cloud County chipped away with a 9-0 run over the first 5:28 of the period. Hutchinson's scoreless streak ended at 7 minutes, 16 seconds when Jackson scored inside and was fouled with 3:34 to play in the quarter.

The Dragons' largest lead of the game was 29 at 77-48 after an Armstead free throw with 2:09 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Armstead has 26 assists in her last four games and surpassed the career 200-assist mark with 206 assists.

Hutchinson closes out the first semester on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Cowley (7-5) at the Sports Arena.

Sandite Recruiting Report: Cole Pearson Commits to McPherson College

/

Charles Page High School senior RHP/OF Cole Pearson (6’2” 150 pounds) recently announced on X that he has committed to playing baseball 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.

Pearson didn’t crack the varsity lineup last season but that will change during his senior year this spring.

During his summer campaign with the Crucial Angels he batted .302 with a .471 slugging percentage and a .958 fielding percentage.

He will have at least one familiar face at McPherson in senior INF/RHP Jackson Stewart (5’11” 195 pounds), who signed with the Bulldogs last month.

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

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.

Football

Senior offensive lineman Tyler “Tank” Smith (5’10” 285 pounds) holds offers from McPherson College and Hendrix College.

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

Senior offensive lineman Marcus Sims (6’0”, 265 pounds) has received offers to play at Langston University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

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 linebacker Owen Floyd (6’0” 190 pounds) has earned two offers this season from Hendrix and Oklahoma Wildcats Prep.

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.

Girls Basketball

5’10” senior small forward Kiaryn Taylor holds offers from Cleveland Community College, Western Texas College, Ranger College, and Lincoln Trail 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 recently announced his first college offer from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Golf

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

Softball

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

Junior RHP/IB/OF Addison Hughes holds one offer from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

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.