College Football National Championship trophy makes stop in Sand Springs

The official 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy made a surprise stop in Sand Springs Saturday, on display at Walmart for a few short hours.

The trophy was in Sand Springs for only two hours before making its way to Skiatook. Walmart announced the visit via Facebook just 24 hours before the showcase.

Pictured is John Mark Griffith, owner of the Mark Griffith Funeral Home, in his game-day Sooner gear. 

The trophy is 25.6 inches tall, weighs 35 pounds, and is made of 24-karat gold, bronze, and stainless steel. The CFP trophy design was unveiled in 2014 to accompany the new playoff system. Ohio State University, the University of Alabama, and Clemson University are the only three teams to win the trophy.

Oklahoma has only three NCAA Division I teams.

The University of Oklahoma Sooners are currently ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press preseason poll and No. 8 in the American Football Coaches Association poll. The Sooners finished last season with an 11-2 record, ranked No. 3 by the Coaches and No. 5 by the AP. They went undefeated in the Big 12 for their second-straight Conference Championship, ending the season with a ten-straight win streak and a 35-19 Sugar Bowl victory over No. 17 Auburn. The Sooners are the only Oklahoma team to make the playoffs, falling 37-17 to Clemson in 2015. 

The Oklahoma State University Cowboys are ranked No. 10 in the AP and No. 11 in the Coaches poll. They finished last season ranked No. 11 in both polls with a 10-3 record. They went 7-2 in the Big 12 for a Runner-Up finish. After falling 38-20 to OU in their regular season finale they topped No. 11 Colorado 38-8 at the Alamo Bowl.

The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane finished the 2016 season with a 10-3 record for second place in the American Athletic Conference West Division standings. They finished the season with three-straight wins including a 55-10 victory against Central Michigan at the Miami Beach Bowl.

Sandite Football tops Claremore 7-0 in scrimmage; Payton Scott scores lone touchdown

Charles Page High School hosted the Claremore Zebras Thursday evening for a varsity football scrimmage and defeated their guests 7-0 in a two-quarter preview of the season to come.

Sand Springs competes in Class 6A-II and is coming off a 7-5 season, while Claremore went 6-5 last year in Class 5A. 

The scrimmage was a good preview of what to expect for at least the first few games of the season. Strong defense and a whole lot of Payton Scott. 

The Sandites had to replace their starting quarterback, several offensive linemen, and the bulk of their receivers, leaving Scott as the backbone of the offense in terms of experience. With more than 3200 yards and 32 touchdowns over the past three seasons, the 5'5" senior running back is gearing up for a big season as the workhorse for the Sandite offense.

Scott needed only a handful of carries to rack up more than a hundred yards and three of the Sandites' four first-downs. He also scored the lone touchdown of the game on a 34-yard run.

Junior quarterback Caden Pennington is in his first year at the helm after playing backup for two seasons. He saw limited action Thursday, making only three pass attempts. He picked up a big fourteen-yard run in the second quarter, but mostly just handed off the rock to Scott and Ben Nortey.

Cameron Smith and Jaden Weiser take over kicking duties for the new year. Smith, a junior, punted five times for a 32-yard average. Weiser, a sophomore soccer standout, kicked the lone extra point of the evening and sent it clean through the middle. 

The visiting Zebras found most of their movement by air, racking up a hundred yards and completing thirteen of twenty-four pass attempts. Junior Joel Mackey showed off on defensive, picking off one of those passes and returning it nearly forty yards. He nearly picked off another on an identical play later in the game. 

Sand Springs will start off the season with back-to-back home games, beginning with Pulaski Academy on September 1st at 7:00 p.m. The Little Rock team went 13-1 last year in Arkansas's Class 5A, winning their third-straight State Championship. They defeated the Sandites 56-21 in their season opener.

Church That Matters will be holding a tailgate party prior to the game to raise money for the Lady Sandite Volleyball team.

General admission tickets are $7.00, reserve seating is $11.00, and season passes with reserve seating are $50.00.

College Report: Sandites receiving college offers/currently in college

Holly Kersgieter in a Regional playoff game against Union. (Scott Emigh).

Class of 2019

Jacie Taber recently committed to play softball for the University of Northern Iowa. Taber batted .296 in the 2016 fast-pitch season, with 19 runs, 34 hits, one home run, and 21 RBI. On the mound she amassed a 6-1 record with a 1.78 ERA and 1.186 WHIP. The Panthers are an NCAA Division I team in the MIssouri Valley Conference, coming off a 33-19 season.

5'10" guard Holly Kersgieter is getting Division I attention following the Lady Sandites' State Tournament appearance and Frontier Valley Conference title last year. Kersgieter averaged 10.4 points per game last season and was named the Frontier Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year. She has received offers from...

  • Oklahoma State University Cowgirls, Stillwater (NCAA Division I, Big 12 Conference, 17-15 last season).

  • Missouri State University Bears, Springfield (NCAA Division I, Missouri Valley Conference, 16-15 last season).

  • Austin Peay State University Governors, Clarksville, Tennessee (NCAA Division I, Ohio Valley Conference, 14-16 last season).

  • University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos (NCAA Division I, Western Athletic Conference, 10-19 last season).

  • University of Tulsa Hurricane (NCAA Division I, American Athletic Conference, 10-21 last season).

  • University of Kansas Jayhawks, Lawrence (NCAA Division I, Big 12 Conference, 8-22 last season).

5'8" small forward Destiny Johnson has received two offers in response to her impressive season with the Lady Sandites. Johnson averaged 8.15 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2 steals per game. She has received offers from...

  • Pittsburg State University Gorillas, Kansas (NCAA Division II, Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, 25-6 last season).

  • University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos, Edmond (NCAA Division II, Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, 25-8 last season).

Class of 2018

6'5" guard Colt Savage has been fending off college offers left and right this summer. The junior finished last season with a 48.7% field goal percentage and 83.6% free throw percentage, averaging 22.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He has received offers from...

  • Rogers State University Hillcats, Claremore, Oklahoma (NCAA Division II, Heartland Conference, 19-10 last season).

  • University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos, Edmond (NCAA Division II, MIAA Conference, 17-12 last season).

  • Cameron University Aggies, Lawton, Oklahoma (NCAA Division II, Lone Star Conference, 17-12 last season).

  • Oklahoma Baptist University Bison, Shawnee (NCAA Division II, Great American Conference, 7-19 last season).

  • Missouri Western State University Griffons, Saint Joseph (NCAA Division II, MIAA Conference, 7-21 last season).

Gloria Mutiri is already committed to Ohio State University for volleyball. Mutiri averaged 4.8 kills per set last year and committed mid-season. Ohio State went 22-13 last year and finished seventh in the Big 10.

Running back Payton Scott received an offer to play football for Pittsburg State University this summer. Scott has a career record of 503 carries for 2930 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Gorillas are coming off a 7-4 season in NCAA Division II, placing fifth in the MIAA.

Class of 2017

Alexis Davis will run Track and Cross Country for Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Primarily a distance runner, she was a top-ten finisher at every 3200 meter run this past track season. SWOSU finished third in the Great American Conference last fall and 24th at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships.

Nine-time State Champion Cheyenne Walden will take her talent to the Oklahoma State University Cross Country and Track teams. Walden is the most decorated (OSSAA) athlete in Sand Springs history with five gold medals on the track and four in cross country. The Cowgirls finished last season second in the Big 12 and 17th in the NCAA.

Megan Deshazo is headed to Tonkawa to play for Northern Oklahoma College. Deshazo was the leading scorer on the 2016 team with 13 goals. The Mavericks went 18-2-1 last season.

Kendal Zicker is signed to play for Northeastern State University this fall. She scored four goals for the Sandites last season. The RiverHawks went 13-5-1 for a fourth-place finish in the MIAA standings.

Brooklyn Turner is signed to play for Redlands Community College in their inaugural season this fall. 

Alex Hernandez and Ignacio Garcia are signed to play soccer for Oklahoma Wesleyan University this fall. Hernandez scored two goals for the Sandites last season while Garcia had seven. Wesleyan went 19-1-2 last year and were undefeated in the KCAC. 

Lee Leslie is signed to play volleyball for Oklahoma Wesleyan. Leslie was fourth on her team in kills and third in assists last season. The Eagles went 19-11 last year and were fourth in conference.

Lincoln Adams and Dalton Morgan are both signed to play football for Oklahoma Baptist University this fall. Morgan spent most of his career on defense, racking up 93 tackles and two fumble recoveries. During his senior season he picked up running back duties and rushed 42 times for 247 yards and a touchdown, plus nine receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Adams, a 6'4" 310-pound offensive lineman, was a regular starter and powerful blocker, opening up holes for one of the top running teams in the state. The Bison are coming off a 2-9 season and tenth place finish in the Great American Conference.

Delvin Jordan is signed to play football for Pittsburg State University. He finished his high school career with 310 tackles, 31 sacks, two interceptions, seven fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks, and one safety. The Gorillas are coming off a 7-4 season in NCAA Division II, placing fifth in the MIAA.

Danny Ropp is signed to play football for Ohio Northern University. Primarily an offensive lineman, he still managed to rack up 90 tackles over his early career. The Polar Bears went 5-5 last season in the NCAA Division III, finishing fourth in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Four-time undefeated State Champion Daton Fix is signed to wrestle for Oklahoma State University this winter, and recently won the Junior Freestyle World Championship in Finland. The Cowboys are coming off a 14-1 season with a Big 12 Championship and third-place finish at the NCAA Division I Tournament. 

Three-time State Qualifier Zane Basma finished his high school career with a 88-30 record and is signed to wrestle for the UCO Bronchos this winter. The Bronchos finished last year with an undefeated 18-0 dual record, placing second in the MIAA and 18th in the NCAA Division II National Championship.

Two-time State Qualifier Michael Ritchey finished his high school career with a 65-36 record and is headed to Saint Mary for their inaugural wrestling season in the NAIA. 

Kyle Keener will play basketball for the UCO Bronchos. The All-State player shot 60.9% on field goals and 72.8% on free throws his senior year, averaging 16.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Kierra McGee is headed to Redlands Community College for basketball. Last year she averaged 8.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. The Cougars went 17-12 in the NJCAA.

Pitcher Jake Terry is headed to the University of Oklahoma after sitting out his senior year to recover from Tommy John surgery. During his junior year he amassed a 5-4 record, 3.88 ERA, and 2.06 WHIP. The Sooners went 35-24 last season and finished third in the Big 12.

Hunter Greathouse will play baseball for Cowley County Community College this coming season. The Sandite batted .350 his senior season with 25 runs, 41 hits, one dinger, and 31 RBI. He went 4-6 on the mound with a 4.38 ERA and 1.85 WHIP. The Tigers were 45-18 this past season and went 2-2 in the NJCAA World Series. 

Treyce Tolbert, Mack Thompson, and Josh Cordell are all three headed to Rose State College for baseball. The Raiders went 20-34 last season and are looking for their first winning record since 2013. Cordell went 6-3 on the mound last year with a 3.24 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Thompson was .352 at the plate with 34 runs, 43 hits, and 16 RBI. Tolbert batted .381 with 30 runs, 45 hits, 29 RBI, and one homer. 

Sydney Pennington will play for the Oklahoma State University softball team that went 38-25 last season, placing third in the Big 12. Pennington batted .543 her senior year with 45 runs, 57 hits, 10 homers, and 38 RBI. On the mound she amassed a 6-0 record with a 1.41 ERA and 1.135 WHIP. 

Jessica Collins is headed to Connors State College for softball. Collins batted .316 her senior season with 36 hits, 39 runs, and 22 RBI. The Cowgirls finished the past season with a winning 38-14 record in the NJCAA.

Class of 2016

Jacob Taber is gearing up for his first collegiate football season at Fort Hays State after redshirting his freshman year. During his senior year he recorded 87 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. The Tigers went 8-4 in the NCAA Division II, finishing fourth in the MIAA. 

Trace Fleischman is headed into his sophomore year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. The Golden Norsemen finished the 2016 season 5-5 in the NJCAA, fifth in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference.

Madison Dye is entering her sophomore season the Northeastern State University soccer team. Last year she played in fifteen matches with three starts and 391 minutes of game time. 

Brooklyn Eardley will be a sophomore on the Oral Roberts University soccer team. She started 18 games as a true freshman, scoring two points and two assists, helping her team to an 11-9-2 record. She was named to the Summit League All-Freshman Team. The Golden Eagles finished third in the NCAA Division I Summit League.

Stella Millican will be a sophomore at Mid-American Christian University. The Evangel Softball team went 17-37 last season. Millican played eighteen games and picked up sixteen at-bats. She batted .063 with one hit, two runs, and one RBI.

Jessica Schuler batted .208 as a freshman at NSU, recording 10 hits, 6 runs, 13 RBI, and three homers for the RiverHawks. The team went 23-28 overall for a tenth-place finish in the MIAA standings.

Kennedy "Goose" Salyers pitched three innings at Southeastern Oklahoma State University last season. She batted .251 on 175 at-bats with 24 runs, 44 hits, and 14 RBI. The Savage Storm went 18-34 in NCAA Division II and finished last in the Great American Conference.

Rhett Rutledge played 38 games last year for Northern Oklahoma College , batting .299 with 26 runs, 26 hits, two homers, and 13 RBI. The Mavericks went 32-25 in NJCAA Division II.

Class of 2015

Mariah Knight is on the Pom team at OBU. Last year she made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll with a 3.00 GPA or higher.

Morgan Long is headed into her third season on the University of Oklahoma Cross Country team. Last year she placed 18th overall in the 5K at the Ken Garland Invitational. The Sooners finished fourth in the Big 12 and seventh in the NCAA Midwest Regionals last year.

Cody Karstetter is back at the University of Oklahoma for a second season of Sooner wrestling. He went 6-3 at North Carolina as a freshman, then went 1-2 last year at OU before a season-ending dislocated shoulder. The Sooners went 11-6 in the dual season, then placed second in the Big 12 and 32nd in the NCAA.

Cody Randall and Caleb Basma are headed into another year of wrestling at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Randall finished last year 13-11 while Basma went 23-15. The Golden Norsemen went 14-1 in the dual season before placing third at the NJCAA National Championship.

Kyler Childers is slated to compete for Oklahoma Wesleyan University in their first-ever season of men's wrestling. Childers was a three-time State Qualifier for the Sandites, finishing his senior season with a 29-8 record for third place at the OSSAA 6A Tournament. 

Class of 2014

After redshirting his freshman year Tre Betts has played every game for the past two seasons at Missouri State University. He recorded 41 tackles, two interceptions, and a 44-yard interception return in 2015 then added twelve more tackles last season. The Bears are 5-17 under third year Head Coach Dave Steckel and are coming off a 4-7 season in NCAA Division I. They're looking for their first winning season since 2009.

Redshirt junior Isaiah Silversmith is entering his third season at Northeastern State University. In 2015 he played all eleven games and recorded eleven tackles. Last year he played two games and posted two tackles as the RiverHawks went 2-9 for an eleventh-place finish in the MIAA.

Senior Jacob Sigmon played nine games last year for the Southwestern College Moundbuilders, receiving 25 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown. The Moundbuilders are coming off a 2-8 season in the NAIA and an eighth-place finish in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

Alan Armstrong is entering his senior season on the Southern Nazarene University soccer team. He has played in every game for the past three seasons. Last season he tied for second in scoring with four goals, bringing his career total to six. The Crimson Storm is coming off a 2-15-2 record in NCAA Division II, with a fourth-place finish in the Great American Conference.

Mallory Goodman, née Collins, is back for a third season with the OSU Cowgirls. The Sandite batted .273 as a freshman, starting 33 times, before taking a year off. Returning to the diamond last year, she batted .063 on sixteen at-bats. 

Class of 2012

Cody Tolbert is in his senior year at Southern Nazarene University. Last year he went 1-3 on the mound with ten strikeouts over nineteen innings pitched. The Crimson Storm went 7-40 in NCAA Division II, finishing last in the Great American Conference.


Please Contact Us to inform us of any changes in enrollment or to let us know of any athletes we're missing.

Fall sports season is officially under way at Charles Page High School

Season ticket prices have been set for Sand Springs high school athletics.

$7.00 General admission
$11.00 Reserve seating
$20.00 Student Athlete All-Sport Pass, general admission
$25.00 Student Non-Athlete All-Sport Pass, general admission
$40.00 Senior Citizen All-Sport Pass, general admission
$50.00 Season pass, home games, reserve seating
$60.00 Adult All-Sport Pass, general admission
$85.00 All-Sport Pass Package with reserved seating

Charles Page High School boasts one of the premier athletic programs in the State of Oklahoma. Fall athletics include Cross Country, Football, Fast Pitch Softball, and Volleyball.

Lady Sandite Volleyball went 24-14 last year, reaching the number thirteen ranking in Class 6A before being eliminated in the playoffs by No. 4 Edmond Santa Fe. Head Coach Janna Green was named Frontier Valley Conference Coach of the Year, junior Gloria Mutiri committed to Ohio State University, and Lee Leslie signed with Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

The Sandite Football team went 7-5 last season and attained the number one ranking in Class 6A-II before being defeated in the semifinals by the defending and eventual State Champions from Bixby. The Sandites won a 26-25 upset over then top-ranked Muskogee with a two-point conversion that made the EPSN SportsCenter number one play. Four seniors went on to play collegiate ball and three received OCA All-Star accolades.

The Lady Sandite Softball team went 30-9, placed second in the district, made the State quarterfinals and won the 6A Academic State Championship. Sydney Pennington signed with Oklahoma State University, Jessica Collins signed with Connors State College, and both made the All-State team. 

The Boys' Cross Country team won the Kiefer meet and placed second at Sapulpa. The Girls placed first at Kiefer, second at Sapulpa, and fourth in the conference. The girls team qualified for State, Aden Baughman qualified individually, and Cheyenne Walden won her fourth State Championship. Walden signed with Oklahoma State University and Alexis Davis signed with Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Sapulpa tops Sand Springs 10-6 in Alumni Rivalry Game; Thayer scores lone touchdown

Terrance Dixon ran for 22 yards in the Sandites' Sunday night defeat in Sapulpa. (Photo: Morgan Miller).

For the past 87 years, Sapulpa and Sand Springs students have met in one of the most bitter football rivalries in Oklahoma. And for the past four years, alumni from the two schools have duked it out on the gridiron in a fundraiser for the students.

Sapulpa leads the high school series 45-41-5, and tied the alumni series 2-2 Sunday night. The two teams split the ticket sales, with the host team keeping concessions.

The first alumni game was held at George F. Collins Stadium in 2014 and was a resounding 20-7 Sapulpa victory, but for the past two seasons the Sandites have both hosted and won the game.

Total Offense: Sapulpa 31-169, Sand Springs 39-135.
Passing: Sapulpa 4-11-74-1, Sand Springs 5-16-64-2. 
Rushing: Sapulpa 20-95, Sand Springs 23-71.
Penalties: Sapulpa 6-40. Sand Springs 0-0. 
First Downs: Sand Springs 9, Sapulpa 6.

Passing: (Sapulpa) Romine 4-11-74-1. (Sand Springs) Riggs 3-5-50-0, Michael Brown 2-7-15-0, T. Millikin 0-3-0-1, Smallwood 0-1-0-1.

Receiving: (Sapulpa) Meacham 2-64, Rolland 1-9, Swift 1-1. (Sand Springs) N. Millikin 2-43, T. Dixon 2-15, Parker Taylor 1-7.

Rushing: (Sapulpa) Broom 13-79, Cashon 3-16, Romine 3-16, Swift 1-(-4). (Sand Springs) Thayer 8-39, T. Dixon 6-22, Mitchell Brown 3-10, C. Dixon 3-9, Michael Brown 1-4, T. Millikin 2-(-5) Riggs 2-(-21).

Click here for 2017 photo gallery.
Click here for 2016 photo gallery.
Click here for 2016 story.

Sand Springs won 35-0 in 2015 and 20-14 last year while Collins Stadium was undergoing renovation. In 2016, Cody Hilderbrant, Cody Hale, Znick Ferrell, and Davey Thayer got in on the scoring action for Sand Springs, while J.R. Romine and Jason Broom found the endzone for the Chieftains.

This year, the dynamic Sapulpa duo returned to wreak havoc on the small Sandite team. Romine completed only four passes, but totaled 74 yards. Meanwhile, the Sandites went through four QBs and failed to establish an offensive rhythm.

The first quarter went scoreless for both teams, but the Sandites hit paydirt early in the second with a 62-yard march, capped by a half-yard scoring run from the Class of 2015's Davey Thayer. A two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete, however, and Sapulpa took the lead shortly before halftime after Michael Cashon scored on a six-yard run and Romine drilled the point-after.

The first half ended with a flair of excitement as Taylor Lewis and Cruz Desjarlais picked off back-to-back interceptions. Lewis snagged another later in the game. 

The third quarter was plagued by fumbled hikes on the part of the Sandites, and Sapulpa got the ball back on the second play of the half. On their first possession they marched 19 yards in five plays before Romine connected on a 35-yard field goal for the final score of the game.

Five possession changes later, and neither team had found the endzone again. The Sandites put together an impressive, but ultimately unsuccessful, last-ditch effort in the final three minutes - picking up three first downs before running out of time in Sapulpa territory.

Sapulpa Head Coach Robert Borgstadt previously spent five years as defensive coordinator in Sand Springs, while Wide-Receivers Coach Tim Beacham spent two years as Head Coach at Charles Page from 2001-2002. This marked Borgstadt's first victory against his old team, a feat he will aim to repeat for Sapulpa Homecoming on September 22nd.

Sapulpa:
Dalton Wilson (2016)
Braden Watkins (2015)
Mason Dossman (2014)
Chase Willis (2014)
Julian Rolland (2014)
J.T. Rains (2014)
Cory Mondier (2014)
Darien Inks (2013)
Devin Swift (2013)
Corbin Steeples (2013)
Noah Berryhill (2013)
Trevor Tolliver (2011)
Matt Pulley (2010)
Chache Ward (2009)
Steven Crawford (2008)
Aaron Petty (2007)
Michael Cashon (2006)
Josh Hardee (2005)
Randall Hardee (2004)
Caleb Meacham (2002)
J.R. Romine (1998)
Jason Broom (1998)
Chris Playford (1998)
Will Sinder
Taylor Lewis
Brian Hurt
Tyler Doane
Bradley Akin
Keagan Fox
Jeffrey Melchor

Sand Springs:
Cody Motes (2017)
Malachi Walton (2016)
Parker Taylor (2016)
Ty Fain (2016)
Cole Dixon (2016)
Cruz Desjarlais (2016)
Andrew Biggs (2016)
Davey Thayer (2015)
Marcus Crawford (2015)
Travis MIllikin (2014)
Junior Cole (2014)
Nick Millikin (2011)
Lane Freeman (2011)
Terrance Dixon (2010)
Richard Hopper (2010)
Ben Riggs (2007)
Mitchell Brown (2003)
Ryan Smallwood (1993)
Mike Edwards (1992)
Michael Brown
Andrew Brown
Logan Miller
Brian Bonton
Michael Mason
Blake Wheeler
Theshaud Hawkins

Longtime Sandite Coach/Athletic Director Cecil Hankins to be inducted into OBCA Hall of Fame

Cecil Hankins, 1953 Sand Springs High School yearbook.

Former Sand Springs Coach and Athletic Director Cecil Hankins will be inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association (OBCA) Hall of Fame Saturday, June 3rd. Hankins was previously inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Oklahoma State University Hall of Honor in 1996.

Hankins coached in Sand Springs for sixteen years, including basketball, football, track and field, baseball, and golf. He retired as Athletic Director in 1988 and passed away in 2002 at the age of 80. 

A Division I collegiate athlete, Hankins played for Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State University) in both football and basketball, under Jim Lookabaugh and Henry Iba respectively.

In football he played halfback and defensive back on the undefeated 1945 team that was recently declared the National Champions by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The AFCA has been working to declare national champions for the period between 1922 and 1949 before they began a rankings system.

1945 Oklahoma A&M National Champion team. Hankins can be seen in the second row from the top, four positions to the right of Head Coach Jim Lookabaugh. 

In the 1945 Sugar Bowl, Hankins received the go-ahead touchdown pass from Bob Fennimore and the Aggies went on to prevail 33-13 over St. Mary's. 

Hankins didn't live long enough to see his football team recognized as National Champions, but the 1945 Basketball team also won a National Title and he contributed 13 points per game that season. The 1945 season was the school's first NCAA Tournament appearance and first National Championship as the Aggies defeated New York 49-45 in front of 18,000 fans at Madison Square Garden to finish the season with a 27-4 record. Hankins scored 15 points in the Championship game.

After his collegiate career, Hankins played 25 games with the Boston Celtics and averaged 2.8 points per game for 70 career points. 

At Sand Springs he coached football from 1952-1954 and amassed a 15-10-4 record with a 1952 District Championship and playoff appearance. He coached future three-time MLB World Series Champion Jerry Adair as quarterback, who went on to play basketball at OSU under Iba. He coached basketball from 1948 through 1957. Sandite Pride is missing the 1948-1949 season record, but his final eight years Hankins went 144-59-1 and led his team to four-straight Verdigris Valley Conference Championships.

Hankins will be inducted along with Jack Begley, Ron Murphey, Robert Sprague, and Bailey Van Zant. Begley coached at Texhoma High, Clinton High, and Panhandle State. He won two State Championships at Clinton. Murphey coached at Felt and Texhoma and won one State Championship at Texhoma. Sprague coached at Daniel Webster, Nathan Hale, and Tulsa Memorial. Van Zant coached at Pond Creek and Pryor, started the basketball program at Seminole Junior College, then coached fourteen years in Texas.