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

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#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.

Wrestling Roundup: Junior High Lady Sandites Place 2nd at Home Tourney, Keystone Kids 2nd at State

Chanute, Kansas edged out No. 5 Westmoore 211.5 to 207 to win the second annual Sand Springs girls high school wrestling tournament Saturday at Clyde Boyd Middle School.

The defending champions, Springdale Har-Ber, slipped to 17th this year while host No. 10 Sand Springs placed 21st in the field of 42 teams.

In junior high action the Sandites finished runner-up to Norman by a margin of 228 to 214.5 after calling down a pair of varsity freshmen. Defending junior high champion Perry tied for third place with Bixby at 173 points. 37 schools participated in the junior high tournament.

Sand Springs went 3-1 in the finals while Norman was 1-2, but the Tigers had the edge in consolation with seven top-five placers to the Sandites’ five.

High School Girls

Kelsi Hilton led the varsity team with a fourth place finish at 140 pounds, with both of her losses coming to Har-Ber’s Kinalisa Lokot. Hilton previously pinned Lokot for first place at the Diamond State Invitational in December, but the junior State placer got the upper hand this time with a pair of second period falls.

Laila Mirza went 5-2 at 115 for fifth place, with all of her wins coming via fall. Trinity Owens placed eighth at 110, Audree Robinson placed 10th at 125, and Emily Ambriz placed 10th at 235.

Junior High Girls

Kenzie Johnson won at 89 pounds with two falls and an 8-7 semifinal decision. In the finals she pinned Ponca’s Bailey Ward in 4:10.

Bailey Copeland won at 96 pounds, pinning her first four opponents before dominating Cleveland’s Hannah Stephenson 8-0 in the finals.

Ambrielle Chambers won at 102 pounds, pinning all five of her foes. In the finals she stuck Norman’s Rylie Hillis in 2:41.

Copeland and Chambers, both freshmen, usually wrestle with the varsity team.

Rylee Allen was runner-up at 117, pinning her first four opponents before getting pinned by Norman’s Claire Lancaster in the finals.

Kyla Crittenden placed third at 73, Faith Humble placed sixth at 117, Collby Garrison placed seventh at 145, Lyla Waldren placed eighth at 102, Cailey Miller placed eighth at 155, Brylee Smith placed ninth at 145, Audrey Pride placed ninth at 117, Rowen Hull placed tenth at 138, Savannah Taylor placed 11th at 110, and Sawyer Briscoe placed 12th at 102.

Junior High Boys

The junior high boys competed at the 82nd annual Ted Anderson tournament in Edmond and took fifth place with two champions.

Griffin Sensintaffar won at 86 pounds for his fourth title of the season. He pinned his first three opponents before closing out with a pair of decisions. In the finals he wont 3-0 against Broken Arrow’s Bryson McQueen in a rematch of last week’s semifinals. Sensintaffar pinned McQueen last weekend en route to a tournament title at Perry.

Freshman Jaxon Grigsby won at 126 pounds with two pins and two decisions before taking down Edmond North’s Brooks McCollom in the finals. Grigsby scored a takedown with 15 seconds left to tie it at 3-3. He scored a takedown in overtime but McCollom had a pair of escapes to tie it at 5-5 before Grigsby scored a reversal in the third overtime period for the 7-5 win.

Kasen McAffrey placed third at 140, Kaden Pope placed fifth at 132, Rowdy Ash placed sixth at 80 pounds, Corbin Wooley placed sixth at 155, and Hunter Fields placed sixth at 170.

Youth Wrestling

The Keystone Kids Wrestling Club competed at the OKUSA State Championship and took first place in Division I and Division II and second place overall. Head coach Kyle Waag was named the OKUSA Coach of the Year for the east side of the state.

Madden Moore, Jett Galloway, and Raylee Dawes won gold in Division I and Holden Yingst was runner-up.

Patrick Sanchez and Hagan Wolfenberger won gold in Division II, Hudson Waag was runner-up, and Maddix Spencer placed fourth.

In Division III Ty Galloway and Autumn Foust placed third and Sutton Hawley placed fourth.

Maddox Pope won gold In Division IV while Karson Waag and Bryson Pope were runners-up. Wes Wilson and Zander Pope placed fourth.

Kayden Worthington won gold in Division V.

In the Novice divisions: Landon Replogle and Carter Randall won gold; Gage Fadenrecht and Maverick Spencer placed third; and Hunter Sims, Brayden Replogle, Nakona Eaglin, and Joseph Satoe placed fourth.

Lady Sandites Upset Owasso on Morris's Buzzer Beater

The third time was the charm for the Lady Sandites, Friday night at the Ed Dubie Field House, as No. 6 Sand Springs paid back a pair of losses with a 40-38 upset against No. 5 Owasso.

After a game-tying layup from Makenna Yokley, the Sandites had just seven seconds to respond. Instead of calling a timeout to set up a play, head coach Josh Berry just trusted the connection between his two senior stars.

“If we call a timeout, I feel like we let them set up,” said Berry. “I think we’ve got the speed advantage so I just trusted our senior guards.”

It paid off as point guard Sakauri Wilson found Taiona Morris on a long bounce pass for the win. The Rams brought full pressure on Wilson, leaving Morris unguarded downcourt, and the NEO-commit made them pay.

“Kauri got the ball out so I just needed to run,” said Morris. “She found me and I just made the layup.”

Sand Springs led twice early in the game before the Rams rode a 12-0 run into the second quarter for a 10-point advantage. The home team played catch-up for the rest of the night, cutting its deficit to 23-21 by halftime.

“I think we started rushing it,” said Berry. “This is the first time we’ve been home in a very long time, so I think when we got settled down we just made some tough plays and played hard.”

A Freshman Phenom

Aaliyah Simone gave the Sandites their first lead of the second half with a pair of free throws but Sarah Yokley’s trey put the visitors back on top and the Rams took a 29-27 lead into the fourth.

Simone tied it again to open the fourth, then Seldon Stover and Wilson traded blows to a 31-31 tie. Makenna Yokley gave the visitors their final lead before Simone tied it a third time on a lefty layup off a steal from Wilson.

The freshman starter ended the night with a team-best 10 points and followed that play by picking off a long inbound and passing it to Wilson who hesitated long enough for a pair of would-be blockers to float by, then hit the go-ahead tap-in with 2:36 to play.

Hope Bump added another basket to make it a two-score game, though Makenna Yokley drained a three soon after to keep the Rams close.

Morris went 1-of-2 on a trip to the free throw line for a two-point advantage, followed by Makenna Yokley’s game-tying layup and Morris’s buzzer-beater for the win.

“We can finally say that we beat Owasso,” said Morris. “And on top of that, I feel like this will put us forward in our season and help us develop a better part of our team.”

Morris ended the night with 9 points, followed by Wilson and Bump with 8 apiece. Wilson added 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals.

A New Hope

One of the key difference makers between this game and the first two meetings with Owasso was junior Hope Bump, a transfer from Claremore, who was still waiting on OSSAA clearance till after the new year.

Bump brings some much needed size to the Sandites, who lost one of their only bigs when Kiaryn Taylor tore her ACL in December’s Bishop Kelley Invitational.

“It sucked because I couldn’t be out there with them,” said Bump. “But it felt good to be out there with them tonight…because it counted toward our district wins and everything.”

Bump scored 8 points with 5 rebounds, a steal, and 2 blocks. She’s averaging 10.9 points and 5.7 rebounds this season since making her Sandite debut at the Putnam City Invitational on January 4th.

“She does it all,” said Berry. “She can pass, she can shoot, she can score inside. And now she’s playing a little bit of defense, so how about that? If she keeps that up, I think great things are going to come for her.”

Bump has adjusted well to her new team since following her dad, assistant coach Jeremy Bump, to Sand Springs.

“It’s different, definitely from 5A to 6A basketball,” said Bump. “It’s faster, it’s quicker and everything, but I love it it here…I feel like God put me where I need to be.”

Homecoming is Tuesday

Sand Springs improved to 11-5 on the season and 5-2 in district play and will return to action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on Homecoming. The queen will be crowned at halftime of the boys’ game, which starts at 8:00 p.m.

Owasso dropped to 13-4 and 6-2 and will travel to No. 5 Edmond Memorial (13-3, 7-1) Tuesday in a key district battle.

CPHS 40 Owasso 38

1Q: Owasso 13-7.
2Q: CPHS 14-10.
3Q: Tied 6-6.
4Q: CPHS 13-9.
Free Throws: CPHS 6-of-8, Owasso 5-of-6.
Field Goals: CPHS 16-of-50, Owasso 15-of-42.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 7, Owasso 8.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 12, Owasso 22.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 19, Owasso 30.
Steals: CPHS 9, Owasso 4.
Blocks: CPHS 4, Owasso 3.
Fouls: CPHS 10, Owasso 14.

Sand Springs Statistics

Points: Simone 10, Morris 9, Wilson 8, Bump 8, Ti. Butler 5.
Offensive Rebounds: Morris 3, Simone 1, Ti. Butler 1, Bump 1, Gilton 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Wilson 5, Bump 4, Simon 2, Ti. Butler 1.
Total Rebounds: Wilson 5, Bump 5, Morris 3, Simone 3, Ti. Butler 2, Gilton 1.
Assists: Wilson 3, Simone 1, Bump 1.
Steals: Wilson 5, Simone 2, Ti. Butler 1, Bump 1.
Blocks: Ti. Butler 2, Bump 2.
Fouls: Morris 3, Wilson 2, Simone 2, Bump 2, Gilton 1.

Owasso Statistics

Points: M. Yokley 15, McGarrah 8, Stover 4, Austin 4, Hill 4, S. Yokley 3.
Fouls: M. Yokley 4, Austin 3, Stover 2, McGarrah 2, Wilson 2, Hill 1.

Lady Sandites Place Second at Strother, Kiya Dover Wins Gold

The Charles Page High School girls powerlifting team came up 28 points shy of defending its title at the Strother Invitational on January 19th, but a finished a strong second place behind Kiya Dover’s gold medal.

Dover won despite being quite undersized for her weight class, with top marks in all three events. The heavyweight benched 145 pounds and deadlifted 325 for close victories, but blew out the competition with a 315-pound squat that was 65 pounds heavier than the runner-up’s mark.

Gracey Massey placed third overall at 198. She was third in squat at 255 pounds, fifth in bench at 125 pounds, and second in deadlift at 285.

Bailey Doughty was third overall at 220 but won two of her events. Doughty had the top bench at 120 pounds and the top deadlift at 295, while squatting 210 for fourth.

Paisley Brown placed fourth at 123, squatting 155 pounds and benching 80 for second place in each division and deadlifting 145 for ninth.

Kelsi Hilton was fourth at 157 with a 200-pound squat for fifth and a 115-pound bench for third. Her 265-pound deadlift was sixth.

Hannah George placed fifth at 168 with the best bench of her division at 120 pounds. She was also fifth in deadlift at 240 pounds and sixth in squat at 200.

Kadence Grant placed eighth at 168 with a 205-pound squat for fourth, a 95-pound bench, and a 205-pound deadlift. Tessa Urrey was ninth at 168 with a 170 squat, 105 bench, and 220 deadlift.

Jocelyn Wright placed sixth at 145 with a 190 squat, 95 bench, and 230 deadlift. Laila Mirza was ninth in the same class with the same squat and bench, but deadlifted 215.

Preslie Graham was sixth at 198 with a fifth-place 210-pound squat, a 105-pound bench, and a 230-pound deadlift. Amaia Harp was seventh with a 160 squat, a 95-pound bench, and a 220 deadlift.

Callie Brown placed ninth at 220 with a 115-pound squat, 75-pound bench, and 205-pound deadlift. Brooklyn Buckaloo placed tenth at 132, squatting 175, benching 100, and deadlifting 190.

The junior high team won the Strother meet for the second consecutive year, led by Marlee Dixon in first place at 181 pounds.

Dixon had the top bench at 105 pounds, the top deadlift at 215, and was second in squat at 195.

Kayleigh Felsinger was third at heavyweight with fourth-place finishes in squat and deadlift. She squatted 180, benched 90, and deadlifted 225.

Adelynn Ray finished sixth at 168 but had the top mark in deadlift at 250 pounds. She squatted 135 and was fifth in bench at 95.

The junior high also compete at the Little Axe Invitational on Wednesday and placed third.

Cheyenne Meritt placed second and Ambrielle Chambers was third at 108 pounds. Meritt squatted 105, benched 65, and deadlifted 140 for second, fifth, and second, respectively. Chambers squatted 100, benched 80, and deadlifted 125 for third, first, and third.

Dixon was second at 181, squatting 200 for second, benching 115 for first, and deadlifting 225 for third.

Taliah Rushing placed third at heavyweight with a 175-pound squat, a 100-pound bench for fifth, and a 300-pound deadlift for third.

Ray placed fourth at 165, squatting 145 for fourth, benching 90 for third, and deadlifting 260 for first.

The Lady Sandites will return to action in a few weeks at the McAlester event on February 16th.

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.

Oklahoma 6A Week 10 Basketball Rankings

Girls

1. Edmond North (13-1) +1

2. Putnam City West (16-1) -1

3. Putnam City North (14-3)

4. Choctaw (16-0)

5. Edmond Memorial (13-3) +2

6. Owasso (13-4) -1

7. Sand Springs (11-5) -1

8. Bixby (14-4)

9. Edmond Santa Fe (10-6)

10. Broken Arrow (12-6)

11. Mustang (13-5)

12. Yukon (14-4) +1

13. Norman (10-7) -1

14. Union (11-6) NR

15. Westmoore (8-7) NR

Boys

1. Edmond North (12-2)

2. Owasso (15-2)

3. Edmond Deer Creek (14-4)

4. Union (15-2)

5. Edmond Memorial (11-5)

6. Moore (11-5)

7. Norman (13-4) +1

8. Westmoore (10-5) -1

9. Piedmont (14-4)

10. Mustang (13-5)

11. Broken Arrow (13-4)

12. Choctaw (13-3)

13. Bixby (11-6)

14. Sand Springs (10-6)

15. Jenks (11-6)