CPHS Football: 2020 Sandite schedule released

The Charles Page High School football team has released its 2020 schedule, and next year’s Sandites will see a couple of new faces and some changes to the district lineup.

8.28.2020 Sapulpa (A)

The Highway 97 Rivalry will be renewed for the 91st consecutive year, but this time it will be a non-district game. Sapulpa was bumped down to Class 5A for the next two seasons, and this will be their first non-district meeting since 2013. It will be their first season-opening meeting since 1953 and the second straight year that the game will be played on the road in Sapulpa.

Sapulpa leads the series 45-43-5 overall, and won the last meeting 31-19 to snap a five-year Sandite win streak. The Chieftains went 6-5 last year for their second-straight winning season and second-straight playoff appearance.

Sapulpa State Titles: 1921.

9.4.2020 Bishop Kelley (H)

The Sandites’ first home game will be against 5A Bishop Kelley, in their first meeting since 1979. The teams have a split 5-5 record, with the Sandites winning their last four meetings.

The Comets are coming off an 8-5 season and State semifinals appearance, and haven’t had a losing record since 2010.

Bishop Kelley State Titles: 1981.

9.18.2020 Shiloh Christian (H)

The Sandites will take a bye week following their game with Bishop Kelley, then will host a Springdale, Arkansas 4A private school powerhouse. The Saints went 14-1 last season and were State Runners-Up. They haven’t had a losing season since 2012. This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Shiloh Christian State Titles: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2001, 1999, 1998.

9.25.2020 Ponca City (A)

District action will begin with a trip to Ponca City, where the Wildcats will be out to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke. After thirteen years as the 6A punching bag, Ponca went 5-5 for their best mark since 2005.

Sand Springs holds a 25-20-1 record against the Wildcats and won seven straight meetings till Ponca snapped the streak with a 24-14 win last season at Memorial Stadium.

10.2.2020 Muskogee (Homecoming)

Sand Springs will have a tough task on Homecoming as they look to snap a three-year losing streak against Muskogee. The Roughers hold a 23-6 record against Sand Springs, including a 54-6 drubbing last season. Muskogee went 8-3 last year and hasn’t had a losing record since 2015.

Muskogee State Titles: 1986, 1950, 1948, 1941, 1940, 1935, 1925, 1923, 1910.

10.9.2020 Booker T. Washington (A)

Both Sand Springs and Booker T. Washington will have new head coaches this year. The Hornets hold a 16-7 record against the Sandites including five straight meetings. They ended the Sandites’ last season 34-7.

Washington went 7-5 last year and hasn’t had a losing season since 2011. They are the only team besides Bixby to win a 6A-II title.

Booker T. Washington State Titles: 2017, 2010, 2008, 1984, 1973, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967.

10.15.2020 Bixby (H)

The Sandites will host the heir apparent, the reigning State Champions and most dominant team in the division on a Thursday. Bixby holds an 18-12 record against the Sandites, including six straight wins dating back to the 2015 title game. Last year they dealt the Sandites a 75-0 shutout, their worst loss in 95 years.

Bixby went 13-0 last season and has won 25 straight games. The Spartans have made the State Finals for six straight years and haven’t had a losing record since 2012.

Bixby State Titles: 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014.

10.23.2020 Choctaw (A)

Choctaw is new to the district, but not new to the Sandites. They played a non-district home and home from 2016-2017 that the Yellowjackets swept, 21-20 in 2017 and 45-41 in 2016. They are 4-2 against the Sandites overall. Last year Choctaw went 8-4 with a State semifinal appearance

Choctaw State Titles: 1960.

10.30.2020 Bartlesville (H)

The Sandites will play Bartlesville for the 21st straight year. The Bruins are 21-15 against the Sandites and have won back-to-back meetings, including a 54-35 shootout last year. Bartlesville went 3-7 last season and hasn’t had a winning record since 2015.

11.6.2020 Putnam City West (A)

The regular season finale will be a road game against district newcomer Putnam City West. The two teams had a non-district home and home from 2016-2017 and the Sandites won both meetings.

The Patriots went 0-10 last year and have lost 16 straight games. They haven’t had a winning record since 2016.

Putnam West State Titles: 1981

CPHS Wrestling: Sandites beat Springdale 44-27 at Ram Duals tournament

Pictured: Preston Medlin competes at the Bobby Lyons Invitational. Medlin pinned his opponent at 52 seconds in a dual with Springdale Friday.

After suffering a surprise upset to No. 11 Owasso in the first round of the 5th Annual Ram Duals, the Sandites got back on track with a 44-27 win over Springdale, Arkansas. The Class 6A No. 8 ranked Charles Page High School wrestling team (4-4) earned bonus points in all eight of their wins, with four pins and two forfeits.

Springdale started off well, with Zayne Lewis winning the first match 8-2 against Shane Wolf (8-9). Mitchell Smith (9-3) got the Sandites out front with an 11-0 major decision against State Qualifier Trinton Evans, but State Qualifier Meinshu Jiang eked out a 10-8 sudden-victory win against Harley Newberry (5-10) and State Qualifier Peter Henry won 5-3 against Ethan Norton (3-11, 3-16).

Then it was the Sand Springs show. Freshman Carter Goodman (7-6) pinned State Qualifier Timoj Mewa in 4:36, Blake Jones (15-6, 41-20) received a forfeit, and Preston Medlin (10-12, 23-34) pinned Johey River in 0:52 to make it 22-9.

State Qualifier Terri Wise pinned Ethan White (3-8) in 4:26, but the Sandite put up a solid effort with two takedowns and led 6-4 before the fall. Chris Kirby (18-8, 76-32) received a forfeit at 160, then J.R. Leban pinned Dakota Taylor (1-12, 1-19) in 2:00.

Sango Whitehorn (7-14, 9-18) earned a 9-1 major decision against Jason Pedrus, Brooks Dudley (16-13, 26-21) pinned Ernesto Casas in 2:13, and Josh Fincannon (22-9, 61-43) pinned Ethan Nessar in 1:28 before Springdale’s Jadon Wilkerson ended the dual with a pin at 285 against Robbie Parrish (6-12, 8-27).

No. 1 Sandite Wrestling wins fifth shutout of the season, 80-0 over Springdale

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Round Four Results:

Pool A
Sand Springs 80 Springdale 0
Midwest City 47 Vian 36
Claremore bye

Pool B
Collinsville 52 Bartlesville 24
Comanche 45 Bentonville 31
Pittsburgh bye

Pool C
Perry 78 Enid 6
Mustang 34 Owasso 33
Lebanon bye

Pool D
Manhattan 70 Salina 12
Deer Creek 33 Har-Ber 27
Union bye

The No. 1 ranked Charles Page High School varsity wrestling team (11-0) just cant be stopped this season. In the fourth round of the Ram Duals tournament they rolled to their fifth shutout of the season, 80-0 over Springdale, Arkansas.

SEE RELATED: No. 1 Sandite Wrestling dominates Midwest City 69-9 at Ram Duals

SEE RELATED: No. 1 Sandite Wrestling shuts out No. 5 Vian 66-0

Blake Sargent (24-8 season, 76-22 career) pinned Logan Walton in 0:53 to start off the dual, then Oklahoma State-commit Daton Fix (31-0, 149-0) put on a takedown clinic and led Kotomai Tamangdad 8-4 before pinning him in 1:20. Jack Karstetter (17-1, 90-16) handled Paul Mejibon in 0:39, Cody Mathis (8-5, 26-19) pinned Leeon Runny in 1:10, and Payton Scott (26-1, 47-9) took down Jonathan Snider in 0:23 for a 30-0 team lead. 

The pinning streak finally came to an end as Noah Almy (16-12) won a 7-1 decision over Jordi Villarreal, but Hayden Cramer (7-3) started it right back up again by pinning Noland Joran in 5:53. Gage Fain (21-9, 34-31) took care of Roland Joran in 1:29, and Delvin Jordan (29-2, 60-14) topped Cree Gonzalis in 0:42.

Dominique Pipes (1-3, 1-5) picked up a forfeit at heavyweight. Riley Weir (26-6, 47-18) scored a 15-0 technical fall over Isaace Ponce in 2:07, Tanner Ward (22-8, 98-20) pinned Christian Davidson in 0:34, and Michael Ritchey (24-8, 53-32) ended the dual with a fall over Thoper Runny in 3:36.

Sand Springs librarian Richard Why leads double-life as professional golfer

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Local Charles Page librarian Richard Why is not your typical book nerd. When he's not stocking shelves and checking out books, he can be found on disc golf courses across the Midwest, playing professionally for Team Fossa. Richard and his wife, Tara, are both sponsored by Fossa Disc Golf.

Why played competitive ball golf throughout high school, but made the switch to disc golf after graduating.

"I realized how expensive it was. Playing disc golf for free really appealed to my college budget. I bought one disc and met (a friend) at the Riverside disc golf course one day after work and that's where it all started."

The twenty-nine-year-old father of one has been competing in PDGA events since 2010 when he took 8th place in the Advanced division in his first tournament, the Oklahoma Open. Why continued golfing in Advanced through 2011 and won his first tournament on February 4th, 2012.

"The real turning point for me came in 2012 when I beat everyone in my division by 8 strokes and my overall score would have placed me at second in the Pro Open division. Seeing the other guys walk away with a couple hundred dollars in cash looked way better than my stack of discs I had won, so I decided to move up and start playing in the Pro division," says Why.

That tournament was the Dynamic Discs Winter Warm-Up, a B-tier event held in Lewisville, Texas. In his division alone, he bested 39 other golfers.

Two weeks later he made his professional debut at the Dynamic Discs Cedar Hill Chill in Cedar Hill, Texas and tied for last place in a tough competition that included Eric McCabe and Jay "Yeti" Reading. He didn't let that loss weigh him down, however, and finished top-ten in his next five tournaments.

"When I first started out I didn't really follow disc golf too much. I watched Youtube videos on how to play and get better but didn't know of many touring Pros. I do admire Paul McBeth though, he is the current No.1 ranked player in the world and has won the last 4 World Championships in a row. He is taking disc golf more mainstream. He is well spoken and a great ambassador for the sport for younger players."

Why finally won his first pro tournament in July that same year, finishing three strokes ahead of Matthew Wright at the 3rd annual Monkey Trap Open in Springdale, Arkansas. At the same time, he was on his way to a first place finish at the ten-round, ten-week league event, McClure Monday Mayhem, here in Tulsa. 

In 2013 he took first place at the 5th Annual Lucky 13, the Denison Parks and Recreation Open, and the Oklahoma State Flying Disc Championship. He finished top-ten in all but two of his 18 tournaments that year.

In 2014 he placed first at the Battle at Bell Park, the Doer at McClure, and the Kan-U-Wyco in Wyandotte, Kansas. At Wyco he pulled a major upset over 2010 World Champion Eric McCabe by a single stroke. In January of 2015, he came in fourth place at the Dynamic Discs Winter Warm Up, finishing a single stroke behind McCabe.

"Personally, Disc Golf has impacted my life on quite a large scale. I play almost every weekend with my wife and son. It's a great form of exercise and gives me a chance to spend time in many of the beautiful parks around the Tulsa area. It has introduced me to so many great people, it has also given me the opportunity to travel to some places I probably never would have gone if it wasn't for disc golf. I have been to the 4 surrounding states many times, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, but I have also traveled as far away as Georgia and South Carolina to compete."

Tulsa has a rich history of disc golf, being one of the earliest cities to embrace the sport. According to PDGA records, there were only 60 courses on the planet in 1980. Tulsa had five of them. 

Today there are 15 in Tulsa and 24 in the greater Metro area. Sand Springs used to have a 9 hole golf course at Ray Brown Park, next to the High School. Those baskets were relocated to River City Parks in 2012 to be used in a new 18 hole course.

Why hosts an annual summer technique clinic for kids at Charles Page Library. This year it will be on August 3rd at 10:30 AM. When the couple isn't golfing, they often help run tournaments and participate in course cleanup days around Tulsa. 

Sand Springs Librarian Richard Why leads double-life as professional golfer

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
with: Virgil Noah, Marketing Director

Local Charles Page Public Librarian Richard Why is not your typical book nerd. When he's not stocking shelves and checking out books, he can be found on disc golf courses across the Midwest, playing professionally for Team Fossa. Richard and his wife, Tara, are both sponsored by Fossa Disc Golf. Richard is also sponsored by Millennium Golf Discs. 

Why played competitive ball golf throughout high school, but made the switch to disc golf after graduating.

"I realized how expensive it was. Playing disc golf for free really appealed to my college budget. I bought one disc and met (a friend) at the Riverside disc golf course one day after work and that's where it all started."

The twenty-nine-year-old father of one has been competing in PDGA events since 2010 when he took 8th place in the Advanced division in his first tournament, the Oklahoma Open. Why continued golfing in Advanced through 2011 and won his first tournament on February 4th, 2012.

"The real turning point for me came in 2012 when I beat everyone in my division by 8 strokes and my overall score would have placed me at second in the Pro Open division. Seeing the other guys walk away with a couple hundred dollars in cash looked way better than my stack of discs I had won, so I decided to move up and start playing in the Pro division," says Why.

That tournament was the Dynamic Discs Winter Warm-Up, a B-tier event held in Lewisville, Texas. In his division alone, he bested 39 other golfers.

Two weeks later he made his professional debut at the Dynamic Discs Cedar Hill Chill in Cedar Hill, Texas and tied for last place in a tough competition that included Eric McCabe and Jay "Yeti" Reading. He didn't let that loss weigh him down, however, and finished top-ten in his next five tournaments.

"When I first started out I didn't really follow disc golf too much. I watched Youtube videos on how to play and get better but didn't know of many touring Pros. I do admire Paul McBeth though, he is the current No. 1 ranked player in the world and has won the last 4 World Championships in a row. He is taking disc golf more mainstream. He is well spoken and a great ambassador for the sport for younger players."

Why finally won his first pro tournament in July that same year, finishing three strokes ahead of Matthew Wright at the 3rd annual Monkey Trap Open in Springdale, Arkansas. At the same time, he was on his way to a first place finish at the ten-round, ten-week league event, McClure Monday Mayhem, here in Tulsa. 

In 2013 he took first place at the 5th Annual Lucky 13, the Denison Parks and Recreation Open, and the Oklahoma State Flying Disc Championship. He finished top-ten in all but two of his 18 tournaments that year.

In 2014 he placed first at the Battle at Bell Park, the Doer at McClure, and the Kan-U-Wyco in Wyandotte, Kansas. At Wyco he pulled a major upset over 2010 World Champion Eric McCabe by a single stroke. In January of 2015, he came in fourth place at the Dynamic Discs Winter Warm Up, finishing a single stroke behind McCabe.

"Personally, Disc Golf has impacted my life on quite a large scale. I play almost every weekend with my wife and son. It's a great form of exercise and gives me a chance to spend time in many of the beautiful parks around the Tulsa area. It has introduced me to so many great people, it has also given me the opportunity to travel to some places I probably never would have gone if it wasn't for disc golf. I have been to the 4 surrounding states many times, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, but I have also traveled as far away as Georgia and South Carolina to compete."

Tulsa has a rich history of disc golf, being one of the earliest cities to embrace the sport. According to PDGA records, there were only 60 courses on the planet in 1980. Tulsa had five of them. 

Today there are 15 in Tulsa and 24 in the greater Metro area. Sand Springs used to have a 9 hole golf course at Ray Brown Park, next to the High School. Those baskets were relocated to River City Parks in 2012 to be used in a new 18 hole course. That course is currently unplayable as many of the baskets and tee pads are uprooted due to renovations the park is going through. The construction of the new splash pad and handicapped parking have bisected the course and it's uncertain when it will be playable again.

Why hosts an annual summer technique clinic for kids at Charles Page Library. This year it will be on August 3rd at 10:30 AM. When the couple isn't golfing, they often help run tournaments and participate in course cleanup days around Tulsa. 

Week 4 Sandite Pride Rankings and Predictions

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Photo by: Morgan Miller

Week 3 was heavily disrupted by severe weather systems across the state that lead to more cancellations than actual games.

#1 Charles Page (2-0, 0-0) District 1

The Sandites were one of few teams to actually start a game Friday night, but it was cancelled shortly before halftime and will thus not count towards their record or stats. However, their performance on the field still plays into my rankings. They lead 5A unranked Guthrie 18-7 with 6 minutes in the half, and QB Hunter Greathouse was 4-5-129 in that short amount of time. Guthrie may not be the team they've been in recent memory, but they're far from pushovers. 

#5 Bartlesville (3-0, 0-0) District 1

The Bruins were far enough North that they had plenty of time to put a 42-20 beat down on Enid before the weather reached them. Enid is an 0-3 pushover this year and the 20 points they scored on Bartlesville is the most they've mustered all season. I expect Bartlesville to come hot at the Sandites with their offense, but be unable to put up any stops of their own against double-threat Hunter Greathouse. I'm expecting a shootout with the Sandites coming on top by a pair of touchdowns, minus a few blocked/missed PATs.

The Pick: CPHS 46, Bartlesville 35.

#2 Bixby (2-1, 0-0) District 1

Despite nearly 700 yards of total offense, the Spartans didn't put up nearly the points I expected them to against Springdale, AR (0-3). It looks like the defending State Champions have their offense in good order between QB Tanner Griffin and RB Nic Roller but are going to need to whip their defense in shape quickly if they want to hold up against BTW and CPHS. The Spartans won 57-38, which is more points than they allowed anyone but Jenks to score last season.

#10 Claremore (2-1, 0-0) District 1

The Red Zebras held up to a 10 point loss to Siloam Springs, 22-12, only 3 points worse than I expected. Their passing game was abysmal and they won't stand much of a chance rushing against Bixby. If they manage to score at all it will be due more to Bixby's slacking defense than Claremore's capabilities. 

The Pick: Bixby 52, Claremore 3

#3 Booker T Washington (2-0, 0-0) District 1

The Hornets game against East Central was cancelled Friday, though it's safe to say it would have been a slaughter considering the 62-6 they put on Tulsa Central in week 2. 

#9 Ponca City (1-1, 0-0) District 1

The Wildcats' game against Shawnee was also cancelled, but not before they were outscored 10-6 in the first quarter. It's hard to judge a team off less than a quarter so I didn't drop them in my rankings, but I had expected Ponca to easily defeat the unranked 5A team. 

The Pick: BTW 42, Ponca City 13.

#4 Midwest City (2-1, 0-0) District 2

The Bombers pulled off a big upset over the top ranked 5A Del City, 37-14, and are my favorite to win the District 2 title. They lost to BTW in the season opener, but when it comes to Eisenhower, they're going to bring the thunder.

#14 Eisenhower (0-3, 0-0) District 2

Lawton Ike scored a lot more against 5A #2 MacArthur than anybody expected them to, but were still handed a solid 57-34 beat down. 

The Pick: MWC 28, Ike 6

#6 Choctaw (2-1, 0-0) District 2

Choctaw suffered their first loss of the season in a close 25-23 to Putnam North. 

#12 Enid (0-3, 0-0) District 2

The Plainsmen have been getting their butts handed to them left and right this year, and I don't expect things to change in district play.

The Pick: Choctaw 38, Enid 12.

#7 Muskogee (0-3, 0-0) District 1

The Roughers have definitely not lived up to expectation these past two season under new Head Coach Rafe Watkins, but in their defense, they've only played really solid teams thus far. 33-22 to 5A #5 McAlester, 34-25 to 6A #5 Owasso, and 56-21 to undefeated #3 Fayetteville, AR. If they were in District 2 I could see them making a run at the district title, but in the talent-crowded Tulsa district I see them winning 3 games at most. 

#13 Sapulpa (1-1, 0-0) District 1

Lawton may not be the team they were last year, but the Chieftains got off lucky that their game was cancelled. Unfortunately for them, there's no rain in the forecast for this Friday.

The Pick: Muskogee 35, Sapulpa 12.

#8 Putnam City West (1-2, 0-0) District 2

I was so impressed with PCW after their 5 point loss to Del City and their 29-6 win over PCN, then they had to go and blow it, getting slaughtered 49-17 by PC. 

#11 Lawton (1-1, 0-0) District 2

I'm a lot less confident in PCW for this matchup than I was last week, and it's really anybody's game in my book. 

The Pick: PCW 31, Lawton 28

#15 Stillwater (0-3, 0-0) District 2

Stillwater lost 26-14 to Edmond North Friday, and is the only team not starting District play this upcoming weekend. As District 2 is only 7 teams, the Pioneers will be battling with U.S. Grant as both teams look for their first win of the season. 

The Pick: Stillwater 29, Grant 14.

My Record

• Week 1: 10-2 83%
• Week 2: 12-2 85%
• Week 3: 6-3 66%
• Overall: 28-7 80%