Ed Polly takes over Western Heights football
Western Heights football coach Kevin Ball resigned in mid-July, and defensive coordinator Ed Polly will take over as head coach.
“It’s all been kind of a blur,” Polly said.
Polly is a former Oklahoma high school football star at U.S. Grant, where he played running back and defensive back. He went on to start three years at Iowa, where he was part of the Hawkeyes’ 1990-91 Rose Bowl team.
Ball left Western Heights to be offensive coordinator in Ashdown, Ark.
“I have a long history in Oklahoma,” Polly said. “I’ve bided my time and waited for a program of my own so I can build something.”
Polly has quite the challenge ahead of him. Western Heights’ football program has recorded just one winning season (2007) in the last 20 years.
“I’m a visionary,” Polly said. “I have a long-term vision for this program, and I know we’re going to turn it around.”
Polly has been an assistant at Northeast, Midwest City and, for the last three seasons, at Western Heights.
Between his time at Midwest City and Western Heights, he was an assistant coach at Bryant College in Smithville, R.I.
Polly said the key to turning the Jets around is getting more students to participate, and part of that, he said, is showing the elementary and middle school kids that he is serious about changing the program.
“You’ve gotta get the numbers up for a 5A school,” Polly said. “You have to recruit the kids in the school.”
While losing a head coach in the middle of the summer can often mean trouble, Polly said he isn’t worried about it because he’s been around.
“(Ball) allowed me to do a lot of things within the program,” Polly said. “The kids are very familiar with me, and we’re not really changing much.
“We’ve got a vicious district we’re in, but I think this is a place I can win at.”
Mustang football will be on radio
You can hear all the games of QB Brandon Taylor and the Mustang Broncos on KKNG 97.3 FM this season.
Radio station KKNG, 97.3 FM, will carry live game broadcasts of Mustang football this season, school athletic director Chuck Bailey said.
The station will carry all Mustang football games, along with pregame and postgame shows. Jim Miller and Mike Hall will provide play-by-play and commentary.
Miller, a teacher and tennis coach at Harrah High School, is also the public address announcer for Oklahoma City Thunder home games.
Mustang’s season opens at home Sept. 2 vs. Yukon.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Southmoore, Carl Albert to meet in 2012-13 football season openers
With his two neighborhood rivals always playing each other in the first week of the football season, Southmoore coach Chris Jensen is left trying to find a quality opponent for his season opener.
He landed a good one for the 2012-13 seasons.
Southmoore will play a home-and-home series with Class 5A power Carl Albert in back-to-back season openers, the coach told The Oklahoman this week.
Carl Albert will host the 2012 game, and the SaberCats will host in 2013.
Southmoore will return to a west district for the 2012-13 seasons, being paired with the likes of Norman, Mustang, Lawton, Edmond Memorial and Edmond Santa Fe.
Carl Albert’s new district will be very similar to the current one, with Guthrie, Deer Creek and El Reno, along with the addition of McGuinness.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Midwest City’s Marisha Wallace heading to Northern-Enid
Midwest City's Marisha Wallace, left, will play in college at Northern Oklahoma College in Enid. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Midwest City star forward Marisha Wallace will play in college at Northern Oklahoma College in Enid, she said after Wednesday’s large-school girls All-State basketball game.
Wallace had a fantastic high school career that was marred by two major knee injuries. Six games into her junior season at Midwest City, she tore her ACL, MCL and LCL. Then, 15 seconds into last season’s Class 6A semifinals against Edmond Memorial March, Wallace tore her meniscus.
She was part of two state championship teams — her freshman year at Millwood and her junior year at Midwest City.
Wednesday was her first time back on the court since the meniscus tear. She scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds in the West’s 73-50 win over the East at the Mabee Center in Tulsa.
Wallace said the knee “felt good” Wednesday and that she’s been working hard to rehab as she prepares to head to Enid for college ball.
Wallace had offers from some smaller NCAA Division I schools, but decided to go to junior college after the menicus tear.
“Coming off two knee injuries, I decided to go to juco because I wanted more options,” Wallace said.
Edmond Santa Fe’s Aaron Anderson gets ORU offer
Edmond Santa Fe has produced several Division I basketball players over the last decade, and the string is continuing.
Senior Aaron Anderson, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, received a scholarship offer from Oral Roberts on Monday, according to his AAU team, the Oklahoma Wizards.
Anderson also has an offer from Arkansas-Little Rock. He averaged 8.4 points and 3.9 assists, shooting 50 percent from the floor as a junior.
The Wolves also have a pair of frontcourt prospects gaining college attention in 6-foot-7 senior Michael Onuoha and 6-foot-8 junior Shaquille Morris.
Onuoha is also beginning to draw interest as a football player after a strong showing at some summer camps.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Bishop McGuinness to open with Shawnee’s JV team
Quarterback Camden Tharp, right, and Bishop McGuinness will open the 2011 season against Shawnee's JV team on Thursday, September 1. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
When Douglass broke its contract with Bishop McGuinness to play in the Kirk Herbstreit Kickoff Classic at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, it left the Irish in a bind.
McGuinness and Douglass were each other’s season openers, but the Trojans opted to play Sept. 5 against DeSoto (Texas) High School in a nationally-televised game.
First-year McGuinness coach Justin Jones tried desperately to fill the Week 1 void with teams from out of state, but had to settle for Shawnee’s junior varsity team. The Irish and the JV Wolves will play on Thursday night, September 1.
“I couldn’t find anyone to play,” Jones said. “We didn’t want to not have a Week 1 game.
“We just want to give our kids a chance to perform that first week. Shawnee is helping us out because we’re in a bind.”
Matilda Mossman readjusting to college game
Former Norman High coach Matilda Mossman, right, is now the women's coach at the University of Tulsa. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
Former Norman High girls basketball coach Matilda Mossman, who in March accepted the women’s head coaching job at the University of Tulsa, said this July has been a lot different than the past 10 for her.
“It’s July, and that used to be my month off,” Mossman said with a laugh. “This is a big recruiting time for us, so this July, I think I’ve had three days off. But I’m enjoying it; I like getting out and seeing kids.”
Mossman was a college in coach at Arkansas (1981-84) and Kansas State (1984-89). She became Norman’s girls coach in 2002.
She said the college game hadn’t changed much in her opinion, but the biggest difference for her was in the technology.
“Instead of kids writing us, they are sending us e-mails with links to watch them play on YouTube,” Mossman said.
Mossman spoke at the Oklahoma Coaches’ Association’s annual coaches clinic in Tulsa. She said her talk was about getting the little things right when running an offense.
Proposed football districts for 2012-13
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
The Oklahoma Football Coaches Association’s groups met today to make their proposals for football districts for the 2012-13 seasons. Here’s the tentative proposals as we get them:
Class 6A
District 6A-1
Edmond North
Lawton Eisenhower
Midwest City
Moore
Norman North
Putnam North
U.S. Grant
Yukon
District 6A-2
Choctaw
Edmond Memorial
Edmond Santa Fe
Lawton
Mustang
Norman
Putnam West
Southmoore
District 6A-3
Bartlesville
Bixby
Enid
Owasso
Ponca City
Sand Springs
Stillwater
Tulsa Union
District 6A-4
Broken Arrow
Jenks
Muskogee
Putnam City
Sapulpa
Tulsa Edison
Tulsa Washington
Westmoore
Class 5A
District 5A-1
Carl Albert
Bishop McGuinness
Deer Creek
El Reno
Guthrie
Guymon
Northwest
Western Heights
District 5A-2
Altus
Ardmore
Capitol Hill
Chickasha
Del City
Duncan
Lawton MacArthur
Noble
District 5A-3
Durant
McAlester
Shawnee
Skiatook
Southeast
Tulsa Hale
Tulsa Kelley
Tulsa Memorial
District 5A
-4
Claremore
Collinsville
Coweta
Grove
Pryor
Tahlequah
Tulsa Central
Tulsa East Central
CLASS 4A
District 4A-1
Anadarko
Cache
Clinton
Elgin
Elk City
Piedmont
Weatherford
Woodward
District 4A-2
Ada
Douglass
Glenpool
Harrah
Mannford
McLoud
Santa Fe South
Tecumseh
District 4A-3
Catoosa
Cleveland
Miami
Oologah
Tulsa McLain
Tulsa Webster
Vinita
Wagoner
District 4A-4
Broken Bow
Cascia Hall
Fort Gibson
Muldrow
Poteau
Sallisaw
Stilwell
Tulsa Rogers
CLASS 3A
District 3A-1
Blanchard
Bridge Creek
Jones
Little Axe
Marlow
Tuttle
St. Mary
District 3A-2
Bethany
Centennial
Newcastle
Heritage Hall
John Marshall
Kingfisher
Star Spencer
District 3A-3
Bethel
Bristow
Chandler
Cushing
Perkins-Tryon
Prague
Seminole
District 3A-4
Atoka
Dickson
Lone Grove
Madill
Pauls Valley
Plainview
Purcell
Sulphur
District 3A-5
Berryhill
Blackwell
Claremore Sequoyah
Dewey
Metro Christian
Sperry
Verdigris
District 3A-6
Beggs
Henryetta
Inola
Kellyville
Morris
Okmulgee
Victory Christian
District 3A-7
Hilldale
Jay
Keys (Park Hill)
Lincoln Christian
Locust Grove
Tahlequah Sequoyah
Westville
District 3A-8
Checotah
Eufaula
Heavener
Idabel
Roland
Spiro
Stigler
Valliant
CLASS 2A
District 2A-1
Alva
Chisholm
Hennessey
Newkirk
Pawnee
Perry
Tonkawa
District 2A-2
Christian Heritage
Crooked Oak
Luther
Millwood
Northeast
Oklahoma Christian
Washington
District 2A-3
Comanche
Dibble
Frederick
Hinton
Hobart
Lindsay
Mangum
Riverside
District 2A-4
Coalgate
Davis
Kingston
Konawa
Lexington
Marietta
Tishomingo
District 2A-5
Haskell
Holdenville
Meeker
Mounds
Okemah
Stroud
Wellston
District 2A-6
Antlers
Hartshorne
Hugo
Panama
Pocola
Vian
Wilburton
District 2A-7
Adair
Caney Valley
Chelsea
Chouteau
Nowata
Oklahoma Union
Pawhuska
District 2A-8
Colcord
Commerce
Hulbert
Kansas
Ketchum
Quapaw
Salina
Wyandotte
Class A
District A-1
Beaver
Fairview
Hooker
Mooreland
Okeene
Oklahoma Bible
Texhoma
Turpin
District A-2
Burns Flat-Dill City
Cordell
Hollis
Sayre
Snyder
Thomas
Watonga
District A-3
Apache
Carnegie
Cashion
Crescent
Crossings Christian
Minco
Pioneer-Pleasant Vale
District A-4
Bray-Doyle
Empire
Healdton
Ringling
Rush Springs
Velma-Alma
Walters
Wilson
District A-5
Caddo
Elmore City
Maysville
Stratford
Wayne
Wewoka
Wynnewood
District A-6
Canadian
Central Sallisaw
Gore
Haileyville
Quinton
Savanna
Talihina
District A-7
Barnsdall
Depew
Drumright
Hominy
Kiefer
Morrison
Yale
District A-8
Afton
Fairland
Foyil
Liberty
Okay
Porter
Summit Christian
Warner
Class B
District B-1
Canton
Covington-Douglas
Garber
Geary
Laverne
Merritt
Pond Creek-Hunter
Ringwood
Seiling
Waukomis
District B-2
Alex
Allen
Central Marlow
Cyril
Fox
Macomb
Okla. Christian Aca.
Paoli
Southwest Covenant
Waurika
District B-3
Agra
Copan
Coyle
Oaks
Rejoice Christian
Riverfield Country Day
South Coffeyville
Watts
Welch
Woodland
District B-4
Bowlegs
Cave Springs
Davenport
Dewar
Gans
Keota
Porum
Strother
Weleetka
Wetumka
Class C
District C-1
Balko/Hardesty
Boise City
Buffalo
Forgan
Goodwell/Yarbrough
Sharon-Mutual
Shattuck
Tyrone
Waynoka
District C-2
Cement
Corn Bible
Duke
Gracemont
Grandfield
Mountain View-Gotebo
Ryan
Temple
Tipton
District C-3
Bluejacket
Cherokee
Claremore Christian
Deer Creek-Lamont
Kremlin-Hillsdale
Medford
Prue
Timberlake
Wesleyan
District C-4
Arkoma
Bokoshe
Carney
Maud
Midway
Sasakwa
Thackerville
Victory Life Academy
Webbers Falls
Kyle Lewis remembered at All-State golf
Ardmore's Seth Morgan (center) accepts the inaugural Kyle Lewis Memorial Scholarship from Lewis' father, Marty, and mother, Kelly.
It was a very real moment seeing Marty and Kelly Lewis sitting in the clubhouse at Cherokee Hills Golf Club Monday afternoon following the All-State golf tournament.
I remember quite vividly interviewing Kyle Lewis after last year’s All-State tournament, asking him about his round and his future on the OU golf team. And then, less than three hours later, I got a phone call that he had died in a car accident driving home from Tulsa.
His parents were in attendance Monday to award the Oklahoma Golf Coaches Association’s inaugural Kyle Lewis Memorial Scholarship.
The Oklahoma Golf Coaches Association gave out the scholarship following Monday’s tournament. Ardmore’s Seth Morgan was the recipient.
“It was an honor that they picked me for this scholarship,” Morgan said. “I knew Kyle a little bit. Ran into him at a few tournaments, but that was about it. I’m just honored that they gave me this scholarship.”
Morgan plans to attend Murray State College in the fall.
Marty Lewis encouraged the players to enjoy moments like Monday’s All-State tournament.
“You guys and gals who had your mom or dad haul you all over heck and half of Georgia to play golf, remember how special that time is,” Lewis told the crowd. “It was certainly special to our family.”
In the past, the coaches’ scholarship was $250, but they have decided to work to increase the amount of the funds.
“This is very special to keep Kyle’s memory alive,” Marty Lewis said. “We’re very proud, and very thankful that we live where we do. I don’t know that this would have happened everywhere.”
Added Kelly Lewis: “There’s a lot of good people in Oklahoma.”
Mann makes it a double
Harrah’s Kendra Mann had quite a day, winning the individual medalist honor as well as the Jim Thorpe Golfer of the Year Award.
Mann shot a 1-under-par 70 for a three-shot victory over Jenks’ Alexandra Koch and Broken Arrow’s Jessica Hollock.
Taylor Williamson from Oklahoma Bible Academy and Pryor’s Taylor Arnold tied for fourth at 76.
The East team, led by Koch and Hollock, easily won the team competition by a final score of 32-22.
Fernandez, Johnson claim boys awards
It came down to a scorecard playoff, but McAlester’s Casey Fernandez came out on top in the boys tournament.
He tied for the low round of 1-over-par 71 with Lincoln Christian’s Josh Bernard and Sallisaw’s Robert Rayborn — all members of the East team, which won the overall competition over the West, 31-23.
The West’s top scores were posted by Newcastle’s Graham Billeg and Oklahoma Christian School’s Jackson Ogle, each shooting 73 to tie with Quinton’s Justin Ary for fourth place.
Norman North’s Jett Johnson was named the Jim Thorpe Boys Golfer of the Year.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Baseball coaching carousel
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
It’s been a busy offseason for baseball coaches in the city area. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the changes:
Ada: Robbie Burch (Bethel)
Bethel: Rodney Treat
Midwest City: Tommy Cornish (U.S. Grant)
Norman: Pete Sangirardi (Bixby)
Tuttle: Travis Owen (McLoud)
Purcell: Brad Lucas (Smithville)
Southmoore: Craig Troxell (Midwest City)
