Mt. St. Mary’s: Caitlin Baker a true leader…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
This was a fun story to write on Mount St. Mary’s Caitlin Baker, a star swimmer who has turned her attention to much bigger issues.
At 17, she’s done more than most people twice her age. And it seems like she’s never satisfied and will never take ‘no’ for an answer.
For my story on Baker, here ya go. For her site and more photos, go here. And for some of her long list of accomplishments, well, keep reading after the jump.
Mount St. Mary football coach Dal Nichols resigns
Mount St. Mary football coach Dal Nichols has resigned after three seasons, the school announced Wednesday.
The Rockets were 2-8 this season, winning the final two games of the year. Nichols led MSM to five wins the last two years after a winless campaign in his first season.
“We are grateful for the dedication and commitment coach Nichols has given to the Rockets,” principal Talita DeNegri said in a statement released by the school. “The Mount wishes him well as he moves forward in a new direction.”
The school is currently accepting applications for the position.
“The Mount is a great place and I am appreciative of the effort that our kids and coaches gave each and every day,” said Nichols, who previously worked as the head coach at El Reno. “I am thankful for the support I have received, but at this point in my life I have some other opportunities that I would like to pursue.”
Private schools basketball: Boneman’s crystal ball…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It’s not technically the second half of the season, but it’s close enough. After winter break, the games mean more and you start to see what teams are really made of.
Let’s start, shall we?
Bishop McGuinness
Boys: Look out, 5A. With Joe Edmonds back, this team is going to do some damage in the next couple of months. Matt Morrissey and Miles Newcomb have come up big, and Matt Christiansen should only become even more of an impact player with Edmonds back in the saddle. Get to see the complete Irish team this weekend at the McGuinness Classic (gonna be a fun 3 days).
Girls: Umm, though not original, look out, 5A. The Irish have not played their best ball, said coach Jennifer Burch. However, their only loss is to Santa Fe and have wins over Cache and Edmond Memorial and Weatherford. Great balance, led by Alexa Lienhard and Elyse Hight. The development of Kate Andrews and Theresa Nash is going to be key.
Heritage Hall
Boys: With the football boys back in the saddle, first-year coach Chris Hamilton should be able to perk up. Quintaz Struble might actually be better in basketball than football, something I would not have said last year. And with Tanner Tepe becoming eligible, Chargers have a chance to surprise some people.
Girls: It’s one thing to be young, it’s another to look young. Leslie Warner’s girls are incredibly small but showed some signs last week. Ericka Wakefield is going to become a player, and I think sophomore Carter Cloud is really going to develop as long as she becomes more aggressive. She gets down on herself too easy. She’s good. Starting lineup is three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior.
Casady
Boys: Coach Allen Dukes is loving his first year with the Cyclones, but the schedule is about to get infinitely tougher with Southwest Prep Conference play beginning this month. Preston Sullivan makes this team go, but it will be interesting to see how Matt Silver and Cecil Ray, among others, develop over the second half of the year.
Girls: I’ve heard it said that as a coach, Jen Warden might be the best coach in the Oklahoma City area. There is good improvement from last year in Warden’s second year, but it will be tough for the Cyclones. Shelby Cornelson should lead the charge.
OCS
Boys: Feel like I can repeat what I said from last year. You know what you’re getting with T.J. Holland and Jack Warren, but who will be that consistent third option? If Trent Toler finds one, Saints will be punching that state tournament ticket, I guarantee it.
Girls: Sometimes the ambitious boys schedule hurts the girls, but this is not a bad 3A team. From junior guard Dani Childress to post Jordan Gooch (stay healthy), the Saints have the pieces for a solid season.
Mt. St. Mary’s
Ohh, gotta admit I haven’t seen either team play yet (it’s on my list of things to do). I know Lenny Hatchett’s boys will be around come March. Not sure when I’ll see dem Rockets, but I’ll figure it out.
All-Private schools football team…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Back again. This time around we’re looking at the private schools in the Oklahoma City area. Plenty of good choices, couple of tough calls.
Here ya go:
All-Private schools
Offense
QB — Cooper Cloud, Heritage Hall
RB — Barry J. Sanders, Heritage Hall
RB — LaRone Richardson, Bishop McGuinness
WR — Skyler Sikes, OCS
WR — Jake Peace, Mt. St. Mary’s
WR — Charlie Cho, OCA
OL — Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall
OL — Connor Morrison, Casady
OL — Bill Johnston, Heritage Hall
OL — Graham Bennett, Casady
OL — David Krenger, Bishop McGuinness
K — Keegan Carter, OCS
P — Kenny Wooldridge, CHA
Defense
DL — Zach Collums, Mt. St. Mary’s
DL — Nick Callaway, Bishop McGuinness
DL — Quintaz Struble, Heritage Hall
DL — Dakota Leftwich, Bishop McGuinness
LB — Garrison Lee, Casady
LB — Josh Blair, CHA
LB — Brandon Nguyen, Bishop McGuinness
LB — Graham Busby, Heritage Hall
DB — Mac Katigan, Casady
DB — Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall
DB — Tyler Konarik, Bishop McGuinness
KR — Jamaal Whitney, Bishop McGuinness
Offensive Player of the Year: LaRone Richardson, Bishop McGuinness
Defensive Player of the Year: Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall
Coach of the Year: Andy Bogert, Heritage Hall
Where to put Sterling Shepard became the biggest question. I had him at WR, KR and DB before deciding DB was where he could help this team the most. Bennett should be a DL, but he can be an OL, too, so we’ll be OK. No doubts on my three awards. If I switched and made Shepard offense, I would have gone with Lee of Casady as the defensive player.
Private schools honor: Markus Wakefield, Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
One more week to perfection. A perfect season wasn’t the ultimate goal for Heritage Hall, but if the Chargers win Friday, it will happen.
Every game there seems to be another hero. Against a good Bethany team the second time around, it was lineman Markus Wakefield — just not the way I thought it would be.
I’ve said it more than enough at this point so I’ll keep it short. Wakefield threw a touchdown pass and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score in the semifinal win.
Look for a story on Wakefield and his lineman counterpart Quintaz Struble later this week.
Other contenders
Heritage Hall defense: In a game where both defenses stopped what the other teams are known for, the Chargers in the second half were incredible in limiting Bethany to 9 total yards in the second half.
Preston Sullivan, Casady: Cyclones started the season going 3-0 and Sullivan earned MVP honors of the Liberty Academy Tournament in Shawnee.
T.J. Holland, OCS: What a way to start the year for the Saints. OCS, behind Holland and Jack Warren, won at John Marshall 62-57.
Jake Peace, Mt. St. Mary’s: Not just a star on the football field, Peace led a balanced effort in a win against Heritage Hall.
Kate Andrews, Bishop McGuinness: So many weapons, what do you do? Andrews led a balanced effort in a three-win week.
Private schools honor: Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
There were some tense moments in the second half of Heritage Hall’s victory against Little Axe.
And if it wasn’t for Sterling Shepard’s early heroics, we could have really been talking about some anxious times.
Before Shepard left with a hip injury, he scored two touchdowns and started it with an interception return for a score in the 27-7 win vs. the Indians.
The health of Shepard and running back Barry J. Sanders are questions 1a. and 1b. heading into Friday’s game with Bridge Creek (I’ll be there).
Other contenders
LaRone Richardson, Bishop McGuinness: Not the end he was hoping for, but Richardson notched two more touchdowns in the 26-23 loss at Glenpool.
Cooper Cloud and Cale Courtney, Heritage: Hooked up on a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the deal against Little Axe.
Nick Callaway, McGuinness: Wasn’t always a pretty thing was the Irish passing game this year, but Callaway came up with key grabs, including a touchdown Friday.
Austin Brooks, OCS: Overmatched against Millwood but was able to stay with it and ran for a score and threw for another in the 59-28 loss to Falcons.
Victoria Vaughn, Mt. St. Mary’s, Cheerleading: I know her from tennis, but she became the first MSM cheerleader to make the all-state team.
Private schools honor: Camden Tharp, McGuinness…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
That’s the kind of statement you wanted to make if you were McGuinness before the playoffs. The Irish were able to get the passing game going to go with that incredible rushing attack, and it led to a blowout win at Guymon.
Quarterback Camden Tharp hasn’t had the greatest season ever, but the last few weeks have been a step in the right direction. Against Guymon, he threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another.
If the Irish are balanced on offense, look out, could be a bad sign for the rest of the state. The running game added another 272 yards.
In the best first round matchup of the week, the Irish are at Glenpool on Friday night.
Other contenders
Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall: Nothing new to what he’s doing, but his consistency has been incredible. Added another four touchdowns in win vs. Kingfisher.
Josh Bivens, OCA: Oklahoma Christian Academy went out on top as Bivens notched three touchdowns in a 45-0 blowout against Sasakwa.
Colton Lindsey, CHA: Freshman quarterback is coming of age. Lindsey threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another in Crusaders victory over Crooked Oak.
Joseph Reis-Herron, Mt. St. Mary’s: Momentum for next year for Rockets? End year on two-game winning streak as Reis-Herron tallied five rushing touchdowns in cruising to win vs. Walters.
Cooper Cloud, Heritage Hall: Not much said about passing game for Chargers, but Cloud notched three more touchdown passes and didn’t throw a pick.
Private schools honor: Jake Peace, Mt. St. Mary’s…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
This was a good battle for the honor this week. In one corner, you had Sterling Shepard and Cooper Cloud leading a comeback win at Bethany.
In the other corner, you had Mt. St. Mary’s wide receiver Jake Peace, who caught the game-winning touchdown to give the Rockets their first victory of the season.
The winner? Peace…by that much. Coach Dal Nichols has raved about Peace all season. He said bluntly he feels if MSM was a better team, more colleges would be taking a look at Peace.
Peace caught the game-winning TD with 26 seconds left. Rockets added an INT return for a score and won 28-20 against Comanche.
Other contenders
Cooper Cloud and Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall, Football: Down at half, the duo connected for both touchdowns in a huge 14-7 road victory at Bethany.
LaRone Richardson, McGuinness, Football: Richardson notched another three touchdowns and turned a sluggish 7-3 halftime lead into a comfortable 27-3 victory against Cache.
Cassius Calhoun, Casady, Football: Look out for the Cyclones in 2011. All those juniors are going to be something special. Calhoun scored both touchdowns in the 35-14 loss to Holland Hall.
Christian Heritage returns: Crusaders had a pair of them. Kenny Wooldridge took an INT back for a touchdown. Bryant Hodge returned a punt for a score.
Irish cross country teams: Solid all season, the girls placed third and the boys finished fourth at the state meet at Mitch Park.
Marie Mason, Rhodes College (Casady), Field Hockey: Rhodes is 15-1 and has clinched the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. Mason was named the conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Private schools honor: LaRone Richardson, McGuinness…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Gonna keep this short because you can read much in Tuesday’s paper. I thought I had lost my chance to name LaRone Richardson the best player of the week.
Seriously, how do you top his five-score outing in a loss to Millwood? Um, well, he did. Richardson found the end zone six times in a dominating win against Piedmont.
Always one of my favorite kids to talk to, look for his story in Tuesday’s paper.
Other contenders
Garrison Lee, Casady: Found out the day before the game he would be playing defensive line, and he was one of the best players on the field in the loss to Bellaire Episcopal.
Chris Easterly, OCS: Playing running back just because the Saints have no one left. How’d he do? Five touchdowns in the OCS win against Northeast.
Josh Bivens, OCA: I was really pumped about this team until the Parker Randell injury. Bivens notched four touchdowns in the win against Macomb, the Eagles’ first of the year.
Ray Frazier, Mt. St. Mary’s, Cross Country: Frazier was impressive at the state meet, placing fourth overall as the Rockets earned seventh.
Maddy Hill, McGuinness, Cross Country: The Irish girls were dominant at the 5A regional, placing second, third, fourth and sixth in winning the event.
Note: No Heritage contenders because SeeWorth Academy forfeited the game last week.
Private schools honor: Cooper Cloud, Heritage Hall…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, you knew with Heritage Hall running back Barry J. Sanders sitting out with an ankle injury that somebody was going to have to join Sterling Shepard and step up.
And as much as I rave (and I do) about the junior class, the senior leadership is also readily apparent with this Chargers club. Heritage needed someone to pick up the slack and senior quarterback Cooper Cloud was more than willing to be the guy in a 42-12 win against John Marshall.
Of course, it helps to have an elusive target like Shepard to throw it to, but Cloud ended the night with four touchdown passes. Three of them went to Shepard while the other went to Cale Courtney.
That may have answered some critics about the lack of balance in the Heritage offense. The offensive line is vastly improved this season, which is making this magical year happen so far.
Other contenders
LaRone Richardson, Bishop McGuinness, Football: It was a down week for the Irish in a loss at Elgin, but Richardson notched two more touchdowns.
Sterling Shepard, Heritage, Football: That’s nine touchdowns in two games. Also three INT returns for scores in the last two games. His stock continues to soar.
Irish volleyball: Gave it a great effort against a dominant Bishop Kelley team in the championship but ultimately lost in four games.
Dylan Murray, Mt. St. Mary’s, Football: Murray scored three touchdowns as the Rockets went down to Cordell.
Irish boys cross country: One of several state teams to make the trek to Arkansas. The Irish, led by Frank Frantz, placed 12th out of 54 teams in Fayetteville.
