Carl Albert’s Quincy Johnson, Southmoore’s T.J. Wright set powerlifting records
Quincy Johnson and T.J. Wright bring home more powerlifting gold.
There wasn’t a more dominant powerlifter this season than Carl Albert’s Quincy Johnson. Meet after meet, Johnson was racking up the honors.
He punctuated the season last weekend by winning the national championship in the 198-pound unequipped division at the National Athlete Strength Association championships.
Johnson set the world record in the squat (518 pounds), bench (320), deadlift (524) and total (1,362). Johnson was also named the Most Outstanding Heavyweight Lifter.
Other area winners included Southmoore’s T.J. Wright in the unequipped 168-pound division and Cajun Cox of Midwest City in the equipped 168-pound division.
Wright set world records in the deadlift (573 pounds) and total (1,267). Wright won Most Outstanding Lightweight Lifter.
Unequipped means no power suits or shirts were worn. Equipped means things such as wrist wraps, knee wraps, shirts and belts are allowed.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
High school baseball at the Brick expanding
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
The last two years, the Mayor’s Cup between the three Edmond and three Moore high schools has been a regular event at the ballpark now known as RedHawks Field at Bricktown.
This season the schedule of games at the park expands with 17 high school and one college game scheduled for the park during April.
The 2011 Mayor’s Cup will be played Saturday with Edmond North and Moore at 11 a.m., Edmond Santa Fe and Westmoore at 2:30 and Edmond Memorial and Southmoore at 6 p.m. (Boneman’s note: I will be at The Brick for the Saturday games).
Crowder and Stuart will play at 7 p.m. Friday to start the series.
World Baseball Outreach will hold a baseball equipment drive during the Mayor’s Cup. Fans are asked to bring new or gently used baseball and softball equipment to help the organization provide equipment to at-risk youth in the state.
Other than the Mayor’s Cup, the other games in the series are free to the public.
Schedule (gates open an hour before game time):
Friday: Crowder vs. Stuart, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Edmond North vs. Moore, 11 a.m.; Edmond Santa Fe vs. Westmoore, 2:30 p.m.; Edmond Memorial vs. Southmoore, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: UCO vs. USAO, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Amber-Pocasset vs. Cashion, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 7: Yukon vs. El Reno, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 8: Sterling vs. Elgin, 4 p.m.; Purcell vs. Sayre, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 9: Kansas vs. Westville, 5 p.m.
April 23: Stroud vs. Wellston, 2 p.m.; Cushing vs. Lone Grove, 5 p.m.
April 26: Carnegie vs. Clinton, 4 p.m.; Holdenville vs. Konawa, 7 p.m.
April 27: Carl Albert vs. Shawnee, 7 p.m.
April 28: Jenks vs. Choctaw, 7 p.m.
April 30: Midwest City vs. Muskogee, 2 p.m.; Comanche vs. Velma-Alma, 5 p.m.
Heritage Hall’s Barry J. Sanders No. 10 on Lemming’s list
Back again for another edition of some news and notes on some of the top high school recruits for the 2012 or 2013 class.
Heritage Hall junior running back Barry J. Sanders isn’t any closer to making a commitment, but he did earn another honor.
Sanders was named the 10th best recruit for the class of 2012 by Tom Lemming as Lemming released his top 100 recruits Tuesday.
Lemming has spent more than 30 years evaluating recruits. Sanders was the only player from Oklahoma in the top 100. Dorial Beckham-Green, the Springfield, Mo., wide receiver, was ranked the top prospect.
I’ve admit that I’m bias toward the Oklahoma kids, but I was amazed that Alex Ross of Jenks, Cayman Bundage of Douglass, Sterling Shepard of Heritage Hall and Donovan Roberts of Norman didn’t sniff the list. Feel people are sleeping on this class still.
- Edmond Santa Fe junior Ty Hensley said he wants to keep his options open for football. Meanwhile, the baseball honors continue to roll in for the star pitcher.
Hensley has been invited to participate in the Under Armour All-America baseball game Aug. 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Hensley is one of 36 players invited and is the lone Oklahoman on the roster. The game will be televised live on MLB Network (Cox 264). The players participating were chosen by a committee of Baseball Factory scouts.
The game will punctuate a four-day event for the players that will include a formal workout for MLB scouts, a home run derby and a meet-and-greet with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
- Sand Springs quarterback Darrack Harger was among one of the top performers at the Under Armour combine in Dallas last weekend.
Harger, 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, has added 15 pounds since the end of last season and was said to be the best quarterback in the bunch by Rivals.com
Harger doesn’t have any official offers but is receiving interest from several Big 12 schools, including Oklahoma State.
Top QB prospect is going to be a battle. The four early favorites: Harger, Kason Key of Owasso, Ramsey Hamilton of Beggs and Corben Jones of Yukon. It feels like every week that is something different to report on at least one of them.
- A name to watch is definitely Stillwater wide receiver Jesse Vester. He’s been just as busy as anybody else, attending Tulsa, OSU and KU Junior Days. His April is going to be pretty busy, too. And with new coach Tucker Barnard officially in Stillwater and QB Jerame Littell, Pioneers will definitely have a different look.
- Southmoore has produced one top talent after another in the last couple of years and don’t look for that to stop in this upcoming season. Running back Andrew Long is definitely the gem of the SaberCats, but linebacker Jackson Stallings is starting to come on the radar. Neither have any official offers, but coach Chris Jensen has done a great job of getting his kids noticed.
- Any news or notes you wanna contribute? Drop me a line, appreciate it.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Mid-State Conference awards for boys basketball
Mid-State Conference Boys Basketball Honors:
Player of the Year: Obi Emegano (Edmond Memorial)
Defensive Player of the Year: Trez Colbert (Midwest City)
Offensive Player of the Year: Tilford Thornton (Southmoore)
Newcomer of the Year: Jordan Woodard (Edmond Memorial)
Coach of the Year: Shane Cowherd (Edmond Memorial)
1st Team
Obi Emegano (Edmond Memorial)
Tilford Thornton (Southmoore)
Brandon Lucas (Southmoore)
Trez Colbert (Midwest City)
Trael Colbert (Midwest City)
Patrick Schaefer (Norman North)
2nd Team
James Woodard (Edmond Memorial)
Dorian Gigger (Moore)
A.J. Holland (Del City)
Jared Jobe (Edmond Memorial)
Jordan Woodard (Edmond Memorial)
3rd Team
Conner Madole (Norman)
Greg Austin (Midwest City)
Matt Southard (Norman North)
Blake Pullium (Westmoore)
Drew Smith (Del City)
Honorable Mention
Brandon Southern (Norman)
Jacques Murray (Norman)
Jordan Thomas (Edmond Memorial)
Gabe Bonzie (Norman North)
T.J. Noel (Midwest City)
Kody English (Moore)
Beau Palmer (Westmoore)
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Southmoore’s Paul Le video
From Norman North, let’s move just up the road to Southmoore and Paul Le. He was solid last year and this year, well, he just went to that other level.
He easily won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. He was less than .2 off setting a record in each of them, but he’s just fine with the way everything went down.
He was named Most Outstanding Swimmer by the coaches, and he might get another honor, hint hint.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson comes home for signing ceremony
The Thompsons (Charles and Kendal) at Kendal's OU ceremony at Southmoore
I keep saying ‘Southmoore’s Kendal Thompson,’ maybe I should say ‘Oklahoma’s Kendal Thompson.’ Real fun environment at the signing ceremony today:
There is no doubt Southmoore quarterback Kendal Thompson is ready for the next chapter of his life to begin. There’s also no doubt he enjoyed making a brief return back to high school.
Thompson, an Oklahoma signee, joined several other Southmoore athletes for a signing day ceremony Wednesday afternoon in the Southmoore gym.
“This is like a family day for me,” Thompson said. “It’s celebrating with the Southmoore family and recognizing all the hard work that was done to get here.”
Thompson wasn’t allowed to stick around too long as he had to get back to campus in Norman. Thompson said he is taking 14 hours this spring.
Thompson said making the adjustment to college hasn’t been too difficult, saying the 5 a.m. workouts have been one of the toughest adjustments.
“It doesn’t feel too weird at all already being in college,” Thompson said. “This is what I’ve been preparing for. This is what I’ve wanted to do.”
Thompson committed to Oklahoma in November 2009 and will follow in the footsteps of his father, Charles Thompson, who also played quarterback for the Sooners.
Kendal Thompson’s senior season wasn’t what he was hoping for as a leg injury forced him to miss six weeks. In limited time, Thompson was 24 of 32 for 295 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 233 yards and had a rushing and receiving score.
Kendal is a lot different player than his father was and Charles is not concerned at all about Kendal being his own person.
“That’s the thing about Kendal – he’s always had his own identity,” Charles Thompson said. “I’m proud of him not just as a father but as someone who also wore those colors. It’s very exciting.”
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 revisited, Pt. III
Back in August, we unveiled the Super 30 for the Class of 2011. Here’s where they’re all going as we are at Signing Day:
1. Josh Turner, Millwood (Texas) — A great fit. One of the most selfless, unassuming top prospects I’ve ever met. Ready to make a name for himself.
2. Kendal Thompson, Southmoore (Oklahoma) — Already got a leg up and has enrolled with the Sooners. He’ll play somewhere at OU, unsure if it will be QB.
3. Dylan Dismuke, Duncan (Oklahoma) — Great senior season to send him off to Norman. Lifelong dream come true for the big man.
4. Kentrell Brothers, Guthrie (Missouri) — Took his time and made the right call for himself. Felt he was the best player in the state this year.
5. Tyrequek Zimmerman, Lawton (Oregon State) — Zimmerman and Jabral Johnson are headed to Corvallis and should make a big impact for the Beavers.
6. Domonique Petties, Duncan (Arizona) — Petties was extremely busy making the rounds. He is double-signing with Arizona and NEO. Freakish talent, for sure.
7. Garrett Gladd, Sallisaw (Tulsa) — Switched from Stanford to Tulsa and seems really pleased with his decision. Would have been a force anywhere.
8. Kevonte Richardson, Millwood (Hutchinson, Kan.) — An all-around talent for the Falcons. Can do a little bit of everything on the field on both sides of the ball. Could be QB or could be DB, good at both.
9. Jamelle Naff, Del City (TCU) — Naff will join teammate Chazten Gonzales with the Horned Frogs as team makes leap to Big East. Both are pumped about it.
10. Austin Beck, Nowata (Arkansas) — Tried to early enroll with Razorbacks but was denied. Shouldn’t adversely affect him at all.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Southmoore’s d’Vante Henry commits to Oregon State
Wow, this one came out of nowhere. I know a lot of teams were afraid of him academically qualifying, but the Beavers are willing to take a shot at him. And coach Chris Jensen said Henry is putting all the time in to get his grades up and will take the ACT again. He’s doing all the right things to set up his future. He’s got the gifts, for sure. Jensen said Henry will double sign though the JUCO he will sign with is not decided just yet.
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There has never been any question about the athletic ability of Southmoore senior d’Vante Henry.
Nicknamed “The Freak” by his teammates, Henry made a smooth transition from cornerback to defensive end this season. That transition came full circle as Henry committed to Oregon State on Tuesday.
Henry, 6-foot-5 and 192 pounds, has great size but knows he will have to grow into his body for college. One thing nobody can take away is his speed.
Henry was the anchor leg of last year’s Southmoore 400-meter relay team that won the state championship and has been clocked at 4.35 for his 40-yard dash time.
“The phones have been blowing up about him in the last couple of months,” Southmoore coach Chris Jensen said. “His height and speed really set him apart.
“His weight — I feel once he gets a chance to really concentrate on the weight room, he has the chance to put on the weight and keep that speed.”
Henry was also considering being a preferred walk-on at Oklahoma. Henry had 65 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles and an interception in 2010.
Lawton’s Tyrequek Zimmerman and Jabral Johnson are also committed to Oregon State.
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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
All-star football competitions a-plenty this weekend…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Is it never not football season? In the middle of a crazy-busy basketball tournament week, we gots us some football news to take care of.
First, Wednesday night is the Under Armour game from St. Petersburg, Fla. Texas commit Josh Turner of Millwood and Oklahoma commit Kendal Thompson of Southmoore are the two Oklahoma representatives.
For more on that, you can read Justin Harper’s story on Thompson right here.
Then from there, we go from Florida to San Antonio for the US Army National Combine and All-American game. The combine begins Thursday and runs through Saturday and will feature 500 of the best high school juniors in the country.
From what I know, Anadarko’s Sheldon Wilson, Deer Creek’s Hunter Dinkines, Yukon’s Derek Deeds and Stillwater’s Jesse Vester and Davion Carter will be there. If you know more, please drop us a line. EDIT: A lot more kids are going. Norman’s Donovan Roberts. Casady’s Mac Katigan. Douglass’ Cayman Bundage. Heritage Hall’s Sterling Shepard and Markus Wakefield. Still, if you know more, drop us a line.
Following the combine, the kids are able to stay and watch the All-American game Saturday afternoon on NBC. Oklahoma actually does not have a representative in the game.
So in between basketball tournaments like the Putnam City Invitational and Lady Jag Classic, we still have some football to talk about.
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Also, Brandon Swindall of Millwood was named 1st MaxPreps All-American, while Booker T’s Derrick Alexander was given second team honor. Juniors Donovan Roberts of Norman and Sheldon Wilson of Anadarko made the junior squad.
Moore Player of the Week
Player of the Week: Moore Zone
Kaylan Haywood, Southmoore
Haywood led the SaberCats in scoring at the Edmond Open over the weekend, totaling 35 points. Her 13 points in the tourney opener against Edmond North and her 12 points in Saturday’s finale against Edmond Memorial were both team-highs. She managed double figures in every game and helped the SaberCats to a 69-20 win over Tulsa Central on Friday.
