Swimming rankings for January…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
No shock to see Jenks at the top spot for both the boys and girls in swimming. Coach John Turner churns ‘em out one after another.
However, to see the Harrah boys with the No. 1 ranking is a bit of a surprise. Edmond coach Steve Riggs said right now, the Panthers have more state-qualifying swimmers than Altus so they get the nod.
Riggs also said a new ‘best times’ list will be posted on the OSSAA’s site Monday.
For now, here are your rankings:
Coaches Poll
Boys
Class 6A
1. Jenks
2. Bartlesville
3. Edmond North
4. Tulsa Union
5. Norman North
6. Norman
7. Stillwater
8. Bixby
9. Edmond Memorial
10. Edmond Santa Fe
Class 5A
1. Harrah
2. Altus
3. Fort Gibson
4. Bishop McGuinness
5. Tulsa Washington
6. Heritage Hall
7. Chickasha
8. Tulsa Memorial
9. Byng
10. Tulsa Kelley
Girls
Class 6A
1. Tulsa Union
2. Edmond North
3. Jenks
4. Edmond Memorial
5. Norman
6. Enid
7. Stillwater
8. Bartlesville
9. Norman North
10. Owasso
Class 5A
1. Fort Gibson
2. Classen
3. Tulsa Washington
4. Altus
5. Lawton MacArthur
6. Kingfisher
7. Oologah
8. Harrah
9. Heritage Hall
10. Tulsa Edison
Edmond honor: Jordan Woodard, Memorial…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
You could make a lot of arguments for the likes of Courtney Walker of Santa Fe and Elizabeth Donohoe of North, but I’m givin’ it to the youngster, Jordan Woodard of Memorial.
He came up huge in the win Tuesday at Midwest City and also played well in the Edmond Open championship victory against rival Santa Fe.
His upside is tremendous, and he’s only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can become. We’re definitely going to see what he has because the Bulldogs are going to get tested time and time again this season.
Great week for Memorial. The key is to not suffer that emotional letdown, interesting to see the maturity of this year’s group of kids for Shane Cowherd.
Other contenders
Courtney Walker, Santa Fe, Basketball: In a close game, took over with her quickness and defense to lead Wolves to the Edmond Open championship over North.
Elizabeth Donohoe, North, Basketball: There wasn’t much Donohoe didn’t do at the Open, scoring a tournament-high 68 points in the three games. Huskies snapped Cache’s 30-game winning streak Friday.
Obi Emegano, Memorial, Basketball: He missed some gimmes and still finished with 19 points in the championship and also made the Super 5 for the Edmond Open.
Garrett Hermanski, Deer Creek, Basketball: Another good week for the junior. Get a good idea of where this team is at this weekend at the McGuinness Festival.
Andrew Dixon, North, Wrestling: Huskies placed fourth out of 30 teams with Dixon taking second place at 171 in the Mid-America Nationals Wrestling Tournament at Union.
Abbie Imes, North, Swimming: Continues to show she’s one of the best swimmers in the state, winning two individual titles at the Edmond/Norman meet last Friday.
Swim Rankings…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Edmond coach Steve Riggs is beating the drum to draw more interest in swimming. And one way would be with rankings.
Here’s the coaches rankings for the week of Dec. 1, based on top times through the early part of the season:
Class 6A
Girls
1. Union
2. Jenks
3. Edmond North
4. Enid
5. Edmond Memorial
6. Norman
7. Stillwater
8. Bartlesville
9. Norman north
10. Ponca City
Boys
1. Jenks
2. Bartlesville
3. Edmond North
4. Union
5. Norman
6. Norman North
7. Stillwater
8. Bixby
9. Edmond Santa Fe
10. Edmond Memorial
Class 5A
Girls
1. Fort Gibson
2. Lawton MacArthur
3. Classen
4. Altus
5. Tulsa Washington
6. Harrah
7. Heritage Hall
8. Kingfisher
9. Oologah
10. Duncan
Boys
1. Altus
2. Fort Gibson
3. Harrah
4. Heritage Hall
5. Tulsa Memorial
6. Tulsa Washington
7. Bishop McGuinness
8. Byng
9. Oologah
10. Chickasha
OTC: Graduates movin’ on…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Deer Creek graduate Typ Whinnery
Some stories slip through the cracks, that’s why I love doing these ‘off to college’ pieces. You can’t write about everybody and sometimes you find out the story a little too late.
I got to write three of these stories this year, focusing on swimming, baseball and wheelchair basketball.
Typ Whinnery, Deer Creek: I’ve called him the silent assassin the last couple of years. He just goes out there and gets the job done when he gets in the pool.
I would have loved to have seen him in different events, but he was so dominant in the 500 free and 100 breaststroke that it’s tough to dispute the decision.
The Antlers didn’t have a coach, but with Whinnery, Logan Testi and Slater Pennington, they had three solid competitors.
Blanchard graduate Blaine Smith
Whinnery’s just been solid. Maybe he doesn’t shine or stand out (he’s pretty quiet), but he was easily one of the best swimmers in the state the last four years.
Whinnery is moving on to Army.
For Whinnery’s story, here ya go.
Blaine Smith, Blanchard: Here was an interesting story that I had no knowledge of during the year. Smith, a catcher, broke his neck in the first game of the football season but made it back.
It was interesting listening to him and his mother talk about the trials and tribulations of trying to come back. The little hand exercises they would do. And how Blaine would constantly push that envelope to go as far as he possibly could until being cleared.
Getting through homecoming week of football was huge – that was an emotional time. He got through it and got things back on track.
Piedmont graduate Colin Cutter
Catcher is the most grueling position in baseball, but the injury didn’t change the way Smith approached the game.
Smith actually had his best offensive season of his career this year, hitting .402 and earned a scholarship to Rose State.
For Smith’s story, check out Monday’s paper.
Colin Cutter, Piedmont: We’ve actually watched him grow up through all the Endeavor Games events, but this was the first time we put the spotlight on his school activities.
I was humbled talking to Cutter. He really is quite the character and none too bashful. I enjoyed getting to hear all about his incredible story. He’s earned a scholarship at Missouri to play wheelchair basketball.
He rightfully takes a lot of pride in everything that he has accomplished, and he’s done incredible in track and field and basketball.
It was interesting hearing his thought process when it came to Penn State and Missouri before he finally decided on the Tigers.
His heart is going to be in coaching, no doubt about it. Once he’s done playing, he’s going to work like crazy at being a coach and trying to get the word out on wheelchair basketball.
For Cutter’s story, here ya go.
Irish: Lizzy Whitbeck a quiet excellence…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Jenni Carlson, right, presents Lizzy Whitbeck with The Oklahoman's Scholar Athlete Award. Photo by Robert Przybylo, The Oklahoman
It’s possible if you don’t follow swimming, that you’ve never heard of Bishop McGuinness star Lizzy Whitbeck. But ya missed out if you didn’t.
Whitbeck excelled in a couple of sports that go under the radar. She’s been a strong cross country runner for the Irish but that gets lost in the fall shuffle and football.
And swimming gets trumped by basketball. However, Whitbeck was phenomenal and rightfully earned The Oklahoman‘s Scholar Athlete award. She was first on my ballot though it was extremely tight (a lot of good candidates as usual).
The first time I saw Whitbeck was at the state swimming meet when she was a sophomore. Training with her older sister, Katie, and former Edmond Memorial star, Samantha Woodward, Lizzy was a star in the making.
Dividing swimming into two classes probably hurt Lizzy as an individual competitor, but she didn’t care as much because of the opportunity it gave to the team.
The Irish are back-to-back Class 5A champions, winning the first 5A title two years ago. Whitbeck did everything she possibly could in both years.
She won two individual titles and was a part of two relay championships as both a junior and a senior. Whitbeck found her passion again for swimming this year, and it showed. She was so smooth.
I don’t know what’s more fun, watching a race that goes right down to the .1 of a second or seeing someone like Whitbeck nearly lap the rest of the field. It was one great performance after another.
I admit that I never saw her run cross country, but you can see why she was so successful at it. That mental toughness carries over in all aspects.
Her leadership really came out in the last couple of years, too. She knew she would be depended on more, and she grabbed the reins and never let go.
Whitbeck will join Katie at Arkansas.
Deer Creek: Typ Whinnery still making waves…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Deer Creek graduate Typ Whinnery after dominating an event in the US Virgin Islands. Photo provided
If you’ve followed the Oklahoma swimming scene the last couple of years, then you know all about Deer Creek graduate Typ Whinnery.
If you haven’t, you’ve missed out on a real special talent. The swim season is long over, but Whinnery is continuing to tear it up on the national scene.
Last weekend, Whinnery was dominant at the US Virgin Islands. Whinnery set a short course record in the 1.2 mile St. John Virgin Islands Beach to Beach Swim.
Whinnery completed the trek in 18:40, besting the previous time by more than a minute and beating out more than 170 other participants.
Whinnery was sensational for the Antlers, claiming two championships as a junior and a senior. He will attend West Point, focusing on a degree in engineering.
Top 15 moments of 2009-10 (Part I)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, we did it. We’re through another great year of high school sports. A lot of great moments, a lot of special kids, here is just a small sample of some of my favorite memories.
Qualifying statement: I had to see these in person. I know I missed a lot of great moments so these can only be the ones I actually saw.
Here we go.
One of the best moments of the year was Casey Distaso's three-set battle of wills victory against Union Logon Collins in the semis. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
No. 15 – Bethel repeats as slowpitch softball state champions
This was a wild game against Purcell in the championship. At first, you thought the Wildcats were going to run the Dragons right out of the park. Purcell fought back, but it was still 12-4 entering the seventh inning. Then things got wacky. Purcell had hit after hit after hit only to lose 12-9. Bethel’s Brittany Watson is one of the best softball players I’ve seen in my three years of covering the game.
No. 14 – Edmond North boys swim team ekes out 200 individual medley relay
This is more of a personal one as I was gassed after all the 5A championships. However, this relay woke me up and had me ready to roll for the next hours. Edmond North just barely edged out Union by .06 for the title. Of course, Jenks would sweep both the boys and girls championships as Jacob Pearce had a memorable Saturday.
No. 13 – Buzzer beaters (Western Heights’ D.J. Taylor and Holland Hall’s Kwame Sexton)
There was a span of a couple of weeks where I just happened to be lucky enough to have my video camera with me. Taylor hit a 3-pointer to give the Jets a thrilling win against Deer Creek in the Bruce Gray Classic. Sexton drained a 3 at the buzzer to beat rival Casady after the Cyclones connected on 3 seconds earlier to tie the game.
No. 12 – Edmond Santa Fe goes for 2-point conversion vs. Edmond North and fails
Heck of a way to start your head coaching career, no? Bruce Gowen, in his first game with the Wolves, elects to go for a two-point conversion and the win. The Wolves were down 14-0 but rallied to make it 14-13. Gowen was riding momentum and had total confidence his boys could pull it off. North’s Rickey Lawyer intercepted the conversion attempt.
No. 11 – Edmond North’s Casey Distaso upends Union’s Logon Collins in three-set marathon
You know I’m a tennis aficionado, for better or worse. This was everything everybody thought it would be in the state semifinals. Collins earned the first set and was up 3-0 in the second. But Distaso, who decided to play specifically for this weekend, rallied back to earn the second set, 7-5. He never looked back in winning the third.
No. 10 – Bishop McGuinness boys basketball beat Carl Albert in OT in finals of McGuinness Classic
I love the basketball tournament weeks and this was no exception. The atmosphere was insane for the Irish and Titans and McGuinness’ Kevin Caruthers and CA’s Caleb Price were going back and forth in making one big shot after another. A Jameel Whitney block in OT spurred McGuinness to the victory.
Moment No. 8 saw Heritage pitcher Bob Kraft strike out 20 vs. rival Casady. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
No. 9 – Bishop McGuinness’ Emily Conrad and Whitney Ritichie become four-time champions
I feel like I’ve watched these two grow up the last three years. The Irish girls were dominant in all four years of their careers, never losing a match. Phenomenal stuff every time they went out there. Conrad will play at Abilene Christian while Ritchie will become the latest Irish player to play at OU.
No. 8 – Heritage Hall’s Bob Kraft strikes out 20 against Casady
Sometimes you stumble onto the greatness. Sure felt like it with this moment. Kraft struck out seven in two innings so figured it would be something special. He ended up recording 23 outs as two Ks got by the catcher. His variety of pitches is easily his strength. Heritage won, 8-1.
Moments 7-1 on Sunday.
Swimming conundrums, 2K 10…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
You'd buy the video game with this cover, right?
The winter honors have started, and we’re going with a video game cover theme. Swimming kicked it off with boys swimmer of the year Narayan Naik of Heritage Hall and Lizzy Whitbeck of Bishop McGuinness.
Every year creates new problems. Last year was having all these great swimmers competing in the same event and SOMEone had to be left off the first team.
Not easy, never is.
This year was your Boys Swimmer of the Year. Oy, I debated this internally for a long time. On first glance, didn’t think there was anything that could be done to top Westmoore’s Dakota Wheeler.
But with Wheeler being sick, he didn’t have a great state meet. In fact, after looking at his times, it was rather average (for his ridiculous standards).
Then it became a showdown of two kids in a talented 5A crop: Naik and Typ Whinnery of Deer Creek. Both were absolutely dominant in winning their two individual events.
Both were absolutely dominant last year in earning two individual titles. Whinnery is headed to West Point and Naik is headed to Wyoming, so both are taking their own road in life.
I respect both kids.
Something needed to stand out. And what happened in the 200 free relay with the Chargers was what did it. Thought for sure it was going to be Bixby or Altus pulling that one out.
Heritage won by nearly three seconds in one of the best moments of the 5A competition. And when Narayan took the pool, the Chargers were down. When he left, yeah, Heritage had a good working margin.
Whinnery was easily the best Edmond swimmer this year, which is quite the feat in of itself considering the talent at Memorial, North and Santa Fe.
But as a general rule, don’t believe in co-winners. And went with Naik on this one.
The girls side was over 30 seconds after the 6A competition was done. Nobody had done anything to take the honor away from Whitbeck and that was that.
Looking at the rosters, losing a good crop of kids but returning some real studs, including another Naik (Naresh) on the horizon. Narayan believes Naresh is going to break any records he chooses to swim in.
Blatant plug time. For Narayan’s story, go here. For Whitbeck’s story, go here. For the boys’ first team capsules, go here. For the girls’ first team capsules, go here. For the boys roster, go here. For the girls roster, go here.
Up next: Matt Patterson and his look at wrestling.
OCA All-State Swimming…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
OCA All-State Swimming
The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced the members of the 2010 OCA All-State swim meet Wednesday. The meet will be Monday, July 26, at 6 p.m. at a site to be determined. Coaches have not been announced.
Boys
West
Drew Thomas, Altus; Daniel Robbins, Altus; Dan Houck, Norman North; Typ Whinnery, Deer Creek; Logan Testi, Deer Creek; Dakota Wheeler, Westmoore; Narayan Naik, Heritage Hall; Mitchell Selby, Harding Charter Prep; Nick Welch, Edmond Memorial.
East
Clayton Harris, Stillwater; Andrew Zapata, Stillwater; James Dobson, Jenks; Tom Seidel, Jenks; Jordan McDow, Tulsa Union; Nick Edmoundson, Bixby; Alan Smith, Pryor; Brandon Geisler, Fort Gibson; Ryan MacMillan, Oologah.
Girls
West
Anna Megli, Enid; Amee Pena, Bishop McGuinness; Lizzy Whitbeck, Bishop McGuinness; Katie Sabatino, Edmond North; Crista Riggs, Edmond Santa Fe; Jordan Brewer, Edmond Santa Fe; Autumn Thomas, Putnam City North; Danille Pena, Bishop McGuinness; Aimee Creger, Mustang.
East
Darci Thomas, Stillwater; Rachel Fieldsend, Stillwater; Michelle Glass, Jenks; Courtney Miller, Jenks; Deann Davis, Tulsa Union; Cassie Freeling, Fort Gibson; Melissa Srok, Fort Gibson; Meredith Thornton, Bixby; Liz Kucera, Tulsa Kelley.
Irish: Lizzy Whitbeck video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I admit to almost forgetting about the Bishop McGuinness girls this season. The Irish were so dominant and knew they would be that I tried to look elsewhere for stories.
But when it comes down to it, it’s not the girls’ fault how talented they are. The four seniors (Lizzy Whitbeck, Danielle Pena, Amee Pena and Erin Gaffney) have done wonders for that program.
The girls close out as repeat champions and leaving quite the little legacy. Whitbeck has probably been the best girls swimmer the last two years, and she went out in style.
