OU, Bradford Honored at Senate
The State Senate honored the 2008 Big 12 champions, the University of Oklahoma Sooners and their outstanding quarterback, 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford. The team and Head Coach Bob Stoops were welcomed with cheers and applause as they lined up to listen to the reading of two resolutions recognizing their many accomplishments, SR 13 and SCR 7.
TU Inducts Ken Hayes to Hall
TU GREATS: Ken Hayes, left, joined by his assistant coach John Rendek, was recently inducted into the University of Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame.
Thank You TU Seniors
Ray Reese and Sam Mitchell have played a remarkable four seasons at the University of Tulsa.
Mitchell, a 6-9 forward from Bartlesville, is a crowd favorite. He has been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (3.0 GPA or better) for seven semesters and has been named to the C-USA Commissioners Honor Roll three straight years. He carries a 3.34 GPA as a finance major.
Golden Hurricane Basketball Continues Improvement
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane had a successful start in the NIT Tournament. Coupled with last year’s CBI Championship, the Hurricane is obviously improving with hopes for an NCAA appearance next year.
Brian McKinnell Joins GHSP
Brian McKinnell is the new General Manager for the Golden Hurricane Sports Properties. McKinnell is a Bay Area native. He graduated from college at Oregon State University in 2001.
Special Olympics Stars
Special Olympics Oklahoma took some very talented athletes to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho. They returned Feb. 15 healthy and loaded with hardware. Detailed results from the competitions are located at the bottom of this story. Nearly 2,500 athletes from more than 100 countries competed at the games. The Oklahoma athletes faced some pretty stiff competition.
66ers Players in Community
The Tulsa 66ers is a quality organization making a real impact in the community. Besides having very good players and providing entertainment, the team contributes in a real way to Tulsa’s economy and youth education efforts. The Bixby Chamber of Commerce recently named the 66ers the Mid-Size Business of the Year at the annual Bixby Chamber Gala.
Local Gymnasts Shine Nationally
Six Oklahoma gymnasts who train with T3, Tulsa’s Tumbling and Trampoline Team, have qualified for this year’s JumpStart National Team and will train at the USA Gymnastics (USAG) Training Camp in Huntsville, Ala. with elite and Olympic coaches. Local athletes on the national team include: Sabrina Bogle, Bailey Bynum, Drew Hockaday, Cheyenne Kelley, Aubrey Rosencutter and Jordan Webb.
Hurricane in the Hunt for 2nd Place
With Memphis seemingly taking the cake in Conference USA, the goal becomes number 2 and a fight for a bid in the NCAA tournament. The Golden Hurricane has a quality resume and a chance to do just that.
Lamson Speaks at Luncheon
SPORTS AUTHORITIES: Tulsa Drillers Owner Chuck Lamson spoke to the Tulsa Sports Charities luncheon on Feb. 12 about ONEOK Field. The above artist’s rendition of the ballpark was displayed at the meeting. ONEOK Field is scheduled to open in 2010.
BOK Bruisers
Oilers forward Brett McConnachie is in his fourth season in the CHL and first at Tulsa. He has 11 points on the year.
Tickets available at 632-PUCK (7825).
TU’s Brugues on Fire
Senior Arnau Brugues was named the No. 1 singles player in the country by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s National Men’s Singles poll released Thursday, Feb. 17. Brugues is the first player in Tulsa history to be ranked by the ITA as the nation’s top singles player.
Metro Christian Basketball More than Sport
DANIEL C. CAMERON for GTR Newspapers
Metro Christian Academy’s varsity boys basketball season is off to one of the best starts in all of greater Tulsa. They opened the season with seven straight wins before their first loss. They’ve lost a few since then, but it does not seem to bother them. This group of young men has a lot of character and is led by an outstanding young coach.
Head coach Andrew Baker is in his second year out of college. He graduated from and played point guard at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. This is also his second year to coach. Last season, he was assistant to his mentor and friend Kevin Mosley, who left Tulsa to take a job in his home state of Alabama. The school wanted to hire from within and chose Baker because of his ability to be a good coach and a role model.
There is a lot of hype around the team this year. After the blazing hot start, they have cooled off some. Baker says he wants to see more consistency, but the guys are playing very close games. Out of their four losses at mid-season, three of them have been by three points or less. Baker says, “if we can learn to be more consistent, we can make a strong run in the playoffs and I think we have the tools to do that.”
When asked about his coaching style, Baker’s special take on coaching is revealed. He says he tries to simplify the game. He wants the players to learn their positions and how to have intent. He discusses how being at a private Christian school, allows opportunities to transfer lessons from the court to their lives and contribute to transforming these boys into men. “Basketball has a ton of opportunities to prepare the kids for life.” He adds, “There are consequences on or off the court, if you don’t finish on offense or defense, it can cost the game. This translates to real life, whether in the classroom or later. If you get a job in life and don’t finish your job or you only do your job half way, then you are not living up to expectations and there are consequences for that, too.”
Additionally, Baker and his staff emphasize family, respect, passion and hard work. He says, “those are four things we really want to be known for. These things translate to the real world, your work, your wife and your kids.”
Months Away, Yet Baseball is in the Air
Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and other city leaders joined ONEOK, Inc. in announcing that the new downtown Tulsa baseball stadium will be named “ONEOK Field” during a Jan. 12 ceremony.
Carpenter Wins Teegins Award
TULSA’S OWN: Renowned sportscaster Bob Carpenter, left, was awarded the Bill Teegins Excellence in Sportscasting Award at the 2008 Warren Spahn Award Gala in January.
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