March 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY - For the third year in a row, El Reno sent a wrestler to the finals of the Class 6A Oklahoma State High School Girls Wrestling Championships, resulting in a runner-up finish by Remy Whitney.

The freshman dropped a 10-2 decision to Westmoore’s Kyrain Perez in the 100-pound finals to cap a 2-1 run in the event. El Reno closed the event with two placers and an 11th-place team effort with 27 points.

Whitney reached the finals with a 1:41 fall over Bishop McGuinness’ Nora Thompson and a 5-0 decision over Tulsa Union’s Dakota Harris in the semifinals.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Despite pushing four of its six qualifiers into day two of the Class 5A Boys Oklahoma State High School Wrestling Championships, El Reno was able to land only one on the medals stand.

Senior Matthew Snyder took fourth at 138 pounds after dropping a 13-1 major decision to Gunner Murray of Claremore for third.

Snyder posted a 2-2 overall mark with a 7-1 win over Guthrie’s Luke Lyons and a 1-0 nail-biter over McAlester’s Anthony Noble.

His seven team points helped El Reno to a 16th-place finish. 

With a pair of two-baggers in a 21-0 nightcap win over Del City, senior Davin Shamblin became the career leader in doubles as El Reno High School’s baseball team swept a road doubleheader from the Eagles.

El Reno took the series opener 20-0 to move to 2-0 in the District 5A-1 standings and 3-0 on the season. The Indians defeated Capitol Hill 16-0 in their season opener.

Shamblin, who holds the career mark in triples with 14, broke Dalton Kudron’s mark of 31 doubles set back in 2019. He went 2-for-3 in the win with a walk and three runs scored, while driving in four runs.

Despite 12 shots in the final 11:35, El Reno High School’s girls soccer team could not get the goal needed to enact the mercy rule in a 9-0 season-opening win over U.S. Grant.

El Reno had over 40 shots in the win as the Generals crossed midfield less than 15 times in the 80-minute match and had only one shot on goal which was stopped by El Reno keeper Yaneth Moran Flores.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Seven first-half steals led to 15 points as Calumet kicked off its third straight title run with a 71-38 victory over No.10 Duke in the quarterfinals of the Class B Boys State High School Basketball Championships.

The top-ranked Chieftains improved to 26-3 on the year and will play No.8 Dover in the semifinals.

Calumet, appearing at state for the 13th time, is seeking its third spot in the title game and the eighth overall.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Playing through second-half stoppages due to lighting issues inside the Jim Norick Arena, Okarche outscored No.5 Amber-Pocasset 25-1 over the final 13:41 to rally for a 50-42 quarterfinal win in the Class A Girls State Basketball Championships.

Okarche, ranked 20th in the state, improved to 23-9 and moved into the semifinals for the 12th time in school history but the first since 2017.

The Panthers led 31-25 at the first stoppage with 5:41 left in the third period.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Okarche High School took the first step toward setting two major program records, defeating Texhoma 87-63 in the quarterfinals of the Class A Boys State High School Basketball Championships.

The top-seeded Warriors, who have held the No.1 ranking all season, moved to 30-0 with the 24-point win.

The defending state champions are looking for the school’s third overall title but the first-ever back-to-back as well as undefeated record.

“One game at a time,” said Okarche head coach Aaron West.

Bison research and efforts to help Native Americans live a healthier life are both in a holding pattern after the Trump administration ordered a pause to federal grant funding. 

No one has lost a job, coordinators of both the research and the health outreach program said. But there’s also work that needs to be tended to, and hopefully soon. 

Aaron Hirsh is a scientist, science writer and an entrepreneur who is involved with Collaborative Earth, a nonprofit that helps organize and guide agriculture research, especially in areas of regenerative applications.

Youth & Family Services will celebrate 50 years of service during an anniversary gala set for Friday, March 7 at the Palace Event Center, 2310 N. Banner Road.

“A Black and Gold Affair” will benefit the charitable organization’s capital campaign, which is funding an expansion project at the Donald W. Reynolds Caring Center.

Youth & Family Services provides counseling, independent living, homeless assistance, foster care support and an emergency children’s shelter.

Redlands Community College had a significant enrollment increase for the spring 2025 semester, with total head count exceeding 2,100 students.

This represents a 16.1 percent increase compared to spring 2024 enrollment figures, college officials said. 

“We are thrilled to see this continued growth in our enrollment numbers,” said Redlands President Jena Marr.