Sports

For Olympic gold?

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Well no, it wasn't for the gold medal in Tokyo, but El Reno’s Kingston Ba (center) and his sister Khadja Ba could not be happier to see the ball fall in front of their brother Malakai Ba during a fun family game of sand volleyball last week at the courts located near the main pavilion at Lake El Reno. There are two courts open to the public for use
daily.

For Olympic gold_1

Spikers pick up extra workouts

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Last year’s changes to the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s manual for volleyball is giving El Reno High School’s program a slight break from chaotic pressures of preseason workouts.

El Reno started a week later from the OSSAA’s designated start date due to a switch in the overall length of the season.

“They added a week to the season last year and the way our school calendar falls, it adds in a few more days.

Bailey Denwalt slaps down the ball during a preseason practice

It’s Miller Time, bud

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Matt Miller is having the best season of his drag boat racing career and now the El Reno driver can add two more titles to his bounty – both on his home course.

“This is my best season so far and I’m happy with the changes I’ve made,” said Miller.

Miller brought a new boat to the 2021 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races, a Cheyenne tunnel design built by Ervin Capps. With a huge cheering section behind him, Miller drove the bright orange craft to finals victories over friend and longtime rival Wade Kokendoffer of Choctaw.

Matt Miller flies off the starting line

Softball opens with little time to waste

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El Reno High School’s softball team hit the ground running last week with two-a-day practices as the Indians have less than three weeks to get ready for the 2021 opener.

“We don’t have a lot of time to waste so we have hit the ground running. The first few days of two-a-day practices we have been throwing a lot of information at the girls and going over all the things we need to cover.

Bailey Brothers looks a ball into her glove

Plowing up the water

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Look! Out there on the lake! Is it a truck? Is it a boat?

Why no, it’s just Farmtruck and Azn.

The popular and zany duo from Discovery Channel’s reality show Street Outlaws will be buzzing around Lake El Reno this weekend during the 2021 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races.

“They are going to be out there to support Ervin Capps with whatever he needs,” said Lou Renova, marketing and media director for the duo.

Farmtruck, whose real name is Sean Whitley, will not only be there in support of the legendary boat builder, who has become a SOTW favorite.

Farmboat glides over the water

Let’s go camping

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In their final contact drills before taking 24 days off, El Reno High School football players went through a four-day team camp last week despite having several key pieces missing.

“We had some kids gone to Arizona for basketball so we had some kids missing. The skilled kids we did have went through padded camp and we did a lot of individual drills, some group stuff and then a lot of seven-on-seven to get used to throwing and catching in our pads,” said El Reno head coach Chuck Atchison.

Cooper Park throws an outlet pass

Soccer in the park

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A youth soccer camp, hosted by El Reno High School coaches Gabriel Gonzalez and Austin Little, was held last week in Adams Park with more than 50 players attending the four-day event.

Houston Roblyer follows through on a shot toward the goal

Kouba picked up by Houston in MLB Draft

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For the second time in seven years, El Reno High School will have a graduate on the path to becoming a Major League Baseball player.

Rhett Kouba, who finished up his first season with Dallas Baptist University last month just shy of a berth in the College World Series, was drafted in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

“I had a feeling it could happen in maybe day two or three but I had to wait an extra day and I’m excited to see it finally happen,” said Kouba.

The right-handed pitcher was snagged with the 16th pick in the 12th round by the Houston Astros.

Rhett Kouba throws a pitch

You’re gonna need a bigger boat

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After losing three races to Wade Kokendoffer at last year’s Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races, two of those in event finals, El Reno driver Matt Miller promised something new in 2021 for his longtime rival.

“He has ruled the classes and has gotten the better of me in the last few years. They are always tight races but I’ve got a few different changes for him,” said Miller.

It’s a rivalry that both men seem to enjoy.

Matt Miller throws off a wall of water behind him as he flies off the start

Turf down

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Workers were busy last week laying, stretching and then stitching the new turf field at Memorial Stadium.

The project has a scheduled finish date of early August.

The new turf field at Memorial Stadium
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