Sports

With a little over a week of practices and a handful of preseason outings, El Reno High School’s softball team is set to open the 2023 season at Yukon Monday night.

It’s an opener scheduled quicker than most expected but one that new head coach Jason Little is comfortable with having.

“I think the longer you practice, sometimes it can be regressive and the kids get into the rut of just going through the motions. I want them feeling ready to go.

SHAWNEE – Before leaving to fulfill his military commitment to the Army, Ryan Sigler worked in a meat processing plant in Mustang while preparing for his final football game of his high school career.

Sigler and fellow teammate Evan Roman Nose were among the three El Reno High alums to represent the school in the 2023 Oklahoma Coaches Association’s All-State Football Game.

Both players were on defense for the West squad, while student athletic trainer Julia Woolworth served as a member of the East squad after being promoted off the alternate list.

Playing in what could be her last basketball game for the foreseeable future, Okarche High School alum Emma Stover did what she has done so many times in the past for the Warriors – be a leader.

Stover was the top scorer for the West in the Oklahoma Coaches Association’s Small School Girls Basketball Game last week. It was a bittersweet ending as the East defeated Stover and company 41-36.

“She is going to Oklahoma State and concentrate on nursing school so this was it for her.

When El Reno Public Schools Athletic Director Rodney Haydon began looking for the district’s new wrestling coach, he wanted to find the person who could keep the program’s momentum going with little to no fallout.

He didn’t have to look far.

In its July meeting, the El Reno School Board approved the promotion of Anthony McDonald to head coach.

McDonald served as the lead assistant last season under Lewis, who resigned earlier this month to take the head coaching job at Kansas-based Baker University.

In what will likely be the final prep match for three alumni, El Reno High School ended a 13-year absence from the Oklahoma Coaches Association’s All-State Wrestling Matches.

With former head coach Tyrone Lewis, an EHS All-Stater himself (1999), yelling instructions from the stands, recent grads Dailey Jennings and Will Heger split matches for the Large West Team.

Both wrestlers are headed to the college ranks at the University of Central Oklahoma, while Lewis resigned earlier this month to take the head coaching job at Baker University in Kansas.

El Reno High School’s softball team will kick off the 2023 preseason on Tuesday with a trip to Chickasha.

The Indians will play Chaney Valley (10 a.m.), Berryhill (11:05 a.m.) and Bridge Creek (1:15 p.m.) with games being played at the town’s sports complex.

El Reno will then play at Southmoore High School on Thursday, taking on Washington (noon) and Norman North (3 p.m.)

New head coach Jason Little and the Indians are scheduled to open the 2023 regular season Aug. 7 with a road trip to Yukon.
 

What seemed a distant target date at the end of spring drills in May has become a quickly approaching fact of life.

Football season is almost here.

“We will start two-a-day drills at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 7,” said El Reno head coach Russell Cook.

El Reno began its final week of summer player conditioning and weightlifting, for all sports, on Monday. Once that session is complete, football will have 10 days before the start of preseason two-a-day drills.

Carrying a two-year win streak into the 2023 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races, El Reno’s Matt Miller wanted nothing more than to take the checkered flag once again in his signature event – Pro Stock.

While fate and physics had a different plan for a three-peat, Miller still drove into the winners circle with an undefeated record – in the Modified class.

“A win is a win no matter what class it is. Winning in front of your home crowd is always good and I really appreciate all the support and the city of El Reno for giving us a place to play with our hot rods.