Sports

Three El Reno High School graduates are among the 10 area baseball players to pick up postseason awards, the most notable coming from the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association.

Gavin Tinsley, Davin Shamblin and Hernan Blanco were selected to the 2025 OBCA’s Class 5A All-Star by Class West squad. It was a prerequisite to be considered for a spot on one of the three All-State teams.

The El Reno trio were joined by Calumet graduates Kyler Thiessen, Brett Reed and Carson Cooper, who were named to the OBCA’s Class B All-Star by Class West squad.

El Reno High School’s boys basketball team recently held its 2025 Youth Skills Camp inside Jenks Simmons Field House and Annex.

Forty-two campers spent three days learning offensive and defensive team fundamentals as well as individual skills on both ends of the floor. There were also challenges with awards presented at camp’s end.

WEATHERFORD – Injuries during their senior campaign forced El Reno High School’s Davin Shamblin, Hernan Blanco and Gavin Tinsley to play multiple positions throughout the season.

That diversity was on display last week as the trio played for the Large North squad in the 2025 Western Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association’s All-Star Games.

“They really showed their diversity and I thought they played well. That’s going to help them if they go to college so they will not be locked into one position,” said El Reno head coach Keith Hill.

WEATHERFORD – Calumet High School head coach Cody Thiessen will be the first person to tell you he hates to lose any contest.

So what makes taking a 10-1 defeat, his second worst of the 2025 season, hurt any less? It happened in an All-Star game.

“It’s not the outcome I wanted but the thing is this was an All-Star game and you are trying to get everyone in the game and at least one at bat.

STILLWATER – After having several qualifying events canceled due to weather, like bocce and track, El Reno High School’s team was left with only one sport for the 2025 Special Olympics Summer Games.

The Indians would make the most of the opportunity.

All eight athletes making the trip medaled for El Reno in cornhole, which first debuted in the Special Olympics lineup in 2022.

Better late than never.

El Reno High School’s football program kicked off spring drills last week, nearly two weeks later than normal, due to the extended spring athletic schedule used by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association.

“The OSSAA has some rules and we abide by those rules,” said El Reno head coach Russell Cook.

According to the OSSAA manual, football-playing schools cannot conduct spring padded drills until after the last state championship for spring sports has been contested.

Both Calumet and El Reno sent three players each to last week’s Western Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association’s All-Star Games in Weatherford.

See Wednesday’s paper for a recap of the Small and Large School games.

OKLAHOMA CITY – While his quest to win a high medal in the Class 5A Oklahoma State Track and Field Championships fell short, El Reno High School freshman Ethan Brooks made the podium in one of his three events.

Running at Western Heights, Brooks collected five team points after top 10 efforts in the mile and two-mile events.

He also took part in the 800-meter run.

Despite shooting its lowest round of the tourney, eighth-ranked Redlands Community College was unable to pass two Texas programs for a spot in the top 10 at the 2025 NJCAA Women’s Division 1 National Golf Championships.

Playing at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kan., Redlands took 11th place with a 72-hole total of 1,264 after carding a 311 team score over the final 18 holes.

The Cougars other rounds were 322/314/317.

In what is considered a first-ever for both programs, El Reno and Okarche high schools have had players tabbed by the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association as the best in their respective classes.

Senior Carter Roman Nose was named the OBCA’s Player of the Year for Class 5A, while Okarche junior Jett Mueggenborg earned the same honor for Class A.

There were six POY honors handed out by the association.

“Callen (Haydon) was the Region 1 Player of the Year but I don’t think we have ever had an OBCA Player of the Year,” said El Reno head coach Rodney Haydon.