A pair of El Reno High School’s key players over the past two seasons wrapped up their prep careers the same way they started it together – in the win column.
Tetona Blackowl, who transferred from Calumet prior to the 2020-21 season, and four-year EHS starter Ashlyn Evans-Thompson donned red jerseys to play for the Large West in the 2022 Oklahoma Coaches Association’s All-State Basketball Game.
El Reno High School’s softball team kicked off its preseason scrimmage schedule last week at home against Rush Springs.
El Reno is slated to host Union City in a scrimmage this week in preparation for the season opener Aug. 8 against Yukon.
Being close to the winner’s circle on several occasions during the Southern Drag Boat Association’s season, only to have the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath them at the last second, El Reno’s Matt and Radley Miller both needed a confidence boost.
What better place to find it than in their own backyard.
The father-daughter duo both won divisional titles at the 2022 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races last weekend on Lake El Reno. While the victories don’t count in the SDBA season points, both agree a win is a win.
Vincent Walker always dreamed of one day playing in a Major League Baseball stadium, but never imagined it would happen before he ever threw a pitch in college.
The El Reno High School graduate was one of 50 players from across the nation and Canada to be selected to the inaugural Native American All-Star Baseball Showcase.
The three-day event was co-sponsored by the 7G Foundation and the Atlanta Braves. It was held inside the MLB franchise’s home stadium – the 41,084-seat Truist Park.
Despite a triple-digit heat wave and the sinking of a boat on the first race of the event, the 2022 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races was deemed a success by race organizers.
Hundreds of race fans flocked to Lake El Reno for the three days of the event.
The first day was open to the public as drivers spent five hours making test passes down the 1,000-foot course.
The final two days were paid admission which drew repeat visitors and newcomers to the event.
Janet Ebert is aware of the inherent dangers of crashing in the sport of drag boat racing and watches nervously every time her husband, Todd flies down the water.
“We’ve been lucky for a long time and we always say a little prayer before every race,” said Janet.
The Wamego, Kan., couple’s luck, spanning more than three decades, came to an end over the weekend at the 2022 Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races on Lake El Reno.
On the event’s first pass, Todd was thrown out of his boat shortly after crossing the finish line of the 1,000-foot course.
To say that Brock and Wacey Snider are anxious to race in this weekend’s Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races on Lake El Reno would be an understatement.
“We are super-excited. We’ve been looking forward to this race for a year,” said Brock.
The father and son duo from Mustang are no strangers to competitive power sports, be it on land, having traveled the United States with a pair of KTM motorcycles doing cross-country events.
If results from the summer months are any indication, El Reno High School will again be one of the top teams to contend for a state title when trapshooting season returns.
El Reno was invited to a pair of charitable fundraising sporting clay shoots in June, winning both, while gaining experience for eight different competitors.
El Reno’s Jimmy Johnston tries to keep the nose of his boat down as he flies off the starting line during last year’s Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races.
This year’s event starts Friday with testing and races kick off Saturday at noon on Lake El Reno.
Having spent years watching her dad race jet boats on the Southern Drag Boat Association circuit, it was only natural that El Reno’s Radley Miller would catch the bug to jump into the driver’s seat.
“I don’t know when it started. I just liked going to the lake and watching him race. It’s fun to watch him,” said Radley.
There’s just one little problem - Radley is just 12 years old. Four years too young to be a SDBA boat driver and six years shy of racing in the higher-powered classes like her father, Matt Miller.
