Below are some of your pictures taken over the past couple of days!
Thanks for your submissions.
Tammy Richardson took this picture!Nanette Foster took this picture at Grady, Oklahoma.Marie Hardie took this picture at the Hardie Ranch.Gayla Keeter took this picture of her fish pond.Decole James Myers took this picture of the Red River.Courtney Nobles took this picture 2 miles south east of Waurika.
Christina Fowler took this picture of downtown Hastings.Alecia Prewitt took this picture of Monroe Street in Waurika.
The Class of 1978 celebrated at Doc's Place this past week. (submitted photo)
The Waurika High School Senior Class of 1978 held their 40th Class Reunion on Saturday, October 13, 2018. Class member Mark Lehew and his wife, Susan, provided the venue at their restaurant, Doc’s Place.
Twenty-three members were in attendance with many of them bringing their spouse or a child with them. Friendships were rekindled and memories were shared. Lots of photos were taken, including some reenactments of old photos.
The Class of 1978 is a self-proclaimed “Best Class Ever.” The class can boast going to State in Football, Basketball, Track and Speech/Drama in 1977-1978. They graduated a record number of 4.0 students. A very competitive class and liked being First in what they did.
Those that attended wereAlfred Webb, Anita Randolph Goza-Solomon, Billy Michel and Diana, Debbie Latta Brandon and Dan, Dowd Waid and Evan, Johnny Griffin and Rinda, Julie Hutcheson Keith, Mark Lehew and Susan, Mark Stuart, Marsha Newsom Morgan, Paul Cartledge and Dana, Paul Mendenall and Tammy, Rebecca Largent Goodman and Randy, Ricky McDonald, Ron Bush and Kim, Ronald Hall, Ronnie Bohot and Belinda, Sandra Richardson Watkins, Sherry Morris Kettner and Jenni, Steve Smith, Steven Bowen and Brenda, Teresa Goss Biffle and Rodney, Torin Renner.
The next Get-Together is planned for 2020, to coincide with the All-School Reunion.
Waurika Homecoming Court (l-r) Kaci Reynolds, Gracie Walling, Gunner Myers, Alexa Breitigan (Seventh Grade Candidate), Gabe Jenkins, Tallon Mora (Sophomore Candidates and escorts), Coby Mead, Sara Ballard (Senior Candidates), Turner Mora, Travis Etheridge, Nicole Burton (Queen), Edwin Garcia, Seth Waid, Jordan Wadsworth (Senior Candidate and escorts), Jordan Watkins, Peyton Fletcher, Hunter Wesberry, Octavia Gomez, Asia Smith (Junior Candidates), Kaden Dobbs, Traci Ballard (Eighth Grade King and Queen), Cody Ramsey, Karlee Brinson (Freshman Candidate and Attendant with her escort), Lexi Streeter, Faith Roberson High School Crown Bearer: Kade Torres Flower Girl: Harper Watkins (near center) Junior High Crown Bearer: Daniel Neasbitt Flower Girl: Charlie Baxter (far right) Photo by Adam BrinsonHigh School King and Queen Edwin Garcia & Nicole Burton Crown Bearer: Kade Torres Flower Girl: Harper Watkins Photo by Adam Brinson
Junior High King and Queen Kaden Dobbs & Traci Ballard Crown Bearer: Daniel Neasbitt Flower Girl: Charlie Baxter Photo by Adam Brinson
(l-r) Destiny Barnes, Madison Roberson, Madison Christian, and Olivia Ralls
Photo by Tonya Forsyth
by Katelyn Washburn and EagleTalk staff
WHS Senior softball players played their last home game Tuesday, September 11 against the Ryan Cowgirls.While the game ended in a loss for the Lady Eagles, the team still celebrated by recognizing its four senior players:Destiny Barnes, Madison Christian, Olivia Ralls, and Madison Roberson.
Barnes has played softball for WHS since she was a freshman, and has mixed emotions about the season coming to an end. “I am happy it is our last home game and upset we lost.I’m kind of sad that it is over.”Christian agreed, stating “I’m happy that it was the last home game, but sad we lost, and [the season] is almost over. The game didn’t go as well as we wanted.”
As is true with most events during a senior year, senior Lady Eagles girls had mixed emotions about the season wrapping up.Olivia Ralls was also happy that it was their last home game, but added, “I’m sad knowing that I will never be able to play again.”
Madison Roberson summed it up best, saying, “It was sad, but a good night. We may have lost, but we all were in high spirits and that’s really all that matters to me in softball.”
Head softball coach Sloan Roberson spoke fondly of the four Lady Eagles who will be leaving WHS after this school year.“Our last home game was awesome,” Coach Roberson stated.“We honored four seniors for their hard work and dedication during their years of softball.”
Two of the seniors, Madison Roberson and Destiny Barnes, were career Lady Eagles.“Madison Roberson was a 4 year starter for the Lady Eagles and a huge asset to the team. She held pitcher, catcher 3rd base, 2nd base and short stop duties throughout her career. She also had the one of the highest batting averages on the team for each of the four years.
Destiny Barnes was also a 4 year starter for the Lady Eagles. She was a huge asset on the mound. She was penned the name ‘Hoover’ for her amazing skills at 3rds base as well,” Coach Roberson stated.
Roberson also spoke well of the two seniors who came to WHS in the middle of their high school softball careers.
“Madison Christian played for the Lady Eagles for 3 years. She was always there to root for her teammates and did anything and played any position she was asked. She was an amazing center fielder and was always there with a positive attitude.
“Olivia Ralls was a 2 year Lady Eagle softball player. She came to us from Texas and was always willing to give 110% every time she stepped on the field. We will miss her enthusiasm and team spirit”
On April 14, registered students took an exam on Oklahoma history, geography and people in the hope that their high scores would earn them a cash scholarship or tuition grant. This year the organization made available more than $450,000 in scholarships to students statewide.
“This program is designed to reward Oklahoma students who have taken an interest in the rich history of our great state,” said Shannon L. Rich, president & CEO of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord-Pickens Museum. “It also encourages Oklahoma students to stay in state to attend college and be inspired remain here to live and work after receiving their degrees.”
Tuition grants and cash scholarships were awarded to 128 students from 53 counties in Oklahoma. The students were recognized during a scholarship awards ceremony at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, home of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, on Monday, May 14th, in Oklahoma City. A complete list of winners by county is available at OklahomaHoF.com.
From Jefferson County
$1,000 tuition grant
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha
District 7 ODOT engineers Tracy Terrill and Cole Vonfeldt were in Waurika last Wednesday to kick off the wildflower seed planting. Jefferson County ODOT Superintendent, Billy Martin, and his crew planted about 40 pounds of wildflower seeds on State Hwys 70, 81 and 5. The planting area was expanded this year to include all entrances to Waurika. The annual project was at started by the Waurika Sorosis Club three years ago and is a joint project of the Waurika Sorosis Club, Color Oklahoma, the City of Waurika, Jefferson County and ODOT. ODOT plants the seeds each fall. Color Oklahoma board members Craig Williams and Monica Bartling were also here for the annual planting. Many new flowers were planted this year and should bloom in April through the beginning of July.
The Waurika Eagles closed its 2019 baseball season in heart-breaking fashion by dropping the title game of the Class A District Tournament to Rock Creek, 7-6.
Last Thursday on the first day of the tourney the Eagles did manage one win in the tourney opener with a 10-6 victory over Ringling. Rock Creek had already defeated the Blue Devils so the loss to the Eagles eliminated Ringling.
This meant that Waurika or Rock Creek had to win two games to claim the district championship.
Late Thursday, Rock Creek got the first win, 11-3, setting up a championship round on Friday. The Eagles would have had to beat the Mustangs twice to win the tourney.
The Mustangs scored a run in the bottom of the seventh in the 7-6 win to claim the district crown.
Waurika finished the 2019 campaign with a 16-7 record.
In the final game on Friday Rock Creek took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
With the score tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth, the Mustangs took the lead on a two-run home run.
In the top of the seventh, the Eagles fought back to get a pair of runs – one on Jordan Watkins’ sacrifice fly.
Bowden Forsyth Photo by Curtis Plant
The Mustangs scored the winning run in the bottom of the inning to end the Eagles’ season and advance to today’s Class A Regional Tournament.
Hunter Wesberry was 3-for-4 in the game with a triple and two singles. Aaron Nitka finished 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Austin Dyer took the loss on the mound as he surrendered eight hits and struck out five in the game.
In Thursday’s nightcap of the tournament the Eagles fell behind early and could not launch a serious threat during the game.
Peyton Fletcher was the starting pitcher for the Eagles, but he gave up six runs on four walks and a hit and did not retire a batter.
The Mustangs made the 6-0 first inning lead stand the rest of the way.
The Eagles only had three hits in the game – one each by Nitka, Watkins and Colton Bryant. Nitka and Jordan each had doubles with Nitka driving in a run with his two-bagger.
In the tournament’s second game on Thursday, Waurika took the lead for good with five runs in the fourth inning.
Waurika had the lead in the second inning when Wesberry picked up a run-scoring double.
The Blue Devils seized the lead in the top of the third inning, but the Eagles came back in the bottom of the third to take the lead in the game for good.
Senior Baseball Players were recognized at Monday’s Baseball Game. Seniors pictured with their parents and/or those special in their lives (l-r) Chad Black, Gatlin Black, Miranda Black, Zachary Brown, Michelle Salazar, Colton Bryant, Heather Bryant, Bobby Dyer, Austin Dyer, Lisa Dyer, Megan Allen, Gavin Fitzgerald, Coach Joe Allen, Aaron Nitka, and Sloan Roberson Photo by Curtis Plant
One of the big hits in the inning was Bowden Forsyth’s run-scoring single.
Watkins also doubled to score two runs and a Ringling error produced another run to put Waurika on top, 6-3, after four innings.
The Eagles continued to pad the lead and held off the Blue Devils the rest of the way.
Zac Brown, Forsyth and Watkins each had two hits for the Eagles. Watkins finished 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in. Dyer, Fletcher, Wesberry and Forsyth all had doubles in the game.
The Eagles helped produce the 10 runs on the base paths as they stole 10 bases during the game.
Nitka picked up the win on the mound despite giving up six runs of which only two were earned. Nitka struck out nine Blue Devils in four innings of work. Fletcher pitched three innings in relief and recorded the save.
SEASON ENDING NOTES: The 16 wins by Waurika in 2019 is the most by a Eagle baseball squad since the 2012 season when Waurika finished with an 18-7 mark….The 16 wins by coach Joe Allen’s squad is also tied for the eighth most wins since baseball returned to the high school sports menu in 1987 (with four seasons missing final records)….The district tourney runner up finish was the best performance in a district tourney since 2012 when the Eagles last won a district championship in baseball….The 16 wins is the fourth best by a first year coach since 1987.
