LOCAL

The Salvation Army Begins Fund Raiser
Thousands Expected at Rally
Special Love Letters of 50 Years Found at Estate Auction Recently

The Salvation Army Begins Fund Raiser

The Salvation Army annual campaign kicked off Friday during the board of director’s meeting. However, this year the campaign promises to be more than just a fund-raising event. The campaign is also doubling as a contest — a battle of the sexes. The dollar duel has pitted the women board members against the men in a contest to determine which of the sexes can raise the most money.

According to campaign co-chair Patti Pfeiffer-Parr, the stakes are high, as the teams are vying for more than just the bragging rights.

“Because this is a battle of the sexes, we are making the wager sexiest,” Pfeiffer-Parr says. “If (when) the women raise the most money, then the men will have to not only wash but also vacuum our vehicles. If the men, by some stroke of luck, happen to win, we have agreed to cook and serve lunch for them.”

The campaign goal for the local chapter this year is $60,000, and the board members will be working very hard to make their goal a reality.

“This campaign is very important to The Salvation Army because manner and magnitude in which we help others in our community is dependent on the generosity of our citizens,” Pfeiffer-Parr states. “We are able to help others help themselves only because people care and donate to The Salvation Army. It is truly a community effort.”

The campaign slogan this year is “The Salvation Army, changing with the changing times,” which emphasize how The Army has changed throughout the years.

“We want people to know The Army has changed. It is no longer their grandfather’s Army,” explains Stan Kistler, campaign co-chairman. “Locally, as we strive to meet the demands of our community, our programs and services change. As our community changes — we add, we delete and we tweak.”

Kistler says that new services, such as after school care and their newly implemented “New Beginnings” program, are examples of the change The Salvation Army has recently made.

“Times have changed — there are more single parent families today, more parents, families and individuals needing assistance. The Salvation Army is dedicated to providing that assistance in any and every way possible and that is why this campaign is so important to us at The Army and our community as a whole,” Kistler concluded.

Thousands Expected at Rally

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — They’re coming from places like Garber, Calera, Perry and Watts.

Some are traveling from the state’s largest cities: Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Edmond and Lawton. Others will make the trip from some of Oklahoma’s smallest hamlets, towns with names like Oktaha, Leach, Brushing and Prue.

Thousands of teachers and educators from across Oklahoma will converge on the state Capitol Wednesday with a single goal: elevating education to the top of the state’s financial priority list.

‘‘What we hope to have happen is for the Legislature and the governor to put education first. Because it clearly hasn’t been first for the past few years,’’ said David Duvall, executive director of the Oklahoma Education Association.

More than 200 Oklahoma schools districts have altered their calendars to permit teachers and other school personnel to make the trip to Oklahoma City to attend the education rally and explain their education agenda to legislators. More than 100 other school districts are sending representatives.

Organizers say the rally will be the biggest since the massive teacher demonstrations that preceded passage of the landmark education reform measure known as House Bill 1017 a decade ago.

‘‘It’ll be huge,’’ said Doug Folks, an OEA spokesman. Folks said 150 buses of educators are expected from Tulsa alone.

And their presence will not go unnoticed by lawmakers.

The Oklahoma House has already passed a $167 million teacher pay raise bill that will give $3,000 annual raises to teachers. The measure is expected to be taken up by the Senate today with final passage by both houses expected on the day the teachers arrive.

‘‘We know we need to raise teacher pay,’’ said Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, R-Edmond, who has publicly encouraged teachers not to attend the rally. ‘‘It is much more effective to write a personal letter or make a personal phone call to your own legislator than it is to attend the rally.’’

But Pettigrew, assistant minority leader in the House, said he will still meet with teachers from his district ‘‘with glee.’’ He said he even plans to buy a box of apples to present to teachers as a gesture of good will.

Grassroots support for the rally indicates that Oklahoma educators are ‘‘extremely, extremely, extremely frustrated’’ by what they believe is state government’s ‘‘diminished commitment to funding education,’’ Duvall said.

‘‘Surveys show people support public education and would pay more for public education. But that’s not what we’ve seen from state government,’’ he said.

Oklahoma’s teacher salaries rank 48th in the nation, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Oklahoma teachers make about $75 for every $100 earned nationally.

Hundreds of teachers have quit in recent months to take higher-paying education jobs in surrounding states or in the private sector. Among states in the region, only Mississippi has lower teacher salaries than Oklahoma.

House Speaker Loyd Benson, D-Frederick, author of the teacher pay raise bill, has said almost 1,000 teachers left state classrooms between June and September for higher-paying jobs elsewhere.

‘‘Along with a teacher shortage, there is a respect shortage,’’ Duvall said.

Special Love Letters of 50 Years Found at Estate Auction Recently

By KATHY ZEHR

News Staff Writer

As we make our Valentine’s Day card selections from local shops, we read the cards expressing hundreds of ways to love. The love is expressed from child to parent, parent for child, from and to grandparents, friend to friend, young lovers special messages to each other, and the list goes on and on.

Favorite love stories are also told and retold each February, and we recall some of our personal experiences. Light funny “puppy love” stories; sentimental stories of courtship and marriage, loves lost, and the romantic sagas of very special heroes who fought for those they loved. Many love stories are preserved in love letters.

One such continuing love story came to light in Ponca City recently after resident, Paula Denson, bid on a special box of old letters at an estate sale. The well-preserved letters revealed a very special love between residents of Ponca City and some handsome young men who lived and trained here during World War II. The letters also record a part of the unique history of Ponca City that has spanned more than half a century.

“I went to an estate auction to bid on a certain item listed in the newspaper,” says Paula. While waiting for the bidding to start and looking through other items for sale Denson noticed a box of old letters. Since they were written about the time she was born, she investigated further and found the letters to be from England’s Royal Air Force pilots who had been stationed at Darr School for flight training during World War II. The well preserved letters had been written to the former owners of the estate who were both now deceased.

Paula, an avid historian, and also thinking the stamps might be valuable, bid on the box and became owner of the 60 pieces of correspondence for two dollars!

Taking the letters home, she enjoyed reading, then took them to her mother Erma Carmack, who had lived in Ponca City during the time the RAF trained here.

Many of the letters mentioned social events and activities that happened in the early 1940s in Ponca City. In addition to the references to people and events in Ponca City, the RAF flyers also wrote about some of their misadventures while flying their planes in World War II and a lot about their families.

The old letters also carried information from wives or parents. They thanked the Poncans for sharing their homes with the men. Sadly, several wrote to say some of the flyers had been killed in the war. After reading the continuing words of praise, thanks and love in the beautifully penned letters, Erma logged the names and old addresses of the young pilots into a computer record, noting those who were known dead. In addition to the casualties, Paula expected that many had also died of natural causes in the 50 plus years since the war.

The women then contacted Lillian and Harold Taylor who travel frequently to England. They gave the Taylors a copy of the list and asked them if they would like to search for some of the flyers while visiting there.

After the Taylor’s search in England in 1998, Paula was excited several months later to receive a long letter from one of the surviving RAF flyers. He briefly detailed his stay in Ponca City and told about his life and retirement since. Paula responded and asked Mr. John C. Price to pen some detailed memories of his stay in Ponca City in the 1940s and is currently waiting for his response — and the story continues.

According to full-page stories in area newspapers in the 1940s, the young British trainees arrived in Ponca City to see Indians in blankets on the streets mixed with what they observed to be an excess of wealth and prosperity. From 1941-43 hundreds of these young fliers arrived and each lived and trained here for six months.

Ponca Citians opened their hearts and homes to the young men so far from home. The bonds of love established and remembrances of special people and times have continued to be important to those involved for more than half a century. Arthur E. Taft and his wife, who housed and entertained many boys during that time said, “we certainly have made many friendships that shall endure as long as we live.” Living rooms in Ponca were loaded with pictures of the RAF pilots and some had gold stars pasted across the front before the war was over.

A lump comes to the throat and tears to the eyes as the letters from those young men recall how they spent thousands of hours in the homes of Ponca City hosts. They learned to fry potatoes and taught their hosts to make “proper” tea. They slept, ate, developed pictures in kitchen sinks, washed dishes, wrote letters, cooked, went fishing, made beds, attended church, enjoyed the company of pretty Ponca City girls, raised flowers and told about their homes and families — and then they were gone.

According to Morris P. Moore who wrote for the Daily Oklahoman, “Every two months for more than two years, there was a touching scene at the Santa Fe Station in Ponca, when a class would be shipped out. Hour of departure was supposed to be secret, but “mom and pop Ponca” (and a lot of pretty girls) had a way of knowing. Some of those families included Helen Edwards, Ruth Guest, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Taft, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Jamieson, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Smith, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Hocker, Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Ramsey, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Coppock and many others.

“The Poncans choked up and there were usually tears, but the British , more reserved and less emotional, fumbled through the good-byes.”

But, as attested by citizens who were involved, and the historic letters found by Paula, the letters received from the fliers for the last 50 years have been filled with love, sentiments and remembrances. Some of the young men came back to marry local girls and many have brought their English families back to visit their Oklahoma families through the years.

Paula Denson plans to continue seeking more information about the fliers and the families who hosted them. Interested persons may write her at 3250 Sunny Lane, Ponca City, OK 74601 or e-mail at pkdenson@poncacity.net.

DEATHS

Helen Dorothy Hudson
Jacob Lewis Lentz
Florence Hendrickson
Leona J. Tanner

Helen Dorothy Hudson

BLACKWELL — Helen Dorothy Hudson, former resident of Blackwell, died late Saturday evening, Feb. 12, 2000, in the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. She was 78.

A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, in the James W. Roberts Memorial Chapel of the Blackwell Cemetery with the Rev. Dan Kennedy officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home in Blackwell.

Helen Dorothy Hudson was born on Aug. 24, 1921, in Pawhuska, the daughter of W.S. and Audie (Wood) Hudson. As a small girl, she moved with her family to Tonkawa and then to Blackwell. For the past 24 years, she has been a resident at the Tender Heart Nursing Home in Ponca City. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Blackwell.

She is survived by a sister, Ora Christine Patten of Tonkawa and a brother, Harold Hudson of Salina, Kan. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Opportunity Center of Ponca City, 2225 North Union, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.

Funerals

Tuesday

Jacob Lewis Lentz

Funeral at 10:30 a.m. in the Poteet Funeral Home in Pawnee. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home in Pawnee.

Services Pending

Florence Hendrickson

Florence Hendrickson, resident of Ponca City, died Monday morning, Feb. 14, 2000, at her home. She was 89. Survivors include her son, Hal Hendrickson of Ponca City. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Leona J. Tanner

FAIRFAX — Leona J. Tanner, longtime resident of Fairfax, died Sunday morning, Feb. 13, 2000, in the Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. She was 62. Survivors include her daughter, Cathy Hall of Ralston. Services are pending with Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home of Fairfax.

NEWS BRIEFS

Clothing Giveaway Canceled — The clothing giveaway at First Assembly God has been canceled for tonight. Watch for the opening of Helping Hands in the near future.

Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle, installation. $1,695. 765-2633. adv.

55 and Older Club —The 55 and Older Club will have a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 700 West Broadway. Those attending are asked to bring a favorite dish. The club will provide utensils. The afternoon will be spent playing games. Those attending are asked to bring a favorite Valentine from someone to share. The club is open Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 until 4 p.m.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-

9689. adv.

PCCWC Luncheon — All area women are invited to come to the “Designed for You” luncheon on Feb. 16, 12: 30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Ponca City Country Club. Sponsored by the Ponca City Christian Women’s Club, the cost is $8.50. Calling Jeanette at 765-8427 may make reservations for the luncheon and complementary childcare. It is necessary for reservations to be honored, canceled or used by a friend.

Item Missing — A person reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:41 a.m. Saturday that while parked at Wal-Mart someone had broken into the vehicle and a speaker was stolen.

Vandalism — A woman from the 600 block of West Broadway Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:53 a.m. Saturday that a door to the residence had been vandalized during the night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vandalism — A man from the 2000 block of North Seventh Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:26 a.m. Saturday that someone had broken a window out of his vehicle Friday night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Bicycle Stolen — A man from the 600 block of South Ninth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:44 a.m. Saturday that a bicycle had been stolen.

PrimeTimer— A travel show of scenic California will be shown for PrimeTimers Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Pioneer Bank and Trust.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of North Union Street and Hartford Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:31 a.m. Saturday.

Vandalism — A man from the 100 block of North Birch Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at noon Saturday that someone had vandalized his son’s vehicle.

Accident — An accident in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, 1101 East Prospect Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:04 p.m. Saturday. Information was exchanged by subjects involved.

Burglary — A person reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:41 p.m. Saturday that a vehicle had been broken into while at Albertson’s Distribution Center, 2500 Industrial Boulevard. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 2400 block of North Fourteenth Street at 4:15 p.m. Saturday that a 39-year-old man was being held on a Kay County warrant and a city warrant for failure to pay.

Gas Stolen — A man from the 2200 block of Jane Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 6:29 p.m. Saturday that some gas had been stolen from his vehicle and the tires were flattened. The information was logged.

Item Missing — A woman from the 1600 block of Shirlee reported to the Ponca City Police department at 8:24 p.m. Saturday that her wallet and other items had been taken from her vehicle while parked at the residence. Information was logged that the vehicle had been unlocked.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of West Highland Avenue and North Osage Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:18 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 600 block of West Highland Avenue at 10:16 p.m. Saturday that a 52-year-old woman was being held for public intoxication and a 49-year-old man was being held for actual physical control.

Accident — An accident in the parking lot of Northpark Cinema, 800 East Prospect Avenue, was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:54 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken that one subject was at the emergency room of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries received in the accident.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of Pecan Road and East Prospect Avenue at 11:28 p.m. Saturday that a 48-year-old man was being held for DUI. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Osage Street and West Cleveland Avenue at 2:20 a.m. Sunday that a 26-year-old woman was being held for DUI, a 22-year-old woman was being held on a city warrant, and a 25-year-old man was being held on a city warrant.

Abandoned Bicycle — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 11:31 p.m. Saturday that a bicycle had been abandoned on the west side of Grand Central Station. Information was left for Animal Control to remove the bicycle.

Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Fifth Street and Young Avenue at 12:33 a.m. Sunday that a 29-year-old man was being held for DUI. Another subject, a 31-year-old man was held for public intoxication.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of Pecan Road and East Prospect Avenue at 1:06 a.m. Sunday that a 37-year-old woman was being held for DUI and driving left of center.

Disturbance — The manager of Stratford House, 2320 North Fourteenth Street, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:28 a.m. Sunday that subjects had been removed from a room and were tearing up property. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vandalism — A man from the 300 block of South Perry Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:39 p.m. Sunday that a vehicle had been vandalized.

Theft — A woman from the 900 block of North Pine Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:43 p.m. Sunday that some items had been stolen from a pickup while it had been parked in the driveway. An officer was assigned and information was logged.

Grass Fire — A grass fire in a yard of 13 Noel Lane was reported to the Communications Center at 3:53 p.m. Sunday. McCord Volunteer Fire Department was notified and a request was made to contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office as a the fire was of a suspicious nature and may have been set by arsonists.

Subjects Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of West Broadway Avenue and North Osage Street at 6:17 a.m. Saturday that a 28-year-old man was being held for DUI and transporting an open bottle. Three other people were held for public intoxication, including a 43-year-old man, a 29-year-old man and a 22-year-old man. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

Abandoned Bicycle — A resident in the 500 block of Lansbrook reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:34 p.m. Sunday that a bicycle had been abandoned in the front yard. Information was left for Animal Control to remove the bicycle.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 400 block of East South Avenue at 1:32 p.m. Sunday that a 45-year-old man was being held on Kay County warrants for failure to appear and failure to pay.

Vandalism — A woman from the 300 block of East Park Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:42 p.m. Sunday that the house had been broken into. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department was assigned and information was logged that some items were recovered.

LIFESTYLES

Women To Attend Workshops At Oklahoma Capitol March 8
Unit II Members Hear Book Review

Women To Attend Workshops At Oklahoma Capitol March 8

Women from across the state will attend workshops at the Oklahoma Capitol during the annual “Legislative Coalition Day 2000: Blazing into the Future” on Wednesday, March 8. Diane McDaniel, chair of the day-long event, said the mission of the lobby day is to provide knowledge of and experience with the state legislative process and topics of concern through workshops and visits with State Representatives and Senators by their constituents.

“We also want to provide a networking opportunity for women from a variety of organizations to discuss issues of common concern,” said McDaniel. Three workshops will highlight.. “Hot Issues in the Legislature.” “Healthy Oklahoma: Children. Youth and Family Issues” presented by Anne Roberts. Executive Director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, and “Legal Issues for Women: What Needs to Change” presented by Laura Cross, Attorney at Law.

Nine organizations are sponsoring this year’s Legislative Coalition Day 2000. They include the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Oklahoma Business and Professional Women (BPW), Delta Sigma Theta (DST), Oklahoma Family Community Leadership Program (OFCLP). League of Women Voters of Oklahoma (LWVOK), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Oklahoma Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (OAFCS), Oklahoma Library Association (OLA), and Oklahoma Women’s Political Caucus (OWPC).

Pre-registration prior to March I is encouraged. Send checks for $15.00 payable to League of Women Voters of Oklahoma at 525 NW I 3th, Oklahoma City, OK 7’ ) 103. “Legislative Coalition Day 2000” will be held on the second and fourth floor of the Capitol in Oklahoma City from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. For further information, call the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma at 405-232-8683

Unit II Members Hear Book Review

Unit II of the Ponca City Mother’s Club met Feb. 3 in the home of Sandy Bishop for the monthly luncheon. Jayne Cooper and Pat Morahan were co-hostesses. There were 21 members and three guests present.

Guest speaker, Marge Parker, gave a book review of “Hershey Bar Sandwich,” which was written by Helga Rule. Helen and Gallagher Rule were also present for the meeting.

Thank you notes were read for the four new coats purchased by the club for children. Lisa Rosetti was named chairman for the spring luncheon. Selected for a nominating committee were Sandy Bishop, Jerri Boyer and Pat Reedy.

Zofia Bohon won the door prize. Paper goods were brought for donation to the Domestic Violence project. The March 3 meeting will be hosted by Jerri Boyer.

SPORTS

Monday Evening Quarterback
Swimmers Have Good Meet
Pokes Nip Sooners
Cowboys Edge Out Grambling
Stars Defeat Sooners For Second Time

Monday Evening Quarterback

Huddling in the small recess of the stairs to the upper section of seats at Robson Field House, a youngster — first grade, maybe second — sat crying, crying hard.

Head down, his small frame shaking with sobs, it wasn’t hard to figure out he had just lost his match in the Northwest Regional Kids Wrestling Tournament going on on the mats below.

He hadn’t learned yet you are supposed to learn from your defeats.

Hundreds of people sat or milled around just a few feet from him. A few walked past him, perhaps seeing him out of the corner on their eye. None stopped to try to console him.

Adults, in today’s society have to be careful. A pat on the head or a hand on a shoulder might be misconstrued.

So he sat alone, crying.

Other young boys had lost in the tournament. That’s the nature of competitive sports. Someone wins, someone loses. Most walked off stoic. For a few there were tears.

Tears that lessened or stopped with a hug from a coach or parent.

Where was this youngster’s hug?

Where was his coach?

Probably coaching another youngster who was trying not to lose. But which youngster needed that coach the most at that moment?

Where were his parents?

Maybe they hadn’t come. It’s hard to take a Saturday off and travel perhaps hundreds of miles to see a son wrestle maybe one or two matches. Or worse, maybe they were there and mad at the youngster because he had lost.

Whatever the reason, this youngster sat alone and inconsolable.

It brings up the question of when is a young athlete ready for competitive competition.

There are as many answers as there are parents and coaches.

Youngsters who take losing this hard will often quit this sport and try another. Losing in a team sport is easier. The hurt is spread around.

Or he will grit his teeth, return to the practice mat Monday and try harder, “learning from his defeats.”

Lady Wildcat basketball coach Dana Pulley says she is just now letting her eight-year-old daughter join a competitive team — in soccer.

“My husband and I were both athletes,” she says. “We talked it over and decided to wait to allow our kids join a team. We wanted to throw the ball around with them in our back yard while they were young.”

Pulley notes she, herself, didn’t start organized basketball until she was in the fourth grade.

“It didn’t hurt me by starting later” she says. "I won a scholarship and played basketball in college.”

Former Wildcat wrestling coach Bob Wilson says starting a youngster in organized sports at age four or five does help — a select few.

“Those are your exceptional athlete. They can start early and be okay.”

“But most youngsters need to try out different sports. They need to play football, then go into basketball or wrestling, then go on to baseball or some other sport in the spring.”

“They need to find out which sport they enjoy.”

Wilson warns that for a large number of youngsters who start competition too early, the risk for burnout is great.

"Kids burnout by the time they reach junior high or high school age. And parents do, too. It’s hard to travel with a youngster every week, to run them back and fourth to practice.”

There is no one answer for every young athlete. Each is different and should be treated that way by parents and coaches.

Some youngster — boys or girls — will take to a sport — and some of the hard knocks — easier than for others.

But no matter who the child is, sports should be fun.

It shouldn’t leave a young boy crying alone in the corner of a crowded gym.

Swimmers Have Good Meet

The Po-Hi swimmers traveled to Stillwater on Friday and Saturday for the Frontier Conference swimming and diving championships. The Lady Cats finished fifth with total points of 235, and the Wildcats sixth with 191, in a conference field of almost 200 swimmers.

“It was a good meet for us,” said Dave Strah, head coach. “We thought the girls would beat Broken Arrow and finish fourth, but we should finish ahead of them (Broken Arrow) at State. The boys swam well. It’ll be interesting to see where we finish at State.”

The Lady Cat team of Shannon Mersman, Sunita Chahar, Andra Nuzum and Kayla Mills got things started in the 200-medley relay. They were just out-touched by the Stillwater team and finished second. The Lady Cats are currently ranked third in the state in this event.

In the 200-freestyle, junior Eric Whitebay posted a state-qualifying time in the prelims and finished eighth overall. Freshman Ashton Herbert posted a personal best in this event and dropped 7 seconds, placing in the consols.

“Marie Brown had a great swim in the 200-IM,” said Strah. “She posted a personal best and finished fourth — it was great.”

Shannon Mersman finished eighth and Alycia Sadok placed in the consolations in the 200-individual medley.

In the 50-freestyle four Lady Cat swimmers posted personal best times and are all freshmen. Kayla Mills finished fourth overall, with Lindsey Mersman, Molly Tomek and Lindsey Niemann placing in the consols.

“We have five freshmen girls (Brown, Mills, Mersman, Tomek, Niemann) who are swimming really well right now. They are the future of our Lady Cat program and setting the standard for the younger girls — in three years we’ll be at the top,” said Strah.

In the boys 50-freestyle freshman Matt Dickey placed first in the consols. “Matt is swimming really well. He’s been working hard and it shows,” said Strah.

Senior Rory Peterson did what he does best — he beats the competition. Peterson placed first in 100-butterfly and first in the 500-freestyle. Junior Eric Whitebay wasn’t far behind Peterson in the 500-freestyle, placing sixth in that event.

Peterson also set a new team record in the 100-butterfly posting a 53.3 and maintains his number one ranking in the state in that event.

For the ladies in the 100-butterfly, two juniors got the job done — Andra Nuzum placed seventh and Sunita Chahar placed in the consols.

In the 100-freestyle, Mills and Brown finished fifth and sixth, with Lindsey Mersman placing in the consolations for the Lady Cats. For the boys, Matt Dickey and Michael Powers both placed in the consols. “Michael Powers had a great swim in the 100-free, dropping five seconds. I talked Michael into shaving Friday night and it made all the difference in the world on Saturday,” said Strah.

In the 200-freestyle relay both the boys and girls finished fourth.

“The closest race of the meet was the 100-backstroke. Shannon (Mersman) was just out-touched by two Stillwater swimmers finishing third,” said Strah. Freshman Meena Chahar posted a personal best time in the 100-backstroke, placing in the consols in her best swim of the season.

In the 100-breastroke, Sunita Chahar finished eighth for the girls and freshman Ashton Herbert placed in the consols with a personal best time for the boys.

The Lady Cats finished fourth in the 400-freestyle relay with the team of Shannon Mersman, Andra Nuzum, Marie Brown and Kayla Mills. Powerhouses Jenks, Stillwater and Union finished ahead of the Lady Cats.

For the boys, the team of Rory Peterson, Matt Dickey, Ashton Herbert and Eric Whitebay finished sixth in the 400-relay.

Senior Eric Chambray finished second in the diving, setting a new team record for points in diving at 415.2. “Eric’s entry on his two-and-a-half was just a little bit off — that’s the only reason he took second,” said Strah.

The Po-Hi swimmers will spend the next two weeks training for State, held in Oklahoma City on February 25 and 26.

Pokes Nip Sooners

NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma’s Byron Tucker scored a major decision in the first match, but Oklahoma State won the final match to take a 19-16 victory over the Sooners in bedlam wrestling Sunday.

Tucker gave Oklahoma (15-4-1) an early 4-0 lead, winning 19-6 against Tony Gansen in the 174-pound category.

But OSU’s Daniel Cormier scored a 13-4 major decision over Tommy Grossman at 184 pounds, giving the Cowboys a 10-4 advantage. At 197 pounds, Orville Palmer was penalized for stalling with just under a minute left, allowing OSU’s Mark Munoz to escape with a 2-1 decision. And in the heavyweight category, Dave Anderton shut out Brent Boeshans, 2-0.

Then the teams traded victories.

Quantres Bates gave Oklahoma a win with a fall against OSU’s Jeff Ragan at 2:59 in the 125-pound category. The teams were tied at 10-10.

Then OU’s Will Durden fell 8-4 against Charles Walker of Oklahoma State at 133 pounds, giving OSU a 13-10 lead.

A penalty point was the deciding point at 141 pounds, where OU’s Michael Lightner defeated OSU’s Jamill Kelly 2-1.

Oklahoma State took the 149-pound match when Reggie Wright beat Jared Frayer and David Kjeldgaard decision Oklahoma State’s Shane Roller, 5-4, at 157 pounds.

The dual was decided in the final 165-pound round, when OSU’s Ty Wilcox beat Robbie Waller, 6-1.

OKLAHOMA STATE 19, OKLAHOMA 16

174 pounds — Byron Tucker, OU, major decision Tony Gansen, OSU, 19-6

184 pounds — Daniel Cormier, OSU, major decision Tommy Grossman, OU, 13-4

197 pounds — Mark Munoz, OSU, decision Orville Palmer, OU, 2-1

Heavyweight — Dave Anderton, OSU, decision, Brent Boeshans, OU, 2-0

125 pounds — Quantres Bates, OU, fall Jeff Ragan, OSU, 2:59

133 pounds — Charles Walker, OSU, decision Witt Durden, OU, 8-4

141 pounds — Michael Lightner, OU, Jamill Kelly, OSU, 2-1

149 pounds — Reggie Wright, OSU, decision Jared Frayer, OU, 7-2

157 pounds — David Kjeldgaard, OU, decision Shane Roller, OSU, 5-4

165 pounds — Ty Wilcox, OSU, decision Robbie Waller, OU, 6-1

Cowboys Edge Out Grambling

RUSTON, La. (AP) — A pitch hit Robert Smith in the fifth inning, allowed Toby Rhodes to score and gave Oklahoma State the lead for good as the Cowboys beat Grambling 11-9 Sunday.

The Cowboys (3-3) and Grambling scored two runs each in the first inning.

A sacrifice fly by Ronte Langs in the second inning put OSU ahead 3-2 and a double by Michael Lorsbach extended the advantage to 4-2 in the third inning.

Dustin Ebanks’ single to center field in the bottom of the third moved Grambling to within one at 4-3, then Grambling took advantage of OSU’s lack of scoring in the fourth inning and tied the game at 4-4 with Juan Alexander’s groundout to the shortstop.

After Smith’s run, the Cowboys and Grambling both exploded for three-run innings.

Both teams scored a run in the ninth inning.

Luke Scott belted a home run for Oklahoma State and Chris Cottonham hit one for Grambling.

Clint Salibury (1-0) picked up the victory for Oklahoma State and Quenten Patterson earned the save.

Stars Defeat Sooners For Second Time

NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma City pitcher Frank Halter allowed only two runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings as the Stars handed Oklahoma a second-straight loss, this one 5-3 on Sunday.

Oklahoma City (2-0) ran up a 5-1 lead, but the Sooners came back in the eight inning. With two outs and runners at first and third, Tommy Whiteman hit an RBI-single to score Zach Lekse, rising the score to 5-2.

In the ninth inning, Jeff Bajenaru scored on a wild pitch by OCU’s Doug Riddle. But Riddle managed to strike out Eliot Joyner to end the game.

The Stars picked up the final two runs off OU reliever Jeff Wigington in the sixth inning.

Halter’s victory was his first on the season.

Austin Coose (1-1) took the loss.