From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Monday, February 9, 1998

LOCAL
Cemetery Sale Rejected Again By Commission
Annual School Vote To Be Held Tuesday
The Lazy Brown Fox?
Will Rogers Council of Boy Scouts Plans 50th Anniversary Banquet

DEATHS
Cora Kinder Capps
Nicholas Porter
Services Pending
Edith Isenberg
Jack C. Engle
Emma J. Chandler
Randy Schafer

NEWS BRIEFS

LIFESTYLES
Little News
Lilac Club To Meet
Anthropological Meeting
Eta Zeta Chapter Social Planned
Xi Zeta Lambda Chapter Meets
Busy Bee Members Attend Valentine Party

SPORTS
Monday Evening Quarterback
Cowboy Win Comes With Pair of Upsets
News Sports Editor



LOCAL

Cemetery Sale Rejected Again By Commission

By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer

NEWKIRK - The controversy over the proposed sale of Ponca City's IOOF Cemetery continued this morning as the Kay County Commissioners denied it for the second time.

It was the latest obstacle in the Ponca City Odd Fellows Lodge's quest to sell its century-old cemetery to an international corporation, The Loewen Group.

The proposed sale has been protested heavily by area burial-industry representatives and other citizens since the lodge's voting members made their decision last summer.

Following an executive session prior to today's meeting, the commission was quick to reach another unanimous decision. District One Commissioner Dee Schieber, who initiated the vote, cited the character of the intended purchaser as reason for denying the application for approval.

All three commissioners later said they would not comment on their decision per instructions from the district attorney's office.

The lodge's attorney, C.D. Northcutt of Ponca City, said the decision will be appealed in District Court. Northcutt had already filed an appeal over the commissioners' original Dec. 17 denial.

The board had a 60-day review period for the December decision, and during commission meetings since then, the commissioners discussed researching the operations of other Loewen-owned cemeteries in Oklahoma and neighboring states via phone calls and correspondence.

Assistant District Attorney Chuck Bloeser said the decision against the cemetery sale is interesting from a legal standpoint because it tests a 40-year-old state statute that apparently has never been tested.

The state statute "tells us what to do, but there's been no case law so far," Bloeser said.

"A test of the statute, in the long run, is a good thing for the whole commission process," he said.

The appeal process in the cemetery case is already headed for the judge, with a Feb. 25 motion hearing scheduled before Special District Judge D.C. Revard at the courthouse.

 

Annual School Vote To Be Held Tuesday

By KRISTI HAYES
News Education Editor

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the annual school elections. Registered voters will decide on board candidates as school mill levies plus an unrelated vote on State Question 672.

For the Ponca City Board of Education, voters will choose between incumbent Mike Kruck and Ann Kinsinger. For the Pioneer Technology Center, voters will decide on incumbent Mary Rigdon and Zane Barham.

Other board of education positions in Kay, Osage and Noble Counties which will be decided Feb. 10 are:

- Mary Cordell and Timothy B. Bradfield for Blackwell I-45 Office No. 3 (five-year term).

- Allen Miller and Dale Luce for Braman I-18 Office No. 3 (five-year term).

- Rexford Tautfest, Dennis Williams and Geary Watson for Frontier I-4 Office No. 3 (five-year term).

- Gary D. Madison and Gayle Edwards for Woodlands I-90 Office No. 6 (four-year term).

- Francis A. Murphy and Sheila Fields for Shidler I-11 Office No. 3 (five-year term).

School Millages

School millages are distinct to each local school district. These millages are renewed each year by a vote of the patrons of each local district and make up a significant portion of the operating budget for local schools.

The current levies for Kay County are 10.22 for local, 5.11 for emergency and 5.11 for building.

The passing of these levies will not result in a tax rate increase for the support of local schools. The tax rate is the same approved for the past several years.

Gov. Frank Keating also called the State Question 672 to be on the same ballot with all of Oklahoma's annual school elections. Question 672 is a measure that would legalize casino gambling in limited locations in Oklahoma. The school mill levies and State Question 672 are two different issues.

 

The Lazy Brown Fox?

PERHAPS A YAWNING fox in Ponca City could be the start of a new trend to break the tradition of a Pennsylvania ground hog signaling how long winter will last. Local Conoco photographer Garth Hannum captured the fox during a mid-day respite near the company's North Tower facility last week. Company officials say that the fox has been a frequent visitor to the complex for the past couple of months.

 

Will Rogers Council of Boy Scouts Plans 50th Anniversary Banquet

The Will Rogers Council, Boy Scouts of America, announced from its headquarters that plans for the 1998 50th Anniversary Council Banquet are coming right along.

The banquet will be Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Oklahoma State University Student Union.

The Will Rogers Council was organized on Jan. 1, 1948, as the result of a merger on the Northern Oklahoma Council and the Cimarron Valley Council. The Will Rogers Council has been1 providing Scouting to the youth of North Central Oklahoma since 1948. Ray Matoy, who was the first Scout Executive of the Will Rogers Council, now lives in Stillwater and is a member of the Council Executive Board.

This year at the banquet the Council will recognize 49 young men who earned the Eagle scout rank in 1997. Local students will be: Erick Ireland, Ryan Ireland, Travis Harris and Ray Stiner, Blackwell; Brent Allison, Chad Longmore, Stephen Wolff, Stephen Collins, Justin Sparks, Samuel Goeppinger, Michael Leonard, Charles C.J. Oster, Luke Cobb, Nickolas Combs, Daniel Meyers, Micah Perkins and Jason Winters, Ponca City; and Ryan Salisbury, Tonkawa.

All past Eagle Scouts of the Will Rogers Council are invited to attend this special 50th Anniversary Banquet. The program for the banquet will be presented by Will Rogers (Gene McFall) and the Master of Ceremonies will be Eagle Scout Gentner Drummond.

Tickets ($15 each) may be ordered by calling (580) 765-6669 or 1-800-478-2563.



DEATHS

Cora Kinder Capps

Cora Kinder Capps, resident of Sterling House, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 90.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Johnson's Funeral Home Chapel in Pawhuska with the Rev. Ronald Eldridge officiating. Burial will be in the Pawhuska City Cemetery.

Cora (Jenkins) Kinder Capps was born Jan. 23, 1908, in Evansville, Ark., the daughter of Charley Otho and Edner (Gassaway) Jenkins.

She was married to Lara Charley Kinder on Dec. 19, 1925, in the Atlantic Field oil camp near Pawhuska. During world War II, she was employed at the Pawhuska Tent Factory and after the war for the Pawhuska Manufacturing Company. She later retired as cook from Lynn Elementary School in Pawhuska. She was an active member of the First Christian Church, a 50-year member of the Pawhuska Home Demonstration Club and had volunteered at the Osage County Fair for many years. Mr. Kinder preceded her in death in September 1968.

She was married to Roy Capps on May 11, 1980, in Pawhuska, and the couple made their home in Bartlesville. After the death of Mr. Capps in June 1986, she moved to Ponca City. While living in Ponca City she was a member of the Pioneer Doll Club.

Survivors include one son, George Ed Kinder of Ponca City; two daughters, Cora Lea "Sally" Woodrell of Bartlesville and Vada Rose Robertson of Webb City; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends. In addition to both husbands and her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers and one great-grandson.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Capps' name to First Christian Church, 814 Prudom, Pawhuska, OK 74056; or to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 835 N.E. Thirteenth Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.

 

Nicholas Porter

Nicholas Porter, former Ponca City resident, died Friday, Feb. 6, 1998, at Columbia Edmond Medical Center in Edmond after a long illness. He was 34.

The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ponca City IOOF Cemetery with the Rev. David Clipson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.

Nicholas Porter was born Oct. 15, 1963, in Long Beach, Calif. He graduated from Ponca City High School, then attended the University of Central Oklahoma were he earned a degree in business administration. Porter was employed for several years in restaurant management and most recently worked for a social services agency. He enjoyed reading and helping others.

Survivors include one son, Zachary; his mother, Becky Goad of Ponca City; one sister, Karen Bjurman if Irvine, Calif.; one brother, Mark Revels of Oklahoma City; his grandfather, Clarence Porter of Ponca City; and three nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Porter's name to the First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1442, Ponca City, OK 74601.

The family will be at 1804 North Woodlands in Ponca City.

 

Services Pending

 

Edith Isenberg

Edith Isenberg, Ponca City resident, died early this morning, Feb. 9, 1998, at her home. She was 80. Survivors include her husband, J.W. Isenberg of the home. The casket will remain closed at all times. Arrangements are pending with Miller-Stahl Funeral Service, Newkirk.

 

Jack C. Engle

Jack C. Engle, Ponca City resident, died early this morning, Feb. 9, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 72. Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.

 

Emma J. Chandler

Emma J. Chandler, longtime Ponca City resident, died early this morning, Feb. 9, 1998, at her home. She was 71. Local survivors include her husband Kenneth "Doc" Chandler, of the home. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.

 

Randy Schafer

Randy Schafer, Ponca City resident, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 1998, at the Pawhuska City Hospital. He was 44. Local survivors include his wife, Audrey, of the home. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.



NEWS BRIEFS

Vets and Spouse - Learn what your benefits are at a seminar conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion Post, 407 West South Avenue.

Tires Slashed - A man from the 200 block of South Eleventh Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:15 a.m. Saturday that seven tires on two vehicles had been slashed. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 200 block of East Walnut Avenue at 11:35 a.m. Saturday that two male subjects were being held for assault and battery.

Assault - The Communications Center received a 911 call from the 700 block of North Palm Street at 12:58 p.m. Saturday that assistance was needed concerning a female subject. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. At 2:08 p.m., a 17-year-old female was held on two counts of assault and battery.

Leaves Without Paying - An employee at Golden Corral, 2120 North Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:32 p.m. Saturday that three male subjects had left the business without paying for their meals. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Tires Slashed - a woman from the 300 block of North Thirteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:52 p.m. Saturday that four tires on a vehicle had been slashed Friday night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Structure Fire - The Communications Center received a 911 call at 2:01 p.m. Saturday that a structure was on fire in Marland. The Marland Volunteer Fire Department was notified and handled the situation. Oklahoma Gas and Electric was also notified. The fire department was renotified at 4:26 a.m. Sunday that the fire had rekindled.

Vehicle Towed - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 2:16 p.m. Saturday from the intersection of North Third Street and East Cleveland Avenue that a vehicle was being towed from the scene for having an expired tag.

Gas Drive-Off - An employee of Triple T, 720 South Waverly, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:10 p.m. Saturday that a vehicle had left east bound on South Avenue without paying for gas. An officer was assigned and a petit larceny report was taken.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 4:16 p.m. Saturday that a 34-year-old man was being held for driving under suspension, having no insurance and having an expired tag on the vehicle. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Assault - A person from the 800 block of South Second Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:18 p.m. Saturday that an assault had occurred. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Accident - A three-vehicle accident in a parking lot of the 2100 block of North Union Street was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 4:25 p.m. Saturday. Two officers were assigned and a report was taken.

Gas Drive-Off - The Ponca City Police Department received a report from an employee at Triple T, 425 South Fourteenth Street, at 4:27 p.m. Saturday that a subject in a vehicle had left the scene heading south on Fourteenth Street without paying for $10 worth of gas. An officer was assigned and a petit larceny report was taken.

Accident - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 4:53 p.m. Saturday that a report was being taken on a minor accident that had occurred in the 2100 block of North Union Street.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 500 block of North Pine Street at 5:38 p.m. Saturday that a 31-year-old man was being held for domestic assault and battery and violation of a protective order. A report was taken.

Assault - A woman from the 900 block of South Eighth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 6:53 p.m. Saturday that an assault had occurred. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 500 block of South Seventh Street at 6:54 p.m. Saturday that a 19-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to appear.

Requests Assistance - A subject at Lazy K Motel requested assistance from the Ponca City Police Department at 7:52 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a subject was taken into custody for harboring a fugitive. A report was taken.

Injury Accident - The Communications Center received a 911 call at 8:50 p.m. Saturday that a two-vehicle accident had occurred at the intersection of South Fourteenth Street and East South Avenue. Three officers were assigned, and four units from the Ponca City Fire Department responded. Four subjects were taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries. A report was taken and both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Residence Burglarized - A person from the 700 block of West Oklahoma Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:19 p.m. Saturday that the house had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 700 block of North Seventh Street at 9:33 p.m. Saturday that a 25-year-old man was being held for DUI, speeding, having no insurance, having no driver's license and running a red light. A report was taken.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 100 block of North Pine Street at 11:14 p.m. Saturday that a 44-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to appear.

Tree Uprooted - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 12:40 a.m. Sunday that a tree had been uprooted and was in the middle of the street in the 200 block of East Grand Avenue. The Park Department was notified.

Assault - A person from the 300 block of South Oak Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:13 a.m. Sunday that she had been assaulted. Two officers were assigned and a report was taken.

Tires Slashed - A man from the 100 block of Central Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:21 a.m. Sunday that tires on his vehicle had been slashed. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Burglarized - A man from the 2400 block of Rice reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:02 a.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been burglarized and a stereo stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Bicycle Stolen - A woman from the 3100 block of El Camino Street reported to the Ponca City police department at 10:39 a.m. Sunday that a bicycle had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Wandering Street Sign - A person from the 500 block of South Perry Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:49 a.m. Sunday that a street sign had been found in her yard. Information was left for the Traffic Engineering Department.

Vandalism - A woman reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:59 a.m. Sunday that some vandalism had been done to her rental property in the 500 block of North Osage Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicles Vandalized - The Ponca City Police Department received a call from Bowker Auto Mall, 2500 North Fourteenth Street, at 11:03 a.m. Sunday that several vehicles had been vandalized. Two officers were assigned and a report was taken that 16 vehicles had been vandalized.

Vehicle Burglarized - A man from the 1900 block of Princeton Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:13 a.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been burglarized and a cell phone taken. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Assistance Needed - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department requested assistance at 11:39 a.m. Sunday in serving a warrant in the 500 block of North Osage. Three other officers responded and a 26-year-old man was held for assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, resisting arrest and a city warrant for failure to pay.

Vehicle Vandalized - A man from the 1200 block of North Oak Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:58 a.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been shot with a paint ball. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. A request for extra patrol was made.

Vehicle Burglarized - A man reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:49 p.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been vandalized and burglarized while parked in a parking lot of the 2600 block of North Fourteenth Street. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Vandalized - A man from the 2000 block of Lemon Tree reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:52 p.m. Sunday that his vehicle had been vandalized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Requests Assistance - An employee at Subway, 200 block of West Grand Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:25 p.m. Sunday that a subject was causing trouble. Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department were assigned and a 32-year-old man was held for trespassing.

Cell Phone Missing - A woman from the 2000 block of Lemon Tree reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:40 p.m. Sunday that a cell phone had been stolen from her car. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Burglary - An employee at Barker Pump, 200 East Emporia Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:04 p.m. Sunday that a burglary had occurred. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Puppy Stolen - A man from the 1600 block of Richway Drive reported to the Ponca city Police Department at 6:46 p.m. Sunday that a puppy had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Bicycle Stolen - A man from the 400 block of South Sunset Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 6:50 p.m. Sunday that a bicycle had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a grand larceny report was taken.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 6:51 p.m. Sunday that a 34-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to obey.

Requests Assistance - A man from the 3200 block of North Fourteenth Street requested assistance from the Ponca City Police Department at 9:06 p.m. Sunday as a result of some property being torn up. Two officers were assigned and a female was held for public intoxication.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of U.S. 60 and U.S. 77 at 10:37 p.m. Sunday that a 33-year-old male was being held for speeding, having no insurance, having an expired inspection sticker, having no tag and a Kay County warrant for failure to pay.

Business Vandalized - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 12:40 a.m. Monday that the front glass of Ultimate Vibrations, 717 East Hartford Avenue, had been shot with paint balls. The information was logged.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 300 block of West Chestnut Avenue at 12:48 a.m. Monday that a 39-year-old man was being held for driving under suspension and having no insurance. A vehicle was towed from the scene.

Window Broken - The Communications Center received a 911 call at 3:10 a.m. Monday from the 2200 block of North Fourteenth Street that a window had been broken and assistance was needed with a subject. Two officers were assigned and a 50-year-old man was held for public intoxication.

Subject Held - An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Waverly Street and West Liberty Avenue at 5:33 a.m. Monday that a 28-year-old man was being held for running a stop sign and driving under suspension. A vehicle was towed from the scene.



LIFESTYLES

Little News

Gale and Tracy McArthur of Piedmont announce the birth of a daughter at 1:26 p.m. Jan. 6, 1998 at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. She weighed 7-pounds, 6-ounces and was 19 1/2-inches long. The baby has been named Martha Joann McArthur and will be called Josie. Her sisters are Timber and Carlie.

Maternal grandparents are Joe and Ramona Elliott and paternal grandparents are Gale and Marty McArthur. Great-grandparents are Marvin and Geneva Stout, Evelyn Youngblood and Eden McArthur.

 

Lilac Club To Meet

Members of the Lilac Garden Club will meet Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m. at 8 Pecan Place. Neva Onstot will be the hostess.

 

Anthropological Meeting

The Kay County Chapter of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society will meet Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Conoco Fourth Street Clubhouse. Speaker will be Dr. Frank Winchell, state archeologist for the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers. His topic will be "The Shoreline Stewardship Program." The public is invited to attend the meeting.

 

Eta Zeta Chapter Social Planned

There were nine members present at the Jan. 28 meeting of Eta Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority at the home of Danielle Behar. The sorority Valentine dance will be Feb. 14 with Lori Hambleton representing the chapter as Valentine Queen. The group discussed table decorations for the event. Kelly Trotter gave the treasurer's report.

The Social committee set Feb. 18 as the date to take families to Kids Kastle and suggestions were given to members of the Service committee. The Feb. 11 meeting will be at the home of Krista Harbeson.

 

Xi Zeta Lambda Chapter Meets

Xi Zeta Lambda chapter members of Beta Sigma Phi sorority met Jan. 22 at the home of Judy Mallory. Announcement was made about Founder's Day April 21 at the Marland Mansion with the chapter providing name tags and the guest book.

The sorority Valentine Dance is planned for Feb. 14 at the Elks Lodge with Xi Zeta Lambda in charge of the drawing tickets and door prizes. The social committee met Jan. 28 to plan a pre-party in honor of the chapter Valentine Queen Terri Barnett.

Toby Neal and Doretta Jackson, Historian co-chairmen, made arrangements for the group to have retakes of the Christmas events for the scrapbook. Judy Watt, vice president, reported that pledge training was given to Jill Sim and Carmalita Childers. There were 14 members attending the meeting and the traveling basket was won by Cassandra Kifiak.

 

Busy Bee Members Attend Valentine Party

Helen Taylor, 1308 Donahoe, was hostess for the Valentine part meeting for members of the Busy Bee Club. Beulah McCartney, president, conducted the meeting and Ruby Harvey led the salute to the flag abd ":The Lord's Prayer." Viola Haley gave the devotion "Man in the Glass."

Helen Hiskett gave the bank report and articles were brought for donation to the Child Development Center. Ruby Harvey gave clothing to The Loving Care store in Shidler.

Games were played and Ruby Harvey won the Mystery Bowl prize. Other game prizes went to Ms. McCartney and Vivian Davis. The hostess gave each member a Valentine gift and served a Valentine cake. The next meeting will be Feb. 18.



SPORTS

Monday Evening Quarterback

By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor

Former Ponca City High School wrestling coach Grady Peninger received the Edward C. Gallagher Award during Homecoming at the OSU-OU wrestling dual Sunday in Stillwater.

During the ceremony before the dual in Gallagher-Iba Arena, Peninger was praised for "taking Ponca City wrestling to a new level and then doing the same at Michigan State."

Peninger wrestled for the Cowboys before taking the head coaching position with the Wildcats. He coached at Po-Hi from 1953 to 1960 when he joined the Spartans.

During his reign at Po-Hi, Peninger coached the Wildcats to three state titles, 1953, 1959 and 1960. In that time span he had 14 individual state champions.

Two of his wrestlers, Doug Blubaugh and Shelby Wilson, went on to win gold medals at the 1960 Olympics.

Peninger coached Michigan State to the NCAA title in 1975.

The Gallagher Award is given to a former Cowboy athlete who exemplifies what a Cowboy wrestler is supposed to represent on and off the mat.

---

Wrestling official Paul Ameen was in the right place at the right time Sunday - although he might not have thought so early in the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State dual at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Ameen, a long-time high school official and President of the Oklahoma Wrestling Officials Association, went to Stillwater with his 8-year-old son and his son's friend to watch the classic Bedlam battle.

But he wound up on the mat as a last-minute referee replacement.

The official originally scheduled to referee the dual called in sick Sunday morning. Another college official was contacted, but as match-time neared he was a no-show.

Searching frantically, OSU officials finally spotted Ameen in the audience and drafted him the referee the dual.

After hurriedly dressing in a black T-shirt, black paints and borrowed shoes, Ameen stepped on the mat before a packed arena.

"There I was with a borrowed whistle and flip disc and shoes that were size 12. I wear size eight," Amen said afterwards.

He got his first big test in the opening 118-pound match between OSU's Teague Moore and Shane Valdez of OU.

As the two wrestlers went off the mat after a Moore takedown, the Cowboy apparently pulled on Valdez' leg in a way OU coach Jack Spate didn't appreciate.

While Valdez took an injury time out, Spate protested to Ameen and to Moore. The latter brought out OSU coach John Smith for a face-to-face confrontation with Spate in front of the scorer's table - with Ameen in the middle.

"I didn't see what happened," Smith said, " but he (Spate) was talking to my wrestler. I won't allow that."

But soon tempers cooled and the match resumed.

"I think they (Smith and Spate) just did that to help me relax," Ameen said.

"I think I did alright," he said of his performance under pressure. "I may have missed a couple of calls, but overall, I think it was okay."

Coach Smith certainly though so.

"I think he did an outstanding job on such short notice," Smith said. "We'll definitely use him again."

---

The east side of the state apparently got a bit of a break in the Class 5A wrestling regional pairings.

Either because Choctaw coach Benny Coleman said he would refuse to go to the East regional again, or maybe because the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association is trying to alternate which "West" team it sends to the East Regional, the No. 2 ranked Yellow Jackets will stay in the West region this year.

The OSSAA sent No. 3 Mustang east this time.

That puts four Top 10 teams in the east regional. In addition to No. 1 ranked Broken Arrow and Mustang, the others are No. 6 Muskogee and No. 10 Ponca City.

Coleman was unhappy with the seedings his wrestlers got at the East regional last year.

But it's a little hard on the seedings (which usually make most all the coaches unhappy) to be fair when west teams seldom, if ever, wrestle teams from the East.

The only time Choctaw saw action against an East team was in the Geary Tournament - which Broken Arrow won handily.

---

Two other Kay County mat teams will be in the Dual State Tournament Friday and Saturday.

While Ponca City takes on Mustang in the first round of the Class 5 A tournament at 8 p.m. Friday at Moore High School, Blackwell will be in the Class 3A tournament and Tonkawa in the Class 2A battles.

Blackwell will take on Wagoner at 8 p.m. in the first round matches at Harrah.

Also at Harrah, Tonkawa faces Chandler, also at 8.

The semifinals and finals in all classes will be at Moore Saturday.

 

Cowboy Win Comes With Pair of Upsets

By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor

STILLWATER - The University of Oklahoma wrestlers didn't seriously threaten OSU's 41-dual win streak Sunday, losing 26-9, but they did give the Cowboys something to think about while doing themselves some good in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament.

The Sooners won the first and last matches of the Homecoming afternoon at Gallagher-Iba Arena. But in both cases OU grapplers upset ranked Cowboys.

OU's Shane Valdez tripped up No. 2 ranked Teague Moore, 4-3, at 118 pounds, avoiding a reversal at the buzzer.

The other Sooner win came at heavyweight as John Henry Ward used an inside-out trip to put No. 10 ranked Cowboy Ben Lee on his back and gain a fall at 4:59.

OSU won the matches in between, but in several cases not by much.

The anticipated clash between OSU's Hardell Moore and OU's Byron Tucker was all it was hyped to be and then some. Moore, ranked No. 2 in the country at 158 pounds, edged out No. 3 Tucker in overtime. The only thing different about this match was the score, 8-7.

Moore now carries a 7-4 advantage over his intrastate rival, but most of the matches have been low scoring battles. Moore's 3-1 win in the All-Star matches last week was typical.

But this time Tucker attacked early, gaining a couple of first period takedowns for a 5-4 lead at the end of the initial period.

Tucker still led 6-5 after escaping to start the third period. But Moore got a takedown with 1:12 remaining to forge a 7-6 lead. However, he released the Sooner with 1:08 left in regulation time.

"I hadn't been very successful in riding him," Moore said in explaining the release that tied the score. "And I had already received a warning. I didn't want to take a chance."

The pair battled scorelessly through the first overtime period. Then Moore won the toss in the tie breaker and took the down position, escaping in just six seconds for the win.

The Sooners gave the Cowboys a workout in the first three weights. OSU won by a point at 126 and 134 pounds before Steven Schmidt (142) and Jimmy Arias (150) won major decisions for the Pokes.

"For us to win the dual, we had to win at 118, 134 and 158," OU coach Jack Spate said afterwards. "We would have to get some other upsets, but if we had won those three it would have put the pressure on them,"

The Sooners got the win at 118 and came close in the other two.

Shane Valdez wiped out Teague Moore's 3-2 lead with a takedown with 45 seconds left in the match and the survived a reversal which came after the buzzer.

At 134 pounds, OU's Michael Lightner made the mistake of turning his back on Jamill Kelly when headed back to the center of the mat in the first period. That takedown proved to be the difference in Kelly's 3-2 win.

OU's Dane Valdez also gave the Cowboys a scare at 126 as Eric Guerrero had to use riding time to escape with a 4-3 decision.

But the Sooners' momentum quickly vanished with they had to go without starters at 142 and 150 pounds.

Schmidt played takedown-let up in the third period against Bo Eubanks, who was subbing for the injured David Kjeldgaard, to gain a 19-5 major at 142.

Aries did much the same to top Zach Livingston, who took the place of Rodney Jones, for 19-6 win.

After that, it was just a matter of how much the Cowboys would score.

Mark Smith shook off a slow start to beat OU's Mike Roller, 6-1, at 167 pounds, Mark Munoz appeared to be favoring an injured ankle in a 9-4 win over Waymon May at 177 and Pat Popolizio held off Orville Palmer, 6-4, at 190.

But OU had the last word at heavyweight.

"We needed this kind of competition," OSU coach John Smith said. "We had gotten use to beating opponents by 20 points. There were some really close matches out there today.

"This will give us a chance to go back to the wrestling room and work on some things before we meet Iowa," Smith said.

The Cowboys will take on the No. 2 ranked Hawkeyes in Iowa City Saturday.

Oklahoma St. 26, Oklahoma 9

118 - Valdez (OU) dec. Moore, 4-3

126 - Guerrero (OSU) dec. Valdez, 4-3

134 - Kelly (OSU) dec. Lightner, 3-2

142 - Schmidt (OSU) m. dec. Eubanks, 19-5

150 - Arias (OSU) m. dec. Livingston, 19-6

158 - Moore (OSU) dec. Tucker, 8-7 sd

167 - Smith (OSU) dec. Roller, 6-1

177 - Munoz (OSU) dec. May, 9-4

190 - Popolizio (OSU) dec. Palmer, 9-4

275 - Ward (OU) pinned Lee, 4:49


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