From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Monday, March
10, 1997
LOCAL
Ghost Riders Help Observe Founding of Chisholm Trail
Shannon Love Heads West For Movie, TV Auditions
February Wettest On Record
Med Center Volunteen Applications Available
Teen Held After Attempted Strong Armed Robbery
DEATHS
Louis E. Cavett
Leo Leslie Foust
Gladys Marie Buffington
Kay L. Cooke
Funerals
Deloras V. Holcom
NEWS BRIEFS
LIFESTYLES
County Home Economist Says Throw Tray Away
Chrysanthemum Garden Club Elects Officers
SPORTS
Semifinal Run Over For Mavs
Wildcat Baseballers Sweep
Weckstein, Frontier Can Savor Title Now
By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE
News Staff Writer
CALDWELL, Kan. - A face-off between trail riders from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas at high noon Saturday on the old Chisholm Trail near the Oklahoma/Kansas border drew a crowd of about 300.
Guns remained holstered as enthusiastic hoops and hollers were given by the mounted "ghost riders," who lined up together and flew Old Glory and the flags of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
The riders from the south and from the north had completed their historic trail ride on the Chisholm Trail. They met to acknowledge proclamations from Kansas Gov. Bill Graves and Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating recognizing the importance of the trail to cattlemen.
A ground cover of fog gave a surreal quality in the background to the historic life-sized silhouette on the bluff depicting life on the famous cattle drive trail. The proclamations were read by Jeff Sheets, Abilene, Kan., chairman, and Sky Shivers, Oklahoma cowboy comedian and story teller.
The singing of "Home on The Range Followed," with Sheets informing the "Okies" that this is the state song of Kansas.
"Ghost riders" following the old Chisholm Trail, which is mostly Highway 81 in Oklahoma, left from the Red River at the Texas border last week retracing the famous trail of western lore. Before leaving the Oklahoma-Texas border proclamations were handed off from Texas Gov. George Bush and Keating.
Along the way the Oklahoma and Texas cowboys stopped to make appearances at schools to tell the students about the history of Jesse Chisholm and the famous cow trail. Sky Shivers said that 10,000 children in Oklahoma had heard the program. He said each of the children had been given a post card so they could "reach out and touch history."
Friday night was spent at Medford and the ghost riders were entertained by Ponca City's own western performer Les Gilliam.
The Kansas riders picked up the trail in Abilene and came through Goessel, Newton, Wichita, Clearwater and Caldwell.
Don Goodnight, who attended Smyer Aeronautic school in Ponca City, accepted the Texas flag that had been carried on the Chisholm Trail and on an earlier Great American Trail Ride. This flag will fly at the Dodge City Festival.
High point of the ceremony at the Chisholm Memorial, two miles south of Caldwell, were the words spoken by the great-grandson of Jesse Chisholm. Chisholm, named for his great-grandfather, said, "I am honored to be here and I hope the legend and pioneer spirit of Jesse Chisholm will live on. This is a great historic event."
Chisholm said that there were 14 members of the Chisholm family from Kansas present at the ceremony. He introduced Jesse Chisholm the fourth. Another relative from the Oklahoma side had ridden on the trial ride.
Special guests seated on the bandstand included Kansas legislators Rep. Dan Timesch, Rep. Phil McCreary, and Sen. Greata Goodwin and Sen. Paul Muegge of Tonkawa. Later at a barbecue celebration held in Caldwell all members of the Chisholm family gathered to be photographed. The Chisholms expressed appreciation to Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas for the recognition of their pioneering ancestor. The Chisholm family presented gift baskets to the organizers.
A large crowd attended the barbecue and Sky Shivers and members of the Santa Fe Trail Riders, a gunfighter performing group entertained.
The trail will not be forgotten, as there are now road signs and a concrete anchor post is being set as a marker every mile of the trail by Chick Bishop, of Litchfield, Ill., who provided the Texas Flag that had been carried on the trail. Bishop is devoted to saving the Great American Trails.
The evcnt was a joint venture of the Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas tourism departments.
Shannon Love, local fifth grader at Trout School will be leaving Wednesday with her dad to audition for lead roles on the Disney Channel, Movies of the Week, fall sitcoms as well as national commercials at the "pilot season" auditions in Los Angeles.
Shannon, who has been "on stage" since she was old enough to sing and dance, was spotted by a Los Angeles coach, as she performed a lead role in "A Country Christmas Carol," at the Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma City, in December. Her agent, Ricki Maslar with the Fullerton Agency in Oklahoma City got a call from L.A., inviting Shannon to audition.
Shannon and her dad will be staying at the "Sportsman's Lodge" Hotel in L.A. where several movies have been filmed and stars stay on a regular basis. Shannon is very excited and has her camera ready.
Maslar wrote to Shannon and her parents, Mark and Lisa Love, that talent selected for the L.A. "Pilot Season," must have a certain level of expertise and be qualified by a recognized agent or instructor. She will be working with CNA's commercial agent, Patrick Collar for commercial representation and seeing casting directors who have valid projects for Shannon's talent.
Recently listed on the superintendent's honor roll at Trout Elementary for straight-A's, Shannon said her teacher and the staff at Trout School are very supportive of her opportunity.
Last month was the wettest February in at least 30 years at Ponca City's Municipal Airport, records for that period show. Mee-Too-Media observers at the local weather station reported 4.43 inches of moisture, 2.48 inches above normal.
Since 1967 there have been only two other Februaries that produced four inches or more - 4.26 in 1987 and 4.18 in 1990. But history has usually shown the second month to be on the puny side where moisture is concerned. Actually, 17 of the past 30 Februaries have produced less than an inch of precipitation. The puniest effort was .04-inch in 1970.
The most precipitation in a 24-hour period last month was 2.85 inches on the 20th. Snow made a small contribution toward the 4.43 total when 1.9 inches fell on the 6th and an inch on the 21st. The white stuff left .29-inch of water when it melted.
February's total was the most moisture for any month since the 6.66 recorded last September.
A year ago the hottest February temperature in 30 years was chalked up at the airport - 92 degrees. This year the warmest mark was 73 on the 17th. The lowest overnight reading was 24 degrees on the 9th, 11th and 15th.
The coldest it has been in the past 30 Februaries was eight degrees below zero in 1980. Close behind were a minus seven in 1982 and minus six in 1979.
If your teen would like a first-hand look at the medical profession, applications are now available for the 1997 Summer Volunteen program at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
May 2 is the deadline for interested area teens, ages 14-18 to apply for the program. Applications are available from the Po-Hi Guidance Counselor's office and SJRMC's Department of Volunteer Services.
Renee Hoover, SJRMC Director of Volunteers, emphasizes that completion of the comprehensive application is just the beginning of the Volunteen selection process.
"We strive to carefully select Volunteens on the basis of their interest in the medical field and commitment to providing service," she says. "Competition for the 25 available positions has been very stiff in past years. You can't just sign up to be a Volunteen."
In addition to the application form, Volunteen candidates may submit teacher evaluations and letters of recommendation. There is also a personal interview component of the selection process, and Hoover says prior volunteer and community service are plus factors.
Students selected for the Volunteen program will attend a full-day orientation before tackling assignments in various SJRMC Departments. As in years past, Volunteens will serve in areas where they can closely observe nurses and health care professionals delivering medical care, including nursing units, Emergency, Radiology, and Outpatient Surgery. They will also assist at the Information Desk and in the Gift Shop, working alongside adult Volunteers to assist the public and render service.
Teens who wish to apply for this summer's Volunteen program are encouraged to complete the application and return it to SJRMC by May 2. For further information, contact Renee Hoover at (405) 765-0509.
A 15-year-old Ponca City boy was arrested for attempted armed robbery in the 700 block of East Ponca Avenue at 5:05 p.m. Saturday.
Ponca City telecommunication officers received a 911 call regarding a disturbance. Four Ponca City police officers responded to find a 15-year-old boy had attempted a strong armed robbery. Apparently, a 73-year-old Ponca City woman was exiting her vehicle to attend church services when the youth grabbed her and demanded the keys to her vehicle.
Two alert citizens responded to her cries for help. The suspect fled the area leaving the elderly victim lying in the parking lot. According to the police department, she suffered minor injuries from her fall.
Officers apprehended the suspect, who was positively identified by the victim. During the interview of the suspect, information was gained that will assist in solving a number of investigations related to stolen vehicles recently reported.
The youth was charged with attempted strong armed robbery and three counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was held in jail pending a detention hearing expected in Newkirk this morning.
Louis E. "Tony" Cavett, longtime resident of Ponca City, died Saturday morning, March 8, 1997, at his home. He was 83.
The funeral will be held graveside in the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery at 10 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Steve Cline, Trinity Baptist Church, Seminole, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City.
Louis E. "Tony" Cavett was born May 4, 1913, north of Pawnee, the son of James Franklin and Goldie Ethel (Haga) Cavett. He received his early education in rural Pawnee schools. In 1942 he moved to Ponca City and began employment with Continental Oil Co.
He was united in marriage to Ada Marie Thompson on Aug. 9, 1955, at Monett, Mo., and the couple made their home in Ponca City. Cavett was employed more than 35 years with Conoco, retiring on Feb. 1, 1977 from the power division. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and the OCAW Union. He enjoyed being outdoors, visiting with friends, neighbors and family.
Survivors include his wife, Ada, of the home; two daughters, Roma Rae Bonham of Augusta, Kan.; and Leanne Neidig of Houston; two brothers, Otis and Charles, both of Pawnee; one sister, Mary Ellen Waldroupe of Fort Scott, Kan.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Herschel, Earl, Leonard and Ora; and one infant sister, Leona Cavett.
Honorary casket bearers will be Syd Thomm, Jack Friday, Ron Rossen, Kenneth Deffner and Dan Hicks.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Cavett's name to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601.
The family will be at the home, 3509 "B" Street.
BLACKWELL - Leo Leslie "Jack" Foust, longtime Blackwell resident, died Sunday morning, March 9, 1997, at the Blackwell Regional Hospital. He was 81.
The funeral will be held graveside at 2 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Ponca City. The Rev. Gregg Engle, Blackwell First Baptist Church, will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Leo Leslie "Jack" Foust was born Jan. 11, 1916 in Pawnee, the son of Ora and Naomi (Butler) Foust. He grew up and attended schools in Pawnee. He later moved with his parents to Kaw City, then to Arkansas City, Kan. In the early 1930s, he began working for the Santa Fe Railroad.
In 1939, he entered the U.S. Army, and served in the European Theatre during World War II. Following his discharge, he returned to Arkansas City, where he was employed by General Electric as an assemblyman.
On Nov. 16, 1947, he was married to Vivian Criger in Newkirk, and the couple made their home in Blackwell. He was employed in the core room for 18 years at Acme Foundry in Blackwell, retiring in 1965.
Survivors include his wife, Vivian, of Blackwell; four sisters, Leona Serrato of Fairfax, Juanita Davis of Tivin Falls, Idaho, Opal Dove of Riverside, Calif., and June Derringer of Oklahoma City; and one brother, Charley Foust of Dill City. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Imeldia Ballett.
FAIRFAX - Gladys Marie Buffington, Fairfax resident, died Saturday evening, March 8, 1996, at the Fairfax Manor Nursing Home. She was 74.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Fairfax Cemetery with the Rev. Harold Brewer, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home. Friends may visit at the funeral home until 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Gladys Marie (Bollinger) Buffington was born Nov. 27, 1922, in Havana, Ark., the daughter of John and Leona (Robinson) Bollinger. She was married to Bud Buffington on April 3, 1938, in Blue Mountain, Ark., She later married Johnny Kohen. Mrs. Buffington was a homemaker and a member of the Pentecostal Church.
Survivors include two sons, William Monroe of Woodward and Kenneth Ray of Scott City, Kan.; two daughters, Bobbie Sue Norton of Fairfax and Delores Ann Culp of Beaver; four brothers, Raymond Morgan and Sam Morgan, both of Holiday, Texas, R.C. Morgan of Iowa Park, Texas, and Ray Morgan of Killeen, Texas; three sisters, Mae Wehunt of Fairfax, Mammie Walker of San Pablo, Calif., and Johnnie Lusk of Richmond, Calif.; 17 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud Buffington, one son, Eugene Buffington, two brothers and three sisters.
The family will be at the home of Bobbie Norton in Fairfax.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Kay L. Cooke, former Ponca City resident, died Saturday, March 8, 1997, in Oklahoma City. She was 56.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, at Village United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery under the direction of Gene Adams Funeral Service of Bethany.
Kay L. (Timmons) Cooke was born Sept. 8, 1940, in Bartlesville, the daughter of Loren and Xenia Timmons. She graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City and attended Oklahoma State University.
She was married to Ben Cooke on Sept. 16, 1960, in Ponca City, and the couple had lived in Oklahoma City since 1987. Mrs. Cooke was a homemaker and a seamstress. She was a member of the Village United Methodist Church. She enjoyed caring for her family.
Survivors include her husband, Ben, of Oklahoma City; three daughters, Cathy Damen of Forsyth, Ill., Sharon Young and Teresa Springer, both of Oklahoma City; one sister, Carol Hull of Beggs; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Cooke's name to National Parkinson's Foundation, P.O. box 450, Huntington, Valley, PA 19006 or to the Village United Methodist Church, 2501 West Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73120.
Tuesday
Deloras V. Holcom - Memorial Service to be held at 2 p.m. at Trout Funeral
Home Chapel, Ponca City. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery.
NEWS BRIEFS
Gardeners - Gail Gillogle from the Ponca City Parks and Recreation Department will speak about plant propagation and cuttings at the Wednesday meeting of Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Garden Club. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Susan McMonigle, 3512 Wellington. For more information call 762-2267 or 767-1344.
Osage County Democrats - Two Osage County precincts will meet at McCord School Thursday at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria building. Precinct 305, which votes at McCord School, and precinct 303, which votes at Braden School, will elect Democrat precinct officers. For more information, contact Glenn Welch at 762-4919.
After Five Lions - The Ponca City After Five Lions Club will meet tonight at Western Sizzlin' at 6:30 p.m. Jonnie McConaghy will speak about a rare disorder called blepharospasm, which means "spasms of the eyelids."
Auto Burglary - A resident in the 300 block of West Hartford Avenue notified the Ponca City Police Department at 6:35 a.m. Saturday that a 1978 Chevrolet Impala was stolen. Information was given out to officers and surrounding agencies and entered in the National Crime Information Center by Ponca City telecommunication officers.
Vandalism - A Ponca City police officer took a report of vandalism in the 900 block of Riviera Drive at 7:17 a.m. Saturday.
Vandalism - Two residents in the 100 block of North Ash Street advised the Ponca City Police Department that windows were shot out of vehicles. The officer took reports.
Accident - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a minor accident in the 100 block of North Third Street at 12:52 p.m. Saturday.
Grass Fire - Ponca City firefighters extinguished a small grass fire east of Kygar Road on L.A. Cann Drive at 3:05 p.m. Saturday.
Stolen - A resident in the 300 block of West Hartford Avenue reported that laundry was stolen from the laundry mat. An officer took an information report at 4:52 p.m. Saturday.
Illegal Dumping - A Ponca City police officer went to Fairfax to take a 34-year-old man into custody at 5 p.m. Saturday on a city warrant of two counts of illegal dumping.
City Warrant - A 39-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer at North Osage Street and West Highland Avenue at 9:42 p.m. Saturday on a city warrant.
Stolen - A resident in the 3500 block of Wellington Road reported his vehicle and other items were stolen from the garage. An officer took a report at 1:11 a.m. Sunday. Ponca City telecommunication officers advised surrounding agencies.
Arrested - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 29-year-old man at North Seventh Street and East Highland Avenue at 1:33 a.m. Sunday for driving under the influence, driving left of center, transporting an open container and no driver's license. A 27-year-old woman was also arrested on a city warrant for failure to pay.
Abandoned - A resident in the 2000 block of North Fourth Street contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 11:06 a.m. Sunday to report an abandoned bike found.
Under Suspension - A Ponca City police officer arrested a 17-year-old girl at 11:16 a.m. Sunday at West Albany Avenue and North Union Street on charges of driving under suspension.
Subject Held - A 27-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 900 block of South Fourth Street at 3:55 p.m. Sunday for driving under restriction, failure to display tag, and two city warrants for failure to pay.
Collision - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a minor accident in the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street at 4:13 p.m. Sunday.
Abandoned - A resident in the 700 block of North Peachtree Street advised the Ponca City Police Department at 4:27 p.m. Sunday that a boys bike was abandoned near the house.
Under Suspension - An 18-year-old man was arrested by a Ponca City police officer in the 600 block of North Union Street at 7:24 p.m. Sunday for driving under suspension.
Theft - A Tonkawa resident went to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:09 p.m. Sunday to report a computer was stolen from the vehicle while parked in the 800 block of South Fourteenth Street. An officer took a report of auto burglary.
Accident - A Ponca City police officer took a report of a non-injury
accident in the 100 block of Whitworth Avenue at 11:29 p.m. Sunday.
LIFESTYLES
Most everyone is familiar with the three Rs, but reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic are not the topic.
In this case, reduce, reuse and recycle, the three components of reduction of waste, are on the agenda.
News programs are full of vital information on the importance of recycling. However, some products can be harmful if they are used again and again, said Mary Rhyne, Kay County Extension Home Economist.
"The styrofoam tray that meat is placed on in the meat department of the grocery store is something that shouldn't be reused at all," Rhyne said. "Consumers should throw away the tray as soon as they have removed the meat from it."
Although some people may try to stretch more life out of these trays by washing them and using them to store or reheat leftovers, this is not a wise food safety practice. Brown said the trays are porous and have crevices that do not get cleaned thoroughly by washing them.
"Bacteria which aren't cleaned away can become dehydrated. They can survive in that state for a long time," she said. "When moisture from food comes in contact with the bacteria, they rehydrate and can contaminate the food."
To be on the safe side, Rhyne recommended that consumers store and reheat leftovers only in containers designed for such practices.
Chrysanthemum Garden Club members held their February meeting at the home of Mrs. Margaret Mock. Mrs. Delores Letourneau was hostess for the brunch with a Valentine motif used for decorations. Anna Margaret Helton was a guest.
Rita Robbins, president, conducted the business meeting and Mary Copeland gave a secretary's report. A letter from Rebecca Barker, Council president, was read concerning the state meeting in April in Oklahoma City. The Chrysanthemum Club will provide two wrapped gifts for the event.
Newly-elected officers for the group are Rita Robbins, president; Alice Bland, vice president; Florence Williams, secretary; Mary Copeland, treasurer; and Delores Letourneau, Historian.
The next meeting will be at the home of Florence Williams.
SPORTS
By DAVID BROWN
News Associate Sports Editor
SHAWNEE - Northern Oklahoma's Mavericks qualified for the seventh straight time to the NJCAA Region II Tournament this season, but ninth-ranked Connors State ended NOC's run of six straight trips to the tournament's semifinal round with a 76-71 defeat of the Mavericks Saturday night at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Northern's streak of semifinal appearances wasn't snapped without a fight, however. The Mavericks battled back from an 18-point second-half deficit against the talented three-time defending Region II champion Cowboys and found themselves down only two with 33 seconds left after freshman Jared Weiberg hit a clutch trey from the top of the key.
Connors called time following that basket and the message was clear from coach Bill Muse's huddle - get the ball to John Woods. Woods, a sophomore guard from McKinney, Texas, was a thorn in NOC's side all game long with a game-high 26 points and he won the game from the line for the Cowboys in the final 28 seconds as he went 6-for-6.
Northern (13-19) tried to hang in as DeShawn Denson hit a free throw and Weiberg added another bucket, but Woods kept the Mavs at bay.
"We just didn't do what we needed to do inside, especially in the first half, to win," said NOC head coach Mick Weiberg. "There was no quit in us, though, a lot of kids showed a lot of heart to come back like they did."
Northern was led by sophomores Mark Passley and Blake Sonne with 21 and 18 points, respectively. Freshman guard Denson scored 14.
Also scoring were Chauncey Webb, 6; Weiberg, 5; Richard Whitfield, 5; and Bryan Stevens, 2.
The Mavericks, who fell to Connors for the fifth straight time in the Region II Tournament, shot 52.2 percent from the field (24-for-46) but only 60.7 percent from the line (17-for-28). In the first half, the Mavs were just 3-for-8 from the line as Passley went 1-for-6, twice missing the front ends of one-and-one opportunities.
In addition to Passley and Sonne, Stevens, Webb and Cory Campbell will graduate off this team.
Connors, which led 37-23 at the half, was 26-for-50 from the field (52.0 percent) and 21-for-27 from the line (77.8).
Later Saturday night, Bacone defeated St. Gregory's 84-83 to complete an eastern sweep of the Bi-State West.
The Region II men's semifinals tonight will feature Shorter, Ark., (25-6) vs. Carl Albert (21-8) and Connors (27-4) vs. Bacone (24-7).
SAPULPA - Ponca City exploded for 24 runs in two games against Sapulpa Saturday and swept the Chieftains 14-1 and 10-6 in extra innings to improve to 3-2 on the high school baseball season.
Jay Bentley (1-0) threw a two-hitter in the opening game and the Wildcats backed the junior right-hander with 14 runs on 13 hits.
Ponca City scored first with a two-run second as Chris Koenig singled and scored on an RBI single by Dean Hemenway and Rocky Hughes forced in the second run with a bases loaded walk.
Sapulpa picked up its only run in the bottom of the frame.
The rest of the game was all Po-Hi. The Cats scored two more in the third, three in the fourth and seven runs in the fifth.
Senior first baseman Josh Shafer went 3-for-3 with three RBIs from his three-hole spot in the order and senior outfielder Jason Ross was also 3-for-3 with three RBIs. He batted sixth.
Hemenway and second baseman Justin Thomas both had two hits apiece.
The Wildcat offense never really got untracked through seven innings of the nightcap but Po-Hi battled back from a 5-0 deficit thanks mainly to six Sapulpa errors in the sixth and seventh innings.
Ponca City got back into the contest with a three-run sixth and then tied the game at 6-all with a three-run seventh. The Cats continued to score runs and won the game with four in the eighth.
The Wildcats used three Sapulpa errors to claw back into the game in the sixth, scoring three times without a hit. The Chieftains committed three more errors in the seventh and senior catcher Daniel Dodgen came through with a big two-run single to drive in the tying runs.
In the eighth, Rocky Hughes doubled with one out and Doug Scott singled. Hughes and Scott came in on a wild pitch and a balk and after two walks and hit batsman, Dodgen came through again with a two out, two-run single.
Ross relieved Evan Rupp on the mound in the third inning and picked up the win to go to 1-0 on the season. Ross allowed just two runs on four hits in the final 5 2/3-innings and struck out five with one walk.
The Wildcats play a single 5:30 p.m. game at Sand Springs Tuesday.
By FRED HILTON
News Sports Editor
RED ROCK - Frontier's Mustangs and coach Bob Weckstein have a whole week to savor their second straight Class A Boys State Championship as Frontier Schools is off for Spring Break.
Weckstein plans to enjoy the feeling while he can. Soon he'll have to start thinking about next year.
The Mustangs will graduate five seniors, four of them starters, off the team that won back-to-back championships. They will be hard to replace.
"I don't want to even think about it," Weckstein said as he and his team started to settle back down to earth after Saturday night's 56-46 championship-game win over Okarche. "It's been in the back of my mind, but right now I want to sit back and enjoy this.
"These seniors have had an incredible career. They certainly have put their mark on small school basketball."
R.J. Plumley and Josh Regnier were named to the All Tournament Team first team. Nolan Grant joined sophomore Dee Buxton as members of the second team.
The other seniors are Mitch Shiever and sixth-man John Burk.
Plumley was named the Most Valuable Player of the Class A State Tournament for the second time. He scored 60 points in three state tournament games.
Regnier was not far behind with 52 points for the tournament while Buxton scored 42 points and Grant 36.
But it was Plumley who stepped up his scoring in the final two tournament games.
"R.J.'s roll kind of depends on the night and the opposition," Weckstein said. "Sometimes his job is to set up the offense and then he gets a lot of assists. Sometimes he does the scoring.
"But this is a real unselfish team. In any game, any one of them can score 20 points."
Soon Weckstein will have to try to find replacements for those seniors. But not this week.