May 17, 2019 Issue, Page 11 of 32

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Relay team has one last race one more time. Both seniors Oklahoma Baptist University. Olivia Jones and Jolean Southard plans on majoring Robinson said they were sad __in business and said one day tosee their time in Elk City she would like to own her own end. Robinson said that the _ business. team cried tears ofjoy after Southard said that she _ William winning the state title and will miss her teammates, realizing it might be their last especially the camaraderie \ Carroll race together. between the four girls that Robinson, who plans to at- _has developed over several Sports tend Wichita State University seasons. In winning the state in the fall to study physical _ title Southard said the victory William Carroll likes how high school sports are a pure therapy said the meet of was literally a dream come form of athletic endeavor. Most high school athletes, for champions would probably be true. instance, won't go on to play in college or the pros. her last race as she planned Accordingto Southard, the “They're just playing because they really love playing, and The Elk City girls 4x100 meter relay team stands at the to focus on her studies at night prior to the Elkettes so there's something [special] about that” he said. podiumafter their gold medal win inthe state 4A meet He recalls covering one particular football team at one at Catoosa recently. Team members from left to right Wichita State. victory, she was apparently of his previous newspapers. The team suffered through a are Savannah Kauk, Melissa Southard, OliviaJones and Jones, who also plans to talking in her sleep and said, winless season until their last game. study physical therapy at the “watch lane four we are going "They won their last game ofthe season, and those kids Jolene Robinson. University of Central Okla- for gold.” She was overheard were so excited you would have thought they won the Photo by Dapreesha Hull, ECHS Yearbook Staff. homa, said she had thought by her roommate junior relay Super Bowl)’ Carroll said, noting the team finished 1-9. about participating in track in team member Savannah Carroll started in March as sports editor of the Elk City By William B. Carroll that brought the best of the News. He will cover sports in Elk City and Merritt. college but decided against it, Kauk and both girls recog- He embraces the opportunity in Elk City and likes the Sports Editor best from all of Oklahoma's making her run at the meet of _ nized their final result as a enthusiasm of newspaper owner Scott Wesner. classifications. The winner of champions her last competi- dream come true. | like the idea of being able to come in and kind of The 4A state champion Elk the event was Midwest City a tive run. Kauk said she will miss her have a fresh start,’ Carroll said, describing how he enjoys City girls 4x100m relay team 6A program. Senior Melissa South- teammates but will seek to the opportunity to shape the sports section. As a sports had one last race to finish Prior to their final race the ard, who is also an all-state _carry on their winning tradi- reporter, he likes to be close to the action, such as on the sideline during football games, where he can sense the before three of them finished four discussed their state title basketball player in addition _ tion into next year. The last atmosphere one cannot get in the press box. their careers at the Meet of and where they will go from to being a state champion time the girls track team won Carroll, who played high school football and baseball, Champions in Moore Tues- here. track athlete, will definitely the 4x100m relay was before said sports coverage should have three elements: game day. All four said they were be playing sports in college as any of the current team mem- coverage, features on athletes and an account of the impact ‘The Elkette sprinters excited about the opportu- she recently signed aschol- _ bers were alive back in 1987. and benefit sports have on the community. finished fourth in the meet nity to get to race together arship to play basketball at For the seniors they all said “id really like to do athlete feature stories,’he said.“I think they're huge.’ A native of Pearl, Miss., Carroll comes to the Elk City News after working at the Jonesboro Sun in Jonesboro, Ark. He received his bachelor's degree in history and political science from Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., and his law degree from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind. He made a career change when he entered the newspaper field. He practiced law for 10 years in Kingman, Ariz. "The fist 6 1 years | was a prosector at Mohave County Attorney's Office, which is in Kingman, and then after that | had a law firm called Sippel and Carroll, and | was there for about 3 ¥ years/'he said, explaining he was there until 2011 and then moved back to Mississippi. He made the vocation shift from law to journalism and has not looked back. He was a stringer, ora freelance writer, for some papers in the Jackson area. His first “real” newspaper job, he said, was in 2012 in Hammond, La., where he wrote for The Daily Star, where he covered city government and business. He has worked for some other newspapers since then, including some papers in northwestern Oklahoma before he went to Jonesboro, where he covered cops, courts and crime. Philosophy On Sports Coverage Sports stories should focus on the coaches and the Alex Ramirez signs a scholarship with Southwestern Christian University Monday afternoon at the Elk City High athletes not the writers. School Library. Pictured with Ramirez is his mother Brenda and sister Alexia. Staff photo by William B. Carroll. Sports game stories should feature a number of large pictures of athletes preferably performing their athletic feats during a game or competition. Elk City soccer star signs with SWCU Sports photos, where practical, should tell or support By William B. Carroll for the football team, which what he could to help the letic Conference and NAIA. the story being written not merely a random shot Sports Editor he described as a completely team as much as he could. In joining a team with ofa player during the game. different role than what he He said hislove forthe sport yo hailing fr Elk City senior soccer was used to on the soccer pushed him through tough DEES Nee ML ever We also strive to be as fair as possible both for our player Alex Ramirez signed field. times following his injury. different countries, Ramirez teams and our teams’ opponents. on the dotted line Monday Ramirez’ head soccer coach Ramirez offered praise for __will have the opportunity to to play soccer for the South- Brandon Shelton noted that his coaching staff and said ; Sports stories should not just feature game results but western University Christian Ramirez was injured early in they and his family were a big P24¥ With Players from soccer Eagles. the season but continued to part of what made his schol PeWerhouses such as Brazil, stories about athletes, including stories that focus Ramirez said he chose the contribute to the team in spite arship possible. Argentina, Germany, Spain on their academic and personal achievements. school due to friends who of his injury. Ramirez will be joining and England. This is also true for coaches. Our subjects are no were already attending the “He was a good leader,” aclub that is no stranger to an different from other stories we cover; the human university and the fact the Shelton said. “He played success, Last year the Eagles Monday Ramirez’ was element is important to our readers. Therefore, school was close to home as really hard for us. He always finished the season 19-4-1 and _ ready for the challenge of each week we will have individual stories about compared to other possible plays like the biggest guy on for the third consecutive year _ playing at his new school as athletes and coaches so that readers get a feel for college choices. the field.” won the National; Christian i he : ded by friend: the sports and students we are writing about. Ramirez played as a for- Ramirez said he felt bad College Athletic Association _"® W@8 Surrounded by friends ward for the Elks this year getting injured early in the National title. The Eagles also and family who came to par- Where practical we make every effort to actually attend and also as the place kicker season but he wanted to do compete in the Sooner Ath- _ ticipate in his success. as many games as we can in person to give readers that personal touch and flavor. Also it is important TROY JONES Contractor & Homeowner because it allows us to cover the broadest range of athletes and teams. 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