December 24, 2019 Issue, Page 10 of 10

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Page 10 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, December 24, 2019 Laufer was the king of the court Editor’s note: Nathan Weatherford to coach those east Elementary on Tuesday, decided to work for National one singles championship in I got back.” Brewer, who works at KECO sports. While doing his stu- at Fairview Elementary on Supply. her junior and senior years, At another tournament, radio, wrote stories for the dent teaching at Merritt, he Wednesday, then he split “T figured out right quick and was named Oklahoma Laufer recalled hearing a fe- Elk Citian newspaper years learned of an opening in Elk time on Thursday between that wasn’t for me.” Tennis Coaches’ Associa- male player of his who was ago and submitted this story City for an elementary PE Longfellow and Northeast, So after one year away, tion Player of the Year as a known for a mild manner he wrote on former Elk City teacher. But the job included and he spent half of Fri- Laufer was rehired at Elk senior. She earned a full ride and a distinctive voice say- High School tennis coach coaching high school tennis. day at Fairview. Each day, City. While he was away, to the University of Mis- ing, “I swear on a stack of Danny Laufer, who was re- It was the 1974-75 school when his PE duties were Sherry Nutley took over souri. Bibles that ball was out.” cently informed he will be year. Mike Jackson, whose done, he’d head to the tennis the tennis teams. Before Jimmy Wright, who an- And all those tournaments inducted into the Oklahoma mother operated an office courts. Laufer’s second year back, chored Laufer’s team the Tennis Coaches Association supply store at the northwest “We had six boys come Nutley convinced admini first two years he coached, through the years meant a lot Hall of Fame. The News ran corner of Broadway and Jef- out for tennis that first year, tration to let Laufer coach went on to play tennis at of nights in hotels with teen- @ recent story about his in- ferson, had been hired to and all six could beat me,” tennis alongside her. That SWOSU, becoming an agers. One incident involved duction, but this story from teach physical education to Laufer said, amused at the collaboration worked nicely NAIA All American. And a couple of youngsters Brewer published in Novem- youngsters, and to begin a memory. until Nutley retired. at one point in the mid- whose names are omitted ber 2012 adds some insight high school tennis program. In the mid-70s, the team “I never worked with any- 1990s, four members of the because they’re still in town. about Laufer. “I was from Gotebo,” played most of its tennis at body as easy to get along SWOSU girls’ tennis team “T woke up one night and How a guy from Gotebo, Laufer laughed. “I'd played Rotary Park, which had slick with,” Laufer said of his for- were from Elk City, Laufer they were crawling on the Oklahoma, ended up coach- baseball and basketball. But concrete courts and nets mer colleague. said. floor by my bed,” Laufer ing tennis is a pretty good I needed ajob.” made of chain link instead of ACCOMPLISHMENTS STORIES said. Reversing the normal story. So is the time Danny During the summers of his nylon. During those 25 years that Laufer was so green when Laufer got in the wrong youth, Danny Laufer and his Laufer still remembers go- Laufer coached tennis, he he began coaching tennis course on such outings, the school’s vehicle during a brother hit a few tennis balls ing to Alva that first spring had at least one player qual- that he didn’t realize it was two boys had gotten a key tournament and drove off. with friends at the courts in for the team’s first tourna- ify for the state tournament bad etiquette to cheer for a to the coach’s room and For 25 years Laufer Hobart, but his only formal ment, where they won it. every spring. With an abun- competitor's mistake. A rov- had snuck in, just horsing coached Elk City High training came when he took “We had some pretty good dance of talent in the first ing official at a tournament around. School’s racket club. His Intro to Tennis as an elective players.” half of the 1990s, as a team, helped him learn that lesson. Danny Laufer said that teams compiled some im- at SWOSU. Jimmy Wright _ played the boys won Regionals four In the old days, many when he runs into former pressive numbers, but what EC School Superintendent number one singles, Marty years in a row, and the girls schools had similar white players now, it isn’t the he remembers most—and Joe White told Jackson to Adkinson was number two. won five consecutive years. Chevy Suburbans that tennis matches won or lost that what he says his former play- go hit with the young appli- The number one doubles In 1992, the ECHS girls teams used for travel. At one they talk about. It’s the sto- ers prefer to talk about—are cant at the tennis courts. Af- team consisted of Larry were the state runner-up, tournament, Laufer got into ries. The funny things that the funny things that hap- ter a few groundstrokes and Franklin and Todd Sutton, and they claimed the prize the vehicle and started driv- happened during count- pened at innumerable tour- serves, Jackson told White and Lloyd Brown and Roddy of Academic State Champs. ing away when he noticed less hours on the courts and naments and duels across he thought Laufer could Midyett played two doubles. In 1993, the boys were Aca- items inside he didn’t recog- countless miles traveling to the state, teach the sport. TIMEOUT demic State Champs. nize. GETTING THE JOB EARLY ON His 25 years coaching ten- Laufer coached a total of “T’d gotten into another the next tournament. Laufer grew up play- When he began at Elk nis in Elk City was interrupt- 10 state champions and had school’s Suburban,” Laufer It was a successful, fun ing baseball and _basket- City, Laufer spent most of ed briefly during the early 16 players make All State. said, laughing heartily. two-and-a-half decades for ball in Gotebo, so he went the day Monday teaching 1980s when, at the height of Joni Jordan, now Joni Mc- “Some of the girls saw me an aspiring baseball and bas- to college at SWOSU in PE at Longfellow, at North- the oil boom, Danny Laufer Connell, won the number do it and were rolling when ketball coach from Gotebo. Old Oklahoma State foe Texas Roundup: Elk City High School wrestling, middle A&M awaits in the Texas Bowl school basketball By Berry Tramel, The that plays OSU in the Texas But of the four schools -- dominant. A&M won the Wrestling ablo, Daymon Carlisle, Ju- Oklahoman, Oklahoma Bowl on Friday has not met A&M, Nebraska, Colorado Big 12 South Division only The Elk City High School nior Arvizu and Grant McB- City those hopes. Since that Cot- and Missouri -- that left the twice, in 1997 and 1998; the wrestling teams lost to room picked up wins. Texas A&M Outland Tro- ton Bowl, the Aggies are 56- Aggies upset Kansas State Big 12 in 2011-12, the Ag- Weatherford 30-23 on Dec. Basketball phy winner Luke Joeckel 34 overall, 28-28 in the SEC. gies by far have settled well in the '98 title game for their 10. Andrew Valadez, Will Elk City seventh-grade stood on the JerryWorld turf The Aggies’ conference re- into their new home. From only conference title of the Wright, Reuben Andablo girls basketball team beat seven years ago and said the cord their final eight seasons fans to players to adminis- last quarter century. and Grant McBroom picked Clinton 41-31 on Dec. 16. words that no Big 12 loyalist in the Big 12: 32-33. trators, the SEC experience But A&M has reaped up wins. Abigail Brown led with 27 wanted to hear. "You want to have the 10 has been widely hailed in massive benefits from SEC ECHS wrestled Watonga points. The eighth-grade "Things are better," Jo- and 11 and 12 wins consis- Aggieland. The major bum- membership and its bigger Dec. 17 and won 57-18. girls team lost 36-20 to Clin- eckel said of the Aggies’ first tently, but when you have mer for A&M was the end of profile. Improved recruit- Ethan Banks, Lane Har- ton on Dec. 16, with Em- season in the Southeastern to play Alabama and LSU its rivalry with Texas. ing. More resources, which grove, Andrew Valadez, ily Lowrance leading with 8 Conference after leaving the and Auburn every year..." "Big part of my growing has led to enhanced facili- Will Wright, Reuben And- points. Big 12. "Things are way bet- said 1995 A&M graduate up, seeing the bonfire for ties. Kyle Field now seats ter." Bryan Garcia, who has lived Thanksgiving, knowing it 102,733. and where this organization 30. A&M's SEC record in A few days later, things got in Oklahoma since 1996 and revolved around the Univer- "Getting to the SEC has will go, I think can be really its final eight seasons in the even better for A&M. The currently resides in Edmond. sity of Texas (game)," Gar- been beneficial for A&M," beneficial. We love being league: 32-33. Ags routed Oklahoma 41-13 The 2019 Aggies are 7-5 cia said. "That's a tough one. said Aggie coach Jimbo in the SEC. It's tremendous None of the expatriates in the Cotton Bowl. Armed and lost to teams now ranked It would be awesome if we Fisher, who was lured from with an 11-2 season and the No. 1 (LSU), No. 3 (Clem- could get back to where we Florida State two years ago challenges.” have won a conference title Heisman Trophy-winning Give A&M credit. The in their new league, and son), No. 5 (Georgia), No. play it on Thanksgiving." by a 10-year, $75-million Aggies have adjusted better none won the Big 12 since in quarterback in Johnny Man- 12 (Auburn) and No. 13 (Al- Other than a stretch in the contract. than the other Big 12 expa- the 21st century. ziel, A&M seemed poised abama). LSU, Clemson and 1990s, in the last gasp of "It's let us grow and ex- triates. "T think it's been a positive for SEC greatness. Alabama were ranked No. 1 the Southwest Conference, pand a lot of different av- But the A&M program the week each played A&M. Aggie football has not been enues which for the future Nebraska's Big Ten re- move," Garcia said. "The cord: 40-36. Nebraska's Big excitement around football a Nc a 12 record in its final nine is outstanding. The atmo- seasons in the league: 40-32. sphere ... it's just a different Good luck to all area Missouri's SEC record: level of what the fan engage- 30-34. Missouri's Big 12 re- ment is.” student-athletes! cord in its final eight seasons The Aggies are doing in in the league: 38-27. the SEC what they did in Colorado's Pac-12 record: the Big 12. Win some, lose 20-61. Colorado's Big 12 re- some. But they're doing it on cord in its final nine seasons a bigger stage, because Jo- in the league: 31-41. eckel was right. Football is A&M's SEC record: 34- just better in the SEC. Where local athletes get their start! Want to show your support? a Kidsinc. ELK CITY — To place your business on the Sports Booster page contact Neva at ee 980-225-3000 or by emailing [email protected] /(580)374-4332