February 26, 2020 Issue, Page 8 of 9

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Sports Page I The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, February 26, 2020 Elkettes will be a loaded team in a tough district field, who has high hopes for soccer balls left on me. She’s Short, Merrifield said, and Bustillos, who could make got a killer foot. And she'll Yadira Rivera will be anoth- a huge difference for the control most of the field. “ er player to watch. Elkettes. The team lost its best “They have been work- Returning as goalkeeper defender, Hope Short, to ing hard,” she said about her will be Lillian Rhodes, a graduation last year, Merri- players, adding she started sophomore. Matti Jones will field said. Grace is her sister. Dec. | but some players have be back as defender. She was Opposing coaches told Mer- been going at it since the be- out last year because she tore rifield that they were glad ginning of school, when they her ACL in basketball. they didn’t have to deal with were in off-season. Grace Short will play mid- Hope Short anymore, Mer- “I’m excited,” Merrifield dle midfielder, and “you’re tifield called her The Ma- said. “It’s going to be fun going to see a lot of great chine. things from here. She’s been “Y'all know which one year. It’s going to be hard, but it’s going to fun.” super strong. She’s been she is — she’s the machine in Other members of the scoring the most goals in the back that you can’t get 2020 team: Paige Lane, Ai- practice,” Merrifield said. ever get through,” Merrifield She has a nickname for said. sia Belote, Emma Garza, Short. Merrifield will have to Danni Sottile, Railee Odom, “T call her Trigger,” Mer- change some formations this Juanita Valadez, Aaralyn rifield said. “If she pulls her year, and she thinks some Cummings, Fenix Wright, and Savannah Kauk get warmed up before a game.The team has many trigger, you better look out. will be a game-changer Allison Cleveland, Ashley players returning from last season. Submitted photo. Photo submitted. Everybody usually ducks for the team. She also will Callan, Kelly McGuinn, because you do not want to change the defense this year. Abby Sweeney, Alyson Al- By Don Munsch, Editor “We have a very strong Garcia said she will encour- get hit by her. I’ve been hit One other players show- brt, Alondra Romero and Elk City High School girls team,” Merrifield said about age her teammates to keep by her several times. I have ing a lot of potential is Kaia Rosa Sota. soccer coach Rhonda Mer- the 2020 group. “We lost moving on the field and not rifield likes the experience only four seniors from last give up, while Kauk said en- and talent her team will have this season. The Elkettes need all the year, We've got 30 girls. We suring players are having fun have a ton of girls who got a will be one way she ensures lot of talent.” the team is on the right path. Elkettes win district, firepower at their disposal ‘The team will rely on sev- Merrifield discussed sev- given the district they will be en seniors, and a couple of eral other players on this in, One of the Elkettes’ op- seniors who are on the team year’s team. play Thursday ponents will be Clinton, the —Norie Flowers and Haleigh Mckenzie Simon, a sopho- defending 4A state champ. Musick — will come over more, started last year on By Don Munsch, Editor points. Trojanettes will play Vici at “We're going to have one from the basketball team defense. Edith Bustillos, a The Elk City Elkettes beat Merritt 51, Hollis 40 6:30 p.m. Friday in the area easy game— and that’s it - in once that season is over. The junior, is back this year at Kingfisher 42-40 Friday to Tomlin-Sanders led Mer- round at Chickasha. The our district,” Merrifield said. other seniors on the team are middle forward and “you’re capture the District 3 Cham- ritt with 19 points. Merritt winner advances to state. “It’s going to be hard to get Savannah Kauk, Rossy Gar- going to see great things pionship and will advance to plays Cashion at 6:30 p.m. Boys playoffs to the playoffs.” cia, Grace Short, Makynzie from her,” Merrifield said. the regional playoff against Thursday in the regional Hobart 42, Merritt 36 She then corrected herself Polcyn and Gabby Ramos. Emmy Blackman, who Woodward at 6:30 p.m. round at Cashion. Thursday in Kingfisher. Girls Class A playoffs The Oilers will play Rush and said the easy game won't Merrifield thinks the se- played right and left mid- Springs at 3 p.m. Thursday be easy, as the Elkettes will niors will be the heart of the fielder last year, will swap The Elk City Elks lost 78- Canute 69, Alex 21 have to fight for every win. team, and she has coached with Bustillos at the middle 24 to Kingfisher in the boys Kylie Savage led Canute in Cashion in the consola- The team begins play March them since they were 8 years forward spot. District 3 game and will play with 17 points. Kylee Smith tion bracket. 5 at Cordell. old. “Both of them are just Woodward in the regional and Sydney Thrasher each Canute 68, Verden 52 “Our competition is the “They’re going to be the phenomenal,” —_— Merrifield consolation round at 3 p.m. scored 11 points for the Tro- Alex 42, Canute 36 strongest I’ve ever seen,” best leaders I’ve ever had,” said. Blackman and Baylee Thursday in Kingfisher. Co- janettes. Canute 54, Central High she said. she said. Duffy can play anywhere on rey Culver led all Elks with Canute 56, Cyril 45 25 The Elkettes finished 14-4 Kauk and Garcia said the the field, Merrifield said. 6 points against Kingfisher. Haley Schreck led the Girls Class 2A playoffs Trojanettes with 18 points. Canute 46, Fox 41 in 2019, losing 4-3 to New- team chemistry has been Blackman does not quit The Trojans will play Vici castle in the second round of good and they look forward and is “very aggressive” and Merritt 45, Hobart 30 Also scoring in double fig- the postseason. to the season. As a leader, can get after it, said Merri- Joshlyn Tomlin-Sanders ures were Kylee Smith, 12, at 3 p.m. Thursday in Chick- led the Oilerettes with 19 and Kirstyn Strain, 10. The asha. Elk City football player signs with SNU Beer said the SNU pro- “He was very excited to over the course of his SNU gram will have several op- have me, and he made it career. It is nice to have two tions as to where they could sound like I was going to former Elks in our program put Chadwick on their roster. fit in,” said Chadwick, who with him joining Gage Por- Chadwick said the team’s probably will major in busi- ter as a Crimson Storm play- coach, Dustin Hada, told ness management. er.” him he could play anywhere, Hada said in an email that Remarking on Chadwick’s but he said the coach told he was familiar with Gavin him defensive end and pos- from his time in Elk City as signing to play football at sibly tight end are options. the offensive coordinator in the next level, Brian Hunt, “T think if he takes advan- the fall of 2015. Chadwick Elk City High School athlet- tage of it, he’s going to have was in the eighth grade then, ic director, said Chadwick’s a good career,” Beer said. and he stood “head and effort has paid off. Chadwick is still young at shoulders above the others “It's a testament to the game and is growing and his age,” Hada said. Gavin’s had work through- Gavin Chadwick, left center, a senior at Elk City High School, signed has a lot of room to put on “It is great to see how out his while career, and size, Beer said. he has matured and grown with Southern Nazarene University to play football. At the signing we’re proud he represented “T think his future’s since that time,” Hada said. ceremony Thursday morning at ECHS were, from left, his father Jay, Elk City Public Schools in bright,” Beer said. “We are excited to have him girlfriend Allie Dixon, sister Jayda and mother Amy. Staff photo by Don the class manner the way he Munsch. Beer said SNU will be a in our program. He will be good fit for Chadwick, who playing defensive end at did and we're glad he gets an By Don Munsch, Editor “Tt’s a feeling I didn’t job there at SNU.” knows the coach, Dustin SNU. We are anticipating opportunity to take his skills Hada. great development from him to the next level,” Hunt said. Elk City Hih School ath- know I would get, and it’s lete Gavin Chadwick will something I’ve wanted as take his talents to Bethany a kid and didn’t even think where he will play football was possible,” he said. for Southern Nazarene Uni- versity. SNU is a Division II school that plays in the ~ Good Luck to all of Chadwick [6°3, 225], Great American Conference. who played tight end and The Crimson Storm finished defensive end for the Elks, 2-9 in 2019. was surrounded by friends, “T’m excited for Gavin; he family members and team- put a lot of work in,” said mates at a signing ceremony former Elk City head foot- TERRY'S FURNITURE (580)225-4006 OR (800)925-4006} 2009 S. lerrysfurnitureshowroom.com The Phillips Family Thursday morning in the ball coach Todd Beer, who SHOWROOM Monday Locally owned and ‘operated ( lobby of the Pioneer Center at the high school. He is ex- coached Chadwick and at- tended the ceremony. “I 2001 SOUTH MAIN ‘Through Saturday cited to get to vlav for SNU. think he’s going to do a great ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA 9-6