February 29, 2020 Issue, Page 14 of 14

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Page 16 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, February 29, 2020 Elk City sends three to state tournament won 30 matches.] some” going to state as a no matter what, they made Wright said he’s happy he junior. He didn’t make it to it,” Wright said his fellow has people accompanying regionals his freshman or ECHS wrestlers making it to him this year at state from sophomore year. state. “A lot of people can’t ECHS. “And now my junior year say that. I’m proud of them, “I want to go and com- comes along, I went to re- both of them.” pete and win a champion- gional and now I’m going to Wright said he will en- ship,” Wright said. “That’s state, and I’m pretty stoked joy walking with his ECHS all I think about right now, is about that,” he said, adding teammates on the mat when winning that championship. he likes getting to go to state names are called at the state It’s been the goal since day with McBroom and Wright. tournament. one I stepped into the room. Wright said he lost by a Wrestlers are competing The end goal will be when point in the regional final. against the best ofthe best at I’m top of the podium.” His opponent caught and beat state, Murray said. McBroom is excited about him at the end when Wright “When it comers down to state. was up a point, Wright said it, these are three of the best “It’s a new experience,” he he thinks his coasted in the 10 at their weight, which is said match and allowed his op- an accomplishment in its McBroom is a first-year ponent to catch him at the own,” Murray said. Grant McBroom, Will Wright and Felix Gonzales are Elk City High wrestlers wrestler, and Murray said end, but Wright learned the Murray said he appreciates who will compete at the state meet this weekend in Oklahoma City. The it’s tough to come into the lesson that he can’t take his the work of the wrestlers and three on their fingers represents the three ECHS wrestlers at the event. Staff sport and compete without foot off the gas and that he the assistant coaches this photo by Don Munsch. experience. would rather something like season, and he enjoys how “And Grant’s done it,” that happen at regional than the wrestling program has By Don Munsch, Editor ing at the regional tourney. is special. All these kids, Murray said. “And Felix al- in the state finals. Gonzales featured a family environ- Elk City High School Wright finished second in even the ones who aren’t ways had potential. He’s a said he wrestled a “whole ment. wrestling coach Kaleb Mur- the 132-weight class, while going. They’re part of the super strong kid. He’s a big lot smarter” than he ever has “If you make it a family ray likes where the wrestling McBroom finished fourth in best record in Elk City his- when he was at regionals, environment, people like to kid. He loves to win. ... Will, program is right now. the 220 and Gonzales placed tory. We’ve had four kids of course, does everything using techniques that would come and work,” Murray The school will send three fifth in the heavyweight di- with over 20 wins, two at he’s supposed to. I believe help him be successful. He said, adding it has benefited wrestlers - Will Wright, vision. 30. Some of the most wins he’s going to have a chance hopes he can make a strong the program. “We got three Grant McBroom and Fe- “I'm ecstatic — they’ve in Elk City history. Will hit to wrestle for a state cham- run next year. in [state], but would have lix Gonzales - to the state worked hard all year,” Mur- 100 wins this year. He and pionship. He’s got the skills, “It’s going to be tough, but liked to gotten more. But the tournment at the state fair- ray said. “We've tied as this [coach] Tyson [Brown] are he’s got the drive. He’s I feel like my boys are going future’s bright for a few who grounds in Oklahoma City is the most [the school has] the only ones to do it here.” wrestled big-time matches.” to pull through and they’re got close and we’re going to this weekend after qualify- had go to state. This group [Wright and McBroom each Gonzales said it’s “awe- going to wrestle hard, and keep working away.” Thunder’s Paul gives Langston University ‘jolt of energy’ with support of HBCUs By Joe Mussatto, The other schools get," Paul said, celebrity status," Alexander said. "Sometimes you feel But there was no chance bright orange hat atop one of Oklahoman, Oklahoma City "so I try to bring a lot of that said. "Him shining a light on like you're kind of fading of Langston fading into the the most prominent players OKLAHOMA CITY - knowledge to the forefront HBCUs basically benefits When Chris Paul strolled because it's education." recruiting whether it's regu- into the background." background. Not with that in the NBA. into Chesapeake Energy On Tuesday, Paul an- McBride’s Eagles lar students or athletes." Arena wearing a bright or- nounced a partnership with Alexander came to Langs- ange Langston University Live Nation Urban to build ton from Gwinnett, Georgia. hat, Langston point guard an internship pipeline be- Browne grew up in Sydney, win Global Cup Keeto Browne remembers tween the company and Australia. He transferred to his phone buzzing as pic- students at North Carolina Langston from Jacksonville tures popped across social A&T. Their mission is to in- State, and now he's play- media. troduce HBCU students to ing point guard just up 1-35 Four months later, Okla- the live music industry. from Paul, the point guard ARLINGTON, Texas — Lockwood delivered both the nation vs. nation event. homa's only _ historically But the Langston hat Paul Browne once watched from In front of an electric home 8-second efforts on the open- Team USA won the inau- black college or university wore in late October was a 8,000 miles away. country crowd inside AT&T ing night of the competition gural edition of the event in is still buzzing after Paul's source of local pride. "Him putting on for HB- Stadium, Team USA Eagles regarded as the “Olympics Edmonton, Alberta, Cana- show of support. "He wants to let us know CUs, that was something became the first team in the ofbull riding.” da, in November 2017, and "It made me feel like HB- that he's supporting us," said that I wasn't aware of when history of the PBR (Profes- After recording the third Team Brazil then laid claim CUs in general were more Elaine Powell, Langston I was growing up in Austra- sional Bull Riders) Global 90-point ride in Global Cup to be best bull riding na- important than what the pub- women's basketball coach. lia," Browne said, "That was Cup to defend home soil, history when he rode Grand tion in the world in the next lic eye sees," Browne said. "Because as soon as you see something to open my eyes. winning the 2020 WinStar Theft (Paige Stout Bucking "Everyone was just happy to Chris Paul with Langston on I feel like that's good for World Casino and Resort Bulls) for 90.25 points, the two Global Cups in Sydney, see that. That's the best way then that's gonna make you black and brown kids across PBR Global Cup USA in Montanan then covered Red Australia in June 2018 and Ican explain it ... happiness go look up Langston and the world to see that." mid-February, presented by Dawn (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Arlington, Texas in Febru- to see we're being supported learn more about it." Langston athletic director Monster Energy, according Berger/Clay _Struve/Heald ary 2019. as a community and as a Located 40 miles north Donnita Drain-Rogers sent to news release from PBR at Pro Bulls) for 88.5 points. After a hard-fought, come- school." of Oklahoma City, Langs- Paul a message on Facebook Endeavor. Team USA Eagles was rid- from-behind surge on the fi- The pregame walk into the ton University opened in two months after Paul wore Team USA Eagles went a dled by injury in the weeks nal day of competition, Team arena doubles as a fashion 1897 with 41 students. Now the Langston hat with the Li- combined 6-for-16 in repre- going into the event, howev- Australia finished second, show in the NBA, but Paul it's home to 3,000 students ons logo. senting the Red, White and er, substitute Cole Melancon a slim 9.25 points removed regularly uses that platform -- 70% of which are first- Drain-Rogers invited Paul Blue, under the leadership (Paris, Texas) stepped up from their first-ever Global to spark conversation and generation college students, to an upcoming Langston of Head Coach Justin Mc- and seized the moment, also promote positive change according to the university's game and wrote that she Bride (Whitesboro, Texas), going 2-for-4. Cup win. through his clothes. website. wanted to update Paul's Assistant Coach J.W. Hart On Feb. 15, Melancon Fans can relive all the ac- Paul has worn hats, sweat- The Lions compete in the Langston swag. Drain-Rog- (Overbook, Oklahoma) and rode Top Down (Rockin R tion from the 2020 WinStar shirts, jackets and shorts rep- NAIA's Sooner Athletic ers didn't hear back, but her Honorary Assistant Coach- Bucking Bulls) for 86 points, World Casino and Resort resenting Texas Southern, Conference. Both the wom- dream is for Paul to wear a es Cooper Davis (Jasper, which he followed with PBR Global Cup USA, pre- Morehouse College, Florida en's and men's basketball Langston sweat suit before a Texas) and Chase Outlaw an 88.25-point trip aboard sented by Monster Energy A&M, Prairie View A&M teams are hovering below Thunder game. (Hamburg Arkansas), the Monkey (Cooper/Scruggs on RidePass.com or via the and Southern University -- 500 in conference play, but "I guess the second part of release stated. The six-man Bucking Bulls) on Feb. 16. mobile app. all HBCUs. Langston forward Asheika my dream would be for me to contingent left the home of Matt Triplett (Columbia 2020 WinStar World Ca- Paul went to Wake For- Alexander leads the confer- be a groupie and get a photo Falls, Montana) and Cody sino and Resort PBR Glob- the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys est, but several of his fam- with him," she said, before with the glittering U.S. horn Teel (Kountze, Texas) also ence in scoring at 20.7 points ily members attended HB- per game. not-so-subtly mentioning from the Global Cup trophy, contributed qualified rides, al Cup USA, presented by CUs. The Chris Paul Family Alexander said her team- her March 9 birthday. first-of-their-kind medals both going 1-for-2, in the Monster Energy Foundation donated $50,000 mates were "shocked" when The gift Paul has already and a check for $362,022.22. home nation’s defense of Arlington, Texas — AT&T last April to Winston-Salem they saw the Thunder point given Langston and HBCUs McBride lived in Elk City their soil. Stadium State, an HBCU in Paul's guard sporting a Langston across the country is a "jolt for a short time as a boy and Triplett covered La Grande (Rides — Outs — Event Ag- North Carolina hometown. hat. of energy," as Drain-Rogers then he moved to Nebraska (Davis Rodeo Ranch/Speers) gregate) "They don't always get the "When you think of Chris described it. and then he moved back for 88.75 points, while Teel 1, Team USA Eagles, same funding that a lot of Paul, he's an NBA icon with "People are noticing," she to Elk City after he gradu- reached the buzzer atop 6-16-523.75 ated from high school, when 2. Team Australia, 6-16- Peep Show (Cornwell Buck- Send photos to he was 19. He was on tour ing Bulls) for 82 points. 514.5 around that time. In addition to becoming 3, Team Brazil, 5-16- Reigning, and two-time, the first national team to 435.75 editor PBR World Champion Jess defend home soil at a PBR Lockwood (Volborg, Mon- Global Cup, Team USA Ea- 4, Team Canada, 3-16- tana) headlined for Team gles is now the second multi- 259.75 @ecdailynews.com USA Eagles, going 2-for-4 time Global Cup Champi- and adding 178.75 points to the team’s total 5. Team Mexico, 1-16-89 ons, joining Team Brazil, who also has two victories at 6. Team 1-16-85.25 USA Wolves,