March 18, 2020 Issue, Page 6 of 10

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Sports Page 6 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Magnificent seven: Elk City seniors to play big role in team’s fortunes 1h Three of Elk City seniors for this year's team are, from left, Gabby Ramos, Grace Short and Makynzie Polcyn. Elk City coach Rhonda Merrifield has high hopes for this group of seven seniors in 2020. Staff photo by Don Munsch. Savannah Kauk Norie Flowers not give up, while Kauk said Short said. “We all came “As a team, I think we're again March 24 with a home ensuring players are having together as like a big group doing pretty good,” Polcyn game against Woodward, or fun will be one way she en- of friends and we see each said shortly after the team’s that is currently the sched- By Don Munsch, Editor best leaders I’ve ever had,” sures the team is on the right other as family, too.” scrimmage against Newcas- uled date, as The News went Seniors in varsity high she said. path. And players seeing on as tle, which the Elkettes won to press Monday. Elk City school sports can have a pro- The seniors have helped Musick said this is her first family makes it easier for 5-0. school leaders are to meet found effect on their team, the Elkettes win their first year in soccer. the players to jell, Short said, Grace Short’s sister is Friday to evaluate what the whatever the sport. two games in convincing “It’s my last year in high adding said the seniors try to Hope Short, who played for district will do as events re- Elk City High School manner: 9-1 over Cordell school; I thought it would be keep everyone together and Elk City last year. Merrifield volving around the coronavi- girls soccer coach Rhonda and 11-1 over Altus. Kauk fun,” she said about why she try to include everyone. Pol- called Hope the team’s best tus pandemic could change. Merrfield spoke glowingly leads all Elkettes with six took up soccer. cyn, Short and Ramos, who defender last year. Grace Short said she is of her team’s seven seniors goals. Garcia is second with She and Flowers, who has spoke together as a group “She was so good; it’s excited about the season but before the season. The team five goals. Merrifield said some experience playing one recent day, know that hard to live up to her,” Grace also sad because it is her last will rely on seven seniors: the Altus game was stopped soccer, were in basketball their position of leadership Short said about her sister. year. Norie Flowers, Haleigh in the second half because of as the soccer season began. comes with responsibil- “Everyone’s like, ‘Are you “T don’t plan on playing Musick, Savannah Kauk, a mercy rule situation. The basketball team was in ity and pressure, as they going to play like your sis- college ball, so it’s going to Rossy Garcia, Grace Short, Just before the season, the playoffs in the first week are aware they are being ter?’ But she’s just so good be my last time playing with Makynzie Polcyn and Gab- Kauk and Garcia said they of March, when the regular watched and can influence and so fast.” these girls,” she said. “And by Ramos. would use their leadership season started for soccer. the younger players. Grace said it was “so T played with Savannah and Merrifield said before the skills in different ways, with Short sees reason for the The Elkettes are making weird” playing in the first Rossy since I started soc- season she thinks the seniors Garcia saying she will en- team to be successful. an impression in the early scrimmage without her sis- cer, so it’s going to be weird will be the heart of the team. courage her teammates to “T think we’re going to going with their first two ter there. not getting on the field with “They’re going to be the keep moving on the field and do really good this season,” victories. Elk City’s season picks up them.” An Oklahoma weekend without sports: Paradise Lost By Berry Tramel, The regained.” laws. So, I guess it’s bad. scores. I hope the virus finds be glued to anything that years, I am pondering on Oklahoman, Oklahoma So what was the week- Seriously, they’re good itself unable to contaminate doesn’t involve the Soon- what the 2020-21 football City end like? What will future folks, but sports would have soon so that life can go on, ers or Yankees, or any game season might look like. Go OKLAHOMA CITY - We weekends be like? A variety been a nice substitute for the and for me that means the that might have an effect on Pokes!” just experienced a weekend of Oklahomans shared their Statler Brothers reunion vid- sporting world can turn the Sooners or Yankees. I ROBERT KEIL, Shaw- had become more of a Thun- without sports. We’ve done no-sports weekend. Here is a eos. Here’s an idea. ESPN again.” nee: “I pretty much did noth- der fan this year, with the it before. sampling. should assemble an NCAA LARRY ADLER, Weath- team’s unexpected success, ing. Watched a lot of Mys- After the 9/11 terrorist at- CHRIS BENGE, Sand Tournament classics replay erford: “My weekend wasn’t tery Science Theater 3000, but I honestly don’t miss the tacks, the NFL postponed Springs: “Yesterday, my of all the great games played that much different than NBA. Now if MLB delays went to church this morning its games for that weekend, wife and I went to the Home from each round of past usual. On Friday and Satur- its season, I will miss that a and took care of my wife, Major League Baseball post- & Garden Show, and then tournaments. I’m not sure day late afternoons, I went lot more.” who hurt her foot and is poned games until the fol- out to eat at a restaurant. I there are enough 30 for 30s out to our local golf course, JIM HARRIS, Sallisaw: staying off of it.” lowing Monday, NASCAR have a couple of books to to fill the coming weeks.” which has a par-3 practice “T have been watching more JACKY WILLIAMSON, postponed the New Hamp- read and we are planning JUSTIN SKUBE, Ed- hole. It’s what I do these Amazon Prime - mostly Perryton, Texas: “Netflix, shire 300 until November, to go for a hike later today. mond: “I can’t recall a time days that passes for real golf. movies - and I have been I was out there by myself, so and I actually talked to my We aren’t going to freak out in my 44-year history where helping my father-in-law get some projects completed. wife. She is really smart and the PGA Tour cancelled the in my view spending time World Golf Championships over the virus. But we will the sporting world stopped outdoors is one of the saner informed. Netflix and chili Also been watching Golf and college football games practice the basic hygiene turning! I usually find my- and safer things one can do later!” Channel reruns. You have to scheduled for that weekend recommendations our lead- self on this weekend watch- of late. Went to our morn- wonder if this is God’s way STEVEN CARTER, were either postponed or ers are making. We are not ing some of the men’s Big ing worship service at Pine of hitting the reset button. Shawnee: “Since the week- cancelled. making a run on toilet paper 12 basketball tourney, the Acres Church. In apropos Maybe society was too busy end started rather wet, I took But within a week or two, by the way. Oh, and I will Players Golf Champion- fashion, our guest speaker with things that weren’t im- my car to the shop and had the ballgames were back. probably make my way to ship finale (now that it was spoke about what the Chris- portant. Social media, po- new brakes and rotors put That won’t happen this time, the golf course later. I con- moved to March) and then tian’s outlook and priorities larized political arguments, on. No sports plus spend- with the NBA, the National sider myself the biggest eagerly awaiting the release should be in this time of na- selfish sports stars and fans, ing money, wow, what a Hockey League and Major Thunder fan in the Tulsa of the NCAA tourney bas- climate debates, etc., none way to spend a Saturday. I tional and global crisis. As League Baseball suspended area. I will miss Thunder ketball brackets. But not this of that seems as important at watched some UFC Fight for TV, I can’t stand current- this moment.” Night on ESPN, no fans, not until at least April, and the games the most. The Mas- Sunday. Instead I’ve tried to day fare, so I watch reruns of JOHN DOLEZAL, Perry: sure how the participants NCAA Tournament and vir- ters a very close second.” watch some television series ‘Hogan's Heroes’ and other “To fill the space of sports, I tually all college sports can- JOHN SCHABRAM, The that I have missed over the old sitcoms. I started binge- can even think clearly in an am spending time reflecting celled through the academic Colony, Texas: “Watched last few years (because most watching the fairly recent on how blessed and spoiled empty arena. Oh, and there year, because of the corona- the 1985 OU vs. Louisiana of my TV time is dedicated we have been not having was PBR (Professional Bull “Burn Notice’ series, but all virus outbreak. Tech. Can’t think of a better the shows to live sports) and some are roughly the to go through something Riding for those who may These will be strange times NCAA Tournament game movies... but it just doesn’t same plot (I know, ‘Hogan’s like this and dreaming on not know). Now that was Heroes’ has roughly the same plot as well). Watched the prospects and hope this totally worthwhile. It’s live for the majority of Oklaho- to watch. The greatness that live up to real life, live sport- mans. Sports are such an in- is Wayman Tisdale vs. Karl ing competitions. I’m bored. won't last long. My favor- Saturdays and Sundays the a couple of Christian mov- tegral part of our lives. ‘The Mailman’ Malone! And on a normal Sunday ies on Amazon Prime Vid- ite sport is college football, next two weekends, every- “It's like paradise lost,” At Reunion Arena, 1985 even if I’m unable to watch eo. Not viewing live sports and having had experience one should check it out, it is said Tom Landers, retired NCAA Midwest Regional the sporting events, I at least isn’t really all that hard on of playing football in high such a great sport to watch, dean of OU’s College of semifinal.” know they’re going on, so me, even though I’m an school, coaching high school the toughest sport on dirt, Engineering. “Hoping and BRIAN ALFORD, Ed- it’s so unusual to not be able avid and lifelong sports fan. football and being a curious actually. No fans at the PBR braving soon that paradise is mond: “Went to see the in- to check the ESPN avo for Anvmore. I'm not prone to and studious fan for over 60 either.”