Acclimating to the new digs in Duncan

Sports

June 3, 2009

Ryan Cornelius Column

Ryan Cornelius The Duncan Banner Wed Jun 03, 2009, 11:21 PM CDT

Driving south on Interstate 35 for eight hours, I started to wonder what Duncan, Okla., was really like, I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous.

I came to Duncan to interview for this position in early April as I finished off my last year at Wichita State University. Luckily, Ron Booth and Michael Pineda decided to offer me the job on the spot. I owe a lot of thanks to those two gentlemen as well as Kevin Hook as many of my fellow graduates enter the “big kid world” with no job.

For the better part of the last week, I have been moving into a new apartment in a new city that is much smaller than the one I had been living in for the past four years, while being much larger than the community in which I grew up. I was amazed in April and even more so now at the quality people I have encountered. People are a lot nicer in Oklahoma than they are in Missouri, with the exception of a few individuals at the DMV in Lawton during my marathon morning stay last week.

I accepted this position because I have a passion for journalism and I love athletics. I ran track for a little over three years in college. Needless to say, I know a little bit about the sports world and if anyone is looking for a running partner, shoot me a phone call. I am looking forward to covering a little bit of everything in Duncan and the surrounding areas. I promise to be as accurate and fair as possible.

There are three things you must know about me. First, growing up in Missouri, I was an avid Missouri Tiger fan, I have already dialed the football gods and switched my allegiance to OU. That process was a lot easier than the changing of the bank accounts, driver’s license, license plates, car insurance and everything else in between. I will now root for OU week in and week out and when they play my Tigers or WSU Shockers, I will just simply keep my mouth shut. “Boomer Sooner” is already on my iPod. Second, I can’t wait for basketball season. I have never lived this close to a NBA city and word on the street is that Thunder fans are some of the best in the country. Not to mention, I’m a big Kevin Durant fan. Finally, I love the Kansas City Chiefs. Sorry Cowboy fans, Oct. 11 is circled on my calendar when the Chiefs will entertain the Cowboys in Kansas City. I’ll save my prediction for later date.

For the remainder of the summer, I’ll look forward to meeting area coaches and athletes and covering a little bit of everything from T-ball to rodeos. Maybe I’ll get to do a little tornado chasing, as well. You know, play like Bill Paxton in “Twister” and drive around the countryside in hopes of finding the big one. So Duncan, thanks for having me, thanks for being so welcoming and I’ll be around for awhile.

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Sports

WELL STATED
Britton Scott and Kelsey LeValley didn’t earn titles at the state tennis tournament like they hoped to, but they can rest assured they will still get a chance to end their high school careers on a high note.
Scott and LeValley were among the eight players selected to the Girls’ West All-State Tennis Team, which was announced Wednesday. They will take on the East team on July 24 at the University of Tulsa.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Under new management
Sometimes, change can be a good thing. For the Marlow Outlaws football team, this season is gearing up to be full of it.
After a disappointing 1-9 finish to the season, which included six losses by 10 points or less, there was a change of command for MHS.
On April 20, Rob Renshaw, who had spent the past six seasons at Putnam City High School as the offensive coordinator, was named the official head coach of the Outlaws.

May 23, 2012 2 Photos
Laying the foundation
Last season, the Velma-Alma Comets had a nightmare start to their year.
After losing its first five games, along with star running back Checotah Lynn to a knee injury, V-A was looking at an unthinkable losing season.
However, the Comets rebounded to win six straight games and earn second place in district, eventually reaching the second round of the playoffs before falling to Minco 51-18.
Monday evening saw the Comets hard at work on Edgar Martin Field as they try and build upon the success of 2011.

May 22, 2012 2 Photos
Blowout is as big as ever in 35th year
The driving range has seen an increase in popularity, the putting green is getting more use and the course professionals are devoting more of their days to giving lessons.
With the 35th Annual Blowout Tournament this weekend at the Duncan Golf and Tennis Club, it isn’t a time to be rusty.

May 22, 2012
First Impressions
Even before the rooster could finish his morning crows Monday, the Central High football team was hard at work at Broncho Stadium.
Enthusiasm was high and the pads were clapping as 18 CHHS players hit the field for the first time in 2012.
This marked the first official practice under head coach Andy Claborn, who takes over a Bronchos squad that narrowly missed the playoffs in 2011 with a 5-5 record.

May 21, 2012 2 Photos
Scramble helps send Stevens to Pinehurst
Thanks to his performances in U.S. Kids Golf tournaments in Oklahoma City, Caden Stevens earned a spot in the World Championships.
Thanks to his fellow Stephens County residents, he will get to go.
Fifty-six players took part in the Team Caden Classic scramble on Saturday at Twin Oaks Golf Club. Between them and sponsorships from 11 local businesses, around $2,800 was raised to help send Stevens to Pinehurst, N.C., where he will compete at the storied golf resort against some of the best 7-year-olds in the world.

May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Cards win Jess Welch title
Even though Duncan experienced a slight shower Sunday morning, it wasn’t enough to halt the final day of the Jess Welch Memorial Tournament at Abe Raizen Park.
In the championship of the 10-&-under division, it was an all-Duncan final between the Cardinals and Yankees, both of which survived semifinal matchups against teams from outside of Stephens County to advance earlier in the day.
Four runs in each of the first three innings proved to be too much for the Yankees to handle as the red birds took home the championship with a 15-0 victory in four innings.

May 20, 2012 2 Photos
Area players shine at All-Star game
If fans attending Saturday night’s 23rd annual Southwest Senior Bowl at Cameron Stadium were looking for a friendly exhibition game amongst the players, they got just the opposite.
But, through all the chaos and controversy, the players representing Stephens County turned in solid performances, with Comanche’s Johnny Heath and Duncan’s Daniel McCoy scoring touchdowns on the evening.
In the end it was Heath’s South team coming away with the 26-14 victory over the North.

May 20, 2012 2 Photos
DHS girls' coach McClung resigning
Andrew McClung verbally accepted the position of girls’ head basketball coach at Cache High School on Thursday, and he said he plans to give Duncan his official resignation on Tuesday.

May 19, 2012
Waurika names Edelman head football coach
At a meeting in April, the board of education voted to rehire Glenn Howard as a teacher and assistant coach for the 2012-13 school year. At that time, Danny Edelman was also rehired as head coach in the football program, which will be moving to the eight-man level in the 2012 season.

May 19, 2012
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