Sports Reflections Over the Year

By Ian Busking

For every sports player, there was a first practice, game, putting on a uniform and experiencing their first wins and losses. For lots of Owasso sports players, they played in their last games of their high school career in the fall. Some of them will continue on to become the best players they can be, but for some, the journey has come to an end.

Football

One of the athletes who has played their last sports games is football player Gage Laney. Laney was a huge asset to the defense of the Owasso Rams as he led the nation in interceptions in the 2020 season. Laney started playing football at a young age of five years old.

Laney says that, ¨My first moment playing football that I can remember is when I scored a sixty yard touchdown when I was in fifth grade for Owasso Red.¨

Photo of Gage Laney by Christian Campbell

Laney was taught the game of football by his dad and inspired him to be the man he has become before passing away when Laney was just in the seventh grade. Since then, his mom has been his biggest supporter. He has decided to take the next step in his career after bouncing back from losing the heart breaking semifinal game against Jenks this fall.

Laney is going to continue his athletic and academic career at the university of Central Oklahoma and study criminal justice.

Volleyball

Next up is senior Madison Mercer who has been playing volleyball since she was in the fourth grade. She has had many memories that she will never forget such as winning regionals her sophomore year and going to state. Throughout this sport, Mercer has had one specific person who she looks up to the most.

Mercer states, “Someone I look up to the most in not only volleyball, is Lee Johnson. He has been my coach for the past five years and has taught me not only how to play the sport I love but many other life lessons.”

Mercer is planning on attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) to continue playing volleyball. She is hoping to get into nursing school and become a neonatal nurse.

Cross Country

Another senior that competed in their last competition in high school is cross country (XC) runner, Judah Kucharyski. Kucharskyi was introduced to the sport by his mom. She encouraged him to join cross country so he gave it a shot. Kuchkaryski started the sport in seventh grade running for the Owasso Striders Club. Ever since then running has changed Judah’s life in many ways.

“The way I viewed running changed the more I ran, cross country is a lot more team oriented than people think. Running brought me lifelong friendships, and taught me self discipline. Getting up at five in the morning to go run five miles as hard as you can is not what every kid wants to do on a Monday morning before class.”

Even though Kucharyski does not plan on running in college, he has had many people who have wanted him to succeed more than anything in and out of the sport. One of them is Tulsa University Freshman, Kaden Hicks who Kucharyski describes as a natural born leader.

Kucharyski describes his years running as, “One heck of a ride.”

Softball

Last but not least is softball player Avery Tallman. Her first team that she was on was called the Diamond Dolls. Tallman looks back and remembers how they won their first big tournament which was called the Strikes Against Cancer tournament. She recalls how they ended up winning and got the best uniform award for wearing special pink uniforms for breast cancer awareness.

Tallman’s last high school career tournament might not have ended in the same result as her first ever, but she says that it was “one to remember.”

Tallman also adds, “It was definitely one of the best experiences in my softball career. The energy that was flowing through the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium was a feeling I will never forget,” when talking about her last tournament.

Tallman is going to continue her academic career as well as athletics to Missouri Southern State University. Inspired by another tall pitcher like Tallman, Cat Osterman is someone who she looks up to and is wanting to follow in her footsteps to make it big.

Photo of Avery Tallman by Cambry Shields

There are many other seniors who have played their last games whether that is just of high school or even in their whole life. Go support the spring sports and be sure to cheer on the seniors extra loud and make their seasons one to remember!