NEW PODCAST: Break out the baseball bats...it's spring sports season

4/6/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Michael and Ben return with a quick glimpse into spring sports across Oklahoma. The guys talk about some recent news items in Oklahoma, and spend some time talking about Broken Arrow's announcement of a girls varsity wrestling team - the first program of its kind in Oklahoma.

Catoosa hiring Medrano as next head coach

3/27/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Catoosa is expected to hire Muskogee offensive coordinator Jason Medrano as the Indians' next head football coach at a special board meeting on Thursday. Medrano, a West Texas A&M alum, has been at Muskogee for 15 seasons, serving on the offensive side of the ball.

Muskogee finished 6-5 in 2018 and earned a spot in the Class 6AII playoffs, where it lost to Stillwater in the quarterfinals.

At Catoosa, Medrano would take over a program that was led by Aaron Meier for 10 seasons. Meier went 71-42 during his run, which included two separate semifinal appearances in Class 4A.

WRESTLING NEWS: Shawn Jones steps down at Broken Arrow; Rodney Jones takes over

3/26/2019 |  Ben Johnson

Shawn Jones is going out as a champion. On Monday, the Broken Arrow wrestling coach announced he is stepping down in order to try a new employment venture.

“I meant business when I got here,” Jones told Skordle. “We didn’t go 14 for 14, but we did pretty well.”

Jones’ reign comes to an end after a 14-year run, which included five team championships, four dual state titles and 36 individual champions. Broken Arrow wrapped up February with dual state and team championships.

“I didn’t know a lot of stuff until the press conference,” Jones said. “I didn’t keep track of a lot of that stuff.”

Included among Jones’ accomplishments was Zach Marcheselli becoming Broken Arrow’s first four-time state champion since Brandon Tucker at the turn of the century.

Reece Witcraft (132) and Emmanuel Skillings (195) also picked up individual titles for the Tigers in 2019. And before they claimed their gold medals at the state tournament, Jones had already accepted a job outside of coaching.

“I had something land in my lap,” Jones said. “I always said I would continue to do this until I can’t pass something up.”

Jones said he was entering the medical field, selling cardiothoracic devices.

“I have three girls, and they unselfishly let me do my thing,” Jones said. “But now it’s time for me to do something where I can be with them.”

Broken Arrow athletic director Steve Dunn expressed his admiration for Jones.

“We appreciate all that Shawn has meant to Broken Arrow athletics over the years and, we wish him and his family the very best in this new adventure,” he said. “We didn’t have to look very far to identify the next head wrestling coach. In fact, he has been interviewing for the job for the past 14 years.”

Jones’ brother, Rodney, will take over the Tiger wrestling program, and he’ll be only the fifth head coach of the program since 1990. Rodney Jones has served alongside Shawn Jones, and he’s a former three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma. Jones also served as an assistant coach at OU for five years before a one-year stint Mustang segued into his time at Broken Arrow.

“I don’t have the words to properly explain how excited and grateful I am for this opportunity,” Rodney Jones said. “There is absolutely no place like Broken Arrow. The opportunities this district provides our students and teachers is unmatched. It’s an honor to be chosen to lead this great program’s legacy and championship tradition.”

As for Shawn’s whereabouts when Broken Arrow starts wrestling during the 2019-2020 season, it won’t be hard to find him.

“I’m going to be a super fan, and since I have a connection I might be able to score some wrestling gear,” Shawn said before being asked if he’d sneak down into the coaching corner on the mats. “I’m going to be absolutely fine just sitting in the stands.”

PODCAST: Goodbye Basketball

3/13/2019 |  Ben Johnson

The guys put a bow on the high school basketball season & recap the weekend that was from State Fair Arena and the Mabee Center. Both Michael and Ben also name their tournament MVPs for each class.

Then they spend a few minutes talking about the newly-announced inductees to the Oklahoma Coaches Association' s Hall of Fame class. That, plus hitting the highlights on the All-State wrestling nominees.

As always, thank you for listening. 

Email the show at ben@skordle.com | Tweet at us - @michaelswisher or @benjohnsontul

Totsy Manning announces retirement

Girls Basketball | 3/12/2019 | JACOB UNRUH | NewsOK

Memorial pulls off three-peat

Boys Basketball | 3/12/2019 | BEN JOHNSON | NewsOK

Kingfisher beats Heritage Hall for 4A title

Boys Basketball | 3/12/2019 | TIM GODFREY | Enid News & Eagle

Piedmont claims 1st title since '67

Girls Basketball | 3/12/2019 | TREY HUNTER | The Yukon Review

WRESTLING: All-State rosters announced

3/12/2019 |  Ben Johnson

The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced the 2019 All-State wrestling rosters on Tuesday morning.

Here are the rosters and some notes on the honorees:

Large East

113: David Boucher (Bartlesville)

120: Laif Jones (Bartlesville)

126: Ty Nohelty (McAlester)

132: Reece Witcraft (Broken Arrow) - Two-time state champion headed to Oklahoma State

138: Spencer Schickram (Ponca City) - Won the Class 6A 138 title this season

145: Gage Hight (Glenpool) - Finished as a three-time runner-up for the Warriors 

152: Ja’len Hernandez (Union) 

160: Scott Patton (Sand Springs) - Runner-up at 6A 152

170: Isaac Strain (Tahlequah)

182: Talon Borror (Coweta) - Three-time state champion headed to Oklahoma

195: Elijah Tomlin (Union)

220: Korbin McLaughlin (Skiatook) - The 5A 220 champion this season to help Skiatook split the 5A state title with Collinsville

HWT: Caleb Orr (Jenks) - Runner-up in 6A heavyweight this season

Large West

113: Dominic Derr (Westmoore)

120: Jayston Cato (Carl Albert) - Runner-up at 5A 120 this season

126: Mitchell Lance (Piedmont) - Third place finish at 5A 126 this season

132: Colt Newton (Choctaw) - Finished third at 6A 132 this season 

138: Cameron Picklo (Mustang) - Finished third at 138 this season

145: Kobi Gomez (Altus) - State champion at 5A 138 this season

152: Hunter Jump (Duncan) - State champion at 5A 160 after winning a state title at Lawton Mac as a junior

160: Rene Martinez (Putnam City) - Runner-up at 6A 160 this season

170: Zane Coleman (Choctaw) - Arizona State signee became a four-time state champion this season

182: Christian Maldonado (Lawton Mac) - State champion at 5A 170 this season

195: Carson Savage (Deer Creek) - Runner-up at 6A 195 this season

220: Jake McCoy (Edmond North) - Runner-up at 6A 220 this season

HWT: Josh Heindselman (Piedmont) - Became a two-time state champion by winning the 5A heavyweight crown this season

Small East

113: Kaleb Harris (Sallisaw)

120: Luke Montgomery (Bristow) - Finishied third at 4A 120 this season

126: Thaddeus Long (McLain) - Became the Titans’ first state champion since 1976 with a title at 4A 126

132: Wesley Scott (Pawnee) - Runner-up at 3A 132 this season

138: Price Perrier (Pawhuska) - Runner-up at 3A 138 this season

145: Trystian Shireman (Wagoner) - Finished third at 4A 138 this season

152: Hadyn Redus (Perry) - State champion at 3A 152 this season

160: Jacob Ahrberg (Cushing) - State champion at 4A 160 this season

170: Cade Shropshire (Checotah) - Two-time state champion for the Wildcats with the 3A 160 chamionship this season

182: River Simon (Vian) - Became a two-time state champion by winning the 3A 182 title this season

195: Eriq Simpson (Cushing) - Runner-up at 4A 195 this season

220: Drake Barbee (Blackwell) - State champion at 3A 195 this season

HWT: Teaguen Wilson (Perry) - Runner-up at 3A heavyweight this season

Small West

113: Remington White (Walters) - Former state champion was the 3A runner-up at 113 this season

120: Jaxon Miller (Comanche)

126: Logan Farrell (Tuttle) - Runner-up at 4A 126 this season

132: Kolton Smith (Bridge Creek) - Became the Bobcats’ first state champion by winning the 3A 126 title this season

138: Kobey Kizarr (Marlow) - State champion at 3A 138 this season

145: Val Park (Heritage Hall) - Became a three-time state champion by winning 4A 138 title this season

152: Alec McDoulett (Little Axe) - Runner-up at 3A 152 this season

160: Tyler Lavey (Marlow) - Runner-up at 3A 160 this season

170: Ethon Hamrick (Comanche) 

182: Denver Dahlenburg (Hinton) 

195: Carson Berryhill (Tuttle) - Won a second straight state championship by winning 4A 195 title this season

220: Cameron Gregg (Pauls Valley)

HWT: Ruben Guiterrez (Clinton) - Finished third at 4A heavyweight this season

**Photo courtesy of Austin Bernard/Owrestle.com