Year-in-Review: Area Sports 2022 (part 1)

January 05, 2023
Avrey Payne pitches in the game against Pauls Valley, with the Outlaws at the top of the Clas 4A District 3 baseball standings. April 2022 File Photo/The Marlow Review
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Editor’s Note: This is our Year-in-Review for 2022, area sports, part one. Part two, for June through December, will be published in next week’s printed edition. We hope you enjoy this look back at some of the highlights of our young athletes and teams for Marlow, Bray-Doyle and Central High. Each week through January, we will feature a Year-in-Review article highlighting the news of the year. We will also take a look at community news, education and crime.

MHS Outlaw boys’ basketball team started with a 3-0 for the season after a 65-37 win over Lexington the first week in January, ranking them at #5 in the state for Class 3A. Their undefeated record includes a 40-31 win over Washington, Dec. 17 and 54-20 over Davis, Dec. 18, 2021. They continued the winning streak as the month went on, putting them 7-1 for the season, after wins at Pauls Valley 58-42, and Bridge Creek 57-49.

The Lady Outlaws also defending champions, dominated PV 48-31, Bridge Creek 67-34, giving them an 8-2 record.

The 91st annual Stephens County Basketball Tournament, to be played at Velma-Alma High School, was moved to Central High gym because of concerns over staffing/COVID-19. Tournament hosting rotates yearly. Central High was scheduled to host the 2023 tournament, but it was a swap, which means V-A will host the 92nd tournament this year. As the 2022 tournament got underway, there were a few bumps, including the Waurika boys’ team not able to assemble for the first round game against Marlow, but they were expected to continue in the consolation bracket near the end of the week. Defending tournament champion Marlow Lady Outlaws advanced first with a 65-27 win over Wayne. Whitney Wade was the leader in scoring for her team with 18 points; and Kently Davis scored 10 points.

Waurika Lady Indians were the victors in their game against the Comanche Lady Indians JV team, 41-25.

Marlow Outlaw wrestlers earned the Class 3A District 2 Champion title after hosting the Dual competition and seven other teams. In late January, they scored 603.5 points at the Paul Post tournament in Sallisaw, earning a 1st place win.

Outlaw Swimmers took 2nd place with 76 team points at the Southwest Area Conference meet in Altus.

MHS senior Lyvia Bateman was crowned Basketball Homecoming Queen, by crowning king Julian Marroquin. Both teams won by a 3-point margin each against opponents Lindsay Leopards.

In February, headlines proclaimed that the Wrestlers were headed to Dual State; and so were the MHS Swim Team members in their field. Outlaw wrestlers brought home back-to-back championships, defeating Jay 45-31, and securing a fourth state championship title for Marlow’s athletic departments during the school year (2021-22). Marlow’s Bootleggers earned a State Championship title and was honored during a home game, Feb. 11. And, 11 Outlaws were state bound after a regional tournament – with the State 3A qualifiers being Case Rich, Gehrig Furr, Ty Scott, Caden Gilbert, Keller Kizarr, Brantz Bateman, Cody Davis, Dason Davis, Kyle Wilson, Zach Dawson and Lawson Knox. Outlaw Wrestlers continued a winning streak in March, with another state tournament title.

Central High hosted the Class A District 8 tournament, and in baseball, the Bronchos were 6-7 for the season after a 44-67 loss to Ft. Cobb.

In March, the boys’ basketball headed to Class 3A for state tournament. It was 28 years (1994/95) when Marlow made a back-to-back appearance at state level. The Outlaws were 21-3 for the season. Lady Outlaws ended their season against Kingston 35-37.

The Outlaws ended its 2021-22 season with a 22-4 record, after losing to Millwood, 44-42 in the semi-finals of the Class 3A State Tournament. They beat the Roland Runnin’ Rangers 52-43 at the State Fair Arena earlier in the week.

Letters of Intent for Outlaws included February: Julian Marroquin for football at East Central University; Kyle Wilson and Will Bergner, with Northeastern State University; and in March: Kristany Travis signed with Murray State College for the rodeo team.

Spring in late March and a late winter storm put a damper on baseball schedules for area teams, with rains making fields a muddy mess. It still didn’t slow Marlow down as they traveled to Texas to play three games during spring break. They started with wins, 13-0 and 11-0 over Dickson. They lost two games in Port Aransas, and won a Friday home game against Purcell, 13-1. The games against Madill were delayed because of rain, then the double-header was a score, 11-1 and 17-1 for the Outlaws.

Central High Bronchos, Class A, began its season with a 1-3 after a 19-13 win over Empire early in the month. A lost to 2A Wynnewood on March 3, 0-13, and then lost 6-7 in their play against Cyril. They also hosted the Red Dirt Classic in late March.

Bray-Doyle Donkeys were 0-6, with regular-season openers canceled. The Donkeys hosted the Joe Lumbert Memorial Festival in early March, but fell to Cement 1-12, and to Geronimo 2-22, and no points in the game against Velma-Alma (ranked #17 in Class A).

Ending March 2022 came with some recognitions: Case Rich as Wrestler of the Year, Kyle Wilson and Rich for All State, and Ty Scott, Cody Davis, Dason Davis, Kash Kern, Cole Hayes, Chance O’Neal and Cody Huber for All-Star by Class, with Davis an All-State Alternate. Andy Howington was named Head Coach of the Year, and Keith Kizarr, Assistant Coach of the Year. On the court, Josiah Johnson was named Player of the Year in the Canadian Valley Conference for the boys, and Jace Gilbert and Avrey Payne for second team, and Whitney Wade was the girl's Player of the Year, and Conference Girls Coach of the Year went to Scott Tahah.

Lady Outlaws Golf team were champions of the Marlow Invitational on March 21. Gabby Hack to ok the overall top spot, and seven teammates were in the top 15.

Four Central High Lady Bronchos hit five homers to a 23-11 win over Geronimo and giving them a 6-4 in the season as March came to an end.

Vaulting into April, Kennedy Kizarr tied the Marlow school record of 11 feet for the Girls’ Pole Vault at the Elgin track meet.

Central High’s fifth and sixth-grade track teams were proving competitiveness bringing home medals from the Waurika Track Meet.

Back on the baseball field, Marlow won 5-0, retaining its top spot in District 3A-4. The varsity team was 15-3 in the season after finishing as runners-up in its home tournament. They still were 7-0 in district play and top-ranked in Class 4A District 3.

The Harlem Wizards came to Outlaw Country thanks to the PTO fundraiser. The game against the “Blue Crew” generated nearly $20,000 for the PTO program.

Marlow High School’s Lady Outlaws earned the Canadian Valley Conference golf championship on Tuesday while head coach Mikey Eaves was named Canadian Valley Conference Coach of the Year.

April Letters of Intent (Marlow): Outlaw senior thrower Morgan Lucas signed with Oklahoma City University track and field team in April. AJ Brown signed with Eastern Oklahoma State College and will join EOSC’s Agricultural Judging Team. Among those present to celebrate were former Marlow High School ag instructor Derek Mitchell and current instructor Quaid Kennan. Mitchell is now the CH FFA ag instructor for 2022-23.

Cody Huber signed to wrestle at Neosho Community College in Chanute, KS after considering his options to play football in college or continue his wrestling career. He was a part of a back-to-back State Championship and Dual State Championship Outlaw wrestling team.

Parker Martinez of Marlow won the OKUSA State Championship in her division in February and was named Outstanding Wrestler. In April, she won a national title at Adidas Wrestling in Independence, MO. Martinez, 11, hopes to one day be Marlow’s first-ever high school girl’s wrestling state champion.

CH baseball team won the consolation bracket at the Elmore City-Pernell tournament after beating Springer 12-2. They were 6-14 for the season after a 10-0 win over the Bray-Doyle Donkeys.

Marlow baseball team recognized its athletes and their families, and they won 10-0 against Plainview in mid-April.

MHS track and field stars broke school records: senior Korie Kizarr, had a time of 11:45.78 at the Velma-Alma meet, and Kennedy Kizarr broke the pole vault record with her high jump of 11’1”.

The Outlaws baseball team remained undefeated as the season continued district play. Korie Kizarr was the recipient of The Marlow Review’s annual Headliner Award in May at MHS Athletic Awards. In addition to being in the Top Ten of the Class of 2022 academically, Kizarr is a four-time All-Stater and a three-sport athlete: Cross Country, Basketball, and Track, all four years of high school. She made headlines earlier this spring when she set a new school record of 11:45.78 in the 3200m run.

Marlow’s girls golf team placed second at regionals and advanced to compete at the state tournament at Lake Murray in early May. Out of 74 competitors at regionals in late April, three Lady Outlaws placed in the Top Ten: Gabby Hack 4th, Caressa Woods 5th and Maddy Elroy 9th, while Haley McKinley placed 22nd and Lauren Ivory, 29th.

MHS senior Ty Scott was set for state tournament at Lakeview in Ardmore, after qualifying at Regionals at Lake Murray, with a combined score of 170 over two rounds. The Outlaw golf team barely missed qualifying as a team with a core of 718, edged out in two strokes by Perry for a spot at State.

Both MHS track teams charged into May, and brought home Regional Class and were going to 3A State competition. The Lady Outlaws won with 133 points, defeating Crossings Christian (124) and Heritage Hall (121) for the Championship. The Outlaw boys dominated their competition with 146 points, well ahead of Heritage Hall (95) and Lindsay (81). The Outlaws will take competitors to State in 15 out of 17 possible events.

The AAU XCEL Bronze Team novice division gymnasts of GymJam Training Center completed the State competition season on April 24 at Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in Norman.

Marlow Middle School baseball closed its season 16-2, winning the MMS Tournament and Washita Valley Jr. High Tournament in Chickasha.

MHS baseball team headed to the Class 4A State Tournament to face Lincoln Christian (30-12) in the first round of the bracket. At the Athletic Awards presentation, head coach John Morgan said he was confident in their ability to go all the way at the state tournament. “There are a lot of teams that, when they get off the bus you can tell they’re worried,” Morgan said. “We’re not like that. We’re Outlaws, and we’ve worked hard to get there and know we’re able to win.” The Outlaws were 30-8 this season and had a 14-0 record in district play, earning a bye for Bi-Districts and hosting the Regional Tournament.

Stephens County 4-H hosted the Duncan Spring Trap Shoot, May 7, at the Duncan Gun Club. Mike Cook, certified shooting sports coach, and Allen Phipps and Blake Channel, 4-H shooting sports volunteers worked with the youth for six weeks to prepare for the event. Six counties participated, with 45 4-H members. Winners from Stephens County were: 1st Place (Junior Team), Brady Blackburn and Pierce Johnson; 3rd Place (Intermediate Team), Jake Wolfe, Michael Gates, Jake Johnson, and Cache Fenton; 1st Place (Individual, ages 10-11) Brady Blackburn; and 2nd Place (Individual, ages 16 and up) Bryson Phipps.

Marlow senior Ty Scott had a 229 score after three rounds at the Class 3A State Tournament for golf. He was looking forward to playing at the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State tournament in Tulsa in the summer.

Marlow senior Jace Gilbert was named Male Athlete of the Year by the Oklahoma Coaches Association. Gilbert was selected to the West All-State football team as a kicker and chosen for the West All-Star By Class team for basketball this spring. Gilbert will be recognized at the OCA Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday, July 23 at the Southern Hills Marriott in Tulsa. Gilbert will continue his football career this fall at Iowa State.

The Outlaws finished their baseball season with a loss to Blanchard in the Class 3A State semifinal game, ending the season with a 31-9 record.

Letter of Intent: Marlow senior Korie Kizarr signed with the University of Central Oklahoma in mid-May, to continue her athletic career on the Cross-Country team for the UCO Bronchos.