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POSITIVELY OKLAHOMA: Shining a spotlight on local inclusive theater company

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POSITIVELY OKLAHOMA: Shining a spotlight on local inclusive theater company


TULSA, Okla. — Holland Hall is known for being a community champion. The school is closely connected with many non-profits, including the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa, and is hosting its Buddy Walk on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. That partnership is thanks to a one-of-a-kind program born in the Theatre department called Company 21.

“Company 21 is an all-inclusive program. It’s an enrichment class for our upper school students and teens and adults in the Tulsa area community with Down Syndrome,” said Upper School Theatre Arts Director Leslie Long.

Long came up with this performing arts community connection eight years ago. “It literally bursts my heart because these are two of my favorite communities!” said Long.

“It’s fun to see friends, especially high school friends,” said Bekah Neely, a Company 21 castmate. Harper May, a Holland Hall Junior and Company 21 Co-President, said, “It just brings me pure joy for the rest of the day. If I have a Company 21 class, I’m having a good day.”

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For an hour each Tuesday inside the Walter Arts Center, students and friends from the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa do everything from play with the parachute to put on shows.

Sarita Torres tells 2 News Anchor Julie Chin, “My favorite part was the singing and dancing!”

Long adds, “I try to focus a lot on the movement skills. Also, we do acting. They love to act, and they love to sing, so anytime we can incorporate self-expression and build confidence, not just in them but in my high school students, it’s a win-win.”

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It’s time spent together filled with laughter and life lessons. “I’ve learned so much about inclusion,” said May.

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Senior and Company 21 Co-President Kingsley Craft said, “I’ve learned to take a step back and realize the joy that every day brings.”

With fall, spring, and summer camp sessions, the castmates even put on musicals. And these connections go beyond the theater. Company 21 is preparing for the Buddy Walk on the Holland Hall campus—a partnership born from Company 21.

“98% of the volunteers at the event are Holland Hall students. We’ll probably have 1500 to 2000 people on campus. We’ll have vendors and snow cone machines, and we do the walk—it’s just one of our biggest events!” said Long.

POSITIVELY OKLAHOMA: Shining a spotlight on Company 21

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And it’s just one of many campus and community connections born from a theatre teacher everyone calls a superstar.

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“Ms. Long is really good to us, and she’s a great drama teacher,” said Neely. “I love Ms. Long. She’s such a sweet, kind person,” said Torres.

“Thank you so much for the best time ever!” said Haley, another Company 21 castmate.

The Company 21 program is free to the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa community. For more information, click here.

You can find out more information on the Buddy Walk here.


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Iowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal

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Iowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal


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Iowa State wrestling’s first commitment of the Brent Metcalf era will be a transfer portal addition.

The Cyclones added Oklahoma State transfer Brayden Thompson, who announced his commitment on April 18 via Instagram. Thompson is a one-time NCAA qualifier at the 2024 NCAA Championships, doing so as a true freshman. He redshirted in 2024-25, but competed in open tournaments at 184 pounds and was 9-0. He did not wrestle a match in 2025-26 and will have at least two years of eligibility remaining.

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Out of high school, Thompson was ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler and No. 1 at 182 pounds in the 2023 recruiting class by Flowrestling. He also won Powerade and Ironman titles, two of the more prestigious high school tournaments in the nation. Assuming Thompson returns to 184 pounds where he last wrestled, he should fill in nicely as a potential replacement for Isaac Dean after his graduation.

Thompson is Iowa State’s first transfer portal addition after several departures, including Anthony Echemendia and Christian Castillo, who also entered the portal.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.





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Oklahoma’s Jahsiear Rogers ‘Knew It Was Time to Showcase’ His Talents In Spring Game

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Oklahoma’s Jahsiear Rogers ‘Knew It Was Time to Showcase’ His Talents In Spring Game


NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners liked their wide receiver room a year ago. They want 2026 to be even better.

Isaiah Sategna’s return helps that desire. Earning experienced pass catchers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone via the transfer portal gives you added play makers. But after the Sooners Spring Game on Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged.

When Jahsiear Rogers flipped from Penn State to Oklahoma last December, he drew the usual excitement that comes with a new commitment. But few expected him to climb the depth chart this quickly, even with the injuries that hit Emmett Jones’ room.

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Rogers did just that and more on Saturday. He led all pass catchers with five receptions for 70 yards in Oklahoma’s annual Red/White game.

“I knew it was time to showcase,” Rogers said after the game. “It was amazing to see the fans and get used to the OU way. I’m a playmaker. They really want to put the ball in playmakers hands. I pretty much knew I had to lead the white team.”

Rogers got the ball rolling early. On the second offensive play for the white team, backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer rolled to his right wide, then stopped and looked towards the middle of the field where he saw Rogers running open. Newbauer connected with Rogers for a 39-yard gain.

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With Rogers on the white team, he is running against (most of) Oklahoma’s starting defense. As fate would have it, on that 39-yard reception, Rogers beat his favorite teammate to compete against — Reggie Powers.

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“He is just a leader, good guy,” Rogers said of Powers. “Me and him go after it every day in practice. Reggie is strong. When I come at him, I have to really come at him.”

Rogers’ big play over Powers was the second-longest catch of the spring game — Sategna’s 50-yard reception that appeared to be a touchdown before coaches pulled it back to set up a red-zone rep. The other four catches weren’t flashy, but they were important in their own way, and Rogers looked like he belonged on the field.

“I love it. As long as I can get the ball, I can be me. I love it,” Rogers said. “When I am on the field, I am ready to go. I am ready to be a playmaker.”

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The season is still months away, and Rogers hasn’t earned a spot high on the depth chart yet. A strong spring and an encouraging Red/White Game can only lead to early playing time if he carries that momentum into summer and fall camp.

More experienced players will return from injury and receivers who’ve been in the program for a few years will have an extra leg-up.

But Rogers is taking everything in stride and leaving no stone unturned in his development.

“Just learning from the older guys,” Rogers said. “Manny Choice, Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne. Really all of them. We lean on each other, learn from each other. That is kind of how our room is.”

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Oklahoma knocks off Missouri in series opener

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Oklahoma knocks off Missouri in series opener


The Oklahoma baseball team is back in the mix and trending upward.

After a rough few weeks in Southeastern Conference play, the 14th-ranked Sooners have won three of their last four games to get to .500 at just beyond the halfway point of the league slate. Friday’s 9-6 win over Missouri allowed Oklahoma to move to 8-8, tied with three other teams for eighth in the standings.

Friday’s win wasn’t truly that close, even. OU took a 9-3 lead into the ninth before Mizzou made it somewhat interesting with three runs in the frame. Two of them came with two outs, though, and Mason Bixby induced a groundout with the bases empty to hold on.

The large edge came via a home run-happy night. The Sooners popped four over the wall at Kimrey Family Stadium, including three in a four-run seventh inning that gave OU a four-run lead.

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Jason Walk, who hit one of the four homers, had the best day at the plate. He went 2 for 5 with the shot, three RBIs and a run. Camden Johnson, who also homered, went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double and two runs, and Dasan Harris went 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs. Trey Gambill hit the Sooners’ other jack.

Oklahoma jumped out to a four-run lead in the second behind four hits and a walk. Missouri helped the Sooners out with an error that resulted in a bases-loaded situation and three unearned runs registered to Tigers starter Josh McDevitt.

The runs were more than enough for Oklahoma’s LJ Mercurius, who pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.

Game 2 in the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday and the finale will be played Sunday at 2 p.m., weather permitting.



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