Oklahoma
Kish Eager To See ‘Strongest Version Of Oklahoma Wrestling’ – FloWrestling
The tests immediately started for Roger Kish’s Oklahoma squad.
The Sooners saw what no other team did for its opening dual — four-time defending national champion Penn State.
Then the injuries. Several starters out.
Eight freshmen or sophomores thrown into a hostile Bryce Jordan Center resulted in a 45-0 Nittany Lions win last Friday. Only for the then-#20 Sooners to scoot over to Bucknell less than 24 hours later and beat the Bison, 18-12.
“I would say the most disappointing piece of that was not being able to get the matchups we were really hoping to see and allow some other guys the opportunity to go in an arena like that and compete,” Kish said. “However, the guys that did go out and compete, I thought they competed hard, and we just got outwrestled in a lot of areas. I think it was a great learning moment for them.”
The third-year Oklahoma coach hopes early-season hurdles will soon dissolve as the Sooners seek a second consecutive winning season and their next batch of All-Americans since 2024.
The Sooners host Indiana at 2 p.m. CT Sunday.
“I would suggest that once all of these guys are back and going, you can see the strongest version of Oklahoma wrestling,” Kish said. “I believe there will be a lot of excitement.”
A lineup with just three returning starters but packed with impact transfers and multiple Big Board recruits fill out the lineup for the Sooners.
“I was really happy with the group to be able to bounce back off a hard night and then go back 24 hours later with Bucknell,” Kish said. “It was kinda nice to see the growth between Friday night and Saturday night then being able to come back here on Monday and sit down with the team and discuss some of the highlights and lowlights and things we did well.”
Holdovers
Kish didn’t arrive in Norman alone when the Sooners plucked him from North Dakota State in May 2023.
He brought several Bison, with seniors Juan Mora (heavyweight), DJ Parker (197) and Mannix Morgan (174) as the remaining bunch.
Their final season brings the biggest goals.
Mora seeks his first NCAA Championships qualification after he finished sixth at the 2025 Big 12 Championships. He tallied four ranked wins across a 12-9 mark a season ago.
Parker and Anthony started their senior campaigns with titles at the Tiger Style Invite.
Mora, ranked #24, then dropped a 5-2 decision against Penn State’s #10 Cole Mirasola on Friday then stopped Bucknell’s #27 Lucas Lawler via the same score.
“(Mora and Parker) are two guys that are just part of our family,” Kish said. “That relationship piece is very, very nice. I am really proud of those two guys. What they do well is I think they bring a lot of leadership abilities. They have a great way of helping guys come together as a team and keeping guys built up and holding guys accountable.”
Parker, a two-time NCAA qualifier at 184, reached the blood round in Philadelphia in 2025, thanks to two consecutive bonus-point wins on the backside.
Parker, ranked 14th, took a 13-3 loss to Connor Mirasola on Friday, then beat Bucknell’s #13 Dillon Bechtold, 6-5.
“I think when they made the transition to Oklahoma, they had the ability to kinda navigate and learn their way around this program and here they are a couple years in and really developed into some great young men,” Kish said. “Really, really proud of them.”
Big Brand
OU’s history and tradition speaks for itself.
Seven team national championships, 67 individual national champions and 278 All-Americans.
That pedigree and status in a wrestling-rich state consistently attracts top talent.
“The thought of what their future looks like here at Oklahoma, they understand that they are going to be taken care of and treated very well as athletes but also in doing so, building a strong network and preparing these guys for life after college sports,” Kish said. “Making sure that they have access to success following.”
Kish’s roster features 11 transfers, including 149-pounder Jack Gioffre (an NCAA qualifier at Virginia), heavyweight Bradley Hill (an NCAA qualifier at Iowa), 165-pounder Peyten Kellar (a 157-pound All-American with Ohio in 2024), 184-pounder Brian Soldano (a two-time NCAA qualifier at Rutgers), 141-pounder Tyler Wells (a two-time NCAA qualifier at Minnesota) and 157-pounder Rafael Hipolito Jr. (an ACC champion and NCAA qualifier at Virginia Tech).
The Sooners also boast three consecutive ranked recruiting classes (#8 in 2024, #17 in 2025 and 2026).
“Really excited about where we are headed and the direction of this program, it has been a lot of fun to see,” Kish said. “I think that has been a really impactful idea for us as coaches. And as we get into year three, you are able to build a core of young guys here that are motivated and excited to be here.
Steady Building
One of Kish’s splashy additions wasn’t a recruit.
Kish hired 2017 Penn State national champion Mark Hall as OU’s director of operations in May of 2024.
Hall enters his second season in Norman, and offers more than travel planning, budgeting and team organizational skills.
“I say this about all the coaches, I just think the level of care that, not only Mark, but all the coaches have for the athletes is tremendous,” Kish said. “The knowledge of the sport is through the roof and the ability to get out and work through the positions with all these guys and being on the mats every day with them.”
The Sooners finished 8-4 overall a season ago, including a 4-4 mark in Big 12.
Hall’s hire became the freshest after former NDSU assistants Cam Sykora and Austin Marsden followed Kish from Fargo.
“Having these guys on the mats every day, wrestling drilling and sparring with these guys and allowing them to just be mentors and pick their brains consistently has been really a great advantage,” Kish said.
We have reached the semifinals of the Oklahoma high school football playoffs. The OSSAA has set the dates, times and locations for all semifinal games for all classes.
CLASS 6A-I
Bixby vs Broken Arrow – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Catoosa High School
Owasso vs Jenks – Friday, 11/28. 7 pm at Catoosa High School
Catoosa High School will host both 6A-I semifinals this Friday, November 28th. Bixby/Broken Arrow will kickoff at 1 pm, followed by Owasso/Jenks at 7 pm.
CLASS 6A-II
Stillwater vs Choctaw – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Edmond North High School
Sand Springs vs Putnam City – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Edmond North High School
Edmond North High School will host both 6A-II semifinals this Friday, November 28th. Stillwater/Choctaw will kickoff at 1 pm, followed by Sand Springs/Putnam City at 7 pm.
CLASS 5A
Lawton MacArthur vs Bishop McGuinness – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Noble High School
Carl Albert vs Newcastle – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Norman North High School
The 5A semifinals will be at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Lawton MacArthur/Bishop McGuinness will be played at Noble High School, while Carl Albert/Newcastle will be played at Norman North High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.
CLASS 4A
Elgin vs Cushing – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Putnam City North High School
Tuttle vs Broken Bow – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at East Central University
The 4A semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Elgin/Cushing will be played at Putnam City North High School, and Tuttle/Broken Bow will be played at East Central University. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.
CLASS 3A
Heritage Hall vs Lincoln Christian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Bristow High School
Sulphur vs Perkins-Tryon – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Norman North High School
The 3A semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Heritage Hall/Lincoln Christian will be played at Bristow High School, and Sulphur/Perkins-Tryon will be played at Norman North High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.
CLASS 2A-I
Jones vs Marlow – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Noble High School
Washington vs Oklahoma Christian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Yukon High School
The 2A-I semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Jones/Marlow will be played at Noble High School, and Washington/Oklahoma Christian will be played at Yukon High School. Both games will kick off at 7 pm.
CLASS 2A-II
Stroud vs Adair – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Ponca City High School
Davis vs Vian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Harrah High School
The 2A-II semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Stroud/Adair will be played at Ponca City High School, and Davis/Vian will be played at Harrah High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.
CLASS A-I
Pocola vs Tonkawa – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Catoosa High School
Pawhuska vs Rejoice Christian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Oologah High School
The A-I semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Pocola/Tonkawa will be played at Catoosa High School, and Pawhuska/Rejoice Christian will be played at Oologah High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm
CLASS A-II
Fairland vs Talihina – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Beggs High School
Allen vs Hominy – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Edmond North High School.
The A-II semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Fairland/Talihina will be played at Beggs High School, and Allen/Hominy will be played at Edmond North High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.
CLASS B-I
Laverne vs Pond Creek-Hunter – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Northwestern (Alva)
Hollis vs Dewar – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Alex High School
The B-I semifinals will be played at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Laverne/Pond Creek-Hunter will be played at Northwestern in Alva, and Hollis/Dewar will be played at Alex High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm
CLASS B-II
Seiling vs Cherokee – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Northwestern (Alva)
Weleetka vs Okeene – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Jones High School
The B-II semifinals will be played at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Seiling/Cherokee will be played at Northwestern in Alva at 1 pm, and Weleetka/Okeene will be played at Jones High School at 7 pm.
CLASS C
Timberlake vs Medford – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Watonga High School
Ryan vs Tipton – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Alex High School
The C semifinals will be played at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Timberlake/Medford will be played at Watonga High School at 7 pm, and Ryan/Tipton will be played at Alex High School at 1 pm.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk, mom of 3, fired after shooting customer who attacked her: ‘I need to be here for my kids’
A brave Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk was fired for shooting a customer, who tried to strangle her and threatened to “slice her head off” — because she used her own gun, violating the convenience store’s policy.
Stephanie Dilyard, 25, said she was working alone at the Oklahoma City 7-Eleven just after midnight on Nov. 14 when a man came in and tried to pay for a trove of junk food with a counterfeit $100 bill, KOKH reported.
The mother of three said that when she called the man out on the bill being bogus, he began threatening her and became erratic.
“He threatened me, and said he was gonna slice my head off, and that’s when I tried to call the police,” she recalled.
Dilyard said the brute started hurling objects at her before he rushed behind the counter and put his hands on her.
“I tried to run off, but he grabbed his hands around my neck, and pushed me out of the counter space, and that’s when I pulled out my gun and I shot him,” she said.
The suspect, Kenneth Thompson, fled the store after he was shot in the stomach. The 59-year-old made it a few blocks away from the 7-Eleven before calling 911.
The alleged violent fraudster was taken into custody at the hospital and charged with assault and battery, threatening acts of violence, attempting to pass counterfeit currency, and violating parole on an outstanding felony warrant.
Investigators ruled that Dilyard’s actions were justified under Oklahoma’s stand-your-ground law, which allows people to use deadly force when confronting an imminent threat of death or serious harm.
While authorities have cleared the 25-year-old mom, her employer fired her just days after the frightening ordeal on Nov. 17.
“They said that they were going to separate from employment because of a violation of policy,” Dilyard, who had been working the overnight shift alone from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for more than two years, said.
Dilyard, who still had a scratch on her neck and burn marks on her finger from firing the gun, told the outlet that all she cared about when she was getting attacked was getting home to her kids.
“This was a situation where I felt like I was put into a corner between choosing between my job, and my life, and I’m always going to choose my life because there’s people that depend on me. Just, I’m going, I’m going home, you know. I need to be here for my kids,” she said.
She hopes what she endured will drive changes that better protect clerks — especially women — and ensure they aren’t afraid to defend themselves when facing a life-or-death threat.
“If I’ve known that there’s a potential that somebody is for real on taking my life away that I will do whatever it takes, and I hope that women see that, and they’ll do the same thing,” she said.
“You have a right to defend yourself.”
Since losing her job, Dilyard has launched a GoFundMe to help her family with expenses while she’s out of work and said she had zero regrets for defending herself.
“We have no security, and we are not allowed to carry self defense weapons, including mace,” she wrote. “That’s is why I decided to carry in the first place.”
“I never expected for me to be in this situation, but I did what I had to do to go home to my kids. I was a good employee, committed and determined, but in-between a rock and a hard place I had to make a quick decision—lose my life, or lose my job,” she added.
The Post has reached out to 7-Eleven for comment.
NORMAN — There were plenty of lowlights from John Mateer’s outing against Missouri on Saturday.
Of the 30 passes the Oklahoma quarterback threw, 16 of them went incomplete. He also nearly threw an interception early in the second half, when the Sooners led by just one score.
His final passing line — 14-of-30 for 173 yards and two touchdowns — wasn’t flashy. But it was good enough for No. 8 OU to beat the No. 22 Tigers 17-6.
“(He was) really good,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “Had to earn everything he was given. Made some really good plays. Every single one of his yards were earned, hard-earned yards.”
While Mateer was inconsistent, he made key plays when the Sooners needed them most.
Oklahoma punted on its first three drives and had minus-7 total yards of offense after the first quarter.
The Sooners were in danger of going three-and-out again on their fourth drive. But on third-and-7 from OU’s 13-yard line, Mateer hit wide receiver Isaiah Sategna in stride on a slant route, and Sategna took it 87 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.
“Really good job by John standing in there delivering the throw, and then Isaiah just turned on the burners going up the sideline,” OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “Really good execution on that play.”
Mateer said, “Really good design that Arbuckle came up with and we got man (coverage) like we wanted. And I knew there was a ‘backer underneath I had to navigate, and I did. Luckily, put it on his nose and he was able to run.”
Just a few minutes later, Mateer took advantage of favorable field position.
After a short Mizzou punt, the Sooners started their drive at the Tigers’ 35-yard line. Mateer led a seven-play scoring drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Javonnie Gibson.
Mateer’s two touchdown passes were enough on a day where the Sooners’ defense allowed Missouri to score just twice on two field goals.
“I’m incredibly proud of him,” Arbuckle said. “I’m proud of the way he leads, I’m proud of the way that he plays. Are there always things we can be better at? Absolutely. But John Mateer, he’s a great ball player.”
Neither offense played pretty football in the second half.
Oklahoma compiled only 138 total yards, and Missouri had even fewer at 122. Mateer completed only six of his 13 pass attempts, throwing for just 49 yards in the final 30 minutes.
Still, Mateer was crucial in helping OU salt away its win.
The Sooners scored just three second-half points, but they were able to register nine first downs, thanks largely to short passes and runs for decent gains. Mateer ended the game as OU’s leading rusher, finishing with 60 yards on 18 carries, and the quarterback’s legs allowed the clock to keep moving in the low-scoring contest.
“You just gotta put your head down and take a hit, you know?” Mateer said. “So I did it, and it was fun.”
Mateer still hasn’t been at his best since returning from injury against Texas on Oct. 11. The quarterback hasn’t thrown for more than 250 yards in a game since the Sooners’ win over Auburn on Sept. 20. He has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions in the six games since the surgery on his right hand.
Still, there has been progress lately.
Mateer threw multiple touchdown passes on Saturday for the first time since OU’s season opener against Illinois State. He has also gone two games without turning the ball over. And, most importantly, Mateer has led the Sooners to three wins in a row, keeping them in the picture for the College Football Playoff.
Mateer has slowly but steadily improved in the back half of the season, and that gives Arbuckle confidence as OU prepares for LSU, its final opponent of the regular season.
“I mean, playing insanely tough, not turning the ball over, doing the little things that it takes to win and being a great teammate and a great leader,” Arbuckle said. “That’s how I’ve seen him progress and I expect nothing different from him as soon as we go back to work tomorrow. And I’m excited to watch him attack it.”
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