Oklahoma
Oklahoma Democrat and GOP Leaders React To President Biden's Address
Oklahoma County Democrats Optimistic After President Biden’s Address
The Vice President of the Oklahoma County Democratic Party said President Biden’s words reminded him of the late John F. Kennedy. Jay Bridwell referred to Biden’s phrase “to pass the torch to a new generation.” Kennedy used those words in his inaugural address in 1961 when he talked about passing leadership responsibilities to the future of our communities.
Bridwell watched Wednesday night’s address with his family at his home in Edmond. He said Biden’s words offer him hope during a rocky political climate.
Bridwell said he could feel the energy inside his party again. Bridwell was optimistic about the future with the change to Vice President Kamala Harris potentially leading the top of the Democratic ticket. He said this election year offers Americans a chance to bring fresh ideas to the White House.
“What is your purpose and what do you aspire to be? Bridwell said. “As long as we continue to navigate toward an opportunity for a black woman from California to be the next president of the United States, that opens up so many possibilities for others in like communities.”
Apart from politics, Bridwell cherished chances to be with his family watching the evening news and listening to the President speak from the Oval Office. The decades worth of news over the past two weeks brought back old traditions.
Bridwell used to watch the news with his late parents as a child. He said the public needs to restore the lost art of civic engagement regardless of political ideals.
Republican Reaction To Biden Address
Republicans are paying close attention to the Democratic National Committee following President Biden’s departure from the presidential race, and Kamala Harris’ rise as the presumptive nominee. It follows the RNC convention in Milwaukee, where many speakers aimed their messages toward Biden.
In Oklahoma County, GOP chairman Ken Warner believes Biden’s address carried the same messages democratic leaders have already attached themselves to through the race.
“I would say, this speech tonight, I think is his way of saying goodbye in some ways,” Warner said. “And I don’t know how much his mental acuity will affect the next six months. As far as being president, I don’t necessarily buy into the fact that if he gets out of the race for the presidency for a second term it will compromise him being able to run the country a little bit [longer].”
Warner also expanded on his decision not to call on Biden’s resignation, because it would mean Kamala Harris would immediately step into the remainder of the presidency. Harris, he believes, is farther on the left than Biden.
While Oklahoma is a securely red state, Warner imagines that voters in battleground states will largely be spoken to in the language of economics. While Biden’s administration has underscored achievements to create jobs and stimulate the economy, Warner argues that everyday inflation is too extreme for average Americans to accept Biden’s accomplishments.
“I think Trump is the right pick right now,” Warner said. “Because I think we’re a nation in peril and we’ve got to reestablish ourselves and become the leader of the free world again. And because right now we’re not.”
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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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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.
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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