Editor’s Word: That is Half 8 of a 14-part collection on Oklahoma’s early enrollees within the 2023 recruiting class.
Many instances, graduating highschool early and launching one’s faculty soccer profession pays off. Many instances, it doesn’t.
Whereas early enrollees are navigating new realms of ache and dedication, a number of their mates are again dwelling — enjoying basketball, operating monitor or simply hanging out and taking full benefit of the affliction referred to as “senioritis.”
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In Oklahoma’s case, 14 newcomers have chosen to make that sudden transition from boys to males. Jerry Schmidt’s winter exercises may appear unattainable at first, after which the summer time grind is even more durable. In between, the teaching workers takes over, and spring soccer observe places them forward of their summer time counterparts.
On this collection, AllSooners examines every of the 14 newcomers and tasks their influence on Brent Venables’ soccer crew in 2023.
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Jasiah Wagoner was at all times a candidate to graduate highschool early and get a head begin on his faculty soccer profession.
Sure, the 4-star cornerback most likely wants so as to add a bit of extra mass to his 170-pound body, and Oklahoma’s winter weightroom routines will accomplish that.
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However for Wagoner, it’s deeper than simply his physique.
“I’ve at all times stated, he’s one of many brightest youngsters on the sphere and within the classroom that I’ve labored with,” stated Wagoner’s highschool coach, Cameron Robak. “He’s been prepared. He likes to be challenged, and I don’t assume highschool was difficult sufficient for him.
Jasiah Wagoner
Jasiah Wagoner by way of Twitter
“He likes to be challenged on the soccer area as nicely, so I feel he needed to get to that atmosphere the place he’s challenged each day academically — and to be pushed each day within the weight room with these caliber sort of men.”
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Robak coached Wagoner at Spanaway Lake, a Seattle suburb. There he noticed a considerably undersized defensive again and vast receiver play huge — and make huge performs.
“I don’t know should you watched the All-American sport down in (San Antonio) Texas,” Robak stated. “ … However on TV, he positively seemed like most likely one of many smallest guys on the market, however you may’t inform by the best way he hits. I imply, he’s not afraid of anybody. He flies round, he has a pure intuition to seek out the ball, whether or not it’s within the air or in any person’s arms. He simply performs nasty.”
Wagoner excelled on one of highschool soccer’s greatest phases similar to he did on fields round Washington: with a broad understanding of the opposing scheme, an instantaneous response to the offensive play, and a fearless end. He relishes contact, performs behind his pads, arrives with power and performs with a bodily nature that belies his body.
One other factor: Wagoner’s versatility helps him — and can power the Oklahoma coaches to discover a place for him.
“The primary three years for us, he performed nook and he set the sting,” Robak stated. “Nothing ever bought outdoors him. And we cherished that about him. Then this final 12 months, truly, we had a fairly respectable nook rotation and we moved him to security a bit of bit, which allowed him to get extra into the run. And he cherished that. He performed within the field. After which clearly within the all-star sport, he performed within the field a bit of bit, performed some nickel, performed some security. And he loves contact.”
Background: Wagoner was the top-rated recruit within the state of Washington, ranked as excessive as No. 26 at cornerback by ESPN. Wagoner performed three seasons on varsity and was arguably Spanaway Lake’s finest participant on offense and protection, main the crew all three years with 85 receptions for 1,221 yards and 15 touchdowns and in addition compiling 68 tackles in 15 video games over his ultimate two seasons, with three interceptions, seven passes defensed and one pressured fumble. Wagoner performed within the Adidas All-America Sport in San Antonio and picked OU over presents from Arizona State, Cal, Notre Dame, Washington, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and others.
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2023 Projection: Nobody could profit extra from Jerry Schmidt’s offseason weight coaching than Wagoner, who comes on this spring at round 170 kilos. He’ll must bulk up shortly to play for the Sooners this 12 months, particularly together with his fearless type of play. A redshirt season is perhaps so as, as OU has loads of expertise on the place in three-year starters Woodi Washington and Jaden Davis, plus promising backups Kani Walker, Gentry Williams and Jayden Rowe.
That’s not all. Like many highschool defensive backs, Wagoner additionally performed vast receiver at Spanaway Lake. However not like many prep DBs, he was actually good at it.
Wagoner caught 24 passes for 412 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore, 34 for 521 yards and 6 TDs as a junior, and 27 for 288 and one rating throughout his senior 12 months.
Over three seasons, he caught 85 passes for 1,221 yards and 15 touchdowns — elite numbers for an undersized nook.
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Might he even assist to the offense in Norman?
Oklahoma’s 2023 early enrollees
“I feel he might,” Robak stated. “I don’t understand how that teaching workers would really feel about that. However in our division, in our state, he positively was a top-tier man on the receiver place. Simply one other intangible that he has.”
At his Nationwide Signing Day press convention, OU coach Brent Venables included Wagoner amongst “a number of guys who can play on both aspect of the ball” but additionally talked about him with OU’s six (now seven) defensive backs who’re “lengthy and quick and instinctive” who’ve “intelligence, instincts and ball abilities.”
Extra urgent for Wagoner is his versatility within the secondary. He’s a pure cornerback with elite protection abilities and uncanny instincts. However Robak is assured he could possibly be developed into an excellent faculty security.
“I’ve talked to him a bit of bit about it,” Robak stated. “I feel he would possibly begin out in that slot place. However I’m not constructive.”
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In a video saying his verbal dedication to Oklahoma, Wagoner credited his religion in addition to his dad and mom for placing him in place to succeed.
Jasiah Wagoner
Jasiah Wagoner by way of Twitter
“I thank God, as a result of I feel the whole lot stems from Him,” Wagoner stated. “, He gave me — He blessed me with two dad and mom within the family. My dad, you realize, instilled laborious work in me. After which my mother, simply taking good care of me and being there for me. After which all my mates and stuff, they supported me loads, you realize, simply let me know that I used to be doing good, that I ought to maintain happening this path and never happening the unsuitable path.”
“I feel his x-factor is he’s gonna do regardless of the coach, no matter this system wants him to do,” Robak stated. “In the event that they advised him, ‘We want you to be one of the best vast receiver,’ he’s gonna do this. In the event that they stated, ‘We want you to play linebacker,’ he’s gonna do this. He’s gonna do no matter is finest for the crew and regardless of the coaches need him to do.
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“He’s at all times had a swagger about himself that he desires to line up in opposition to one of the best participant and show that he can dangle with ‘em and in addition beat ‘em. I feel that’s the factor I’m most excited for: sadly over right here on the West Coast, we don’t have a number of of these guys on one crew, so I’m excited for him to have the ability to compete with top-tier expertise every day and see the place that may actually take him.”
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The Northern Colorado softball team left Greeley Wednesday evening for Stillwater, Oklahoma where the Bears will play in the NCAA Tournament this weekend.
Before the team bus to Denver International Airport, the UNC players, coaches and staff making the trip received a mini send-off celebration. Fans, alumni, other UNC staff and athletes were among those gathered outside of Butler-Hancock Athletic Center to send good wishes to the softball team.
UNC (27-24) is making its second straight appearance in the 64-team NCAA Tournament after winning a second consecutive Big Sky Conference Tournament title last weekend in Pocatello, Idaho.
The Bears were placed in the Stillwater region and will play No. 5 seed and site host Oklahoma State (44-1) at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The tournament’s first round is comprised of 16 four-team tournaments in double elimination format through Sunday. Michigan and Kentucky are the other two teams in Stillwater.
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University of Northern Colorado softball coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm talks with UNC graduate and former softball player Jan Breckenridge before the softball team left Greeley Wednesday, May 15, 2024 to play in the NCAA Tournament in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Anne Delaney/Staff Reporter).
UNC played Michigan twice in Santa Barbara, California in February during its non-conference schedule and lost both games to the Wolverines, 9-1 and 4-1. Michigan led 3-1 after four innings in the first game before scoring six with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to turn in the lopsided result. UNC led the second game 1-0 through five innings. Michigan hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth for the win.
“Everybody we play will be good,” UNC coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm said Sunday of facing Oklahoma State. “It’s time to go to the show.”
Pendleton-Helm asked the well wishers Wednesday evening to join the team to form a large circle of about 75 people on the sidewalk near the team bus. The coach made the same request Sunday evening with those who watched the tournament selection show and the announcement of the challenging task of facing national powerhouse Oklahoma State.
On both evenings, Pendleton-Helm thanked everyone who was there and insisted the circle close tighter in a show of unity, pride and team spirit.
Pendleton-Helm has been in the UNC program for 23 months. In two seasons, the UNC teams have a 53-47 record with a regular-season Big Sky Conference title this year, the two conference tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
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The Bears played at the University of Washington in last year’s NCAA Tournament, where they lost to the host Huskies and Minnesota in region play.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Osage, Pawnee, Washington counties until 1 a.m.
Strong to severe weather is likely Wednesday night in Northeast Oklahoma.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Kay, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Payne and Washington counties until 1 a.m. on Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist Travis Meyer says that large hail, damaging winds and flooding are the biggest concerns, but the tornado threat will still be monitored.
News On 6 will have the latest updates on the storm timeline throughout the night.
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What are the chances for severe weather in Oklahoma on Wednesday, May 15?
A period of unsettled weather is likely to produce periodic showers and storms across a large portion of the area Wednesday night through Friday morning.
This will bring increasing rain and thunder chances, including severe weather threats, to parts of the area beginning later Wednesday night across the western half of the state before storms begin migrating eastward into parts of northeastern and eastern Oklahoma.
All modes of severe weather will be possible, with the primary threats of damaging winds and hail. A tornado threat is possible with this system, mostly along and northwest of the I-44 corridor.
Due to antecedent conditions, and the possibility of pockets of moderate to locally heavy downpours, the potential for some low-land and street level flooding will be possible before ending as the last wave in this current series moves out of the area Thursday night late into early Friday morning.
Based on the current timing, most of Friday afternoon and evening should be precip free with mostly pleasant conditions.
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What will the weather be like this weekend in Oklahoma?
This weekend some midlevel ridging should nudge northward from part of Texas into most of Oklahoma bringing dry weather, some sunshine, and highs into the mid and upper 80s both days.
South winds will continue to transport low-level moisture into the state resulting in increasing humidity values. Some minor heat index values should occur allowing values into the lower 90s.
The top-edge of the ridge positioned across far northern OK and southern Kansas may still allow a weak boundary to slide southward and stall Sunday into Monday where a complex of storms will be possible during this period.
Early next week, most data support the return of a stronger developing upper-level trough arriving from the southwest. This pattern coupled with climatology supports mentions of more spring severe weather opportunities nearing the region. As we draw closer to next week, we’ll offer more specifics regarding timing and locations.
Outages Across Oklahoma:
Northeast Oklahoma has various power companies and electric co-operatives, many with overlapping areas of coverage. Below is a link to various outage maps.
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PSO Outage Map
OG&E Outage Map
VVEC Outage Map
Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) Outage Map
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Outage Map – (Note Several Smaller Co-ops Included)
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The Alan Crone morning weather podcast link from Spotify:
Regular Season Records: Dallas 50-32, Oklahoma City 57-25
Current Series Standings: Dallas 2, Oklahoma City 2
How To Watch
What to Know
On Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Western Conference playoff match at 9:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center. Coming off a loss in a game the Mavericks were expected to win, they now face the more daunting task of proving themselves against unfavorable odds.
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The Mavericks are headed into this one after the oddsmakers set last week’s over/under low at 215, but even that wound up being too high. They fell to the Thunder 100-96. Dallas got off to an early lead (up 14 with 4:45 left in the first quarter), but sadly they weren’t able to maintain that momentum.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was his usual excellent self, scoring 34 points along with eight rebounds and five assists for the Thunder. The game was Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth in a row with at least 30 points.
Coming into game 5 the Mavericks and the Thunder are all tied up with two victories apiece. So who wins this crucial Game 5 matchup? Check CBS Sports after the game to find out.
Odds
Oklahoma City is a 4-point favorite against Dallas, according to the latest NBA odds.
Bettors have moved against the Thunder slightly, as the game opened with the Thunder as a 5.5-point favorite.
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The oddsmakers are predicting a defensive showdown and set the over/under low at 212.5 points.
See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now.
Series History
Oklahoma City has won 6 out of their last 10 games against Dallas.
