Oklahoma
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.”
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.
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.
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And it’s just one of many campus and community connections born from a theatre teacher everyone calls a superstar.
“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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NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.
But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.
Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.
Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.
Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.
Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.
Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.
She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.
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In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.
Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.
Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.
The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.
Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.
The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.
In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.
Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.
Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City police are investigating an early morning shooting that left one man injured in northeast Oklahoma City.
Around 3 a.m. on Thursday, emergency crews were called to a reported shooting near Kelley and Wilshire Blvd.
Investigators say the shooting occurred between a couple inside the home, adding that the woman shot the man.
However, police say they are trying to determine if the shooting was accidental.
The victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
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The woman has been taken into custody for questioning, but it is unknown if she will face charges just yet.
Oklahoma is just three outs away from steamrolling through the right side of the bracket and knocking out Georgia to reach the championship finals.
To prepare, let’s take a look at what arms we should expect for the Sooners just like we did for the North Carolina earlier.
The Sooners have leaned heavily on their freshmen pitching trio in Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius and Nick Wesloski throughout Omaha. The first two went at least seven innings, while Wesloski tossed 5.2 innings on Wednesday. Even though they used relievers LJ Mercurius and Jackson Cleveland in the first two games, neither pitched more than two innings nor allowed a run.
If LJ, who entered for Wesloski on Wednesday, finishes the game, he will have gone 3.1 innings.
That sets up Oklahoma very well to matchup with UNC, which went 3-0 and also hasn’t used many arms up to this point.
If OU does win, expect Rager, Xander Mercurius and Cleveland to be ready to go. Rager, who hasn’t pitched since their first round game against Alabama on Saturday, June 13, would have a full week of rest.
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