CATOOSA – The Watonga Lady Eagles were named the 2A academic state champions in Catoosa on Saturday, the highlight of a reloading year that saw them slip from title contention but add lots of intriguing young talent.
The 2021 state champs finished eighth at the State meet this year, earning 38 team points. Hooker won the girls station championship with 85 points, followed by Velma-Alma (70), Crescent (69) and Oklahoma Union (59).
Watonga head coach Jim Bob Coleman said he’s proud of his girls’ consistent academic success.
“They take pride in their schoolwork, along with their athletics,” Coleman said Saturday. “It’s just a testament to the school system we work in and teach in, and the kids that come to school every day who want to do well in the things they’re doing.”
Watonga’s chances for a top team finish were diminished during the 4x100m relay, when the Lady Eagles were disqualified in the finals for an exchange violation. Relays, worth twice as many points as individual events, always represent an important opportunity and were a big part of Watonga’s 2021 championship.
Though the girls couldn’t defend their title, many Eagles and Lady Eagles made the podium this weekend where the top eight finishers were recognized in each event. The Watonga girls’ top eight finishes included:
• Shawn Johnson, 100m dash, 8th (13.23)
• Jaiden Alexander, 200m dash, 4th (26.87)
• Reese Coleman, 1600m run, 7th (5:54.93)
• Landri Hussey, Whitley Johnson, Shawn Johnson and Jaiden Alexander, 800m relay, 6th (1:50.13)
• Landri Hussey, Whitley Johnson, Shawn Johnson and Jaiden Alexander, 1600m relay, 8th (4:22.68)
• Landri Hussey, Julien Roman Nose, Shelby Miller and Reese Coleman, 3200m relay, 4th (10:29.85)
• Alyssa Bay, pole vault, 2nd (9’)
• Ady Hightower, discus, 5th (109’5”)
On the boys side, Deondre Dunn continued his great track season with multiple podium finishes, helping the Watonga boys to 17 team points. Dunn actually captured Watonga’s lone firstplace finish on the day with a 40.49 in the 300m hurdles.
Unfortunately, that was only the preliminary round and Dunn ran a tick slower in the finals, finishing third.
• Deondre Dunn, 110m hurdles, 4th (15.84)
• Deondre Dunn, 300m hurdles, 3rd (41.95)
• Nicholas Walker, high jump, 5th (6’)
• Octavian Brown, discus, 7th (128’6”)
“The girls that were here competed hard, and the boys that were here competed hard,” Coleman said. “I had four boys, two were seniors (Dunn and Joe Jackson), and they wanted to leave it all out there. They did well.”
Coleman said his girls team is still young and full of potential. He’s also expecting multiple girls to return to the lineup next spring.
“Coming into the year, I thought we had a shot again,” he said. “The injury bug hit us. We’ve got three girls that are out, that aren’t even competing for us this year because of injuries. I feel like if we have those three, we’re as good as anybody then.”
Rejoice Christian came out on top for the 2A boys, notching 119 team points. Hooker was right there, again, with 103 points, followed by Hobart (60.5), Warner (45) and Fairview (43).
Class 2A competed alongside Class 4A over two days in Catoosa, which is just northeast of Tulsa. Weatherford won the girls’ 4A meet, while Lincoln Christian was the boys 4A champ.