Bison Celebrate on National Signing Day

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist Athletics add 13 new Bison and Lady Bison on the first day of the early signing period, with more expected throughout the week. The list of signings will be updated as more National Letters of Intent are turned in.
 

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BASEBALL
 
Wesley Flatt
IF/OF, Fr.-HS, 5-9, 160
Colleyville, Texas (Grapevine HS)
 
Community/Volunteerism: Member of Colleyville Baptist Church.
 
Also Recruited By: Notre Dame, San Angelo State, Grayson.
 
Why OBU? Because I loved the facilities and the culture, the campus is also very pretty. 

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MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK AND FIELD

Parker Ables
Fr.-HS, 5-10
Heber Springs, Ark. (Heber Springs HS)

Notes: Three-time 4A Cross Country State Champion...2015 4A Cross Country State Runner-Up...Two-time Team 4A Cross Country State Championship...Three-time 2A4A Indoor Track and Field 4x800m State Champions...Two-time 2A-4A Indoor Track and Field 3200m State Runner-Up...2018 2A-4A Indoor Track and Field 3200m State Champion...2017 Team 2A-4A Indoor Track and Field State Championship...Two-time 4A Track and Field 4x800m State Champions...2016 4A Track and Field 1600m Runner-Up...Two-time 4A Track and Field 1600m Champion...Three-time 4A Track and Field 3200m Champion...4A Team Track and Field State Championship...Two-time Team 4A Triple Crown...Holds school record in the 5k...National Beta Club...Rochester Volunteer Award.

Community/Volunteerism: Various mission trips...Worship leader for First Baptist Heber's Salty Crew Ministries...Breaking Bread Food Kitchen...Heber HS Jazz Band...Fields of Faith...FCA President...Member of First Baptist Heber.

Also Recruited By: Central Arkansas, East Carolina, Louisiana-Monroe, Tennessee, Lipscomb, Naval Academy, Lehigh, College of the Ozarks

Why OBU? I selected OBU because God revealed to me through a series of events that OBU is where I am supposed to seek the next stages of my life. A friend of mine joined the OBU Track program in 2018 leading me to contact OBU. Upon my first visit, I was far from sold and told my Mom that I didn't want to go there. I was determined to go to a large D1 school so to get lost in the crowd. But God had other plans. Two weeks later, while on a college search trip I received a call from Coach Kennedy wanting to talk more about my interest in OBU. We canceled all other college visits and drove straight from Dallas to Shawnee. I fell in love upon my second visit and knew that OBU is where God wanted me. We learned a few days later that the town we were supposed to be at when we visited Shawnee was flooded 18 feet in water due to a broken dam and we likely would have been harmed. God had used OBU to protect me from harm's way and I believe that he will continue to use OBU to guide me and protect me from what floods the next stages of my life.

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Cord Morlan
Fr.-HS, 6-3
Weatherford, Okla. (Hydro-Eakley HS)

Notes: All-State cross country...School record in the 5k...Valedictorian.

Community/Volunteerism: Feed the Children...Regional Food Resource Center...Hydro Fair...Member of First Baptist Weatherford.

Also Recruited By: Northwestern Oklahoma State, Tabor, Heston, East Central

Why OBU? It's a great school that has awesome academic and athletic programs. It also feels like you're in a big family on campus.


 

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MEN'S GOLF
 
Payne Moses 

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MEN'S SOCCER

Nalan Kentner
F/MF, Fr.-HS, 5-10
Clinton, Okla. (Clinton HS)
 
Notes: Two-time All-District selection.
 
Community/Volunteerism: Clinton Soccer Booster Club…Assists with local pet adoption events.
 
Also Recruited By: USAO
 
Why OBU? After the campus visit and meeting the coach, I felt right at home.

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Elias Diaz
GK, Fr.-HS, 6-1
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Mustang HS)
 
Notes: National Honor Society member…AP Scholar…Three-year varsity letterwinner.
 
Community/Volunteerism: The Mission – El Salvador…Member of OKC Community Church.
 
Why OBU? The top notch nursing program and great environment.

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MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

Gabriel Knaut

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LACROSSE

Madeline Reisig
M, Fr.-HS, 5-2
Richmond, Va. (Eureka (Mo.) HS)
 
Notes: 2018 Second team all-conference…Four-year Renaissance Member…Art and Math student of the month.
 
Community/Volunteer: Member of Quest Church.
 
Also Recruited By: Findlay, Missouri Baptist, Rockhurst, Franklin College, Hood College, Loras College, Lindenwood-Belleville, Missouri Valley, Mount Union, North Central, Piedmont College, Springfield College, St. Ambrose, Upper Iowa.

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Karlin York
M/D, Fr.-HS, 5-5
Sacramento, Calif. (Bella Vista HS)
 
Notes: Member of Tenacity Sacramento
 
Community/Volunteer: Volunteer at Life Center Church…Member of Jesus Culture Church
 
Also Recruited By: Tiffin, Rollins, Nyack.
 
Why OBU? I selected OBU because stepping foot on the campus was like I was where I belonged. I had the feeling that OBU is where I'm meant to be.

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Alivia Grahlen
M, Fr.-HS, 5-6
Owasso, Okla. (Owasso HS)
 
Notes: 2018 All-Heartland Lacrosse League…Two-time team MVP…Member of Red Dirt Lacrosse Club…Honor Roll.
 
Community/Volunteer: Love 918 Service Projects…Mission trips...Sponsored church camps…Member of First Church.
 
Why OBU? I selected OBU because it felt like home, has a great criminal justice program, and a friendly campus.

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Sydney Purkey
M, Fr.-HS, 5-4
Pueblo, Colo. (Pueblo County HS)

Notes: 2019 Team Captain...Recorded 45 points (33G, 12A) and 73 GB in 26 games as a sophomore and junior...4.0 student...National Honor Society...New Image Lacrosse.

Community/Volunteer: Stay Invincible Colorado...National Honor Society.

Also Recruited By: Colorado State-Pueblo, Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colorado Mesa.

Why OBU? I loved how the team acted like a real family. I'm used to a small town mindset and that's what OBU is. One big family.

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Sophia Novak
M, Fr-HS, 5-6
Jenks, Okla. (Jenks HS)

Notes: 2018 Heartland Lacrosse League All-Star...2018 Indian Prairie Showdown All-Tournament Team...Team captain...Superintendents Honor Roll...National Honor Society...Distinguished Service Graduate.

Community/Volunteer: Jenks Food Bank...Tulsa Food Bank...River Parks Association...The Hive...Member of Transformation Church.

Why OBU? I really like Coach Beech and they offer a great Physics program.

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Haylee Smith
D, Fr.-HS, 5-10
Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)

Notes: Second Team All-KCMGLA.

Also Recruited By: Crowder College, Lindenwood-Belleville, Graceland.

Why OBU? I love the campus and their education program, and I wanted to further my lacrosse career.

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SOFTBALL
  Kaytlyn Marsh

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Bria Ahedo
OH/DS, Fr.-HS, 5-9
Wylie, Texas (Wylie HS)
 
Notes: Academic All-State …All-State honorable mention…Excel Club MVP…Maxprep Player of the Match.
 
Community/Volunteer: Peer assistance and leadership students (PALS)…NJHS…Younglife…Member of One Community Church.
 
Also Recruited By: Mary Hardin-Baylor, UT-Permian Basin, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Drury.
 
Why OBU? I selected OBU because it's close to home and I love the campus and social environment. 

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Ashley Kasterke
OH/DS, Fr.-HS, 5-11
Shawnee, Okla. (Shawnee HS)
 
Notes: Two-time Carl Albert all-tournament team…Three-time Bartlesville all-tournament team…Three-time Catoosa all-tournament team…All-conference…Shawnee News-Star Volleyball Player of the Year.
 
Community/Volunteer: Volunteers with Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Feed the Children, Headstart Preschool…Member of Heritage Baptist Church.
 
Why OBU? I selected OBU because it's close to home and I love the campus and social environment.
Madison Chambers
G, Fr.-HS, 5-10
Muldrow, Okla. (Muldrow HS)
 
Notes: Athletic: 2017-18 Defensive Player of the Year…2018 State Semi-Finalists…2017 Tournament of Champions Runner-Ups…National Honor Society…Superintendent's Honor Roll.
 
Also Recruited By: Missouri Southern State, Henderson State
 
Community/Volunteerism: Student Council…Salvation Army…Riverview Hope Campus…Rotary Club…Youth and Adult Worship…Member of TheBod.Church.
 
Why OBU? After visiting OBU, I knew it was the best fit for me because of how welcomed my family and I felt. I also love the ability to incorporate my faith in my education and athletics.

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Melissa Southard
G, Fr.-HS, 5-10
Elk City, Okla. (Elk City HS)

Notes: 2018 Vype Top 100...2017-18 First Team All-Conference...2017-18 Defensive Player of the Year...Two-time Regional Champion in high jump...Nine-time State Track qualifier...National Honor Society.

Also Recruited By: Cornell College, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Tabor College, Eastern New Mexico, Southwest Christian, Penn State-Beaver, Benedictine (Ill.), North Central (Ill.)

Community/Volunteerism: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)...Fellowship of Christian Athletes...Key Club...Member of St. Matthews Catholic Church.

Why OBU? I felt that OBU was a home away from home. The coaches are a big reason in why I chose OBU because they made me feel comfortable and valued as a player and a person. Also, the players that I met played a role in my decision because I could see that they really treated each other like family. I knew that I would become a part of not only a team, but a family.  
Katie Hart Fowler
F/MF, Fr.-HS, 5-3
Norman, Okla. (Norman North HS)
 
Notes: All-district sophomore year…Four-year letterwinner.
 
Community/Volunteerism: National Honor Society…Norman North Rotary Club…Madison Elementary School…Member of Alameda Church of Christ.
 
Also Recruited By: Oral Roberts, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Knox College, Milwaukee School of Engineering.
 
Why OBU? I wanted a small university with a Christian atmosphere and excellent academics. When I visited OBU, I connected with the players and the coaching staff. WOMEN'S TENNIS
 
Melody Holcomb
Fr.-HS, 5-4
Bixby, Okla. (Bixby HS)
 
Notes: Three-time Team MVP…2018 Class 6A State Champion – first team title in school history…3rd in 6A #1 singles at 2018 state tournament…Ranked in the top 50 of Missouri Valley G18.
 
Community/Volunteer: National Honor Society …Member of New Beginnings Church - Bixby.