My wife and I moved to her home state of Oklahoma in the Summer of 2004 to be close to family and so I could take a head coaching job at Bacone College in Muskogee, which eventually lead to coaching and teaching in Tahlequah Public Schools. From that point forward our education and health careers have taken us around the state eventually to land in Norman. We followed the lives of a select number of Indian student-athletes as they wound their way from high school and on to the college ranks during this circuitous route. The majority of these were family, friends of family, people who we attended church with, kids playing high school ball in the communities where we worked and lived, or members of our tribes. Was the stereotype correct? Did Indian kids automatically drop out of college as I had heard from many coaches over the years and unfortunately saw firsthand myself as a student-athlete at Haskell? Would a little encouragement change this possible reality? What was the magic solution? The story of the school boy and girl legends that never made it big is common from Indian community to Indian community across this nation. Were there others beside the well-known names such as Angel Goodrich (University of Kansas; Tulsa Shock), Shoni Schimmel (Louisville; Atlanta Dream), and Jude Schimmel (Louisville) who could stay the course and prosper? Over the last 8 years we watched and have continued watching with our own eyes as 13 of these young people pursued and continue to pursue their dreams. Here is what we have found out.
Last year, the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team struggled through a long season despite being the third largest university in the state. Third year Coach Nick Bobeck is still new on the scene and is in the process of building a program the university can be proud of after his first two consecutive 2-8 seasons. During the course of these two years he has done just that and the results are showing conclusively in the Bronchos 5-2 start this season. Part of the reason for this success can be attributed to Indian student-athletes who have committed in full to the goals of the program.
Logan Orso (MOWA Choctaw) ,Myhayv Locust (Mvskoke Creek/Cherokee), and Dillon Rice (Pawnee/Choctaw) are case in point. While former Muskogee High School lineman Dillon Rice (Pawnee/Choctaw) has seen his season sidelined due to an injury the other two are making names for themselves.
Logan Orso has made a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball after coming in this year as a heralded junior college transfer after a journeyman route which took him from the University of West Alabama, where he redshirted his first year, to DuPage junior college in Chicago and on to Dodge City junior college in Kansas. In the University of Central Oklahoma’s last game against the University of Central Missouri Logan lead the team with 9 tackles. After the game I asked him what he felt his responsibility was as an Indian playing at the collegiate level in front of so many. He responded,
“I feel as if I owe the game the mental toughness it deserves because growing up Indian, I always had to be tough from a very young age. My role is to defy all odds! Make it as far as I can along this journey while setting prime examples for the younger generation that looks up to me so that when their time comes they will not only have confidence in their ability but also excel and become intelligent successful people!”
There is no doubt that Logan is an energetic, mature, and athletically gifted young man. Raised in a small Indian community near McIntosh, Alabama, he has certainly come a long way.
His teammate, redshirt freshman Mvhayv Locust exhibits many of the same traits. The first series he was brought into during their last home game , the young offensive linemen blew a hole open wide enough for an SUV to drive through. Noticing the opening the running back who trailed him practically walked into the end zone. Mvhayv ran to the sideline ripped off his helmet and enthusiastically gave out a loud “war call” to the many fans packing the stadium. Even so, this one time incident is a far cry from the mild mannered and calm demeanor the 6-8, 270lb. former Sequoyah High School (Tahlequah, Oklahoma) product usually exhibits. When posed the same question as was given to his teammate, Mvhayv responded,
“We must never forget the warrior strength that has flowed through the blood of our people . I want to be a positive example for our Indian youth and not only for them, but to ALL people to show them that they don’t have to walk around with their heads down, they don’t have to conform to whatever society thinks of them, and that no matter what race we are or what circumstances that we may come from, we can achieve!”
One of the fan’s in the stands that day was another University of Central Oklahoma athlete, Savannah Waters (Kiowa/Creek/Choctaw/Ponca/Chickasaw). As a back to back 6A state runner up in Track & Field at Owasso High School prior to signing with UCO and the daughter of a long-time and well respected Indian educator and traditional singer (Joe Don Waters), she knew that becoming a college student-athlete was a natural progression in her educational, social, and cultural life. During her first year at UCO tragedy struck with the unexpected passing of her father after a short illness. Like her father would have insisted, she continued on in her first season of competition while setting personal records and has returned to school this year poised to continue her previous year’s advancement. Joe Don lived for his children and he was here to see her signing day and her first track meet on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. He was very proud of his little girl.
Only 30 or so yards from the football stadium the women’s soccer field has been seeing win after win this season. True freshman Lexi Carroll (Cherokee) has earned a starting position on Coach Mike Cook’s 9-3-2 squad. A top performer at perennially top state ranked Norman North High School only last season, she has become an immediate impact player for the Bronchos. In this past Sunday’s game she scored twice and added an assist in a 4-1 win over Lindenwood University.
All four UCO student-athletes are getting things done in the classroom and are on track towards graduation.
Only a two minute drive or so from the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian University’s soccer team was also taking the field this past week. Indian student-athletes are making a huge impact on this college campus as well. Brandon Little Axe (Absentee Shawnee) was remarked about by his college coach during his signing in 2012 as “the best recruit I have ever signed”. And the coach was not exaggerating after Little Axe led his Norman North High School (Norman, Oklahoma) to a 17-0 state and national championship season in the 6A high school division. During this run Brandon compiled 22 goals, including the game winner in the state championship game. Two years later he is now described as, “…one of the most dangerous offensive players in the Heartland Conference”. During his sophomore year he started in all sixteen games and scored 10 points to compliment his stellar freshmen season. He is exceeding all his previous efforts in this his junior season. For good measure he took his outstanding academic high school record and has translated it into being on the Honor Roll President’s List at the university. If that wasn’t enough, last year the young man volunteered his time to provide a motivational speech for middle school students at Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Oklahoma. If there is another upcoming Chris Wondolowski (Kiowa USA National Team Player and former Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer), than this young man is the one waiting in the wings.
Flanking Brandon on the same Oklahoma Christian soccer team is Troy Tippeconnic (Comanche/Navajo). Troy earned a starting spot on the squad during his freshmen season and has continued this role during his current sophomore season of competition. The former All-State selection from Edmond Memorial High School has followed in the footsteps of his older brother Tom Tippeconnic who played at the university from 2010-2013.
In the gym across campus from the field, Jordan Gorham (Kiowa/Cheyenne & Arapaho) will be suiting up for her second season on the women’s basketball team. A standout at Perkins-Tryon High School, she decided to take her game to OC as well and her freshmen campaign showed that the ability she had as a high school athlete has translated well to the college level. In her inaugural season she shot over 50% from the field.
Like the University of Central Oklahoma student-athletes, the Oklahoma Christian students are also doing well in the classroom.
A little further down the interstate on the line separating Norman and Moore, Oklahoma sits Hillsdale Baptist College. K.J. Orso, a member of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians near McIntosh, Alabama, recently came the long distance from home to suit up for the men’s soccer program. As a true freshman he has scored twice in his first season and is adjusting well to the college level game under the guidance of first year coach Beau Richmond who is intent on building a winning program.
Two young Cheyenne & Arapaho women we followed over the years from Indian basketball tournaments to the collegiate ranks have earned college degrees. Aubrey Blackwolf spent her playing career at Southwestern Christian University on the far west side of Oklahoma City where she earned All-Conference honors before transferring after her second year to pursue a degree in early childhood education closer to her home; a degree she is now using in her role as an early childhood teacher. Jordan Clay signed on and played a season with St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Oklahoma before transferring to Haskell Indian Nations University where she has recently completed her playing career and the first of two degrees she is pursuing.
Marcus Tyner (Cherokee), a former standout high school basketball player at Tahlequah High School received his bachelor degree from Haskell as well in 2012 and is now a coach for the men’s basketball team.
While Jordan and Marcus took their Oklahoma roots out of state to complete college, OKC metro locals Jasmine Sievert and Chaney Porter took their talents to the east side of the state. Sievert (Choctaw), out of Choctaw High School, came to Bacone College as a two sport athlete (track & field/basketball). She competed for two years with the teams while setting Bacone records in both the shot put and discus and putting up strong numbers in both points and rebounds for the basketball squad. She then transferred to Oklahoma State University to pursue her love of journalism outside of the athletic realm. She is slated to graduate with her bachelor degree in 2015. She currently is holding down an “A” average.
Chaney Porter (Choctaw) began her college track & field career at Bacone alongside Jasmine after signing out of Putnam City High School. Chaney matched Jasmine with two school records as well in both the long jump and high jump events. She is a senior at Bacone this year and on track to graduate.
On a final note, we end this look into Indian collegiate athletes with a young man whose path from high school hasn’t been the average route. Sometimes, like in the cases of some of the other student-athletes mentioned here, it takes a few tries before they find their rhythm or place at the college level. Jordan Eagle Road (Choctaw/Lakota), most likely the greatest student-athlete to ever come out of the small community of Talihina, Oklahoma is one such young man. Eagle Road accounted for 112 touchdowns during his varsity high school career; a statistic that to any rational person would seem virtually impossible. His prowess on the basketball court and baseball diamond was no less spectacular and coupled with his good grades and high ACT score, it was clear to see that he had a bright future ahead. In the end, Jordan chose the University of Oklahoma and their decorated football program as his landing place after graduating in 2011. My wife and I were seated nearby when he ran out of the tunnel during the first home game of the season. Jordan had not mentioned to anyone at this time that he was nursing a severely hurt shoulder injury which he sustained the two weeks prior to the Sooner’s first home game. He accomplished a dream that day, but the injury would be too much. He decided to transfer to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah to continue his football career. Soon, the injuries and sense of loss caught up with him and he walked away from collegiate athletics. But the story does not end there. Like most driven people, Jordan decided to return to his collegiate athletic aspirations, but this time as a college basketball player. Jordan will be starting his second year as a guard, the type present on a basketball court, not football field, for the Carl Albert State College Vikings. In season one he averaged over 10 points a game. He will be graduating with his first college degree this year as well. If you have ever met him or seen this young man play, you know even bigger things are ahead. You can see more of Jordan in this year’s Carl Albert basketball promo video. https://carlalbert.edu/athletics/basketball-mens/
Our family has been blessed to know these young people, coach some of their high school contests, attend some of their graduations, watch from the stands during their games, laugh with their relatives, eat in their family homes, and witness their scholarship signings.
It may be for every success story here there were a hundred “failures” that we were not witness to. Maybe this is the case, but we didn’t delete anyone from our view to make the story seem better than it is. We just kept it simple and it is amazing to see the current result. To all of you young Indian people out there, these short stories of these young Indian people can be yours. Logan Orso reminds us, “My culture is the only thing I have in this lifetime…” and Mvhayv Locust ensures us,
“I believe that society has mentally beaten us down as a people and some of us have been focusing on nothing but the negative for so long that we have forgotten tradition. They forgot that we were once a great nation and more importantly we have the ability to be one again. And we will.”
8 years, 14 Indian student-athletes, a few bumps in the road, athletic records broken, team success rates rising, and a 100% graduation or “on track to graduate” rate. Maybe Indian Country has a new stereotype that needs promotion in the athletic and academic arenas of higher education.
Cedric Sunray is a full-time leadership teacher within the Oklahoma City Public Schools. He can be reached at
Left to Right:
University of Central Oklahoma Football Players Logan Orso (MOWA Choctaw) and Mvhayv Locust (Mvskoke Creek/Cherokee) after their triple overtime win at home against Missouri Southern.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Stereotype Revisited: Can Indian student-athletes make it at the college level?
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- Written by: Cedric Sunray
- Parent Category: Life
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