MHS exPRESSPlayers make impact off the fieldBy Tyler HallMHS exPRESS writer
When most people think of the Marlow Outlaw foot-ball team, they think of Out-law pride. However, being a part of this team is more than just grueling practices and Friday night lights. Its also about having an impact and a positive influence on people, especially younger kids, through the football buddies program.
Most current students still remember their football buddies from elementary school and the impact they made on their lives.
The highlight of my day was when the guys would come to school, sophomore Karsen Baker said. It also made the games more excit-ing because I got to watch my football buddy play.
The program started in 2003 when Coach Matt Webber took over the foot-ball team. His best friend and former college room-mate, Jeremy Gage, opted to continue the tradition.
This is a great pro-gram, Gage said. It gets kids excited for the games, but its also about being a role model and having an
impact on a young kids life.
Every game day, football players go down to the el-ementary school to interact with the kids, whether its by playing catch, pushing them on the merry-go-round or even reading a book.
I like it when they play ball with us, elementary school student Kash Manuel said. The guys are so cool and its just a lot of fun.
Many teachers also feel the program is beneficial to their young students.
These kids look up to
their football buddies like they would look up to a ce-lebrity, third grade teacher Kim Hines said. The guys interact with them academi-cally in addition to playing ball with them. I really like that because it reinforces how important school is.
This program has not only received positive feed-back from the kids and the community, but also from the football players them-selves.
Its very rewarding to go to the little kids classrooms and partake in different ac-
tivities with them, junior Jordan Van Buskirk said. I remember when I was their age and the football play-ers came to my classroom and how much I looked up to them. I just hope these kids look up to me the same way.
Its really fun to go down there and just hang out with the kids, senior Mat-thew Grover said. They love when we visit, and it makes me feel like Ive re-ally had an effect impact on a childs life.
Junior quarterback Wak-ley Bergner said a former high school player was a big influence in his life. I remember when I was in elementary school and T.J. Graham (a 2003 Marlow graduate) would come to our classroom, Bergner, said. I really looked up to him. He was my idol and part of the reason why I play football. I think its very im-portant for a young child to have a role modelsome-one they look up to.
Although the Outlaw sea-son has gotten off to a rough start, the players continue to make a positive impression on the young people in the community.
By Haleigh HinesMHS exPRESS writer
Dreams of entering the field of veterinary medicine top this weeks Lions Clubs Student of the Week, Nick Elroys, agenda.
Elroy has worked at the Marlow Veterinarian Clinic since September 2008.
At the clinic, he helps with surgeries, works on the farm and does anything else they need him to do.
Elroy said his job helped him decide on a profession.
Working at the clinic in-spired me to become a veter-inarian, Elroy said. A few years ago, I could not decide on being a vet or a doctor. However, this year, I made my decision to become a vet-erinarian.
Elroy also said he made his career choice because it was less stressful than being a doctor yet more challeng-ing.
Being a doctor would be very stressful because a persons life could depend on me, Elroy said. Being a veterinarian would be less stressful but more challeng-ing because an animal cannot tell you what is wrong.
To prepare for the future,
Elroy attends Red River Technology Center where he is enrolled in the Bio-Medi-cal Academy.
Elroys sister, Courtney said she thinks Nick will be successful due to his hard
work.Nick is very busy with
Bio-Med, work and foot-ball, Courtney said. I know all of his hard work will eventually pay off for him.
In addition to pursuing his interest in agriculture, Elroy can be seen on Friday nights as the kicker for the Outlaws. His football coach, Jeremy Gage, admires his work ethic both on and off the field.
Most people do not know that Nick has to prac-tice kicking on his own after practice, Gage said. He goes to work after school and then comes to practice after work. He maintains a very busy schedule but works hard to make sure success is met on the field and at his job.
Elroy plans to attend Oklahoma State University where he says he may try to walk-on the soccer team.
Elroy is the son of Darcy Fleming and Shannon Elroy.
NICHOLAS ELROY
Elroy plans to be vetStudent of the Week
WINNING. The lady Outlaw softball team captured the district championship at Comanche last Thursday. They swept the district tournament in two games and will travel to Plainview on Thursday where they will face the Sulphur Lady Bulldogs at 2 p.m. Other teams in the double elimination regional tournament include Plainview and Kingston. The winner will advance to state which is October 6th at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. (photo by Tyler Hall)
Cheer state is Saturday at Gallagher-Iba arena
Outlaw Spotlight
FootballWith 14 tackles, one in-
terception, and one touch-down during the early sea-son, senior Jon Anderson has definitely been an asset to the Marlow football team. Anderson starts as a wide receiver and defensive back, going into Fridays game An-derson had nine catches for a 105 yards
Jon is a great football player, but the best thing about him is that he is a great young man, head coach, Jer-emy Gage said. He works hard every day and has a ter-rific character. Because of this Jon will be successful in whatever he pursues.
By Tori HackMHS exPRESS writer
The Marlow competitive cheer squad returned from regionals with pride, smiles and a state qualification, placing fourth at Chickasha. The squad will set out once more to compete at state in the small school coed class at Stillwater on Saturday, October 1st.
Cheer coach, Kim Col-ley, is taking on the compe-tition in her first year as head coach at the high school level.
We are going to give it our all, everything we have. There is no turning back now, Colley said.
In her capable hands the
squad is moving forward and demonstrating their de-termination and work ethic.
The team has been prac-ticing every night for two straight hours in preparation for the upcoming competi-tion.
Changes have been made from the regionals routine to step it up at state. Colley said she is moving people around and changing the stunts. Her goal is to have stand alone liberties and more crowd in-volvement.
However, all of this hard work is not without its con-sequences. Freshman, Bay-lee Gann and Kalissa Law-son both sustained injuries in preparation for the state title.
With so much practice time and preparations it has been difficult for them to get to other sporting events.
While they take the event seriously, the enthusiasm is also evident.
I am not nervous, fresh-man and first time competi-tor, Brynna Mefford, said. I am confident in our squad and extremely excited.
On the other hand, vet-eran competitor, Anne Wortham, is feeling the pressure.
I am definitely nervous, but I am still ready for the challenge, Wortham said.
Challenging Marlow from the Southwest region will be Newcastle, Coman-che and Dibble.
FOOTBALL BUDDY sophomore Mitchell Hays gives Marlow elementary students a spin on the merry-go-round. Outlaws visit the grade school every Friday. (photo by Tyler Hall)
Girls C-CJunior Maci Rich is a
two-time All-State runner and works very hard at what she does in and out of prac-tice.
Rich has great leadership skills, which she demon-strates by encouraging her teammates and herself to im-prove.
Maci is a great leader and is always pushing her-self, Coach Mikey Eaves said. In doing so, she makes the team better as a whole, Eaves added.
Overall this year, Rich has placed 3rd at the Cameron meet and placed 1st at the conference meet in Lindsay.
Boys C-CThis past week the boys
cross country team won their meet at Walters. Freshman Jeremy Thomas placed 2nd overall.
Boys cross country coach, Bobby Wortham, describes Thomas as someone with a lot of potential.
Thomas came to us with natural ability, Wortham said, he was in my off-season class, and I encouraged him to come out for them team, he has done very well.
Thomas has a great chance to improve over his high school years. Boys and girls will compete Saturday in Stillwater.
JON ANDERSON MACI RICH JEREMY THOMAS
