NEWCASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS / From the desk of Supt. Dr. Cathy Walker
Hello Racer families and staff,
Thank you to all of you for your flexibility as we modified the way we held parent conferences last week. I truly appreciate all of you. It was great to be in school on Thursday last week!
Due to an early release, a late start and several virtual days so far this year we will be making up a day for lost hours. While we receive credit for virtual days, the hours are not equivalent to a regular school day for us. Please mark your calendars to be in school on Friday, March 28.
I would like to highlight the accomplishments of our high school athletes and coaches so far this year. I would like to thank our athletic director Mr. Brent Hodges for his work in gathering the information for this article.
This fall, the football program made the leap to 5A competition. Preseason media predicted we would finish fifth in our district and miss the postseason due to the increased challenge of moving up in class. However, we exceeded all expectations. Not only did we win our district, but also we were also undefeated within it. We hosted and won the first two rounds of the playoffs, becoming Regional champions and advancing to the State Semifinals for the first time in 20 years. District 5A-1 honors included; Coach of the Year - Jeff Brickman, Player of the Year - Jackson Schanuel, Offensive Lineman of the Year - Taj Smith, Defensive Lineman of the Year - Ayden Elcyzyn, Receiver of the Year - Rex Heskew, Safety of the Year - Trey Burchett, Eyan Barker - 1st Team, Nic Lozano, 1st Team, Zach Cragg All District, and Antonio Brown All District. Jackson Schanuel was named Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) 5A All Star Linebacker, Taj Smith OCA 5A All Star Offensive lineman, and Ayden Elcyzyn OCA 5A All Star Defensive lineman. Elcyzyn was also selected to play in the Native American All-Star football game.
Cheer went to NCA camp at OU this summer and came away with two All-Americans — Addy Bush and Abby Thurman. They made it to State for both Competition and Game Day. Ella Phillips and Addy Bush made All-Region Cheer.
Newcastle Pom attended pom camp in June 2024 and came home with a 4th place home routine trophy, a blue superior ribbon, a superior trophy for the highest ribbon accumulation score for the entire camp, and a team spirit stick. Ashlyn Swearengin, Jaidriana Salas, and Chesney McLean were named All Americans.
We had the school’s first ever Unified Cheer program this year. Participants included: Maddyson Moore, Bradleigh Taylor, Brooklyn Tointish- Brown, Carson Whitehurst, Jimmy Thomas, Maddison Dilbeck, Karley Birt, Rileigh Stevenson, Molly, Kayleigh Pate, Katie Crain, Kailyn Birt, Emma Chmil, Annistan Pucket, and Isabella Kelley. This team placed third at the State competition.
Cross country had a successful season. We had 64 runners between high school and middle school. We had one varsity girl and one varsity boy qualify for the State championship. Junior Luke Perkins broke the 5K school record by running 16:55 at State.
Newcastle’s volleyball program had an outstanding season, marked not only by impressive wins, but also significant growth and development among the players. The varsity team performed exceptionally well at various tournaments, including the Weatherford and Noble tournaments, and had a successful showing in the Western Athletic Conference games. Several players earned individual recognition, with Kacie Townsend being named MVP and breaking multiple program records, including the most kills (1,437), aces (285), and digs (1,007). Courtney Stewart earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Devyn Towery was named Offensive Player of the Year, and Aubrey Deason received the prestigious All N Award. Kacie Townsend’s excellence also earned her a spot on the Oklahoma All-State team.
Softball also had an outstanding season. They finished with 28 wins and 11 losses and were Regional Champs. Several young ladies earned awards: Addison McCann - All District; Addie Loman - All District; Vanessa Portillo - All District and All Region 5; Cortni Smith - All District and All Region 5; Jacie Brooks - All District; Amy Campbell- Honorable Mention All District; Jordie Brooks- Honorable Mention All District; Lilyana Portillo - All District, All Region 5, and All State; and Lexie Lovelace - District 4A Player of the Year, All Region 5, and All State.
Coach Mike Crossley had a memorable season this year with a career total 1,149 wins which surpassed Joe Gilbert’s 1,140 wins. This makes Crossley the winningest coach in Oklahoma high school fastpitch softball. All of Coach Crossley’s wins have been in Newcastle. We are so glad he is a Racer!
Our boy’s basketball team has had a great season. They won Districts and played in the Regional Tournament. Several players made all tournament teams this year. Antonio Brown made the All- Tournament team in Lawton, and Zac Cragg and Antonio Brown made the All-Tournament team at the Sweet Pea this year.
Our girl’s basketball team has had a fantastic year. They also won Districts and Regionals and are looking forward to the Area Tournament in Hennessey on Friday night. Kalani Kindred has made the All-Tournament team in every event we have played in. We have also had several players with high scoring games and double double stats.
Connor Leader has competed in five swim meets so far and has placed 1st or 2nd in all of them, in various events. Connor won both of his Regional races and competed in the breaststroke and butterfly at State, bringing home a silver medal in both events.
Wrestling has finished strong this season. They had an 8-5 Dual Record with a 4th place finish at Lexington and a 2nd place finish at the Midwestern Conference Tournament. Several of the boys were exceptional on the season with freshman Colton Dobbs leading the way with a 27-8 record and placing 3rd at Lexington, 5th at Carl Albert and 3rd at Midwestern Conference. Sophomore standout Gage Stark was 24-4 and was 1st at Lexington (winning the Outstanding Wrestler Award), 4th at Carl Albert, and 3rd at Midwestern Conference. Junior Jaxon Mitchell worked past injuries to amass a 19-4 record and 2nd at Lexington and 5th at Carl Albert. Nicholas Lozano has a 22-2 record with his only unavenged loss coming from the State champion out of Elgin. Nick took home 1st at Lexington, Carl Albert, and Midwest City. We had three wrestlers punch their tickets for the State tournament, Nick Lozano, Gage Stark and Jaxon Mitchell. Congratulations to Gage Stark for winning 3rd at State.
Our girls wrestling team had a great year. Senior Trinity Duran, the lone State qualifier from last season on the girls’ side, developed a 12-3 record with placings at Yukon (3rd) and Midwestern Conference (2nd). Sophomore Tapanga Bornt has had an impressive season with placings at Lexington (4th), Norman (4th), Yukon (4th) and Midwest City (3rd), and a 14-9 record. And finally, Tatum McDaniel had a great year before being injured. She had a record of 12-3 and placed at Lexington (1st and Outstanding Wrestler), Carl Albert (2nd), and Yukon (1st).
The 2025 season has been exciting for the powerlifting team. They competed at Jones, Little Axe, and Dibble. They have 32 total student athletes this year, up from nine last year. We have 16 high school and 16 middle school competitors. The girls competed at the Regional meet on February 24, at Tishomingo. The boys will compete March 6 at Anadarko. The girls brought home five medals at the Jones meet. The boys brought home four medals at the Little Axe meet. At the Dibble meet we had two medalists — Taj Smith won 1st place and Jordie Brooks won 5th place. The strongest kids in the state will compete for a chance to go to the State Powerlifting meet in the next few weeks.
Congratulations to all of our athletes and coaches. Wishing the girls basketball team all the best at the Area Tournament Friday night. Go Racers!
I will share spring sport successes at the end of the year. It’s a great day to be a RACER!
Dr. Walker
Superintendent of Newcastle Public Schools
