Several items were either tabled or no action was taken at the Sulphur City Council meeting Monday night.

One tabled item was the purchasing of 10.3 acres from Corey and Melissa Stevens in the amount of $400,000.00 for drilling of a water well. The Stevens’ were initially paid $100,000.00 to drill a test well on the property to see if a viable water well was possible. The project is a part of the Chickasaw Nation/OWRB ARPA Water Project.

According to the scope of the project, if a well drilled is a viable water source located outside the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer buffer zone, and the city assumes the well, then the city would be required to cap one of their existing wells that is located in the aquifer. Before tabling the request, Ward 4 Councilman Ryan Peters raised questions about why the city would accept a well only producing 190-200 gallons-per-minute and have to cap a well possibly producing over 400 gallons-per-minute.

Peters also questioned how this was going to benefit Sulphur.

Sulphur currently has seven wells that service the city. All of the wells pump different amounts and most also free flow several hundred gallons-per-well, per-minute.

The initial scope of the project was to drill up to three wells producing 350-600 gallons-per-minute which is considerably more than 190-200 gallons-per-minute.

After a lengthy discussion, members voted to table the request and referred City Manager Andy Freeman to discuss the matter further with the Chickasaw Nation and OWRB.

In connection with the previous item, the next item tabled was action on awarding the bid for the water well transmission mains from the well to the water plant.

The bids were opened on Friday, April 9, even though the public was not aware of the opening date because it had been moved from the previously advertised date of March 26.

Even though the bids were opened, the route for the water line from the well to water plant has not yet been secured. Project officials and city officials met with the Murray County Commissioners Monday morning to discuss using the county rightof- way on Koller Road for the line. The commissioners tabled approving the request until they receive advice from the county legal counsel which is the District Attorney.

Also tabled in conjunction with the project was action on drilling a second well on the Stevens’ property.

Other tabled items at the meeting include:

•renewing the contract with Choosing Charity, LLC for grant writing services; and

•payment to KSA Engineers, Inc. for airport pavement rehabilitation in the amount of $8,704.30.

In other agenda action, members accepted the resignation of Municipal Judge Rebecca Johnson and then approved the employment of John Walton as her replacement. Walton served many years as the assistant district attorney for Murray County.

Several other applicants for the position were present at the meeting. Other applicants included Mary Beth Heskett of Pauls Valley; Jacob Heskett of Pauls Valley; Mark Melton of Davis; J. W. Morgan of Sulphur; Robert Gray of Ada; Jason Christopher of Ada and Travis Keith White of Sulphur.

RFD Construction of Sulphur was awarded the bid to rebuild the Sulphur Fire Department substation that was destroyed in the 2024 tornado. The station will be built on the previous site.

The bid for the fire department brush truck uplift was awarded to Casco in the amount of $78,914.00 and the bid for hay baling lease at the airport was awarded to Arthur Earsom for a bid of $1,500.00.

Members approved seeking engineering services to engineer a paving project for West 14th Street from Broadway to Williams Drive. Requesting bids to mill and resurface Vinita Street between West 9th and 13th Streets and 13th Street between Broadway and Vinita Street were approved by the board.

Payment request #1, from Pavers Inc., for the current street paving project was approved in the amount of $569,540.96.

Members approved the annual purchase of a ½ page ad in the Chickasaw Country Magazine in the amount of $950.00.

Following a short public hearing to discuss a special use permit request by Ambre Miller to operate a small, low-impact gardening boutique at her residence address of 1122 West 12th Street, members reconvened into the regular meeting and approved the request.

In other agenda action, members approved the following:

•a bid of $19,959.70 for a Sutorbilt 8 MP-RH Blower for the wastewater treatment plant;

•seeking engineering services to engineer water and wastewater lines in need of replacement;

•payment to Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM) in the amount of $558,579.60 for repayment of the funds used from the OEM loan to pay for right of way debris and vegetation monitoring and removal to be paid from FEMAfunds received by the city;

•payment to OEM to refund the unused amount of the OEM loan in the amount of $1,027,951.65;

•payment of $486,705.90 to Downey Contracting for invoice No. 3 for the well drilling on the OWRB/Chickasaw Nation Project;

•payment of $4,213.75 to Del Sol for storm debris consultant services for February; and

•request by Bobby J. Taylor for a lump sum payout of the employee’s portion of retirement contributions from Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund.

No action was taken on discussion of future SORD Landfill rate increases.

Following a brief executive session regarding a claim by citizen Ide Russell, members returned to regular session with no action taken on the matter.

In the consent agenda, members approved the monthly cell phone service charges as well as the monthly fuel expenses.

In the treasurer’s report, Treasurer Ginger Cornell told members that sales tax was up slightly for the month, however year to date the increase is only approximately 1.4%.

All five council members were present at the meeting.

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association recently released the new district classifications for all football classes, putting Sulphur in Class 3A-2, the same district as last season.

The schedule will apply for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, then the district alignment process will be revamped for the 2028 and 2029 season.

Sulphur’s traditional rivalry games with Washington and Davis to start the season haven’t changed, but the Bulldogs will add Texas powerhouse Gunter to the non-district slate. Those three opponents combined sport a total of 15 state championships, giving the Dogs arguably one of the toughest non-district schedules in the state.

This week, head Sulphur coach Corey Cole, who took over program’s reins after the 2022 season, offered his insight into the new schedule. The Dog’s will open the season on September 4 against traditional rival, Washington.

“Washington has made the championship game five years in a row and has won three championships during that stretch and the last two games against us have been incredibly good,” he said.

Sulphur ended the Warriors’ 45-game winning streak in last September’s opener, and went on unimpeded to the state championship game where they lost to Lincoln Christian in another nail-bitter.

After Washington, the Dogs will focus on old foe Davis in the Murray County Bedlam series. “Davis has seven total state championships with their most recent in 2024, and the Murray County Bedlam match-up is always one of the best in the state,” said Cole.

Another team familiar with state championship programs is Sulphur’s third and final non-district opponent. “Gunter, Texas has five state championships in the last 10 years and is one of the premier programs in Texas, and this will be one that everyone in southern Oklahoma and north Texas will be excited for,” said Cole.

He said the Dogs, state runner- up winners the last two years, have not changed their goals and outlook on their upcoming season.

“Our goals remain unchanged - we want to win a district championship, practice on Thanksgiving, and play in the last game of our classification. To achieve these goals, we believe that you must play a very tough non-district schedule and play the best competition possible so that our kids will be tested and we can find our weaknesses and areas that we need to improve in before district play begins. Our goal is to not be 3-0 to start the season, our goal is to make sure we are getting better every day and every week and putting our kids in tough physical games against Washington, Davis, and Gunter, TX will definitely push us to our limits.”

Following the tough-as-nails three-game opening stretch to start the season, the Dogs will settle into the Class 3A-2 district with only two teams on the slate from a year ago.

“Only Lone Grove and Seminole return from the previous year, and both teams made the playoffs a year ago with Lone Grove finishing as the runner-up behind Sulphur in what has been a very tough district,” said Cole The Bulldogs will add Madill, Idabel, Kingston, Star Spencer, and Pauls Valley to the new district.

“Kingston has been a quarter- finalist team the past two seasons in 2A-1, and Idabel has been a playoff team in 3A the last two years including a quarter finalist appearance at Sulphur in 2024,” said Cole. “Madill and Pauls Valley have always been familiar opponents to the Bulldogs as both have been in the district many times through the years.”

The Bulldogs are coming off a 13-1 season from a year ago and are 25-3 under Cole’s leadership.

“Spring football is just around the corner and our kids are ready to get back to work,” said Cole.

2026-27 OKLAHOMA CLASS 3A DISTRICT FOOTBALL TEAMS

Gregory told the group about research she has been doing about this years 120th anniversary of the founding of Platt National Park plus the 50thAnniversary of Platt National Park becoming Chickasaw National Recreation Area. She stated her research will be a part of a special exhibit opening late May or in June at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Her research has involved collecting many Park pictures from the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s, and 1960’s which Gregory stated will be used to create lifelike exhibits tracing the origins of Platt National Park.

Gregory then involved Sulphur Sorosis members in making a traditional Indian craft. This fulfilled the Arts & Culture topic area of General Federation of Women’s Club six areas to be considered each club year. GFWC-OK Sulphur Sorosis Club is one of 19 GFWC women’s clubs in Oklahoma with the motto “Living the Volunteer Spirit.”

During the Business meeting prior to the program members voted to contribute $200 to the Sulphur Summer Reading Program of the Southern Oklahoma Library System. Sorosis members also finalized plans for the April 23 Brunch honoring this years Sulphur High School Carrie Hunt Memorial Sorosis Scholarship recipient.

The Sulphur Sorosis Club will be hosting the GFWC-OK Southwest Central District Meeting at the Chickasaw Cultural Center September. Plans were finalized for this event including Sulphur/Murray County items to be included in a welcome bag for participants from Anadarko, Duncan, Waurika, Cheyenne, and Sulphur.

Following the Business meeting a lunch was served by hostesses Rene Ann Kennedy and Charlene Gilliam of pizza, salad, and fruit cocktail cake.

Sorosis Members attending included Jeannie Fehr, Carolyn Sparks, ReneAnn Kennedy, Charlene Gilliam, TerriAgee, Regeana McCracken, Ernie Kite, Mary Lou Heltzel and Donna John. Special guests were Sherri Gregory and Jerri Sue Wright.

GFWC-OK Sulphur Sorosis Club meets the second Thursday of each month September-May at the Sulphur Chamber of Commerce. For more information please contact Donna John at 580-618-0788.

The Sulphur Bulldogs continued their impressive spring surge with a perfect 4-0 week, pushing their season record to 22-2 and securing the second-best mark in Class 4A as the regular season enters its final stretch.

Sulphur beat Bethany, 6-1, on Monday to keep the streak going.

The Dogs opened the week last Monday with a solid 6-3 win over Purcell Dragons, fueled by a dominant performance on the mound from Michael Morris. The right-hander went the distance, allowing just four hits and three earned runs while striking out six on an efficient 78 pitches. Offensively, Carter Cole and Drake Wood provided the spark with back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning, turning a tight game into a 4-1 advantage the Bulldogs would not relinquish.

Sulphur wasted no time completing the sweep at Purcell Tuesday, overwhelming Dragons 19-2 in the victory. Sulphur erupted for eight runs in the opening inning and never slowed, finishing with 20 hits and 19 RBIs. Bridge Barrett and Colten Cole led the charge with four hits apiece, while Colten Cole, Carter Cole, and Traber Sartors each left the yard with blasts over the fence. Drake Wood earned the win, striking out six and allowing just two runs over five innings.

On Thursday, Sulphur carried that momentum into a 10-2 win over Ada Cougars. Jayden Mc-Clure turned in a strong outing, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out four over six innings. After a slow start, the Bulldogs broke the game open with a big sixth inning to secure the run rule. Maddax Mobly paced the offense, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, while Morris contributed both at the plate and in the field, finishing 2-for-2 with an RBI and two walks.

Sulphur capped the week with a wild 21-16 victory over Caddo Bruins on Friday.

In a game dominated by offense, the Bulldogs showcased their firepower against one of Class A’s top-ranked teams. Traber Sartors delivered the biggest blow, going 2-for-3 with a double, a grand slam, and six RBIs. Despite struggles on the mound, Sulphur’s relentless hitting proved the difference.

“We are playing good baseball right now,” said head coach Denton Miller. “I am proud of the guys’ work ethic and commitment to each other. But it is important that we keep getting better as we go into the last two weeks of regular season play.”

The Bulldogs now turn their attention to a crucial district series against Bethany Bronchos on Monday and Tuesday, followed by challenging matchups later in the week against Marlow Outlaws and Mount St. Mary Rockets—two of the top teams in Oklahoma.

With a potent lineup and growing confidence, Sulphur appears poised for a strong postseason push, provided the Bulldogs continue to sharpen their play in all phases of the game.

Longtime Murray County District 1 Commissioner Kent McKinley will retire his position in December after choosing not to run for the post he has held since 2015.

McKinley will be replaced by Haden Healey, who filed unopposed for the position last week during the three-day candidate filing period.

Also filing unopposed for their offices were District 3 Commissioner Darrell Hudson, County Assessor Bradley Vandagriff, and County Treasurer Kim Hale.

McKinley swept to victory in August, 2014 after defeating Shane Cornbread Hale, 350 to 159, in the runoff primary. A total of four candidates filed for the District 1 position in that primary election with McKinley and Hale emerging as the top two after primary balloting was completed. The other two candidates were Paul Luna and Gary Kerns.

McKinley took over the post in January, 2015 from another longtime commissioner, Billy Frank Lance, who also chose not to run.

Several other candidates for state office representing all of parts of Murray County also won re-election after filing unopposed.

They included District Judge Wallace Coppedge, Office 1, of Tishomingo, and District Judge Carson Brooks, Office 2, of Ardmore; Associate Murray County District Judge Kristin Ranell Jarman, of Sulphur; District 14 State Senator Jerry Alvord, of Wilson; District 22 State Representative Ryan Eaves, of Atoka; and District 48 State Representative Tammy Townley, of Ardmore.

Election

There will be an election for the District 20 District Attorney’s position after incumbent, Melissa Handke, of Healdton, drew an opponent. She will face James R. Gilmartin, of Ardmore, in the June primary election. Both are Republicans.

There was a plethora of candidates filing for other federal and state offices including a crowded field hoping to win the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Republican Markwayne Mullin.

Mullin resigned the post recently after he was a appointed Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security, requiring a special election for the seat. There are a total of 13 candidates seeking that office, five Democrats, five Republicans, two Independents, and one Libertarian.

There is also a crowded field vying for the District 04 U.S. Representative including two Republicans, two Democrats, and one Independent.

The biggest field of candidates by far, however, is in the race for governor where nine Republicans, three Democrats, and three Independents are jocking for position in that all-important position now held by outgoing Governor Kevin Stitt.

Other statewide offices will also be filled in this election cycle including Lieutenant Governor where six Republicans and one Democrat have filed.

Other races have developed for Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Labor, Insurance Commissioner, and Corporation Commissioner.

The only statewide candidate filing unopposed in this election cycle was Melissa Capps, of McLoud, for State Auditor and Inspector.

The Primary Election will be held Tuesday, June 16, the Runoff Primary is set for Tuesday, Aug. 25, and the General Election will go off on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The Thursday schedule calls for six games to be played at both schools with teams divided up in pools A, B, C, and D.

In pool A are Washington, Stonewall and Davis. Pool B teams are Silo, NRC, and Dickson. Pool C teams are Roff, Cyril and Healdton; and Pool D teams include Sulphur, Byng and Plainview.

The Thursday schedule in Sulphur includes: Silo vs. Dickson (11:00 a.m.), NRC vs. Silo (12:20 p.m.), Dickson vs. NRC (1:40 p.m.), Sulphur vs. Byng (3:00 p.m.), Byng vs. Plainview (4:20 p.m.), and Plainview vs. Sulphur (5:40 p.m.).

The schedule at Roff on Thursday includes: Roff vs. Healdton (11:00 a.m.), Healdton vs. Cyril (12:20 p.m.), Cyril vs. Roff (1:30 p.m.), Stonewall vs. Davis (3:00 p.m.), Davis vs. Washington (4:20 p.m.), and Washington vs. Stonewall (5:40 p.m.).

The tournament will go through Thursday when a champion will be named.

All games will have a 70-minute time limit except for the championship contest.

The Sulphur High School track teams tested themselves against a deep and talented field Friday at the Plainview Invitational, with several Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs turning in top-10 performances against some of the best competition in central and southern Oklahoma.

Competing in a meet that featured larger schools such as Norman and Yukon, the Sulphur boys finished 12th overall with 21 team points, while the Lady Bulldogs battled to a tie for 8th place with 33 points.

Sulphur head boy’s coach, Emile Heitland, said the meet was exceptionally competitive with several 6A program heading the list. There were several other top teams from 3A, 4A, and 5A also competing.

“The level of talent at the meet closely resembled that of a state championship,” said Heitland said.

Sulphur boys placing in the meet included:

•3200 meter relay placed 5th – Morgan Brown, Calvin Downey, Jaxon Freehill, and Andrew Hail

•Grady Hardoin, 4th 110-meter hurdles and 5th 300-meter hurdles

•Morgan Brown, 2nd 3200 meter run

•Rush Pittman, 6th 300 meter hurdles, and

•Acer Dixon, 5th discus.

Brown Breaks His Own School Record Brown broke his own school record in the 3200 meter run, crossing the finish line in 9:58.30. “The achievement was even more impressive given the demanding double he took on for the first time, competing in both the 3200-meter open race and the 3200-meter relay,” said Heitland. “Running both events is extremely tough. There’s usually only one race in between, so you’re essentially running an 800 on the relay and then coming right back for a full 3200. It takes a lot of strength and mental toughness. I was very impressed with Morgan’s performance. He’s very talented, but more importantly, he’s been putting in a lot of work. It’s great to see that hard work paying off in a big way.”

Opening Test Against Lone Grove

Sulphur opened the tournament with a hard-fought 5-3 loss to the Lone Grove Longhorns, one of the top teams in Class 4A.

The Dog’s Brady Foster got the start on the mound, working 3.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on five hits. Jayden McClure provided a bright spot in relief, delivering 3.1 innings of shutout baseball, allowing no hits or walks while striking out four.

At the plate, Bridge Barrett led the way with a 2-for-4 performance. Drake Wood delivered a key triple that brought home Carter Cole, while Michael Morris added an RBI double.

Head coach Denton Miller noted the early mistakes proved costly.

“We walked too many people early and good teams make you pay for that,” Miller said. “Offensively we hit some balls hard that they made good plays on. The guys competed well and tried to make a push late, but couldn’t get it done.”

Dogs Bounce Back Against Kingston

Sulphur responded in Game 2 with a clean and efficient 7-2 win over Kingston Redskins.

Harrison Taylor and Aiden Graves combined for a strong outing on the mound, tallying seven strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs.

The Bulldogs’ offense was sharp from the outset. Michael Morris paced the lineup, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Sulphur erupted for five runs in the first inning and never looked back.

“We played a really clean game,” Miller said. “Defensively we threw a lot of strikes… and we didn’t have any errors.”

Sulphur’s offensive balance stood out, collecting seven singles, five doubles and a triple while striking out just once as a team.

Offensive Explosion Against Davis The Bulldogs closed the tournament in dominant fashion with a 16-8 win over the rival Davis Wolves.

Traber Sartors set the tone early, tossing three strong innings while allowing just two hits with no earned runs, no walks and four strikeouts. Colten Cole and Lucas Mitchell handled the rest on the mound as Sulphur’s offense erupted.

After a steady start, the Bulldogs broke the game open in the fourth inning with seven runs, highlighted by Sartors’ bases-clearing swing that plated four. The momentum carried into the fifth inning as Sulphur added nine more runs.

Drake Wood and Jax Jackson each blasted three-run home runs in the outburst.

“Our bats got hot in the fourth inning,” Miller said. “We executed really well… had big hits to get guys across.”

Sulphur’s third-place finish showcased both resilience and offensive firepower, as the Bulldogs rebounded from an opening loss to outscore their final two opponents 23-10.

Miller emphasized the importance of carrying that momentum forward.

“We hope to carry this momentum over to Monday and Tuesday as we have a big district series with Purcell.”

With improved pitching consistency and a lineup capable of explosive innings, the Bulldogs appear poised to make noise as district play ramps up.

Dogs Beat Purcell

On Monday, the Dogs (18-2) continued their strong play with a 6-3 home win over the Purcell Dragons (11-6) in Class 4A-3 district action.

They were set to travel to Purcell on Tuesday to complete the home and away series.

Sulphur and Tuttle (19-2) are tied for the lead in the district with spotless 9-0 records.

Shannon, 46, is a conservative Republican who has earned the backing of President Donald Trump. Shannon, in a recent post, emphasized his commitment to continuing the “America First” principles championed by the president.

“I’m deeply honored to have President Trump’s complete and total endorsement,” Shannon said in the post. “President Trump transformed our country by fighting for the American people and putting America First. I was proud to stand with him then, and I’ll continue that fight for Oklahoma as your next Lieutenant Governor.”

Shannon previously made state history as the youngest Speaker of the Oklahoma House, as well as the first African American and Chickasaw to hold the position. During his tenure, he helped push through a number of conservative reforms that continue to shape state policy.

A native of Lawton, Shannon lives in the Oklahoma City area with his wife, Devon, and their two children. He remains active in both business and public service while campaigning across the state.

Across Sulphur and the surrounding communities, families will gather this weekend to celebrate in ways both big and small. From sunrise church services to backyard egg hunts, from shared meals to quiet moments of reflection, Easter is a time that reminds us of what matters most—faith, family, and community.

Spring has begun to show itself across southern Oklahoma, with warmer days, blooming flowers, and a renewed sense of energy in the air. It’s a fitting backdrop for a holiday rooted in fresh starts and brighter days ahead.

Easter also offers a moment to pause and appreciate the strength of our community. In a world that often feels fast-paced and uncertain, Sulphur continues to be a place where neighbors look out for one another and traditions remain strong.

Whether you’re attending church, spending time with loved ones, or simply enjoying the beauty of the season, we hope this Easter brings you peace, joy, and encouragement for the days ahead.

From all of us at the Times-Democrat to all of you—Happy Easter.

Sulphur is currently tied with Tuttle (15-1), and Purcell (13-2) for the lead in Class 4A-3 district standings. Their next outing will be this weekend in the Kingston Tournament beginning Thursday. 

The same request was soundly rejected by voters almost 2-1 in a special election held less than six months ago in October, 2025. The vote was 159 No, and 83 Yes.

The proposed amendment change refers to Section 2,Article 11 of the charter pertaining to competitive bidding. The request on the ballot, is same as before, to completely remove Section 2 and renumber the remainder ofArticle 11. Section 2 does have stricter spending limits than is allowed by state statutes without going out for competitive bids. But, if approved, a higher spending threshold without competitive bidding could result in less oversight, less transparency, and less accountability as to where and to whom local revenue is being spent. Section 2 of Article 11 is the only Section of the charter governing the competitive bidding process.

AYes vote on the ballot would allow for the bidding process to be completely removed from the charter, while a No vote would leave the charter unchanged.

Also on the ballot is a race for the Ward 5 Council seat. Ide Russell is challenging incumbent Daniel Gordon for the position.

Early voting will be held Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3, at the Murray County Election Board Office with voting day set for Tuesday, April 7 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at polling places designated within the city limits.

All registered voters within the city limits of Sulphur are eligible to vote in the city election, both in the council race and for the charter proposition regardless of the ward in which they reside.

Also on Tuesday’s ballot for some Murray County voters are two board of education races for area vo-tech schools and one board of education member to be decided in Roff.

Running for the Office No. 3 Board of Education spot in the SouthernTech District 20 are Georganne Westfall and Catherine Roring.

Vying for the Office No. 2 seat on the Mid-America Tech Center District No. 8 board are Michael Dillinger and Bruce Bridwell.

And, finally some voters in the county will be asked to decide on a Roff Public Schools Office No. 1 board position being challenged by Karon S. Hedges and Kelsey Ensey.

Ward 5 Council Candidates

The Sulphur Bulldogs turned in a well-rounded performance Saturday, finishing fourth out of 21 teams at the Brandon Jacks Memorial Invitational in Madill, with multiple athletes earning medals and several others posting key personal bests.

Sulphur’s depth was evident across both running and field events, highlighted by a thirdplace finish in the 3200-meter relay. The quartet of Morgan Brown, Calvin Downey, Jaxon Freehill and Andrew Hail combined for a strong showing against a competitive field.

“All four legs of our 3200-meter relay were outstanding today,” said head coach Emile Heitland. “Morgan Brown, Calvin Downey, Jaxon Freehill and Andrew Hail each did their job and competed with a lot of confidence.”

The Bulldogs also picked up points in the 1600-meter relay, where the team of Freehill, Eathen Sales, Rush Pittman and Mavric Lowrance placed fifth.

Individually, Grady Hardoin made an immediate impact, earning a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles and a bronze in the 300-meter hurdles. Pittman added a sixth-place finish in the 300 hurdles, contributing valuable team points.

“Grady got a later start than most because of powerlifting, but you wouldn’t have known it from the way he competed today,” Heitland said. “For his first meet, to come out and place second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles in a really strong field was impressive. He’s still getting back into track shape, which makes his performance very exciting.”

In the distance events, Brown continued his strong season with a third-place, medal-winning run in the 1600 meters, while Downey added a fifth-place finish in the same race.

Field events also proved productive for the Bulldogs. Thomas Jackson turned in one of the top performances of the day, placing fourth in the shot put while recording a personal record.

“Thomas Jackson had a really big day for us,” Heitland said. “He’s been putting in the work, and it showed. To come out and PR by six feet in the shot put is huge at this point in the season.”

Sulphur also got strong efforts in the vertical events, as Triston Barnes earned a runner-up finish and a medal in the pole vault, with Landy DeArman placing fourth. Dax Lowrance added a fourthplace finish in the high jump.

Overall, Heitland said the team’s steady improvement continues to be a key takeaway as the season progresses.

“What’s really encouraging is how much these guys continue to improve week by week,” he said. “Their work ethic is showing up on the track.”

With momentum building and performances trending upward, the Bulldogs appear to be positioning themselves well as the heart of the track and field season approaches.

Girls Win Several Place Medals At Durant Sulphur’s Lady Bulldogs picked up several place medals in last Saturday’s Brandon Jacks Memorial Invitation.

Among them were a third place finish by the 4x400 relay team of Jayden Lee, Zoli May, Kate Woods, andAmaurie Peters.

A couple of other good efforts were turned in by Kenleigh Johnson in the shot and Aniya Maul in the high jump.

Johnson won fourth in the shot with a throw of 32-04.75, and Maul was fifth in high jump with a 4-06 leap.

The girl’s team is led by Coach David Gilliam.

The Dogs placed eighth in the Seminole meet, and were third in the Wewoka tournament.

The team opened the season March 9 at Purcell. Leading Sulphur at Seminole was Wyatt Clark’s 85. He was followed by Brody Scott, 90, Kaden Cleveland, 94, Lane Keenan, 94, and Garin Watson, 101.

At Wewoka last Friday, Keenan led the way with an 86, followed by Clark, 89, Scott, 93, Cleveland, 97, and Watson, 110.

Oklahoma Christian ran away with team title at Seminole on March 25, scoring a 315 team total. They were followed by Washington, 336, Durant, 340, Lone Grove, 344, Purcell, 347, Merritt, 350, Aprapaho-Butler, 362, Sulphur, 363, and Oklahoma Christian Academy, 369.

At Wewoka, Piedmont won the team title with an impressive 307 total, followed by Bristow, 351, Sulphur, 365, Dibble, 396, Paden, 398, and Seminole, 429.

The Bulldogs hosted the Sulphur Invitational on March 31 (see results next week), then will be at the Fire Lake curse in Shawnee on April 9.

Under first-year head coach, Denton Miller, the Bulldogs have emerged as one of the most explosive teams in the class. Sulphur’s only blemish this season came in a narrow, 10-9 loss at Lindsay on March 13, and since then, the Dogs have continued to build momentum—showcasing an offense that has topped 20 runs in five games this year.

That firepower was on full display during the three-day Sulphur Tournament, where the Bulldogs rolled past Little Axe, Plainview, and a strong Lone Grove squad that entered the weekend at 13-2.

Sulphur opened tournament play Thursday with a dominant 20-0 shutout of Little Axe. Traber Sartors and Aiden Graves combined to throw a no-hitter, striking out six in three innings of work.

“We swung the bat well as a team, combining for 10 hits and 19 RBIs,” said Miller.

The Bulldogs followed that performance with an 8-0 victory over Plainview on Friday. Michael Morris delivered a stellar outing on the mound, allowing just three hits while striking out five over five scoreless innings. Offensively, Sulphur stayed consistent, tallying eight hits and eight RBIs.

Saturday’s championship game provided the toughest test of the weekend, as the Dogs edged Lone Grove 5-4 in a back-andforth battle.

“Drake Wood, Kale Brakfield, and Bridge Barrett competed really well on the mound,” Miller said. “Lone Grove is a really good baseball team. They put a lot of pressure on us defensively, and our guys handled it really well.”

The Bulldogs got on the board with a solo homer by Sartors in the third inning. After falling behind, Sulphur rallied in the fifth when Carter Cole delivered a key double, followed by a sacrifice fly from Morris to even the score.

Barrett gave Sulphur a late lift with a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth inning, but Lone Grove answered in the top of the seventh to tie the game once again.

In the bottom half, Maddax Mobly sparked the game-winning rally with a lead-off single. He later came all the way around to score on a passed ball, sealing the walk-off victory and the tournament title for the Bulldogs.

Several Sulphur players turned in standout performances over the weekend. Morris led the charge at the plate, going 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, seven RBIs, and three walks. Cole added a 4-for-9 showing with three doubles, two RBIs, and four runs scored. Barrett contributed with a double and a home run among his two hits, driving in four runs, while Mobly scored five times and drove in three runs. With the tournament title in hand, Sulphur now turns its attention back to district play. The Bulldogs were scheduled for a Tuesday doubleheader at Pauls Valley before heading to the Kingston Tournament, where they will open play Thursday.

As the season heats up, Sulphur’s combination of timely hitting, strong pitching, and steady leadership under Miller has the Bulldogs firmly in the conversation as one of the top contenders in Class 4A-3.

SULPHUR, Okla. – This year marks a half-century since Platt National Park was designated Chickasaw National Recreation Area (CNRA). The official designation occurred March 17, 1976, with the signature of President Gerald Ford and was the result of years of planning and lobbying by the Chickasaw Nation and residents of Sulphur.

The designation combined Platt National Park with the Arbuckle Recreation Area, the 2,350-acre Lake of the Arbuckles and additional lands to create CNRA. The name honors the Chickasaw people who helped make the original Sulphur Springs Reservation, which was later renamed Platt National Park, possible.

Local efforts to appeal to Congress for the new designation cannot and should not be forgotten, said Chickasaw citizen Bill Wright. Wright served as CNRA superintendent from 2015 to 2022.

Wright said the initiative for the name change was community- based.

“It was a grassroots proposal coming from community leaders — which struck me as not what I had heard all my life. I had heard this was a push on behalf of the park service that the (U.S.) Department of the Interior were the ones really behind it, but that wasn’t the case at all. It really did come from the City of Sulphur.”

Sulphur Times-Democrat publisher Paul John, Sulphur Chamber of Commerce President Bob Cypert and chamber vice president Phil Key were the local delegation who traveled to Washington, D.C., in October 1975 to testify at two U.S. congressional hearings.

Emile Farve, assistant to former Chickasaw Nation Governor Overton James, represented the Chickasaw Nation and testified at both hearings on behalf of the Chickasaw Nation, according to the Nov. 6, 1975, issue of the Sulphur Times-Democrat. Publisher Paul John wrote, “(Farve) made an effective plea to both committees on behalf of the naming of the new Chickasaw National Recreation Area. He did point out, however, that naming of the new area to honor the Chickasaw peoples is a major interest to the Chickasaw Nation.”

Wright said the designation was designed to honor the Chickasaw people who had the foresight and influence to conserve the springs and streams at the turn of the century.

“As the town of Sulphur grew in the early 1900s, so did the threat to the springs. I’ve said this on numerous occasions: it’s all about the water. It really was all about the water. That is why the entire community of Sulphur grew up where it was — because of the water.”

The impetus for protecting the springs came when the Chickasaw Nation recognized there was a danger in how fast the town was growing, Wright said.

Pollution to the water — which was widely used for medicinal therapy at the turn of the century — was a major concern.

“They really wanted to preserve those things that were important, those things that brought them to that location in the first place (after Removal), and that was the springs and the streams. Attempting to get Congress to buy back that land from them, I believe, was a lot of foresight down the road that probably the leaders at the time didn’t even realize exactly how instrumental that was going to be,” he said.

The Chickasaws and Choctaws, in order to preserve the area’s mineral springs, sold 640 acres of land to the federal government in 1902, with the understanding the U.S. government would permanently preserve and protect the property. This created the Sulphur Springs Reservation, which was expanded and renamed Platt National Park. The area has been known as Chickasaw National Recreation Area for a half-century.

The park’s name change had been championed by the Chickasaw people for years before it was deemed official by the federal government.

The March 18, 1976, issue of the Sulphur Times-Democrat reported, “President Ford’s signature would change the name of Platt National Park in Sulphur, to Chickasaw National Recreation Area — a change first encouraged by the leaders of the Chickasaw Nation and spearheaded by Chickasaw Governor Overton James as early as 1967.”

The article, titled “Chickasaw Name to Return to Platt Park – Only President’s Signature Needed,” quotes former Governor James’ response to the bill’s passage by the Senate March 5 and its subsequent journey to the president.

“I am very pleased and very happy that the United States Congress saw fit to honor the Chickasaw people by passing this bill,” Governor James said. “After leading the effort to get the name changed, I’m very pleased to see it become a reality.”

U.S. Speaker of the House Carl Albert’s staff assistant, Skip Stephens, was also quoted in the article, describing the journey of getting the bill to the president’s desk.

“This office has been in favor of the bill for eight or 10 years,” he said, “and I’ve been working on it myself for about three years.”

Years in the making, legislation to create CNRA had to be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate before it was sent to the president’s desk. It passed the House unanimously Feb. 2, 1976.

“News of the congressional action was received here with elation,” the Feb. 5, 1976, issue of the Sulphur Times-Democrat reported under the headline, “Legislation Approved for Recreation Area.” Passage of the bill was seen as the first step in the culmination of a number of years of effort and hard work by many individuals on the local scene.”

Former Governor James reported about the park’s name change in his State of the Nation Address printed in the October-December 1976 issue of the Chickasaw Newsletter.

“After almost 10 years of work we were able to get the names of Platt National Park and Arbuckle Recreation Area changed to Chickasaw National Recreation Area to honor the Chickasaw tribe,” he said. “There isn’t a finer nature area in the United States than this park. The National Park Service has been authorized to purchase 1,200 acres between the two areas to make the new park.”

50 Years Of Progress At CNRA

In the past 50 years, CNRA has experienced much progress and improvement, including several projects in partnership with the Chickasaw Nation.

“Looking back with 20/20 hindsight, I think the name change was really brilliant because it set the stage for where we are today, not just locally, but where we are today as a nation and as a tribe. The fact that having Chickasaw attached to the park really demonstrates the importance (of the Chickasaw people) more so than had it remained Platt National Park,” Wright said. “As a Chickasaw entity, it sets the stage for the history and the fact that this was Chickasaw land.”

The Chickasaw Visitor Center, the Inkana (friend) Bridge, Veterans Lake development and the national designation of the Platt Historic District have all occurred in the past few decades.

Park Listed On National Historic Register

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Platt Historic District was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 2011 due to the extensive 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) architecture and landscape.

“I really think we still have one of the largest and best examples of CCC-era construction intact in the park. The work they did here was so extensive; they built almost everything we see today, save Lincoln Bridge,” said Wright. “Even the road layouts were done during the CCC era. That period of time was really important in the development of the park.”

Campers Flock To Park In Post WWII

Post World War II brought more campers, and Rock Creek Campground was established. In the 1960s, Lake of the Arbuckles was built, along with surrounding lakeside campsites and changed the profile of the park, said Wright.

“The continual development of the park was (needed) because how people use an area changes over time,” Wright said. “It will be different 50 years from now than it is today.”

Chickasaw Cultural Center Adds To Experience Building the Chickasaw Cultural Center, which is adjacent to the park, was also completed in the past few decades, bringing to fruition a dream of Chickasaws years in the making. The Chickasaw Cultural Center has welcomed more than 1 million guests from across the globe since its opening in 2010. The cultural center and CNRA are connected by Inkana (friend) Bridge, a 195-foot pedestrian bridge which features the National Park Service arrowhead and Chickasaw spirals in the tie beams.

For more information, visit NPS.gov/Chic [nps.gov].

The region, like much of the state, has been under periodic elevated to critical fire weather alerts in recent weeks, with persistent high winds, dry vegetation and unseasonably warm temperatures creating prime conditions for fast-moving fires.

The first call came in at approx-imately 2:21 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, at 2833 Koller Road. Initially reported as a grass fire, responding units from the Sulphur Fire Department arrived to find a more serious situation — a shop building and a covered outdoor area, along with hay bales, fully involved in flames.

Firefighters worked quickly to contain the blaze, receiving support from tanker trucks from the Joy, Davis, Oak Grove and Rock Prairie Fire Departments. The cause of that fire remains under investigation.

Later, a second fire was reported at 896 Buckhorn Road, where a controlled burn reignited and got out of hand amid the volatile conditions.

That fire would prove even more challenging.

On Thursday, March 19, the Buckhorn Road fire reignited and spread rapidly, involving two separate burn areas to the east and west. In total, approximately 280 acres were scorched between the two fronts.

Fires

The difficult terrain and heavy vegetation complicated firefighting efforts, prompting additional resources to be called in. Bulldozers from the Oklahoma Forestry Department in Atoka were deployed to cut fire lines, while three aerial units out of Bartlesville made multiple drops of flame retardant.

Sulphur firefighter Bradley Vandagriff said the decision to utilize aircraft came after assistance was offered due to the nature of the terrain.

The area was heavily wooded with cedar trees and difficult to access, Vandagriff said, which made it hard for crews to get in and contain it from the ground.

An estimated 35 to 40 firefighters battled the blaze at its peak, with assistance from Dougherty, Rock Prairie, Davis and Oak Grove departments.

Sulphur Fire Chief Tracy Laxton said crews remained on scene until dark Thursday working to contain the fire and prevent further spread. He returned to the area Friday to assess damage and check for lingering hot spots.

Laxton noted that these were not isolated incidents, as local departments responded to several smaller fires throughout the county during the same week.

With dry conditions expected to persist, officials are urging residents to use extreme caution with any outdoor burning and to remain aware of weather conditions that can quickly turn routine burns into dangerous situations.

“These conditions can change fast,” Laxton said. “It doesn’t take much for a small fire to get out of control.”

Earsom will represent the Southeast District in the state competition with that winner being announced in July. She has been a member of OHCE for 46 years and has several leadership posts including State President.

The red-hot start to the season has set the stage for an exciting weekend of baseball as the Sulphur Bulldogs prepare to host their annual tournament, welcoming a competitive eight-team field to town.

After a loss on the road, the Dogs are now 11-1 and have won five straight at home under firstyear head coach Denton Miller.

The Dogs used momentum of back-to-back wins in Texas and two district victories over John Marshall to start the season. With timely hitting, strong pitching performances and late-game heroics already defining their early season, the Bulldogs now look to carry that energy into tournament play.

The two-day event begins Thursday and features a full slate of opening-round games. Sulphur will headline the evening session, squaring off against Little Axe at 6:30 p.m. in what promises to be a strong opening test for the host team.

Other first-round matchups include Plainview taking on Whitesboro, Texas, Davis facing Kingston, and Lone Grove meeting Pauls Valley. With a balanced mix of area programs and regional competition, the bracket sets up for a wide-open tournament with plenty of intrigue.

For Sulphur, the focus will be on continuing the production that fueled their undefeated start. Players like Carter Cole, Jax Jackson and Hayden Raymo have sparked the offense, while Michael Morris’ walk-off power has already proven to be a difference-maker in clutch moments. On the mound, the Bulldogs have shown depth with solid outings from Drake Wood, Traber Sartors and a reliable bullpen anchored by Jayden McClure.

Tournament play will continue through Thursday and conclude Friday, giving teams a quick turnaround and putting an emphasis on pitching depth and consistency at the plate.

With early-season confidence, home-field advantage and a talented roster clicking in all phases, the Bulldogs will look to defend their turf and keep their unbeaten record intact. If their opening stretch is any indication, Sulphur could be a tough out for any team in the bracket as tournament action gets underway.

Below are the brackets for the tournament:

The moment that built a dynasty didn’t end with a trophy.

It ended with a four-point loss.

In 2016, the Sulphur Bulldogs walked out of the state powerlifting meet close enough to taste a championship, but just far enough away to feel it linger. For a program already known for its toughness, it wasn’t defeat that defined that year — it was memory. The kind that sticks through every rep, every early morning lift, every strained deadlift in a quiet weight room.

They didn’t forget. Ayear later, in 2017, Sulphur returned to the state stage with something more than confidence. They brought experience, urgency — and a refusal to let history repeat itself.

It nearly did. After the squat rotation, the Bulldogs found themselves in unfamiliar territory, chasing instead of leading. For a program built on dominance in the squat rack, it was an uneasy start. But what followed became the foundation of everything Sulphur powerlifting would become.

They answered. Lift by lift, the Bulldogs clawed their way back into contention during the bench press, setting the stage for the final discipline — the deadlift. There, in the meet’s closing moments, Sulphur didn’t just recover.

They separated.

By day’s end, the Bulldogs had turned last year’s heartbreak into a 15-point victory, capturing the 2017 Class 3A State Championship — the first in program history under head coach Keith Garrett.

It wasn’t just a win. It was a shift.

“That was a wild day,” Garrett said at the time. “They didn’t quit and they weren’t going to let it happen again.”

That mindset — forged in the narrowest of losses — didn’t fade after the celebration. It multiplied.

What began as redemption has since grown into one of the most dominant runs in Oklahoma high school athletics.

Earlier this month in El Reno, Sulphur once again stood atop the podium, capturing their ninth consecutive state championship and completing an undefeated season in the Class 3A division. The numbers tell part of the story — 145 team points, multiple individual champions, and record-setting performances — but they don’t fully explain the consistency.

Because the standard was set long before the streak began.

Today’s champions, like Jason Gleason and Connor Sullivan, are the latest to carry it forward. Gleason rewrote the record books in the 242-pound class, while Sullivan delivered historic lifts of his own in the 275-pound division. Their dominance mirrors what Sulphur has become — relentless, deep, and unshaken on the biggest stage.

But dynasties aren’t built on a single class or a single season.

They’re built on response. From Brendan Lawson’s strategic drop in weight in 2017 to help secure crucial points, to the depth shown by 18 state qualifiers in 2026, Sulphur’s strength has always extended beyond individual success. It’s a program identity — one that values sacrifice, balance, and finishing strong when it matters most.

Nine straight titles later, the origin story still matters.

Because before the banners, before the records, before the dominance — there was a team that came within four points of everything.

And decided that would never be enough again.

Throughout the region — especially within the scenic trails and rolling hills of Sulphur and Chickasaw National Recreation Area — vibrant redbud trees have burst into full bloom, painting the countryside in shades of brilliant pink and lavender. The early blossoms have transformed roadways, wooded areas and hiking paths into colorful reminders that spring is just around the corner.

Normally, the delicate blooms of the Eastern Redbud arrive closer to the official start of spring. But after several weeks of unusually warm temperatures to close out the winter season, many varieties of plants and flowers across southern Oklahoma have already begun their seasonal display.

Visitors driving through the park or walking along its trails this week have been greeted by the striking contrast of budding trees against the still-muted colors of late winter. Redbuds, among the first trees to bloom each year in Oklahoma, are known for their clusters of small, bright flowers that appear along bare branches before leaves emerge.

The timing has created a remarkable scene across the landscape — one where the seasons appear to overlap.

That intersection of winter and spring was especially evident over the weekend and into the early part of the week. A strong cold front swept across the region Sunday night, sending temperatures plunging into the 20s by early Monday morning.

The dramatic shift followed days of warm weather that had encouraged early growth among trees and wildflowers.

Along with the cold front came another familiar Oklahoma element: wind.

Powerful gusts estimated at nearly 55 miles per hour roared across southern Oklahoma Sunday and Monday, bending tree limbs and stirring dust across open fields. The blustery conditions made the famous line from the state’s namesake Broadway musical, Oklahoma! — “where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain” — feel especially fitting.

Despite the cooler temperatures, the gusty winds also brought a more concerning condition to the region: extreme fire danger. Dry vegetation combined with low humidity and strong winds created hazardous conditions for wildfires Monday and into Wednesday, prompting officials to urge residents to avoid outdoor burning.

Still, even with the changing weather patterns, the redbuds continue to provide a striking early-season display.

In wooded hillsides and along creeks within Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the trees stand out as bursts of color against the brown and gray tones of late winter forests. For photographers, hikers and casual visitors alike, the blooms offer one of the first true signs that Oklahoma’s vibrant spring landscape is beginning to awaken.

For now, the brilliant blossoms serve as a reminder that even as winter delivers a final chill, spring is already quietly making its arrival across southern Oklahoma.

Martin brings extensive leadership experience to the role, having served as a high school principal at Dickson, and as a Superintendent at Roff, Davis, Pauls Valley, and Atoka, and, most recently, as Assistant Superintendent at SouthernTech. His background in educational leadership and his understanding of career and technical education have uniquely prepared him to guide the district into its next chapter.

During his time at Southern-Tech, Martin has played a key role in supporting programs, students, and staff while strengthening partnerships with local schools, businesses, and communities. His leadership has been marked by a strong commitment to student success and workforce development.

Mike’s experience and dedication to education make him an outstanding choice to lead SouthernTech. His vision and leadership will help continue the district’s mission of providing high-quality career and technical education for the communities we serve.

SouthernTech looks forward to the future under Martin’s leadership, and the continued growth and success of its students, programs, and community partnerships. Please help us welcome Mike Martin as SouthernTech’s superintendent.

Sulphur junior, Morgan Brown, broke a 44-year-old school distance record last Friday at the Marietta Invitational, and the Bulldogs continue a strong start in early season track.

Brown broke the school record in the 3200-meter run by almost 13 seconds, running a 9:59.77. The old record was held by Ronnie Akers, who ran a 10:12.51 back in 1982. That was the third oldest Sulphur track record still on the books. The oldest is Eddie Winn’s 4:32.0 in the 1600-meter run, established in 1960. The next oldest was turned in 1962 by the 1600-meter relay team of Carl Melson, Freddie Freeman, Dale Runyan and Charles Black (3:27.10).

“Breaking a record that has been around that long is a tremendous accomplishment,” said head Sulphur boy’s coach, Emile Heitland. “Morgan has worked extremely hard over the offseason to give himself a chance to break the 3200-meter record. It was very exciting to see him accomplish that goal.”

Overall, the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs competed well in the meet, according to head Heitland and David Gilliam, girls coach. The boys placed sixth overall, and the girls came in fifth.

“Despite being a little shorthanded early in the year due to basketball players finishing their season and several athletes still competing in powerlifting, the Bulldogs have had a strong start,” said Heitland. “We’ve been a little shorthanded early, but I’ve been very encouraged with where we are at this point in the season.”

In addition to his school record run in the 3200 and a second place win, Brown pulled off a 4:40.40 time in the 1600 to win second in that event, and is now eying Winn’s 1960 record in the 1600 meters.

Another performance that caught Heitland’s attention was Sulphur’s 3200-meter relay team running an 8:28.20 time in a meet at Plainview one week earlier. “The time is especially encouraging considering last year’s state-placing relay team did not run that fast until late April,” the coach said.

Other performances of note at the Marietta meet included a second place effort from Landy DeArman in the pole vault (12-6), and third place from Dax Lowrance, in the high jump (6-0).

“Dax Lowrance has also shown big improvement in the high jump after putting in significant offseason work,” said Heitland. “He set a personal record of 6-0 at Plainview, matched that mark at Marietta, and narrowly missed clearing 6-2. Dax has worked extremely hard in the offseason on his high jump and it’s starting to show.”

Track Record

Other good performances included Triston Barnes, fourth in the pole vault, and Brody Wallace fifth in the shot.

The dominance of the Sulphur Bulldog powerlifting program continued March 12-13 as the team captured their ninth consecutive state championship at the Oklahoma State Powerlifting Meet in El Reno.

Sulphur completed an undefeated season by winning the Large School Division (Classes 3A-6A) title, finishing with 145 team points to outdistance the competition and once again stand atop Oklahoma high school powerlifting.

Leading the way for the Bulldogs were state champions Jason Gleason and Connor Sullivan, while Manuel Gonzalez added a runner-up finish to help power Sulphur to another title.

Gleason, competing in the 242-pound class, and Sullivan in the 275-pound class, both delivered historic performances by setting new state records in their respective weight classes on their way to state championships.

Gleason stormed to first place with lifts of 600 pounds in the squat, 315 pounds in the bench press, and 680 pounds in the dead-lift. He was the heavyweight MVP in the deadlift. He set state records in the deadlift (680 pounds) and in the total lift (1705 pounds) Sullivan made his mark with a 660-pound squad, 345-pound bench press and 600-pound dead-lift. He was MVP in the heavyweight squat and was MVP in total lift.

Sullivan set a state record in the squat (730 pounds), in the deadlift (680 pounds) and in the total lift (1,800 pounds.

Gonzalez delivered a big time performance in the 123-pound division. He had a 350-pound squat left, 190-pound bench press and 385-pound dead-lift for a second place effort.

“Congratulations to these young men on an outstanding year,” said head coach Keith Garrett. “Sulphur boys and girls both repeated as team State Champions.”

Sulphur sent an impressive 18 lifters to the state meet, tying the school record for the most athletes ever advancing to the state championships, after a strong performance during regional qualifying.

With another dominant showing on the state stage, the Bulldogs capped a remarkable season and continued one of the most impressive dynasties in Oklahoma high school powerlifting with their ninth consecutive state championship.

The Bulldogs had several athletes place in the top 10 of their respective weight classes, contributing valuable points toward the championship effort. Follow are Sulphur results: