WELLS PRESS

Neither a wonder nor a woman: Wells Principal Rex Langley displays good sportsmanship despite having to pay the consequences for having lost his Super Smash Brothers challenge.

[photo by Skylee Maymi]

Catoosa's middle school principal Rex Langley declared war on the school's e-sports coach Gina Alderman in an intense, virtual battle fought in the gaming world of Super Smash Brothers. As with any war, the loser paid the greatest consequences.

The virtual battle came about from trash-talking followed by challenges. “We would always mess around and say we were both better than each other," Mr. Langley said. "Then students made this war intense, and we figured let's make this a war."

Students and staff witnessed the war during all three lunch periods March 13. Played out on a screen large enough for spectators to see the battles, a game determined one winner for each lunch period. The contestant who won two of the three games won the competition.

Mrs. Alderman showed her confidence even before the first game. “I'm definitely going to win," she said. "I've been playing longer then him (Mr. Langley), but not that much longer. I've had my son training me, and I'm ready for this battle."

"I would love to think I'm going to win," Mr. Langley said before the competition. "My only concern is that Mrs. Alderman is the e-sports coach and knows a lot more than I do."

True to her prediction, Mrs. Alderman won decisively. As the victor, she imposed on Mr. Langley a pre-determined punishment for the loser: Mr. Langley had to ride around the school on a skateboard and dressed as Wonder Woman. Despite the indignity, Mr. Langley carried out his own punishment with as much grace as possible for a man in a Wonder Woman costume.

Wells Press staff writers Brianna Gable, Araya Cross and Molly McConnell contributed content for this article.

A representative sample survey of Wells fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh graders correctly predicted the outcome of the the Super Smash Brothers war between Wells Principal Rex Langley and

e-sports coach Gina Alderman.

Catoosa's intermediate band set up for a public concert in December at the Twist Center.

[photo by Breanna Gonzalez]

Catoosa's intermediate band of seventh and eighth graders earned a rating of "Excellent" for sight reading (the ability to perform unrehearsed music) and "Good" for its stage performance in a March 13 competition at Owasso High School.

A 4A district based on it student population, Catoosa competed against 15 other bands, including many from 5A and 6A districts such as Broken Arrow, Owasso, Sapulpa and Stillwater.

Judges who awarded ratings represented the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, which sanctioned the competition.

Wells Press staff writer Harlee Fox contributed to this article.

by Jacob Bearbow

Catoosa Band Cirector Caleb Jones and the Wells middle school beginning band will travel to Tulsa Community College at the end of March for the band's first on-stage performance.

Although brass, woodwinds and percussion have separate classes throughout the school day, the beginning band will perform together at TCC.

“It’s good performance practice for the future," Mr. Jones said, "and after that the beginning band is going to get a clinic with a professional to get to learn more about musical instruments. It’s good that they are going to be learning from a professional.”

Backstage ... Wells winter guard team members, in costume, wait for their turn to perform in competition March 8. [Photo by Alondra Gallegos]

by Yanely Olvera-Stephenson and Alondra Gallegos

The Wells winter guard earned a rating of "Good" in a performance competition March 8 at McAlester.

The week of the competition, winter guard coach Sarah Guerrero expressed her confidence in her team's performance skills. “I think we're gonna do great," Coach Guerrero said. "I'm excited to see them do their thing.”

Winter guard student members expressed excitement in the days leading up to their competition. "We get nervous," said seventh grader Hailey Spears. "We just calm ourselves by having each other's support and saying it will all be okay in the end, no matter if we get good or bad (ratings).”

The laws of physics: Fourth grade science teacher Fonda Rankin assists her students in setting up their kinetic energy/potential energy experiment. [photo by Araya Cross]

by Araya Cross and Molly McConnell

Wells fourth graders learned a lesson in physics through a science experiment March 5 that allowed the students to make loud noises in the classroom.

“The balloon pop experiment was about kinetic energy and potential energy,” said fourth grade science teacher Fonda Rankin whose students conducted the experiment.

“I think it was really fun, and it was fun to make it,” said Jarran Cannon. ”You have to have one person to hold a cup and the other one to put the balloon on the cup."

“Sometimes we got it, and sometimes we didn’t get it,” said Parker Smith.

”I thought it was fun to make, and it was kind of easy,” said Ariana Ortiz. “It wasn't really hard because we have to use two people.”

‘’It was a little bit hard because it took me a little bit to puncture (the balloon)," said Sofia Kloepfer, "because I wasn't doing it hard enough. And the balloons were a bit hard to get on, but it was worth it when it did work.’’

"I hope I get it..." Middle school actors, from left, Elizabeth Wilson, Leah Brisendine and Reagan Gable practice lines from scripts of "Alice in Wonderland," scheduled to be performed May 15.

[photo by Sadie Pierce]

by Sadie Pierce

Middle school and high school theatre students tried out earlier this month for the "Alice in Wonderland" play, but with a twist. The actors, while auditioning, stood on something resembling a chess board and the characters were pieces.

The tryouts consisted of student actors and auditioning in front of adult judges.

“The hardest part was when they were staring me down,” said sixth grade actor Elizabeth Wilson.

With all a cast now assembled, organizers plan to perform the play for an audience on May 15.

Middle school theatre students work on props for the upcoming play "Alice in Wonderland."

[photo by Breanna Gonzalez]

by Breanna Gonzalez

Catoosa theatre students are making their own props this semester for the "Alice and Wonderland" play to be presented this spring. Theatre director Shari Rehak is having her third, fourth, and seventh periods create flowers, doors, and teacup cards for the Mad Hatter's tea party.

“I hope to make the mushrooms," said theatre student Mya Vasquez, adding that her favorite thing about making the props is how creative she can be and let her mind take over. “I cannot wait to see how they turn out,” she said.

“I am excited to see what creativity they put into the costumes and different props,” Ms. Rehak said. She said she likes having the students do the props because it lets the students' creative minds take over.

Catoosa's jr. high wrestling team made a good showing in state competition March 7-8 at Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City.

"They were on par with the expectations," Catoosa wrestling coach Vince Eremita said of his jr. high team. Seventh grader "Kaysin Morgan had a great weekend. He won fourth place in state," Coach Eremita said. "He exceeded our expectations, and him not being the most experienced wrestler. But outside of that, we had a bunch of guys go out there and competed hard and did what they could -- pretty much met our expectations."

Coach Eremita had high praise for his team leaders "Jason Watkins, eighth grader, definitely a leader -- he's been wrestling a little bit longer. Evan Boulware -- another guy that stepped up as a leader," Coach Eremita said.

Wells Press staff reporter Jaydyn Woodruff contributed content for this article.

Opening Day: Catoosa's jr. high baseball team opened its 2025 season on Tony Martray Field at home against Inola. [photo by Lailanni Michaels]

by Kynadi Carl and Kenleigh Hanford-Plumlee

The Catoosa baseball team has started the season with the first game at home game March 3, ending with Inola run-ruling the Indians for a final score of 12-0.

“Our goal this year is to get better every day,” said head coach Bryan Andrew, “and our team goal is to win at least half of our games; we have 16 games in total.

“I've coached baseball for 28 years. This is the first school that has asked me to coach for the school, and I've always wanted to coach baseball,” Coach Andrew said.

“I wanted to try something new before eighth grade," said seventh grader Quincy Bell. "I like to go to the batting cages after school.”

“I like to play," seventh grader Trevor Wright said. "I've played it for a long time by working hard."

“I've alway liked baseball," sixth grader Jaydyn Woodruff said. "You got to work on everything -- whatever you're bad at, just practice it."

by Analia Rosales-Avelar

The junior high soccer team kicked off its season with away games March 3 and 4 at Wagoner and Verdigris, respectively.

The boys and girls lost to Wagoner by only four goals and couldn't seem to shoot the ball into the net, shooting instead closer to the moon, or at least very, very far from the goal.

“I know my team can actually try to make it this time," said seventh grader Annalise Prickett before the March 4 game at Verdigris. However, the girls lost 9-0. Team members noted that the wind was really hard that day, which made playing conditions difficult.

The boys lost their game at Verdigris 6-0. "It wasn’t really our best, but next time, we will get back at them," said Joncarlos Tena, who plays center back for the jr. high boys.

"Soccer is really an everything sport," said girls coach Jeremy Scott, "and you have to be physically and mentally ready for anything coming your way. As for the coaches who work hard to ensure their team works together, to also make sure to have fun , and to never give up."

“I think striker and goalkeeper is the hardest position to play," Prickett said. A goalkeeper is a player who defends the goal and is the last line in defense while a striker is the first line of attack.

by Addison Smith and Ariana Cozart

The 2025 jr. high track season starts with a March 27 meet at Oolagah, and Catoosa promises to show up with a wealth of talent.

“Well, I am really excited about this track season,” said coach Chase Stokey. "We have from what I understand, (our student athletes) numbers are up.

"We currently have 55 students sixth through eighth grade on the roster," Coach Stookey said. "That includes a few folks that are going to play soccer and run track. If success is not seen through medals, we will see success through P.R. (personal records) and that should be the goal for everybody. Either win medals or, as we go to a meet, your goal is to beat your P.R."

by Analia Rosales-Avelar and Izzy Duran

Tryouts next year's cheer squad will be held next week, beginning with a cheer clinic March 31 - April 3 and then tryouts on Friday, April 4 at the Catoosa Indians Activity Center.

A cheerleader is a member of a team that performs organized cheering, chanting, and dancing in support of a sports team.

The girls have to attend the cheer clinic to learn their choreography, shunts, and to ace the day of tryouts. Only 14 girls can make the team, but 16 girls are trying out, so whoever is the sharpest, memorizes everything, and has a good attitude will make the squad, said jr. high cheer coach Kelsie Roberts.

Some girls say they are nervous this year, including seventh grader Ximena Madrigal, who was on this year's squad. “I am anxious because what if I don’t make the squad for my fifth year?”

Others say they are really excited for what's about to come their way. “I love cheering," said seventh grader Izabella Warford. "It’s like a part of my life now.”

Wells Press staff: James Alderman, Jacob Bearbow, Erin Brown, Kynadi Carl, Ariana Cozart, Araya Cross, Izabell Duran, Harlee Fox, Alondra Gallegos, Brianna Gonzalez, Kenleigh Hanford-Plumlee, Zyana Hosey, Molly McConnell, Yanely Olvera-Stephenson, Sadie Pierce, Analia Rosales-Avelar, Addison Smith, Jaydyn Woodruff ... Send inquiries to kmcanany@catoosa.k12.ok.us