While the Guthrie BlueJays are preparing for the upcoming 2011 football season, the Jays have unofficially secured their 2012 and 2013 schedule. Read more…
When news hit that Bryan Dutton had been named to an All-American team, there was just one question. Which sport? Read more…
It is always interesting this time of year with when the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association releases the ADM (average daily membership) numbers that classify high schools into classes. Read more…
Guthrie athletics have become familiar with Midwest City Carl Albert over the years, but could the Jays becoming familiar with their cross town friends? Read more…
Blake Belcher was going to be on the top 10 list. It was just a matter of where. Read more…
The Guthrie Football program has enjoyed state-wide success on and off the field for the past 10 seasons. Read more…
Reed Coldiron
OStateIllustrated.com
After a solid spring evaluation period where he showed that he has healed well from a foot injury, Guthrie (OK) High School offensive line product Blake Belcher saw his recruitment explode to the tune of double digit scholarship offers that have since materialized.
“I have eleven offers now and everything is going pretty good,” said Belcher. “We’re starting our summer camp next week starting on Tuesday. Its full pads and everything so everything is going good and workouts are going great.”
Regarding the in-state schools, Belcher indicated that Tulsa is still the lone local program that has offered him a scholarship.
“No, OU I think they’ve just about got their recruiting wrapped up but I’m not for sure on that. Then Coach Wickline said he would call back and talk to me at the end of July. They’re just narrowing down the offensive linemen that they’re going to offer and I guess it’s between me and a couple of other guys at the end so, I mean, Oklahoma State they’re still real interested in me and I have a lot of friends there so that’d be great,” he said.
“Coach Wickline said he’s going to take his time on everything,” added Belcher. “He knows that I’m not in a rush and I’m not really but he said he’s going to evaluate me some more and maybe watch a game or two at the beginning and we’ll see from there.”
Belcher has long stated that he holds the Cowboy program in high regard and he was able to take in one of their on campus football camps earlier in the summer.
“I went to a summer camp this year and then I had to do a photo shoot for VYPE magazine and it was in the stadium. So yeah, I’ve been up there probably 10 or 15 times in my life, I mean, it’s real nice up there,” he said.
“[The camp] was more of a learning about the university experience. Of course they got to look at us but I got to see how they like to coach and the pace they like to work at and everything like that. It was real up-tempo, we were jogging from drill to drill, I mean, I liked it. Everything was fast paced,” he continued.
Lastly, Belcher discussed his current line of thinking in terms of when he might like to bring an end to his recruitment.
“No not yet, my plan is to narrow it down right before the season starts. If I decide to commit before the season then I’ll just do that and if I don’t I’ll probably go on official visits and just wait until after the season to commit to a school,” he finished.
The Central Oklahoma Football League is no more for the little leaguers’ of Guthrie, but with change comes more positives for the local gridiron teams.
Teams from Crescent, Cashion and Kingfisher, who helped form the COFL along with Langston, decided to play else where leaving the Guthrie teams without a place to play. However, that was sure lived.
Guthrie will now participate in the Deep Fork Valley football league and join the likes of Bethel, Blanchard, Chandler, Choctaw, Nicoma Park, Harrah, Jones, Luther, McLoud, Meeker, Newcastle, Noble, Perkins, Prague, Seminole and Tecumseh.
In addition to the new competition, the DFV fields a second grade team (Might Mights) to go with the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade teams. Each grade will participate their fellow grade competition.
“We can now field a second grade team and first graders are allowed to play with them,” organizer Steve Hannah said. ‘They will have a few different rules than the other grades, but we are pleased that we can now field a second grade team.”
Hannah further commented that a lot of parents and coaches will be happy to be kids their own age.
“This will help that the kids to get to play with each other from the second grade all the way up to Junior High.”
Guthrie will play half their schedule at home and half on the road with all the home games being played at the High School practice field as years past.
Sign up dates and times
All four dates will be held at Taco Mayo on South Division in Guthrie.
Thursday – July 21 – 6 pm to 8 pm
Saturday – July 23 – 10 am to 2 pm
Tuesday – July 26 – 6 pm to 8 pm
Saturday – July 30 – 10 am to 2 pm
Lady Jays head softball coach Lee Linsenmeyer and Junior High coach Sondra Danner have announced upcoming dates for the softball programs.
Parents for both the Junior High and High School teams will have a meeting at the softball field, located behind Guthrie Upper Elementary School, on July 18th at 6:30 p.m.
Picture day will be held on July 21st with the high school beginning at 8 a.m. and the junior high at 1:00 p.m.
The programs will have a “work day” at the field on July 25th beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The Guthrie Junior High football is less than a month away from getting started for the upcoming 2011 season.
Head coaches Jeff Ball and Jason Rice announced that equipment check out, for both seventh and eight grades, will be August 8th and 9th at the Guthrie Junior High Gymnasium from 8 am to 10 am.
Practice will begin on August 10th starting at 7 am and running until 9 am. Practice will continue on the 11, 12 and 15.
Beginning on August 16th and throughout the remainder of the season practice will be from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
Rice explained how important it will be for the athletes to stay hydrated. “We are asking all the athletes to stay hydrated by drinking lots and lots of water. Players need to be sure they start hydrating before practices begin in August.”
