The Oklahoman’s All-City first teams for the spring season have honored nearly two dozen athletes from Fridayland schools, a testament to the region’s growing athletic depth across tennis and soccer. The selections also brought congratulations to the coaches who guided these teams to notable successes.
Tennis Excellence
Eight Fridayland players earned spots on the tennis first team, including T.J. Shanahan of McGuinness, who reached the runner‑up position in Class 6A No. 1 singles and was named a Player of the Year finalist, and Larissa Goodman of Casady, a first‑time state champion in 5A singles who also contested the Player of the Year final. Gray Dillon and Sumner Shapard from Crossings Christian helped the Knights secure their fourth straight state title, while Heritage Hall’s Tokara Henderson and Leila Williams captured the No. 1 doubles crown, contributing to the Chargers’ second consecutive championship. Ella Jacob, Macy Hays and the rest of the squad rounded out a dominant performance that saw coaches Jamie Wheat of Crossings Christian and Jenny Ferguson of Heritage Hall named Coaches of the Year.
Soccer Spotlight
In soccer, five Fridayland athletes made the first team, highlighted by state champions Seth Lucky and Nick Pitman from McGuinness, alongside Noah Ragozzino and Jonathan Carter of Heritage Hall, who guided the Chargers to the 4A title game, and Deer Creek’s Riley Ross, a sophomore who tallied 13 goals and 10 assists to clinch the District 6A‑2 title. Their contributions underscored a season of offensive brilliance and defensive resilience across the schools.
Coaches Honored
Coaches Jamie Wheat and Jenny Ferguson received Coach of the Year accolades, recognizing their leadership in guiding their respective programs to multiple state titles and reinforcing the strong coaching culture within Fridayland athletics. Their strategic vision and player development have set benchmarks for future squads.
The collective recognition underscores a vibrant spring season for the region’s schools, signaling continued investment in youth sports and setting a competitive tone for upcoming campaigns. As these athletes and their mentors look ahead, the community anticipates even greater achievements on the regional and national stage.