SSC Announces Men’s Basketball Coaching Change

Seminole State College Men’s Basketball Coach Lucas Hunter announced this week that he will be departing the college to join his fiancée, who has recently completed medical school and is beginning a four-year residency in North Carolina. Hunter has also accepted a coaching position close to where his fiancée is currently residing.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that SSC provided me to be the Head Basketball Coach of such a storied program,” Hunter said. “I took pleasure in getting to work in a community where the success of the local junior college athletics programs mattered, and their support matched that.”

Hunter took the reins as Head Coach in July of 2023. He was pivotal in recruiting and rebuilding the basketball team. Prior to joining SSC, he served as an Assistant Coach at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah for three years.

“We hate to see Coach Hunter leave,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said. “In his short time with us, he has begun building a strong, respected program and has been extremely active in the Seminole community. We wish him nothing but the best in his career and much happiness in his personal life.”

Effective immediately, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Austin Bogle has been appointed as the Interim Head Coach of the Trojans. Bogle brings six years of experience at the collegiate coaching level. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Most recently, he served as a Graduate Assistant and Director of Operations at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach at Northeastern State University.

“We are fortunate to have Coach Bogle here, available and willing to step up to help the college as we quickly enter the semester and the upcoming basketball season,” SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell said.

From Seminole to Sydney: Gold Medalist Recounts Olympic Journey

As the 2024 Olympics in Paris continue through Aug. 11, viewers around the world tune in as the best athletes in the world compete in a wide range of sports. From rhythmic gymnastics to Greco-Roman wrestling, from fencing to equestrian dressage, it would be easy to assume the most popular sports suited for the summer months are all represented.

“One sport is painfully missing,” Seminole State College Regent Ryan Franklin said. “America’s pastime. Baseball.”

For Franklin, the omission is personal. After graduating from Spiro High School in 1991, Franklin attended what was then Seminole Junior College, where, as a pitcher, he went 20-0 across two seasons. He was then signed by the Seattle Mariners. He spent the next few years building a reputation as a reliable closing pitcher in the minor leagues, eventually leading to an opportunity to try out for the United States’ 2000 Olympic baseball team.

Continue reading “From Seminole to Sydney: Gold Medalist Recounts Olympic Journey”

SSC Student-Athletes Earn NJCAA Academic Honors

Fifty-eight student-athletes and six athletic teams at Seminole State College have been recognized for their academic achievements this year by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The NJCAA Academic All-American Student Athlete Awards are divided into the three groups based on grade point average – First Team requires a 4.0 GPA, Second Team requires a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99, and Third Team requires a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79.

“Our students’ dedication to excellence both in the classroom and on the field exemplifies the core values of Seminole State College. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and perseverance,” SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell said.

Continue reading “SSC Student-Athletes Earn NJCAA Academic Honors”

SSC Athletic Director Throws Opening Pitch at Spark Game

Seminole State College Athletic Director Leslie Sewell was invited to throw the opening pitch of the Oklahoma City Spark’s game against the Chattanooga Steam at Devon Park on July 3. Sewell has worked at SSC for 14 years. She was named Athletic Director in July of 2023. When she began the role, she was the only female athletic director in all the two-year colleges in Oklahoma. Since she has taken the helm, the SSC women’s volleyball, baseball and women’s soccer teams all won their regional tournaments. Soccer advanced to the national tournament ranked number two in the country.

The Oklahoma City Spark professional softball team had their inaugural season in the summer of 2023. They are led by Head Coach Amber Flores, who also serves as Head Coach for the SSC softball team. The Spark’s regular season runs through July 21.

Trojan Infielder Named NJCAA National Baseball Player of the Year

Seminole State College infielder Caden Powell, of Clinton, was recently named the 2024 NJCAA Division I National Baseball Player of the Year. The last time the SSC Trojans had a national player of the year was in 2008.

Powell had a standout performance this season, achieving a batting average of .502 with 109 hits and 104 RBIs. In 217 at bats, he recorded 32 homeruns, 17 doubles and 7 triples. Powell led the Trojans in runs scored, hits, RBIs, doubles, triples, homeruns and total bases.

Continue reading “Trojan Infielder Named NJCAA National Baseball Player of the Year”

SSC Golfer Achieves Top Ten Finish at National Tournament

Carson Newton, a recent graduate of Seminole State College, clinched a ninth-place finish in the Division II NJCAA Golf National Tournament held in Joplin, Missouri from May 21-24 at the Twin Hills Golf and Country Club. Newton’s performance also earned him the honor of being named to the All-American Team, marking a milestone as the first SSC student-athlete to receive this distinction.

Continue reading “SSC Golfer Achieves Top Ten Finish at National Tournament”

SSC Golfer to Compete in National Tournament

Seminole State College golfer Carson Newton of Seminole secured second place at the Southwest Central District Golf Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 7. He will now advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Joplin, Missouri, from May 21 through May 24. Both the SSC men’s and women’s golf teams completed their seasons this month. The teams are led by Head Coach Ronnie Williamson and Assistant Coach Kenneth Lupp.

Pictured (left to right) are members of the 2023-24 SSC men’s golf team: Carson Newton of Seminole, Brice Wolff of Stroud, Chase Conner of Seminole, Brett Griffith of Rocky, Alexander Landon of Prague, Conner Compton of Oklahoma City, Ryan Carlisle of Foss and Ethan Robbins of Spiro.
Pictured (left to right) are members of the 2023-24 SSC men’s golf team: Carson Newton of Seminole, Brice Wolff of Stroud, Chase Conner of Seminole, Brett Griffith of Rocky, Alexander Landon of Prague, Conner Compton of Oklahoma City, Ryan Carlisle of Foss and Ethan Robbins of Spiro.

“We’re so proud of these talented athletes and what they accomplished this year,” Williamson said. “We’re also so appreciative of First United Bank, Security State Bank, Swearingen Funeral Home, Seminole Ford, Seminole Auto Sales, Wrangler, Bar-S Foods and Mark Gentry for sponsoring our journey to Nationals.”

Pictured (left to right) are members of the 2023-24 SSC women’s golf team: Paola Gutierrez of Caracas, Venezuela, Maggie Smith of Prague and Adrianna O’Daniel of Seminole.
Pictured (left to right) are members of the 2023-24 SSC women’s golf team: Paola Gutierrez of Caracas, Venezuela, Maggie Smith of Prague and Adrianna O’Daniel of Seminole.