By Ron Holt
Numerous personal records were established along with several close calls while several Club 225 t-shirts were earned during Bixby’s recent Night of Champions strength-training event at Lee Snider Stadium on July 17.
Players completing a power clean lift of 225 pounds receive a t-shirt. That’s the first goal of young Spartans in the program guided by head strength and conditioning coach Connor Myers and assistant Taylor Pence.
Despite toasty temperatures, it was a festive atmosphere featuring a large crowd, Bixby spirit squads, food trucks and a large group of former Spartans were in attendance to view the progress from this year’s team in the weight room.
“We had a ton of PR’s tonight,” Spartan head coach Loren Montgomery said afterward. “We have a sophomore class with a bunch of skill guys who were really close … there are some guys by the end of the summer will hit 225.
“Our top end lifters are really, really strong … we’ve got a good mix of guys. We had a couple of those guys hit 300 pounds. It was a little humid out here and it’s a different environment. Some guys it doesn’t bother and some it does. I thought tonight was great,” Montgomery said.
Statistically, Bixby’s Night of Champions produced 50 personal bests, 52 Club 225 members and five Club 300 members.
“Our kids are busting it and doing good,” Coach Montgomery noted. “They are doing everything they are supposed to.”
Sandwiched around a couple of weeks off, Bixby’s coaches and players have been busy this summer with a team camp, the popular Eastern Oklahoma offensive and defensive linemen camp, the Cowboy Classic 7-on-7 tourney at Oklahoma State in Stillwater, hosting the Skordle Eastern Oklahoma 7-on-7 tournament and weekly 7-on-7 league events.
Bixby’s team camp featured the Spartans, Bentonville (Arkansas), Bentonville West, East St. Louis (Illinois), Edmond Memorial, Midwest City and Tulsa Union. The OL-DL camp attracted a large crowd of players from instate and from surrounding states.
Bixby won the Skordle 7-on-7 large school championship with a 6-0 record while Wagoner won the small school title. The Spartans defeated Owasso (26-22), Sand Springs (36-26), Derby, Kansas (25-12), Bartlesville (40-10), Lawton Eisenhower (43-0) and Bishop Kelley (32-14).
“We had 619 players attend the OL-DL camp. I think we had 630 last year …it’s a really good event. All of our summer stuff has been really good … we had a waiting list on our 7-on-7 tournament. The team camp was great,” Coach Montgomery said.
“The Cowboy Classic in Stillwater was great. Traditionally we go to Springdale (Arkansas) at Shiloh Christian for a 7-on-7 tournament but when they called saying they were having a tournament at OSU’s facility it was a no brainer, and they got it done before the July 4 break.
“After July 15 we can’t touch a football … we’ll continue to lift and continue to run. We’re getting down to the nitty gritty,” he said.
This week (August 5-9) is the Spartan coaches work week with the first preseason practice scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Monday, August 12. The team will meet with position coaches, practice and then lift weights each session.
The first preseason practice in pads is planned on Friday, August 16, also from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. Bixby hosts the Fall Classic scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 23, before opening the season during Zero Week at Owasso on Friday, Aug. 30.
NOTABLES – Bixby’s coaching staff participated in the recent Oklahoma Coaches Association’s All-State Week clinic with Spartan assistant coach Trevor Suffal speaking on Bixby’s special teams. “It’s an honor to get to speak at the clinic because they don’t ask you unless you win,” coach Montgomery said. … Bixby assistant coach Austin Embrey was recognized by the Oklahoma Football Coaches Association with the 35 Under 35 award. According to the OFBCA the award was “established to identify and develop future leaders in our profession.” … BHS defensive coordinator Rodney Flowers was voted to the OFBCA Board as secretary. … Bixby’s 6-6, 295-pound senior offensive lineman Broderick Shull was named No. 8 on the Daily Oklahoman’s Super 30 high school football players list. Shull has committed to Auburn. … MaxPreps ranks Bixby at No. 44 nationally in its Preseason Top 100 poll. The Spartans are the only Oklahoma team ranked in the Top 100. MaxPreps also named Bixby the top team in Oklahoma on its listing of the ‘Best Teams from all 50 States.’ … Bixby was ranked No. 67 nationally on the High School Football America 100 poll. … The Spartans are 74-2 over the past six seasons and are seeking the seventh straight state championship.