OKLAHOMA CITY - As we gear up for a new athletic year in a matter of weeks, it’s time to take a look back at the 2023-24 athletic campaign across Oklahoma City Public Schools and highlight all of the accolades in the second annual “Year of Champions” feature.

State Championships, Players of the Year, All-State Selections. OKCPS Athletics had quite a few in these categories in 2023-24 as the department puts a bow on another fantastic athletic year.

Beginning with the team and individual state champions, 2023-24 was the year of “BACK 2 BACK”. The Douglass Boys Basketball team was the first OKCPS squad to be crowned “State Champs” in 2023-24 as they went 20-4 and ran through their competition leading up to the State Championship. For the second year in a row, they faced Weatherford in the Finals, and after trailing late in the 4th, the Trojans forced overtime where they eventually defeated the Eagles 72-69 in the Big House. Junior Davon Scott was named the Class 4A State Tournament Most Valuable Player while juniors Landry Ballard Jr. and Jaden Nickens were each named to the All-Tournament Team. It was the Trojans’ second straight State Championship and they will be looking to “3-Peat” next season.

Speaking of 3-Peats… senior Sofia Acuna from Classen SAS accomplished an incredible feat this past Spring. The tennis star won her third straight Singles State Championship as she didn’t lose a single match this season in Class 5A and solidified herself as one of the most dominant female tennis athletes in OSSAA history.

On the track this Spring, it was an electric season as the Douglass girls were simply dominant in Class 4A. The Trojettes were named 2024 State Champions after winning gold medals in the 4x400 meters, and 400-meter events. Junior Brianna Jones took home gold in the 400-meters for the Trojettes while the 4x400 relay team of Jones, Armani McCoy, Jordyn Anderson, and Darianna Gates also received the gold medal at State.

John Marshall’s track success continued this Spring as junior Chloe Threatt is still the fastest in Class 5A. She won the 100-meter gold medal at State for the second straight time, while finishing second in the 200-meters. On the boys side, James Allen was right there for the Bears as well, as he finished second and third in the 100 and 200-meter events after winning State in both events in 2022-23.

In the first ever “Turnpike 44 Softball League” featuring strictly Oklahoma City Public Schools and Tulsa Public Schools, the U.S. Grant Lady Generals won a State Championship during the Fall, as they defeated Tulsa Edison in the finals at Hall of Fame Stadium in OKC.

There were a total of eight different area, regional, and district championships awarded to OKCPS schools on the basketball court, as two teams made their State Tournament, while one other was just one game away.

Southeast’s Boys Soccer team had a historic run in the 2024 Class 5A State Tournament, as the Spartans reached the State Semifinals after bowing out to the eventual state champion in Class 5A.

Five different OKCPS schools received Oklahoma Coaches Association Region 8 honors and scholar-athlete awards as well. Five student-athletes were named “Jim Thorpe Players of the Year” in their respective sports by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Southeast’s Luisa Talavera was named Volleyball Player of the Year, Southeast’s Jailyn Ramirez was named Girls Cross-Country Runner of the Year, Douglass’ Daryen Jefferson was named Boys Cross-Country Runner of the Year, and John Marshall’s Chloe Threatt and James Allen were named Girls and Boys Track Players of the Year.

The All-State and All-Star selections were plentiful among OKCPS in 2023-24, as 23 different athletes received the accolade and were represented by boys basketball (1), cross-country (2), girls soccer (1), boys soccer (7), girls tennis (1), girls track (5), boys wrestling (5), and girls wrestling (1).

Finally, there were 24 athletic scholarships awarded across all 8 OKCPS High Schools as these outstanding student-athletes will continue their success at the next level in college.

The 2023-24 athletic year saw many outstanding team and individual achievements, as well as other squads making significant strides to compete in the years to come. What will the 2024-25 athletic year have in store? The good news is: you won’t have to wait too long to find out!