Top local sports stories from 2023

Some of the top local sports stories from 2023:

n Gary Robinson, a long-time Texas high school football coach, and most recently the head coach at Grandfield, was hired by the school board to take over Comanche’s football program. Braydon Robinson was named as the new girls basketball coach.

n Comanche football player Cade White signs with Kansas Wesleyan.

n The Comanche Indians won their second straight Stephens County Tournament title by defeating Marlow in the championship game. Gracee Miller was named tournament MVP. The Indians placed third. The Indians lost to Marlow in the semifinals before bouncing back to defeat Waurika in the third-place game.

n Brook West made history by becoming Comanche’s first girls’ state champion in wrestling, winning the junior high state tournament in Oklahoma City. She would go on to place third in the high school state tournament, also the highest finish so far for a Comanche girl.

n The Comanche boys basketball team won the district championship, defeating Frederick, 60-44.

n Kooper Doucet won a state wrestling championship, following in the footsteps of his dad and two older brothers, in his last shot as a senior. Doucet was one of nine Comanche wrestlers to make the state tournament. Cade White and Noah Presgrove finished third in their weight classes. Logan Bain finished on the podium in fourth.

n Gracee Miller is named to the basketball All State team.

n Former James Madison University softball pitcher Odicci Alexander, who became a household name at the Women’s College World Series in 2021, was the guest speaker at the Comanche FCA banquet.

n Comanche baseball won its district tournament and then after hosting and winning the regional tournament came up a little short in the super regional tournament where they advanced to the final but lost to Bethel for a chance to go the state tournament.

n Cade White and Kooper Doucet were named to the All State wrestling team. Both wrestlers won their matches at All State.

n Comanche softball welcomed new head coach Jen White to the program. The Lady Indians would advance to the regional tournament where they ended one game shy of the state tournament.

n Comanche football holds its inaugural “Midnight Madness,” a night of fun and entertainment before being capped off with the first football practice of the season at midnight.

n Both Comanche and Community Christian communities rally around Comanche player Payton Jones after he laid motionless for several minutes on the football field following a play. Jones spent a few days in the hospital before retuning home and making a full recovery.

n The Comanche cross country teams sent the boys team and girls’ qualifier Brilee Combs to the state meet. Combs finished 19th overall, while the boys were led by Brycen Lassley in 30th place.

n Comanche softball player Mykayla Slovak signs with USAO.