A record 17 Stillwater student-athletes put pen to paper on National Signing Day

Nov. 8—The papers were spread out, pens rested next to them, and a rainbow's worth of flags served as table clothes inside the gym at Stillwater High on Wednesday afternoon. Coaches packed the place. Teammates and families did, too.

It was National Signing Day, and a school-record 17 Pioneers were set to put pen to paper on the National Letter of Intent.

From state champions to internationally known golfers to cornerstones of nearly every program at SHS, dreams turned into reality after gratitude was delivered and dotted lines were signed.

"It's just an amazing opportunity," said Grant Gudgel, a golfer who signed with Oklahoma State. "I dreamed about it growing up. I had my sights really clear where I wanted to go, and I'm just grateful to get an opportunity."

Gudgel was one of three boys golfers to sign somewhere on Wednesday. Ty Hyatt, who's in his second year at SHS, will be headed down the road to Central Oklahoma. Weston Lacy will continue his career at Seminole State College, a JUCO on the outskirts of Oklahoma City.

But Gudgel, who won an individual state title in 2022 before finishing fifth this past spring, won't be the only Pioneer who's headed that way.

Addyson Brown and Camryn Westbrook both signed to play softball at Seminole, which has one of the top JUCO softball programs in the country.

"I'm very glad to be staying close to home. I mean, I didn't really want to move far away because I love my family so much," Brown said. "I didn't want to be far away from them, and I'm just glad that I get to go to a program that's so good."

Brown grew up in a sports family. She's grateful to be the next step in a long line of athletes, including her older brother, Gabe, who was a standout football player at Stillwater and now a redshirt freshman linebacker at Oklahoma State.

"He's a big motivator to me," Brown said. "He's the most humble, hard-working person I know. I feel like I get a lot of the things I've learned from him, and he just pushes me to be better every day because I know how hard he works."

Not everyone is staying close to home — or in the state, for that matter.

Avery Littlefield, who's won five state championships in swim, signed with LSU. The SEC is one of the most competitive conferences in the country, she said, and that was a big part as to why she picked the Tigers.

Her friend suggested she reach out, so Littlefield did in March. A visit followed in May, and she's been committed to LSU ever since.

"It's amazing," said Littlefield, one of three swimmers to sign somewhere. "I've been looking forward to this day ever since I verbally committed."

For some, and similar to Gudgel, Wednesday provided a chance to stick around the place that raised them. That's the case for JJ McComas, a star wrestler who's hoping to end his time at Stillwater High on the right note this winter.

McComas, who picked the Pokes over Wyoming, won state as a freshman in 2020-21. He's placed at state three times, a mark he hopes to extend come the early parts of 2024.

"I'm excited to carry on the dynasty," he said. "A lot of wrestlers from Stillwater have gone to OSU and done really well. So, I'm excited to go and keep that going."

Last year didn't pan out as hoped for John Smith and the Cowboys. They finished 18th at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, the program's worst placement at nationals.

McComas is hoping to be a part of the solution that thrusts the Pokes back into a national spotlight.

"I'm excited to go, not rebuild, but re-establish what we've been in the past," McComas said. "I'm just looking forward to a great four years. We've got a couple of really good recruits coming in."

McComas, of course, is now one of them.

All signees:Camryn Westbrook, softball, Seminole State College

Addyson Brown, softball, Seminole State College

Jade Gosney, volleyball, Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Owen Coil, baseball, Oral Roberts University

Jaylee Christian, basketball, Benedictine College

Avery Littlefield, swimming, LSU

Gwendolyn Mendez, swimming, Saint Peter's University

Mazie Finch, swimming, Northern State University

Mary O'Neil, cheer, Oklahoma State University

Grant Gudgel, golf, Oklahoma State University

Ty Hyatt, golf, University of Central Oklahoma

Weston Lacy, golf, Seminole State College

Lucy Darr, golf, Oklahoma State University

JJ McComas, wrestling, Oklahoma State University

Berick Jordan, wrestling, University of Oklahoma

Landyn Sommer, wrestling, University of Oklahoma

Sarah Wulfert, track and field, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Follow News Press sports reporter Jon Walker on Twitter @ByJonWalker for updates on Oklahoma State athletics, Stillwater High and more.