SOFTBALL: Vickers to continue softball career at Grand Canyon University
Nov. 10—Oakley Vickers is heading to Arizona.
The senior standout for Tuttle softball made her name known in the circle for the Lady Tigers and caught attention from the Division I level. And now she has made her next move official.
The accomplished pitcher will be making her way to Arizona to compete for a Grand Canyon University softball program that has been on the rise and knocked off UCLA in a regional last season. Vickers loved her experience when looking at GCU and knew it would be the school for her going forward.
"I loved the coaches and how beautiful it was there," she said. "I know they have a great program, and it felt like a great fit for me."
Grand Canyon is a program that has developed plenty of Oklahoma ties, including a Tuttle tie in former Tuttle standout Kinsey Koeltzow.
And being able to have this opportunity means that they believe in Vickers' potential to do great things and that her hard work has not gone unnoticed.
"It means that someone has noticed my potential to succeed in this sport, and it gives me the opportunity to fulfill that potential and excel in advancements later in life," Vickers said.
Vickers was able to have a signing ceremony in front of her supporters last week. She was grateful for being able to celebrate a major milestone with those who have stuck by her through the years.
"It's very special to me because I wouldn't be where I am today without my family and friends," Vickers said. "They have supported me and pushed me to get to where I am today.
"We have earned this day together, and I'm glad I get to share it with them."
Playing softball for the majority of her life, Vickers has developed a love for what the sport of softball has given her over the years. It's given her bonds with her teammates and has brought more joy to her life.
"I love being with friends and competing with a group of girls who all work together," Vickers said. "I love the bond that is created through competition and hard work and the joy that comes from winning with them.
"I also love the feeling of a strikeout."
As an accomplished pitcher at a powerhouse like Tuttle, Vickers certainly recorded plenty of strikeouts during a career that led to her earning all-district and all-region honors. She also got named to the Middle West All-State team.
And being able to compete and play a part in a program like Tuttle is something Vickers will always be proud of.
"I love being a Lady Tiger," she said. "Tuttle is a big name in Oklahoma softball, and I had the privilege to be a part of that.
"I'm extremely proud to say I am a Tuttle Lady Tiger."
