Tuck headlines Stillwater spring signing day for record 2024 class

Apr. 17—Seven Stillwater athletes officially signed their National Letter or Intent on Wednesday afternoon at Stillwater High School. It brings the 2024 signing class up to 33 total Pioneers, the largest class in school history.

Here's a deeper look at the spring signees:

Trey Tuck, Basketball, University of Central Oklahoma

For Tuck, he knew that he wanted to play college basketball. He just wasn't sure where. Possibilities were still up in the air as recent as last month.

He attended a UCO basketball camp last fall, but no offer came of it. There were even some talks of walking on at Oklahoma State.

Tuck and his family went to Edmond for an official visit at UCO late last month. That's when things fell into place.

"It was tough at the start," Tuck said. "I only had one offer. UCO showed some interest at the start but I didn't get the offer until 3 weeks ago when I went for a campus visit and they offered me then. I knew from being there that this was home.

"My ultimate goal was to walk on at OSU, but if UCO offered I was gonna go there."

The offer was eventually given, and Tuck publicly committed to the Bronchos on April 5. His newfound relationship with UCO head coach Bob Hoffman proved to be a big reason for his decision.

"His connection with Coach Hoffman I think is what made the difference," Stillwater boys basketball coach Scott Morris said. "He's a phenomenal coach and one of the best offensive minded coaches I've ever been around. I think you get Trey working in that environment I think and he'll thrive."

Morris and Tuck both settled into the Pioneers varsity basketball program at the same time. In fact, Morris has yet to coach a Stillwater basketball game that doesn't include Tuck.

A four-year contributor on the hardwood, Tuck has been described by everyone around him as consistent.

"He just clocks in and goes to work every single day," Morris said.

From commitment to signing spanned just 12 days, but it's been a lifelong dream for Tuck to play college basketball

"It makes us proud," said Trey's father, Kenny Tuck. "The fact that he made up his mind that he wanted to play basketball when other people told him he probably couldn't."

Tuck will arrive on campus at UCO in the fall and attempt to play his way into a significant role in year one.

Tyner Wilson, Baseball, Northern Oklahoma College

Since he was a kid, Wilson has dreamed of playing college baseball. On Wednesday, he made that dream a reality.

Wilson has been an everyday outfielder Stillwater over the past three years, and he has even pitched this season with great success for head coach Marty Lees and the Pioneer baseball program.

"He's a real pleasure to coach," Lees said. "Our team would not be where we're at without him."

Wilson visited junior colleges in the Oklahoma area last summer. Even after the visits, Wilson felt torn on what to do.

"I really didn't know what I wanted to do."

Eventually, Wilson decided that NOC stood tall above the rest.

"The campus was big, but the biggest thing was meeting the coaches there. I loved the vibes and everything about it."

He has been teammates with successful next-level players such as Jackson Holliday and Anthony Smith, while several of his current teammates such as Ethan Holliday and Owen Coil are currently committed to universities. Those influences made a difference for Wilson.

"To be around such good players and see them go on and play," Wilson said. "Such a dream and I made it a reality."

Campbell Elliott, Swimming, Sterling College

Campbell Elliott connected with Sterling women's swimming & diving head coach Cord Harrington last summer and quickly discovered that she had found her landing spot.

The real selling point for Elliott was her official visit last October. During the visit, she explored the facilities, went to on-campus events and even stayed the night with some current members of the team.

"They were just so inviting and welcoming and really fun people," Elliott said. "I knew then that this was the school I wanted to go to."

Elliott silently committed before the State Swim Meet and made her public announcement after the season.

Harrington had read up on Elliott before her visit, but the face-to-face evaluation sold him on giving the offer.

"I was immediately impressed by her character," Harrington said. "All the little things came together and made for a great potential student athlete. We are super excited and blessed to have her."

Elliott is one of four Stillwater girl's swim athletes to sign an NLI. Avery Littlefield is going to LSU, Gwendolyn Mendez is signed with St. Peters and Mazie Finch with Northern State.

Sam Waddell, Swimming, University of New York — Oswego State

Another Stillwater swimmer signed an NLI on Wednesday. Sam Waddell recently moved to the US in 2022 and in that short time has discovered a dream and accomplished it.

Waddell was born in the United States but moved to Qatar when he was three months old.

"Definitely a culture change," Waddell said. "A lot of things are a lot looser here than over there. I can drive here and I couldn't there. Just a lot of freedom here."

Since moving to Stillwater, Waddell made an impact on the Stillwater boys swim team. He was recently named a 2024 OCA All-State selectee out of the East region.

During his signing day statement, Waddell credited his brother for getting him into swimming when he was in pre-kindergarten. Some brotherly competition fueled his love for the sport.

"I always wanted to be better than he was," Waddell said.

Before moving to the US, swimming competitively in college wasn't even on Waddell's radar. That changed when Oswego State reached out and offered him on a visit. After the trip, he was sold.

Following the visit, he committed in December and officially signed on Wednesday.

"I never really looked at any other colleges," Waddell said. "I loved the group."

Ava Emerson, Track/Cross Country, Oral Roberts University

For Ava Emerson, her faith has always been important. Through a family connection, she has found a path where she can prioritize that while also playing college athletics.

Emerson's cousin-in-law is an athletic trainer at Oral Roberts University, and he suggested that she go to Tulsa for a visit.

Going into the campus visit, Emerson was thinking more for academics.

"I didn't have running in college in mind," Emerson said. "I was gonna go visit because I needed a college to go to. But I visited and met the coach and really fell in love with the coach, the team and community."

She received an offer and immediately knew that she was meant to go to ORU.

During that meeting with the coaching staff, Emerson realized that she might be able to run and follow her faith.

Alyssa Bartlett, Volleyball, Coffeyville Community College

As of three weeks ago, Alyssa Bartlett wasn't going to play college volleyball. She was shocked after receiving a message from Coffeyville on a recruiting website late last month.

Bartlett went on an official visit two weeks ago and didn't wait very long after to make her decision.

"I signed the next day," Bartlett said. "I'm really excited to go play at the next level."

Just last year, she was still playing JV volleyball for Stillwater. This year she has transformed into a difference maker. An impact player. One that kept her playing career alive.

"This year she was a major part of the success of our varsity program," Stillwater head volleyball coach Drue Brown said. " She ended the season on a 3 game stretch with 15, 17 and 15 kills, which carried up to victories."

The quick turnaround continues for Bartlett, who will move in on August 1 and get ready for the team's first game on August 17.

Aspen Clarkson, Women's Basketball, Coffeyville Community College

In similar fashion to Bartlett, Aspen Clarkson will also play college sports at Coffeyville. The journey was nearly identical, too.

Clarkson wasn't expecting to play college basketball after her senior season ended last month. She also found interest from Coffeyville in the last three weeks after participating in All-State tryouts and went on an official visit followed by a quick committment.

She played at Stillwater under coach Marcus Klingsick since 2022, and he is not surprised in the slightest that she gets to continue her career.

"I just knew she had the 'it' to be an outstanding basketball player and an outstanding athlete," Klingsick said. "She's fought back and been through a lot. She's persevered through it all."

The event on Wednesday was the final official signing day for Stillwater this year, but the door is still open for other athletes to sign on their own time if the opportunity presents itself.