Sports

Durant wrestling state qualifiers were recognized during last week’s meeting of the Durant Board of Education. From left, Camilla Amaya, Mac Barbush and Aiden Polk. Also shown is wrestling head coach Jim Taylor.

Durant wrestling state qualifiers were recognized during last week’s meeting of the Durant Board of Education. From left, Camilla Amaya, Mac Barbush and Aiden Polk. Also shown is wrestling head coach Jim Taylor.

TOY, wrestlers and FFA members recognized at school board meeting

Matt Swearengin
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Durant Teacher of the Year LeaAnn Wyrick, wrestlers who made it to state finals and students who received state FFA degrees were recognized at last week’s school board meeting. Wyrick teaches U.S.
George Washington Elementary School third graders ran the second-annual Clara’s Run last week in remembrance of their classmate who died in a Christmas Eve 2024 car accident along with her father Will who was the Durant girls basketball coach. Clara’s run was held at the Durant High School track. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

George Washington Elementary School third graders ran the second-annual Clara’s Run last week in remembrance of their classmate who died in a Christmas Eve 2024 car accident along with her father Will who was the Durant girls basketball coach. Clara’s run was held at the Durant High School track. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Second annual Clara’s Run held

Matt Swearengin
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Clara’s Run in memory of Clara Robinson was May 7, and it was a one-mile run for George Washington Elementary School second, third and fourth grade students at the high school track.
Durant Lion hurler Keyvan Dollar fires the ball during a recent game with Idabel. The Lions played Calera last Friday. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Durant Lion hurler Keyvan Dollar fires the ball during a recent game with Idabel. The Lions played Calera last Friday. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Calera tops Durant baseball; Lions 4th in district

Kevin Farr
Thursday, May 7, 2026
The Durant Lions baseball team closed out District 5A-4 play last week with a 12-0 loss to league champ Bishop Kelley and wrapped up with a fourth place finish.
Silo Rebel Zane Sander prepares to bunt the ball. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Silo Rebel Zane Sander prepares to bunt the ball. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Caddo, Silo capture baseball regional crowns

Kevin Farr
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Caddo and Silo captured regional baseball crowns last week while Rock Creek fell just short in its bid to reach the state tournament.

Sager eclipses DHS record again at Duncan Meet

Kevin Farr
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Junior Avery Sager cruised to another school record in spurring several solid finishes by the Durant High School track and field team in its final regular season meet at Duncan last week. The Lady Lions and Lions will travel to Owasso on Saturday for the Class 5A Regional Meet.
Bennington High School senior Soraya Smith signed last week to cheer for Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Also shown are, Hunter Smith, brother; Rachel Smith, mother; Keith Smith, father; Jennifer Moore, Bennington cheer coach; Kaceston Smith, brother; Kailea Marshall, SE cheer coach; Nate Clark, North Texas Cheer coach, and Robbi Simpson, North Texas Cheer owner. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Bennington High School senior Soraya Smith signed last week to cheer for Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Also shown are, Hunter Smith, brother; Rachel Smith, mother; Keith Smith, father; Jennifer Moore, Bennington cheer coach; Kaceston Smith, brother; Kailea Marshall, SE cheer coach; Nate Clark, North Texas Cheer coach, and Robbi Simpson, North Texas Cheer owner. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Bennington cheerleader signs with Southeastern

Matt Swearengin
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Bennington High School senior cheerleader Soraya Smith signed with Southeastern Oklahoma State University cheer last week, and she will be the first Bennington graduate to be on the SE cheer team. She is the daughter of Keith and Rachael Smith.
Lion Eli McClure hit a home run in the game with Idabel. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Lion Eli McClure hit a home run in the game with Idabel. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Durant baseball blanks Idabel on Senior Night

Kevin Farr
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Coming off a pair of losses in a busy week, the Durant Lion baseball team bounced back on Friday with a 4-0 win over Idabel to celebrate Senior Night. Durant fell to district-leading Bishop Kelley (6-1) on the road to begin the week with the second game of the series postponed due to weather.
SE hurler Jacob Fuller fires the ball at an East Central batter. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

SE hurler Jacob Fuller fires the ball at an East Central batter. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

SE baseball sweeps East Central on Senior Day

Kevin Farr
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
A doubleheader sweep of rival East Central on Senior Day last Saturday secured the series victory and fourth seed in the Great American Conference postseason tournament that begins this weekend in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Calera Lady Bulldogs Emilee Summit and Makenna Owens are shown in the game at Silo. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Calera Lady Bulldogs Emilee Summit and Makenna Owens are shown in the game at Silo. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Caddo, Calera, Silo claim slow pitch districts

Kevin Farr
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Caddo, Calera and Silo each had little resistance in cruising to district slow pitch championships at home last week. In Class 3A, Caddo belted Wewoka (240) and then blitzed Allen by 11-1 and 7-0 margins as the second ranked Lady Bruins improved to 25-6.
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