Chickasaw Youth get motivated at OSU N7 Chickasaw Youth Day

This article appeared in the May 2017 edition of the Chickasaw Times

More than 70 Chickasaw students attended Oklahoma State University (OSU) N7 Chickasaw Youth Day, Thursday, March 30, at OSU Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.

The event began with Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) presenting the flags while Miss OSU, Julia Benbrook performed the national anthem. The Chickasaw Princesses performed the Lord’s Prayer and Dewayne Hornbuckle shared the history of stickball.

Children participated in stickball, wrestling, football, soccer, basketball and stomp dancing.

Students also had the opportunity to watch a special performance from Mike Pahsetopah and his daughter, Heaven Pahsetopah, performed a fancy dance and a song on flute. Mike is a member of the Osage Yuchi, Creek and Pawnee tribe. Heaven is a member of the Osage, Cherokee, Yuchi, Creek and Pawnee tribe.

Former OSU wrestler, 2 time NCCA Champion, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion and a member of the Otoe Missouria tribe, Johny Hendricks, gave words of inspiration to the Chickasaw youth participants.

“There is a lot of things you can achieve. Don’t ever sell yourself short,” Mr. Hendricks said. “I want you to know that just because things are not lining up for you right now, doesn’t mean you should quit. Don’t let anything stand in your way. Always strive to be something better.”

Mr. Hendricks began wrestling at age 5. He graduated from OSU in 2007 with a wrestling record of 56-1. In 2014, he earned the title of UFC Champion for the welterweight division. He has since then moved to the middle weight division with a record of 18-6-0.