Another school year has wrapped for Lincoln Christian School and as usual, it was a stellar year athletically for the Bulldogs, as 2025-26 will go down as another one of the best in school history.

Lincoln had six state championships this school year, bringing home the title in football, boys cross country, girls cross country, girls basketball, girls track and field and boys track and field.

That brings Lincoln's total to 41 state championships for the school in total, dating back to joining the OSSAA in 2007. 

Lincoln has won 13 of this state championships during the last two years. 

The Bulldogs also had two academic state champions, as the cheerleading program and girls tennis program earned those honors in 2025-26. Lincoln had won 58 academic state championships in school history, dating back to 2007.

Nine individuals won state championships for Lincoln this past year, as well as three relay teams take home titles in track. The Bulldogs also had many runner-up finishes, as well as numerous medal-winning performances at state championship competitions throughout the year.

Lincoln also had nine athletes selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association all-state teams for their respective sports. The total for the school since 2007 is up to 115 all-staters, which have represented 128 sports.

Senior Carter Ricke, a standout in football and baseball, was named the OCA Region 7 Male Athlete of the Year.

"It's been another incredible year for Lincoln Christian School in so many ways," said athletic director Jerry Ricke. "I am so proud of the many accomplishments we have achieved together this year on the courts, fields, tracks, courses and mats."

The fall saw three state titles for Lincoln, beginning with the girls and boys cross country teams bringing home gold as the boys won their 4th straight state title and the girls competed the three-peat.

The teams both won regional titles and were both crowned Pinnacle Conference champions behind head coach Stephen Lewelling.

Junior Tennyson Housley was runner-up for the girls team, while freshman Madi Miller came in third.

Freshman Isabella Ramirez and Izzy Truitt finished 5th and 7th, respectively, while junior Bentley Stewart finished 10th to give Lincoln half of the top ten finishers.

The boys won their 4th straight state title behind a regional title and Pinnacle Conference championship, as well, as Lewelling had five top 18 finishers.

Junior Ty Brooks took 3rd overall for Lincoln, while senior Trevor Hacker finished in 5th.

Junior Sammy Farris was 12th and senior Garner McAfee was 16th, while Gabe Sword took 18th overall.

Hacker and McAfee were both named to the OCA All-State teams.

The cheerleading team had another stellar season, as the group led by Kristina Ritzhaupt finished 3rd in the competitive cheer competition in September after winning the title in 2024.

The team followed that up with another 3rd place finish at the Game Day Cheer competition later on in the fall, as well as an academic state title during the same event.

The volleyball team, led by head coach Deidra Rader, made the program's 17th straight state tournament appearance after another impressive season.

Lincoln won another regional championship after finishing 19-18 on the year.

Senior Jada Faulkner was named to the OCA All-State team, as well as was a first-team selection by the Pinnacle Conference.

Senior Maleah Levell was also a first-team all-conference selection,  while senior Wylie Bales, Karlie Jones, Anabel Nelson and sophomore Niya Willoby were all named second-team all-conference.

The softball team continued to compete at a high level by qualifying for the regional tournament again in 2025, thanks to some senior leadership.

Senior Maddi Stewart had a standout final season in the circle for Lincoln, as she was named the district pitcher of the year.

Kabry Kiger, who signed with Eastern Oklahoma State College, was named all-district utility, while Brooklyn Malone was an all-district second baseman and senior Jade Summerlin was an all-district outfield selection.

The football team continued its dominance as one of the top programs in the state, as Lincoln completed its third straight perfect season by capturing a third straight Class 3A state title.

Lincoln pushed its win streak to 42 with another win over Sulphur in the state championship, outlasting the Bulldogs 24-21 in December at UCO.

The title was Lincoln's 5th overall, as the Bulldogs went 14-0 and brogue home the program's fourth gold ball in the last seven seasons.

Lincoln also pushed its distinct win-streak to 50 straight and its home win-steak to 58-in-a-row in 2025.

Senior quarterback Carter Ricke and senior offensive lineman Carson Elix were both named to the OCA All-State team.

Ricke was also the district 3A-3 MVP, while Elix was a first-team offensive lineman selection.

Senior Connor Rowlett was the 3A-3 Defensive MVP, while senior Cooper Housley was the Special Teams MVP.

Senior Hudson Farris was named as a first-team all-district wide receiver, while senior Logan Kelley was also named a first-team all-district tight end.

Senior TH Harrell joined Elix as a first-team all-district offensive lineman selection, while senior Gabe Huntsinger was a first-team selection as a defensive back.

Farris was also named an OCA All-Star in Class 3A. Defensive coordinator Jeff Comfort, who led a defense that featured nine shutouts and allowed just 70 points in 14 games, was named the OCA Region 7 Assistant Coach of the Year.

The winter was highlighted by another state championship for Melody Stewart and the girls basketball team, as Lincoln went back-to-back in Class 4A.

Lincoln was 29-2 and completed the quest for another gold ball, running its record to 59-4 over the last two seasons.

The team won the Pinnacle Conference title, district title, regional title, and area championship before advancing to the program's 6th straight state tournament and fourth straight state title game.

Senior leaders Maddi Stewart and Alexis Leyva were both named to the OCA All-State Team, while senior Kayli Atkinson was named an OCA All-Star for Class 4A.

Stewart was also named the Pinnacle Conference MVP, while Leyva, junior Jayla Albert and sophomores Azariah Woodruff and Niya Willoby were each named first-team all-conference.

Stewart and Leyva were both also named to the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-State teams.

Melody Stewart continued to build her resume as one of the best coaches in the state, as she was named the OCA Regional 7 Coach of the Year.

Maddi Stewart was named Tulsa World All-State first team, while Leyva, Atkinson and Woodruff were all honorable mention.

Stewart also earned Super 5 honors by The Oklahoman, as well as Class 4A first-team all-state, while Leyva, Atkinson, Woodruff and Willoby were each named honorable mention.

The Lincoln Christian wrestling team had its best season ever in the winter, as Lincoln finished sixth as a team in Class 3A in the state wrestling tournament and saw its first ever individual state champion.

Senior Hudson Farris capped off a historic career with a state title at 138 lbs. after qualifying for state in all four of his seasons in high school.

Farris and freshman Drake Sheffield (132 lbs.) were the first ever Bulldogs to make it to the state title, as Sheffield finished as runner-up in his first varsity season.

The team also qualified for the Class 3A Dual State tournament and were district champions in 2025-26 behind the outstanding leadership of head coach AB Stokes.

Farris and Sheffield were joined by seniors Gabe Huntsinger and Ethan Uyetake, as well as freshman Arion Stokes, Colt Conroy, and Max Madrid, as state qualifiers.

Stokes was also named the OCA Region 7 Coach of the Year.

The Lincoln boys basketball team had another successful season under head coach Jonathan Hopkins, as Lincoln made it to the area tournament again.

Lincoln won another district championship and battled back through the consolation bracket in regionals to win the consolation title and punch their ticket to area.

Lincoln was led by seniors Chandler Cozbey and Chase Jobe. Cozbey was named first-team all conference in Pinnacle Conference play, while Jobe was selected to the second-team.

The Lincoln baseball team had its best season in school history, as the Bulldogs finished with a program-record 33 wins and won its first state tournament game.

Lincoln beat OCS 9-0 in the Class 3A state quarterfinals before falling to Marlow just a game short of the state title game.

Lincoln was 33-7 on the year, winning a district title, regional championship and battling back in a best-of-three series after a game one loss to Kingston to win a super regional championship.

Lincoln was led by a host of seniors, including Ricke, who as named the District 3A-6 MVP.

Cozbey was named the Pitcher of the Year, while senior Lane Hunter earned Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Junior Carter Hunter and sophomore Aiden Hendren were both first-team all-district pitchers, while senior Silas Goff and underclassman Beaux Brumble and Major Brooks also were selected as first-team all-conference members.

The girls golf team had another busy spring, as the team finished 6th place in the Pinnacle Conference tournament under head coach Lacy Ragland. 

The team qualified for the regional tournament and was led by senior Ciarra Fullingim, who was named the team MVP.

The boys golf team was competitive all spring, as Lincoln won the 2026 Yukon Tournament at Crimson Creek Golf Course in El Reno.

The team also qualified for regionals under head coach Jeff Campbell, while sophomore Brant Ritzhaupt was the lone state qualifier for the second straight season.

Both Lincoln tennis teams continued to build on the program's recent success with more achievements in 2026.

The girls had their best finish ever, taking 4th as a team at the state tournament and finishing as academic state champs.

Mia Mattson and Lilly Brisco finished as runner up in No. 1 doubles play, while seniors Grace Wheeler and Karlie Jones took 3rd in No. 2 doubles, as well.

Freshman Harper Reimer placed 6th in No. 2 singles in her first state tournament.

On the boys side, Lincoln also qualified for state again as a team, taking 10th place.

Nate Johnston and Brayden Thompson placed 4th for Lincoln in No. 2 doubles, while Micah Wagner and Lincoln Nelson took 6th in No. 1 doubles.

Ethan Ryder and Chase Jobe each qualified for state in singles play, as well.

Lastly, it was another historic season for Lincoln in track and field, as both teams came away with two more state championships.

The girls had one of the highest team scoring showings ever, running away with the Class 4A team title.

The Bulldogs completed the three-peat and brought home the programs 5th championship. 

They were also regional champs, led by some familiar faces.

Freshman Madi Miller won the 800, finishing her inaugural varsity season with the fastest time in the state — regardless of class.

Junior Tennyson Housley took home another gold medal, taking the title in the 1600, while her classmate and teammate Bentley Stewart won gold in the 3200.

Sophomore Niya Willoby won state in the discus, cementing herself as already one of the top throwers in school history. 

The girls 4x400 relay also took state, as Miller, senior Brynlee Durborow and freshmen Izzy Truitt and Laine Dooley combined to take home gold.

The 4x800 relay also brought home a gold medal, as Stewart, Miller, Housley and Truitt ran away from the competition for another state title.

Durborow was also named to the OCA All-State team.

On the boys side, Lincoln cruised to another title behind more strong performance from the distance team.

Lincoln won the Class 4A championship, going back-to-back and picking up the 5th title in the last eight years, The Bulldogs also rolled to the regional title again along the way.

Junior Ty Brooks was perfect for the second straight state meet, going 4-for-4 in his events, bringing him gold in the 800, 1600 and 3200, as well as helping the 4x800 relay team to the title, alongside Sammy Farris, Garner McAfee and Noah Caughey.

Sophomore Caleb Peterson also won the title in the 100, elevating himself to one of the top sprinters in the state.

McAfee was named to the OCA All-State team.