Pense glad to end career at state

When the Webbers Falls Lady Warriors’ 3,200-meter relay team finished third at Monday’s Class A Regional Meet in Okemah to secure a spot at today’s Class A State Meet at Oklahoma City Western Heights High School, relay team member and senior Abby Pense was glad to get back to state for one last time before graduating.

“I knew that we were going again,” Pense said about the team qualifying for state on Monday. “This is my third year (to go to state). It feels pretty good (to end things at state), and I’m going to get to run with my friends.”

While the Lady Tigers foursome of Pense, Cheyanne Herrier, Bridgette Baer and Teralynn Colston are not the favorites to bring home the gold and a state championship to town by night’s end, Pense would be on Cloud 9 if they just happen to do so.

“It would be like, ‘Oh, my gosh — we did it!,” Pense said. “Oh, my gosh — how did we do it!’ That’s about all i can say. Anything can happen. I will be surprised, but happy. I’m looking forward to it.”

While there’s been times Pense wanted to stop, or even has stopped, being involved in athletics, it’s been her friends who have persuaded her to either stick it out or come back.

“I had to stay because of my friends,” Pense said. “There was Teralynn and Bridgette. My friends influenced me to come back.”

If the Lady Warriors 3,200-meter relay does not win the state title today, Pense said the next most important thing this weekend for her is just getting to run one last time with her friends.

“Just getting to be there is all,” Pense said. “Just getting to be with Teralynn and Bridgette, that’s really all.”