Wagoner boys
Graduation is one of those things that all athletic teams have to contend with at some point or another and for the first time in a few years that reality hits home for the Wagoner Bulldogs this year as there will not be a player with the last name of Swanson on the floor at some point in the game. But their coach, Dante Swason, always seems to find a way to bring the best out in the players that he has. As a former Tulsa University standout, Swanson knows what it takes to make a successful player and a successful team.
“We’ll have a pretty new look this year with only two players back that had any meaningful playing time last year. But we will be athletic, and those guys will be trying to make something happen.”
Multi-sport athlete Ryan Atkins (6-0, Sr.), a VYPE TOP 100 nominee, will be leading the way for Wagoner and Swanson thinks highly of him.
“Ryan is a great athlete with a quick first step and a great mid-range jumper,” said the veteran coach. But there may be some question as to Atkins’ fitness after suffering a season-ending injury during the football season.
A trio of juniors will also have their chance to advance to the limelight this season in Keyshawn Brown (5-10), Elijah Love (6-2) and Mason Durham (6-4) who will be the man to control the paint for the Bulldogs. And Swanson will rely heavily on newcomer Jjdrien Vaughn (5-7, So.).
“He’s a hard worker and is in the gym constantly working on his game,” said Swanson.
In his first four seasons at Wagoner, Swanson has produced teams that have mostly been on the winning side of the ledger, but the challenge has been getting past the regional round of the playoffs. He may hopefully get some help from the football players as they have wrapped up their season and if nothing else should add some depth to his squad. The Bulldogs have a nucleus of players to build on but a key will be if or how quickly some of these players without a lot of playing time will be able to put it all together. But regardless of how things go for Swanson and the Bulldogs in 2025 you can bet that Wagoner will produce a fiercely competitive, well-coached team to do battle in Class 4A.
