BRUINS BLUE VS. WHITE GAME SET TO CAP OFF HENNESY’S FIRST BARTLESVILLE SPRING PRACTICE
Bartlesville High School’s new head football coach, Matt Hennesy, directs a drill during spring practices. The Bruins will host their Blue vs. White game Saturday at 6 p.m. at Custer Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Cody Meade
Bartlesville High School’s new offensive coordinator, Mason Fine, gives directions during the spring practice drills. The Bruins will host their Blue vs. White game Saturday at 6 p.m. at Custer Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Cody Meade
By Becky Burch
May 29, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Although it is barely summer, the countdown to the high school football season — which is about 90 days away — has begun. The Bartlesville Bruins’ spring workouts began May 18 under first-year head coach Matt Hennesy, who was brought in to lead the program last year.
The Bruins Blue vs. White spring game will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. at Custer Stadium. Admission is $10, which includes a hot dog, chips, and a drink, or $5 for gate entry without food.
Hennesy took over the program in January, immediately working to assemble his coaching staff. Since then, approximately 70 athletes have consistently participated in the team's morning offseason strength programs to build physical conditioning and learn team expectations.
Hennesy inherits a 3-8 Bruin program that is coming off its fourth consecutive playoff appearance. In fairness to past Bartlesville squads, at least two of those postseason berths would not have occurred under the state's pre-2022 playoff qualification rules.
In March, Hennesy told the Bartlesville Area Sports Report that turning around the Bruins program will take time.
“We’ve got to stick to the process," Hennesy said. "Right now, we’re focusing on doing the little things right.”
Hennesy comes to Bartlesville after a highly successful tenure at Pawhuska, where he guided the Huskies to the Class A quarterfinals or semifinals multiple times over the past eight seasons.
Following Saturday’s Blue vs. White game, the program will host a busy slate of summer events. A high school team camp is scheduled Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon against Tecumseh, John Marshall and Stroud in Bartlesville. On Friday, the annual Bruin Football Golf Tournament will take place at Boots Hollow Golf Club.
The school's Summer Pride conditioning events, which also include Bruin basketball and wrestling athletes, are scheduled to begin June 8. The program is specifically structured across different age groups to maximize physical development and strength training.
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The Bartlesville High School football team has been holding spring practices. The Bruins will host their Blue vs. White game Saturday at 6 p.m. at Custer Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Cody Meade
Bartlesville High School Bruins practice during spring training.
Photo courtesy of Cody Meade
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Below is the Bartlesville High School football summer schedule:
May 30 — SPRING GAME — 6 p.m.
June 1 & 2 — HS TEAM CAMP @ Bartlesville
June 5 — Bruin Football Golf Tournament @ Boots Hollow
June 8–25 / July 6–23 — SUMMER PRIDE
7–9 a.m. — ADVANCED (9th–12th) (M-Tu-W-Th)
7 a.m. — Team Warm-up on Field
7:20 a.m. — Session 1 (Linemen: Weight Room / Skill Positions: Speed Training)
8:10 a.m. — Session 2 (Skill Positions: Weight Room / Linemen: Speed Training)
10–11 a.m. — INTERMEDIATE (6th–8th) (M-Tu-W-Th)
11 a.m.–Noon — BEGINNERS (3rd–5th) (M-Tu-W)
June 9 — Passing League @ Skiatook — 6 p.m.
June 16 — Passing League @ Bartlesville — 6 p.m.
June 19 — Bixby 7v7 Tournament
June 23 — Passing League @ TBD — 6 p.m.
June 26–July 5 — DEAD WEEK (Vacation Time)
July 6, 8, 9 — HS Skills Camp — 6–8 p.m.
July 7 — Passing League @ Bristow — 6 p.m.
July 10 — Bartlesville Truity 7v7 Tournament
July 20, 21, 22 — 1–8 p.m. — Coaches Staff Development
July 23–Aug 2 — R & R (Vacation Time)
Aug. 2 — Senior Cookout
Aug. 3 — Start of Fall Camp
Aug. 3–6 — Senior-Led Workouts
TBA — Youth Coaches’ Clinic
TBA — Lil' Bruin Football Camp (1st–6th Grade)
TBA — Bruin Middle School Football Camp (7th–8th Grade)
August 20 — MEET THE BRUINS NIGHT
August 21 — Patriot Clash of the Classes
August 28 — Skiatook @ Custer Stadium (Youth Night)