TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: STACY CORNFORTH (BARTLESVILLE)

By Mike Tupa

Nov. 2, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.

This is an ongoing series highlighting each few days one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT

STACY CORNFORTH (Bartlesville)

Multiple sports (early 2000s)

Stacy Cornforth loomed tall in her generation — a member of one of Bartlesville High’s strongest-ever volleyball teams and a track legend.

But unfortunately, many today may not be aware of this outstanding athlete who certainly ranks among the best female athletes to suit up in area high school sports.

She was a two-time girls discus state champion (2002, 2003) — one of only four Bartlesville athletes in the past 43 years to win state gold in an individual event in back-to-back years in the same event.

The other three to have achieved this included Jack Wahl (boys high jump, 2022, 2023), Jeremy Ropp (boys pole vault, 1995, 1996) and Jennifer Fontenot (girls 400m dash, 1994, 1995, 1996). In addition, Rilee Rigdon and Shay Stayton were members of Bartlesville’s girls 4x800m relay team that won gold in consecutive years (2016, 2017).

Cornforth also belonged to the unique group of volleyball warriors labeled by the newspaper sports section as the “Seismic Seven.”

They comprised the 2000 team coached by now Oklahoma Wesleyan University head volleyball coach Tracy Gillette.

Gillette carried just seven players on her varsity roster that season — and they powered all the way to the state tournament.

Cornforth was a sophomore on that hearty and hammerin’ group. Others included Mary Moore, Helen Gross, Heather Hulsey, Hayley Dickerson, Laura Endorf, and Stephanie Goodman.

Cornforth continued to contribute to Bartlesville’s volleyball success through her senior season (2002-03).

During the 2002 campaign, she hammered five kills and made a solo block in a sweep of Ponca City.

The Lady Bruins also swept Norman North, thanks partly to Cornforth going 8-for-9 on serving and contributing three aces and three kills.

She delivered three solo blocks in a win against Enid and earned All-Tournament honors in a Ponca City tourney.

As a junior in 2001, Cornforth unloosed a big performance in a win against Jenks — 15-of-15 serving, three kills and six digs.

In a win against Catoosa she belted five kills.

When spring rolled around each year, Cornforth compiled enough gold medals to create a small hill.

As a sophomore (2000-01) she powered to fifth place at Class 5A state in the girls discus (123-8).

In her appearance as a junior in the 2002 state track meet, she hurled the discus 136-9 — winning by a margin of greater than 15 feet. She also came in fifth in the shot put (37-5.25), less than a foot behind the winner.

Her senior season at state, she two-peated in the girls discus with a distance of 129-1 — more than five feet further than the runner-up.

Cornforth recorded her personal record in the shot put (142-8) in 2002.

A list of her other regular-season championships is long and impressive:

— Catoosa, won the shot put (37-11) and the discus (12-5).

— Tulsa Union, won the shot put (37-8) and the discus (129-9).

— Midwest City, won the discus (134-7.5).

— Owasso, won both the shot put and the discus.

— Claremore, won the shot put (39-2.5) and the discus (126-4).

— Bishop Kelley, won the shot put (38-11) and the discus (122-8).

— Frontier Conference, won the discus (132-1).

— Regional — won the shot put (39-7) and the discus (129-4).

And, as mentioned, she won the discus for two straight years.

With her powerful impact on one of the best-ever Bartlesville High volleyball teams and on the track & field scene, Cornforth has cemented her legacy as one of the best in area prep girls' sports history.

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This series has featured the following athletes, listed in no particular order.

-Jena’ Williams, Bartlesville

-Eric Rolfs, Bartlesville

-Chris Smith, Caney Valley

-Jill Bryan, Copan

-Barron Tanner Jr, Bartlesville

-Hailey Tucker, Bartlesville

-Jeremy Dunkle, Dewey

-Whitney Metcalf, Bartlesville

-Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville

-Danielle Koster, Bartlesville

-Carson LaRue, Dewey

-John Hamman, Wesleyan Christian

-Jamie Elam, Caney Valley

-Sam Mitchell, Bartlesville

-Karissa Jones, Dewey

-Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Paper, Copan

-AJ Parker, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Eden, Caney Valley

-Henry Williams, Bartlesville

-Markell Carter, Bartlesville

-Rebecca Schluter, Wesleyan Christian

-Adam Hibdon, Barnsdall

-Tishuana Hunter, Nowata

-Nate Alleman, Bartlesville

-Jessie Burch, Dewey

-Joey McNair, Caney Valley/Bartlesville

-Michael Thompson, Bartlesville

-Kate Steward, Bartlesville

-Jarrett Rouse, Community

-Amanda Warehime, Bartlesville

-Trey Osborne, Dewey

-Heather Lanphear, Barnsdall

-Erin Epperson, Bartlesville

-Levi Wyrick, Caney Valley (Kan.)

-Spencer Magana, Dewey

-Jackie Jo Chaney, Copan

-Haley Downey, Bartlesville

-Cooper Fogle, Caney Valley

-Amanda Brown, Copan 

-Rachel Smith, Pawhuska

-Casey Cassity, Barnsdall

Casey Cornforth