TOP AREA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE LAST 30 YEARS: john hamman
By Mike Tupa
Aug. 22, 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
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JOHN HAMMAN (Wesleyan Christian School)
Multi-sports (early 2000s)
John Hamman remains a towering presence in the history of Mustang sports.
In 2012 he hurled the platter 148-feet-even to capture the Oklahoma Class A boys discus championship — the only state gold medal in WCS history.
A year later he would launch the discus even further — 148-1 — but this time it was good for “only” a bronze medal.
Hamman and Mackenzie Hendrix remain the only two-time state medalists.
As an aside, Hamman’s versatility bordered on amazing. In addition to throwing the weights he ran the 200m dash!
Hamman also provided a lot of bulk and muscle to what has been one of the Mustangs’ greatest football seasons (2012).
WCS surged to an 8-4 record, including a first-round playoff win,
Hamman (6-4, 220) made his biggest impact on the line but also provided an excellent receiving alternative for quarterback Brian Deal.
One might call Hamman a tight end. On this night, he was the right end.
During a key battle against district unbeaten and Top 10 foe Deer Creek-Lamont, WCS clung to a 28-20 lead in the fourth quarter. After the Mustangs — who were coached by Nathan England — stopped DC-Lamont on downs,
On a third-and-five play, Hamman caught a 30-yard lob from quarterback Brian Deal and rumbled the final 35 yards to the end zone. The subsequent extra point — off the highly-training toe of Ryan Clendenning —put WCS ahead, 35-20 — and DC-Lamont was done for the night.
WCS won, 42-20.
The Mustangs shocked Southwest Covenant , 27-17,in the opening round of the Class C playoffs before seeing their season end.
Hamman was part of six seniors who guided WCS to its first winning season in OSSAA competition. The others included Deal, Zac Romines, Matt Miller, Evan Rush and Aaron Fratzke.
Hamman would be voted All-District.
Hamman used his considerable skills and athletic assets to make a major difference for the Mustangs during a special era in the school’s sports history.
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This series has included the following athletes, who are 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, Pawhuska
-Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville
-Danielle Koster, Bartlesville
-Carson LaRue, Dewey
-Greta Olsen, Bartlesville
John Hamman