TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: ERIN EPPERSON (BARTLESVILLE)

By Mike Tupa

Oct. 10, 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

ERIN EPPERSON (Bartlesville)

Multiple sports: mid-2010s

Erin Epperson surged through her high school years like a storm of success — highlighted by her thunderous showing in the 2016 Class 6A girls state tournament.

Epperson ripped through all her opposition to win the state girls NO. 1 singles championship and have her name etched in gold on the empyrean backdrop of Lady Bruin athletic achievements.

But that’s only part of a wonderful story.

In the fall of 2016, Epperson switched gears to the girls cross country team and won state again in a second sport!

Holy versatility, Batman!

She went on to star in tennis for Creighton University, becoming one of the program’s Top 25 leaders in career wins.

From the moment Epperson stepped on the tennis court for Bartlesville she displayed a winning style. She quickly ascended to the elite level among Class 6A No. 1 singles players. As a freshman (2014) and a sophomore (2015), Epperson powered to fifth and second place, respectively, at state.

She put it all together her junior season. In the spring of 2016, Epperson did a 1972 Miami Dolphins — she blazed to a perfect record (25-0) through the regular season and the state tournament.  She outlasted an Edmond North opponent in the state final.

Going into her senior year (2016-17) Epperson decided to return to cross country, which she had run earlier in her school career. At the 2016 Class 6A state girls finals, she blitzed to 14th place overall (20:03.9) and fourth place among the Lady Bruins, who brought home the state title.

In the spring of 2017, Epperson made a valiant effort to successfully defend her state singles title. She thundered to a 30-2 record for the season, but lost in the final, 4-6, 2-6, to finish as state runner-up.

Epperson’s next athletic challenge came at Creighton, where she made her mark on the court.

Epperson brought enough competitive energy, focus and toughness pound-for-pound to forever be rated as one of the best and unique athletes in area 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