TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: JACKIE JO CHANEY (COPAN)

By Mike Tupa

Oct. 19, 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

JACKIE JO CHANEY (Copan) 

Multiple sports (Late 1990s)

Chaney remains one of the most versatile athletes to wear a Lady Hornet uniform.

Whether standing tall on a softball diamond, scrapping in a crowd in the low post in basketball, storming through a track meet or raising dust and seismic ripples during a thundering ride in rodeo, the enchanting blond-haired Chaney made her athletic impact felt.

During her senior year at Copan she cruised to the top spot in the nation in breakaway calf roping during the National High School Rodeo Championships held in Gillette, Wyo. She roped her calf in 2.3 seconds on the second go-round — winning by the impressive margin of one second in an event often decided by tenths or hundredths of a second.

Her rodeo prowess earned her a full-ride scholarship to Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Meanwhile, Chaney left behind a shining legacy at Copan.

During the fall of her senior year, she batted in the high-.400s and excelled in center field or at second base to help Copan win a state title.

When girls basketball rolled around she topped the Lady Hornets in scoring. Highlights included stunning South Coffeyville on its homecourt and nearly knocking off defending state champion Oklahoma Union.

In the spring, Chaney turned in one of the top girls’ long jump showings in the state.

The national rodeo meet actually took place a few weeks after Chaney’s graduation from Copan. As a special honor, she was elected by representatives from all the states to be the national breakaway roping event director — a first for an Oklahoma girl.

In a state rodeo competition, she grabbed the goat-tying championship and came in runner-up in breakaway roping.

Chaney brought the whole package to the Copan girls sports program. She remains one of the area's best all time.

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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

-Willie Rogers, Bartlesville

Jackie Jo Chaney