TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: TISHAUNA HUNTER (NOWATA)

By Mike Tupa

Sept. 14, 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

TISHAUNA HUNTER (Nowata)

Multiple sports (late 1990s)

Hunter created a major imprint on two area schools — as a star in softball and girls basketball at Nowata and as a women’s basketball All-American for Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

For the Lady Ironmen team, her senior season she sizzled at the plate with a .481 batting average — including four doubles — in a rare double-digit win season back then for Nowata.

She also stole 14 bases, recorded 16 RBI, and scored 11 times.

During the Nowata basketball action, Hunter also rose to the occasion.

In January 1998, she scored 18 points — despite fouling out with three minutes left — in a competitive loss to Kellyville.

Her free throw shooting made the difference in a 55-43 victory against Copan. Hunter nailed 10-of-10 free throws in the second half, hit 13-of-16 for the game and scored 20 points. She scored nine points in the fourth quarter.

Hunter started her college studies elsewhere but eventually ended up at Oklahoma Wesleyan.

As a junior, she buried 13 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in a 112-58 triumph against Newman.

Well into that season (2001-02) Hunter led the Lady Eagles in scoring (15.1 ppg) and rebounds (9.8 rpg). 

At the end of the season, Hunter would earn a spot on the NCCAA Women’s Basketball Division I All-American First Team.

Hunter remains one of the top female athletes in Nowata athletic lore and in area 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, 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

Tishauna Hunter