TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: TREY OSBORNE (DEWEY)

By Mike Tupa

Oct. 5, 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

TREY OSBORNE (Dewey)

Multiple sports (latter 2000s)

Trey Osborne remains one of the most unique — and gifted — area athletes in the past 30 years and deserves a place on the list of all-time greats.

His senior season (2007-08) at Dewey was unforgettable.

In football, he was forced into the quarterback’s role — due to an injury to the designated starter — and led Dewey to its first winning record in 13 seasons. When basketball rolled around, Dewey suffered a shortage of both experience and height. But Osborne willed the team to success — and to just one win shy of getting back to the state tournament. Only a brutally-controversial call — which fouled him out of the final game — made the difference.

Then during the track season of 2008, Osborne missed out on going to state in the boys 800m run by less than a half-second.

From Dewey, Osborne traveled north to attend Haskell Indians Nations University and play basketball. Listed at 5-foot-9, 166 pounds, Osborne starred for Haskell for multiple seasons, appearing in 90 games, hitting an amazing 42 percent of his three-pointers (156-of-372), averaging 10.5 points and nearly seven rebounds per game, handing out 262 assists, and making 169 steals.

Since college, Osborne has followed a path in education and coaching, imparting his knowledge — and just as importantly passing on his determined spirit, self-discipline, love of life and competition, humility, and work ethic to younger generations.

Sports competition provided a major part of Osborne’s life education from his early years — especially basketball.

When it came time to go to high school, Osborne infused his considerable athletic talents into the Bulldogger sports program.

As a junior (2006-07), Osborne filled the quarterback’s role for the Doggers and performed well.

But Dewey head coach Chris Revard decided to re-align Osborne and his athleticism to a wide receiver role in favor of starting sophomore Clint Strate at quarterback.

A preseason injury sidelined Strate and moved Osborne back under center. It turned out to be a season of destiny. Osborne helped power Dewey to an unbeaten record (3-0) in non-district games. In one of those games, he connected on 26 completions for 265 yards.

In a 36-6 rout of Chelsea, Osborne dialed in on 7-of-13 passing for two touchdowns and rushed for 50 yards.

After Dewey improved to 4-0 it broke into the state rankings (Class 3A) for the first time in 11 seasons. In a thrilling 28-21 win against Locust Grove, Osborne bolted 20 yards for the winning touchdown with 42.5 seconds left.

Through nine games Dewey owned a 6-3 record — guaranteeing the program’s first winning season since 1994. In Game 10, Dewey had a chance to make its first playoff appearance since ’94 if it could knock off a highly-favored Berryhill team.

The slobberknocker shifted back and forth and the score was tied at the end of regulation, 21-21 — thanks to a clutch extra point kick by Osborne. After two overtimes, the teams remained deadlocked, 35-35, including an Osborne touchdown.

In the third overtime, Osborne scored again to put Dewey ahead, 41-35. But Berryhill blocked the extra point and then scored and made the PAT to win, 42-41, and deny Dewey a playoff spot. Osborne also made 11 tackles and intercepted a pass on defense in a full-out effort that game.

In an article at that time in the local newspaper, Revard was quoted as saying about Osborne: “He wants to win all the time. The kids all like him and respect him.”

However, Osborne and the 2007 crew had set the pattern. Two seasons later — with Strate at quarterback — the Doggers would advance to the state semifinal game.

Strate also sparkled his senior season at basketball, a one-man force that helped Dewey — coached by Mark Smith — surprise many observers. 

In a 67-50 win in 2008 against Claremore-Sequoyah Osborne struck out from his point guard spot with charisma and energy to inspire teammates. His three-point play put Dewey ahead by 10 points, early, 18-8.

Osborne also buried a team-high 13 points in a win against rival Nowata, 47-39. 

In a do-or-done showdown against Tulsa McLain — with a state tournament berth on the line — the score was knotted, 65-65. Osborne drove to the paint and stuck in what appeared to be the go-ahead bucket.

However, the official blew his whistle and tagged Osborne for charging — his fifth foul.

Both Osborne and Smith were stunned by the call. McLain proceeded to win, 70-66, in overtime.

Following the season, Osborne was named to the Native American All-State Game, hosted by Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

In the wake of this and other honors he entered Haskell.

Osborne proved to be a winner in the classroom (3.65 grade-point average) as well as on the court and earned a spot on the 2013 NAIA Academic All-America Team — an honor rewarded him with a banner in the school’s fieldhouse.

Donald “Trey” Osborne’s time of glory as an athlete is mostly behind him. But the glow of one of the top — and classiest — competitors from this era continues to shine.

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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