TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 3O YEARS: AARON HUNT (COPAN)
By Mike Tupa
Nov. 21, 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
AARON HUNT (Copan)
Boys basketball/Boys track (later 2010s)
Hunt followed in his sister’s sky trails — so to speak — as a championship pole vaulter at state.
Just as his sis Allison had done, Hunt won the pole vault in back-to-back seasons (12-6 in 2018 and 14-0 in 2019).
He also placed fourth in state as a sophomore (2017, 12-0).
Hunt followed in his sister’s trail and pole vaulted for Emporia State.
During his sophomore season (2020-21), he launched himself 14-feet-1.25 inches for his career best.
His freshman outdoor season (2020) was nixed due to the COVID state-wide lockdown, but during the indoor campaign he had cleared the bar at 14-0.5.
His senior season (2023-24) he soared 15.425 to finish third at the Midwest Classic and even higher (15-6.25) at the 2024 MIAA Outdoor Championships, good for 11th place.
Hunt climbed to a career-best 15-7.75 at the 2024 Rock Chalk Outdoor Invitational, the third-highest in Emporia pole vault history.
That would be his final career record. His best indoor effort topped 15-1.
Hunt also starred in boys basketball for Copan, being referred to in a preview for 2018-19 season by head coach Kevin Foreman as one of the team’s staples.
In the early season Copan Classic tournament, Hunt earned a coveted spot on the All-Tourney Team. Hunt scored 11 points in the consolation game and set up several other buckets with his passing in a loss to South Coffeyville.
Hunt scored 30 or more points in multiple outings in November and December 2018.
Whether surging up and down a basketball court or blasting off for the sky in the pole vault Hunt remains one of the dynamic area athletes for the past quarter century.
______
Aaron Hunt
______
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
-Jackie Jo Chaney, Copan
-Haley Downey, Bartlesville
-Cooper Fogle, Caney Valley
-Amanda Brown, Copan
-Rachel Smith, Pawhuska
-Casey Cassity, Barnsdall
-Stacy Cornforth, Bartlesvill
-Gabby Higbee, Dewey
-Kirby Schoenthaler, Bartlesville
-Tyler Kay, Barnsdall
-Colton Penrod, Bartlesville
-Erin Herchock, Dewey
-Lindsey Collins, Caney Valley
-Nathan Hughes, Bartlesville