TOP ATHLETES OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: MICHAEL THOMPSON (BARTLESVILLE)

By Mike Tupa

Sept. 24, 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

MICHAEL THOMPSON (Bartlesville)

Multiple sports (Late 2000s)

For Bruin fans of that era it will always be known as The Hit.

It took place in the 2009 Class 6A playoff showdown between the heavily underdog Bruins and the mighty Owasso Rams — on Owasso’s homefield.

Bartlesville seemed to have about as much chance as a rubber ax cutting down a Christmas tree.

But Santa threw his weight on the Bruins’ side.

He had already bestowed plenty of gifts on coach Ron Smith’s Bartlesville squad — a third-year starting quarterback (Kirby Schoenthaler), an incredible receiving corps (Garrett Powell, Trevor Moll and Michael Thompson), two harrassing defensive ends off the corners (Devin Randall, Mitch Tate), two battering ram interior linemen (Justin Butterfield, Colby Mitchell), warrior linebacker in the mode of Dick Butkus (Mick Miller), powerful loads at running back (Chandler Bennett, Jack Wiseman) and many, many others.

And then there was No. 7 — measuring out at 6-foot-1-plus and built like chiseled iron.

On a national level, cognizant sports fans might identify that number with a handful of superstars, including John Elway, Carmelo Anthony and the powerful Mickey Mantle.

For Bartlesville, Michael Thompson donned that magic digit during his years with the football team.

Thompson and Mantle shared one important thing in common — they both could deliver crushing blows.

Mantle used a baseball bat.

Thompson used a more basic weapon — his body. He could turn himself into a 180-pound thunderbolt that flattened opponents.

Despite playing only two-thirds of a healthy season in 2009, he hauled in 54 passes for 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns.

During an interview several years ago, Kirby Schoenthaler, the quarterback of the 2009 team, spoke about how whenever he threw up a prayer that Thompson would catch it 9-out-of-10 times.

Against Owasso, Thompson made a diving, stretching fingertip grab that was frozen in Scholenthaler’s memory.

Now we come to The Hit.

Remember how Bartlesville was the big underdog against Owasso in the opening round of the 2009 playoffs?

The showdown also included another twist — Bruin head coach Ron Smith had been the Owasso head coach up until 2006 and helped build the Rams into a state-quality power.

Owasso looked strong after the opening whistle. But the game changed in one instant when Thompson delivered a literally bone-jarring hit on the Owasso quarterback, knocking him out of the game.

Only those who witnessed it can understand the savage power and toughness of Thompson’s completely clean blast. It was as if the quarterback ran square into a brick wall.

It has to rank as one of the top 10 legal hits in Bruin football history — if not the most significant.

Bartlesville went on to win, 14-7 — its first playoff win in 21 years.

Thompson then apparently struggled with the direction his college future should take. After turning down a NCAA-II scholarship offer, Thompson chose the junior college route by attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla.

In 2012 he would average 20.3 yards per catch (26-528) and catch eight touchdowns.

But he also played like a superstar as a kick returner — 11 returns, 348 yards (31.6 average) and two touchdowns. In fact he would be named as the National Junior College Athletic Association National Special Teams Player of the Work.

Thompson appeared primed to make the leap to a quality four-year program.

But, for some reason, that never worked out for him.

Tragically, Thompson died on March 6, 2016 in Bartlesville. He was only 24 years old.

Although not born in Bartlesville, Thompson — known for his broad smile and shy charisma — had known the community as home, attending Jane Phillips, Kane Elementary, Central Middle School and Bartlesville High.

His premature death shocked and saddened the community — especially because of all the potential he possessed as an intelligent individual, family-first outlook and athlete.

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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

Michael Thompson