"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Goodrich, Winner of Elite 8 Award

"Angel Goodrich, Sequoyah Schools junior, named the winner of the Elite 8
Award, given out by KTUL-TV in Tulsa."

TAHLEQUAH, OK — Standing out among Oklahoma’s finest basketball players, Angel Goodrich of Sequoyah Schools was recently awarded the Elite 8 Award by KTUL’s News Channel 8 in Tulsa.

“The Cherokee Nation is very proud of the success that Angel has had this year,” said Chad Smith Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “It is determination and hard-work that has helped her to achieve so much. The Cherokee Nation and Sequoyah Schools look forward to watching her game progress in years to come.”

The Elite 8 Award is given out by Oklahoma’s News Channel 8, KTUL-TV in Tulsa. The award recognizes outstanding basketball and leadership skills among Eastern Oklahoma basketball players. Eight boys and eight girls were nominated during the months of January and February and voted on by viewers. The winner’s school is awarded $1,000 dollars from Ford Motor Company. Not surprisingly, Angel did not come up short on votes.

“First of all I didn’t know I was going to win,” said Goodrich. “When they called my name I just kind of stood there. I was really surprised. It was an honor to be chosen because there are a lot of good players in Eastern Oklahoma.”

Goodrich helped to direct the Lady Indians to a third straight class 3A championship, scoring 25 points in the title game over Adair. Angel helped lead the basketball team to a 27-and-0 record, averaging more than 18 points, six rebounds, many assists, several blocks and nearly seven steals per game.

Regardless of her own success, Goodrich credits the victories of the Lady Indians to teamwork.

“Without my teammates, I wouldn’t be where I am now,” said Goodrich. “We accomplish everything as one that is why we are so successful. Basketball is not a one person show, it’s about teamwork. And I love all of the girls to death.”

When asked about her future plans, Goodrich doesn’t look to far ahead and is unsure what the future will hold for her other than another successful basketball season at Sequoyah Schools and college.

“I plan to go to college,” said Goodrich. “I just don’t know where yet. I have a year to think about that. Right now I just want to concentrate on high school, hanging out with my friends and playing ball.”

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans who came out of the Civil War. It has since served as the Sequoyah Orphan Training School and the Sequoyah Vocational School. Now known as Sequoyah Schools, it is named for Sequoyah, the scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. In November 1985, the Cherokee Nation resumed the operation of Sequoyah. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 students every year.

For more information about Sequoyah call 918-453-5400 and/or visit the Sequoyah School web site