Hale, Ward-Clark named 2026 Maroon Spirit, Miss BHS

Blackwell High School has officially announced its 2026 Maroon Spirit and Miss BHS, along with this year’s runners-up, ahead of Homecoming festivities set for Friday, Oct. 9.

Grant Hale has been named the 2026 Maroon Spirit, while Tynlee Ward-Clark has been selected as Miss BHS. Madden Edgar and Andrew Scott Young were named Maroon Spirit runners-up, with Kaelyn Cordell and Sofia Vargas selected as runners-up for Miss BHS.

The students will be honored during Blackwell’s Homecoming celebrations next month.

Hale, a lifelong Blackwell student, is the son of Heath and Kelle Hale and the grandson of the late Bob Noblet and Roleta Noblet, as well as the late Carl Johnston and Nelda Johnston.

During his time at BHS, Hale has participated in band for four years and has also been involved with the BancFirst Board, football, Student Council, TSA and GATS. His academic achievements include membership in the National Honor Society and State Honor Society, as well as recognition on the Superintendent’s and Principal’s honor rolls.

Hale was also a State Solo and Ensemble finalist through the BHS band program.

He attends First Baptist Church and plans to attend Oklahoma State University, where he intends to major in mechanical engineering.

Ward-Clark, the 2026 Miss BHS, is the daughter of Stacee Ward and Casey Clark and the granddaughter of Jean and Bill Ward. She has also attended Blackwell schools throughout her education.

Ward-Clark has been involved in band for four years, cheer for three years, Pep Club for four years and Student Council for four years. She also participated in Girls State and is a member of the National Honor Society and Superintendent’s Honor Roll.

Her academic accomplishments include second-place finishes at the Northern Oklahoma College Interscholastic competition in both English I and English II.

Music has also played a major role in Ward-Clark’s high school career. She participated in the Red Carpet Honor Band for three years and earned superior ratings at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest for French horn solo performances in two consecutive years.

Ward-Clark previously served as a junior attendant for Football Royalty and sophomore attendant for Wrestling Royalty. She currently serves as senior class president through Student Council.

Outside of school, Ward-Clark volunteers in the nursery at Nardin Methodist Church. Following graduation, she plans to attend the University of Oklahoma and Northern Oklahoma College as she pursues a career in nuclear medicine.

Joining Ward-Clark as Miss BHS runners-up are Kaelyn Cordell and Sofia Vargas.

Cordell is the daughter of Annie Howell, Clarence Cordell and Sydney Cordell and the granddaughter of Vicki and Mark Cordell, Vicky and David Ingram, and Susan and Jim Hollinger. A lifelong Blackwell student, she participated in cheer for one year, Pep Club for four years, Student Council for three years and GATS.

Cordell has also served as a football and baseball manager for four years and wrestling manager for three years. Her academic honors include membership in the National Honor Society and State Honor Society and recognition on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll.

She previously represented her class as a sophomore attendant for Football Royalty and junior attendant for Wrestling Royalty.

Cordell plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in animal science.

Vargas is the daughter of Grace and Jose Vargas and the granddaughter of Abel Bojorquez and Carolina Delgado, and Maria Castro. She has attended Blackwell schools throughout her life.

During high school, Vargas participated in cheer for four years and Pep Club for three years. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and State Honor Society and served as a Wrestling Royalty attendant during her junior year.

Following graduation, Vargas plans to attend Northern Oklahoma College before transferring to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a career in radiology.

Madden Edgar and Andrew Scott Young were selected as runners-up for Maroon Spirit.

Edgar is the son of E.J. and April Edgar and the grandson of Bob and Nancy Edgar, Jerry and Diane Little, and Jim and Regina Jackson. He has attended Blackwell schools throughout his education.

Edgar has competed in wrestling for four years and golf for one year and participated in agriculture for one year. He previously served as both a sophomore and junior Wrestling Royalty escort.

Academically, Edgar has maintained a cumulative 4.0 high school GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society and Superintendent’s Honor Roll.

His wrestling career has included membership on Blackwell’s 2025 and 2026 Dual State and Individual State Championship teams. Edgar was named to the 2025 Oklahoma High School All-American Wrestling Team and is a three-time state placer and two-time state champion.

He was also selected by the Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2025 Oklahoma High School Wrestling Tournament and is a three-time recipient of the Rock Award for never missing a wrestling practice.

Outside athletics, Edgar was selected for the 2026 Oklahoma Student Leadership Award and served as a student page at the Oklahoma State Capitol. He is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church and its youth group.

Young is the son of Annilyn Hetrick and Matt Young and the grandson of the late Jeanne Young, Larry Young, Janet Morrill, Deborah and David Morton, and Grady and Sue Hetrick. He has attended Blackwell schools his entire life.

Young participated in agriculture for four years, baseball for two years, Student Council for one year and wrestling for four years. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has been recognized on both the Superintendent’s and Principal’s honor rolls.

On the wrestling mat, Young is a three-time state qualifier in individual competition. He was a member of Blackwell’s 2024 Class 3A Dual State and State runner-up team and the 2025 and 2026 Class 3A Dual State and State championship teams.

Young also served as a Wrestling Royalty escort during his junior year. He attends Immanuel Baptist Church and has not yet decided on his plans following graduation.

Hale, Ward-Clark and the four runners-up will be recognized as part of Blackwell High School’s 2026 Homecoming festivities on Friday, Oct. 9.