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Sequoyah football award winners. Front row, from left to right, Justin Gann and Derrick Stanley. Middle row Solomon Horsechief, Chad Stevens, Kaleb Harris and Jonas Tehee. Back row A. D. Archie, Chip McLemore, John Bird and Bud Ballou.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Soloman Horsechief, of Muskogee, is the first student from Sequoyah High School (SHS) to earn the title of an All-State athlete in football, but several other award winners also joined him on this year’s winning team.

"I feel very honored," Horsechief said of his All-State title. "I want to thank everybody on my team and my family for helping me."

Horsechief also earned the honors of district wide receiver of the year, Muskogee Phoenix receiver of the year, and a member of the Daily Oklahoman All-Star team.

"I don’t keep up with all of that stuff, I just play," Horsechief said.

Horsechief is a five-sport athlete at SHS competing in football, baseball, basketball, track and cross-country. While he excels in each of them, his passion lies on the hardwood and he hopes to obtain a scholarship to play basketball.

"I want to go to North Carolina and major in physical education," Horsechief said while tossing a basketball into the air.

Horsechief, and fellow teammates Chad Stevens and Kaleb Harris, all earned spots on the Class 2A All-Star team. The All-Star team was chosen by football coaches that had seen the trio play throughout the year.

"These young men were a big reason for the team’s success in football," said Larry Grigg, SHS athletic director. "They’re the reason they (the team) made it to the state quarterfinals."

Stevens, of Muskogee, was also chosen as the district most valuable player and the Muskogee Phoenix’s most valuable player. He also plays baseball and is the statistician for the boys’ basketball team.

Harris, of Verdigris, is the district offensive player of the year, and a member of the Daily Oklahoman All-Star team. He is also on the SHS wrestling and golf teams and coaches his little brother’s football team in his spare time.

Other members of the SHS football team who earned honors this year were newcomer of the year-Jonas Teehee, all-district players- Bud Ballou, Justin Gann, John Bird, Chip McLemore, Lance Nells, Derrick Stanley, and A.D. Archie. Honorable Mention All-District players- J.J. Samples, Mychal Scott, Triston Barnett, Chris Smith, Lonnie Turner, and Nate Cline.

The SHS football team ended their season in the state quarterfinals with 11 wins and 2 losses.

"This was the best year we’ve had since the 50s," said Jeff Turtle, assistant football coach. "This is a good group of young men. They are very athletic individuals."

"They’re an outstanding group of kids," said Gina Stanley, SHS principal. "We’re proud of them. Their athletic ability and intelligence combined is what makes them so special."

Sequoyah High School "Home of the Indians!" P.O. Box 520, Tahlequah, OK 74465             Sequoyah High School Alumni P.O. Box 187, Park Hill, OK 74451-0187 Sequoyah High School, an Indian boarding school, originated in 1871, when the Cherokee National Council passed an act setting up an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans that came out of the Civil War. Sequoyah High School's approximate 300 enrollment represents 42 tribes and 14 different states. Students are eligible to attend if they are members of federally recognized Indian tribes or one-fourth blood descendants of such members.