Connect with us

News

Bixby’s Alyssa Nielsen an Inside Weapon for Lady Spartans – Presented by Ed’s 3 Day Mower

By RON HOLT

At a time when many high school student-athletes specialize in one sport or play a couple of sports, Bixby High’s talented senior Alyssa Nielsen is an exception.

When school starts in August until school ends in the spring, the 6-0 Nielsen is practicing and competing in three Lady Spartan sports programs. She plays third base for the Lady Spartan softball team in the fall, plays forward for the girls’ basketball team in the winter and serves as the goalkeeper for the Lady Spartan soccer team in the spring.

Obviously, Nielsen has limited free time. Her free time is spent reading and spending time with her siblings – Ashley, a sophomore Lady Spartan volleyball player, and brother Jake, a multi-sport eighth grader. It’s a grind but one Nielsen enjoys. 

“I love playing all of them … basketball is my true love but I love helping out in the other sports too,” Nielsen said recently. “Soccer helps me with my jumping since I’m the goal keeper and softball helps me gain more muscle.

“I get stronger in softball, lean in basketball and my lateral movement gets better in soccer. They all help make you a better athlete but the thing I’ve heard from college coaches is that they are anxious to see how I do when I’m concentrating on one sport,” she said. 

Nielsen, the daughter of Geoff and Amy Nielsen, is one of four players who have been in Bixby’s starting lineup since they were freshmen. The others are Gracy Wernli, Gentry Baldwin and Meredith Mayes. This foursome led Bixby to back-to-back Class 6A state championship game appearances. The Lady Spartans fell to Norman in the finals when they were sophomores and suffered a heart-breaking overtime loss to Edmond North on a last second field goal in last season’s state title game.

“Last season was definitely tougher because it was a buzzer beater in overtime which was as heartbreaking as you can get,” Nielsen said. “Our sophomore year we were really just happy to be there but last year it was a goal that we knew we needed to reach … we feel the same way this season.”

Accomplishing the goal this season became more challenging early on when Mayes, the team’s leading rebounder and double figure scorer, was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury which required surgery. Bixby continues adjusting to the loss of its 6-3 standout.

“We had to turn around pretty quick to play after Meredith was hurt. It completely disoriented me on the court because I went from playing a short corner post spot to playing the five,” Nielsen noted. “I’ve done it before but it’s an adjustment for me.  Meredith did such a great job rebounding that a lot of us are having to take up the slack.

“The younger players like Kate (Wernli), Ama (Musick) and Brynn (Daniel), who is an upperclassman, are stepping up big for us … we’re getting more comfortable. Getting back to state is still a goal even though our team will look a little different.”

While Bixby (11-6) features accurate outside shooting from G. Wernli and Baldwin, Nielsen gives the Lady Spartans a weapon inside with her deadly turnaround jumper. She averaged 10.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season while also averaging 55.3 percent shooting from the field.

This year she’s averaging 11.9 points per game while increasing her rebound numbers. She hit 19 points in a rout of Oklahoma City Douglass, 17 points at Sand Springs and 16 points against Booker T. Washington for season highs. She’s steadily improved as a player since the early days.

“As far as basketball goes, Kara Wernli, Gracy’s mom, has been my AAU coach since fourth grade. She developed my game … I tried to model my game after the way she played. She’s been a big role model to me on and off the court,” Nielsen said.

“My parents have also been very supportive. My dad taught me the turnaround jumper in eighth grade. He watched Kobe Bryant do it and he loved it. I’ve worked at it a lot, it’s my mid-range game. My sophomore year is when I started getting confidence with it. It’s kind of my go-to thing.”

Anyone watching the Lady Spartans play in recent seasons recognizes Nielsen’s effectiveness scoring in and around the paint.

“She has the best turnaround jump shot in the state, from that 10 to 12-foot range she’s deadly,” Lady Spartan head coach Tina Thomas noted. “That’s a high percentage shot for us. She has that mid-range game.

“She’s a joy to coach because she works hard and is one of those team-first kids. She enjoys making assists – for a post girl that’s unique – as much as she does knocking down shots. She’s just an outstanding young lady who is hugely involved in community service.”

When the season ends, the fantastic foursome will be separated for the first time since they were elementary students.

“I’ve played with Gentry, Meredith and Gracy since like the summer going into the fourth grade, we’ve been on every AAU team together since that time. I’ve been friends with Gentry since kindergarten, we go back forever … I can’t imagine us not living in the same state,”  Nielsen noted.

“Being on the court without them will be different, they are like my limbs. I’ve gotten so used to playing with them it’ll be interesting to see how it goes without them. We’ve played together so much we know what each other is doing.”

All four will continue playing collegiate basketball in the future. Nielsen signed with Drury University, Baldwin with Oral Roberts University and G. Wernli and Mayes with Abilene Christian University.

“The coach’s vision for the future really impressed me and the school offers diverse career plans which was important to me since I wanted to go to med school after college,” Nielsen said of her reasons for inking with Drury.

“Drury’s game day atmosphere is like nothing I’ve seen, it’s a really cool atmosphere. It’s really an incredible place.”

While being excited about the future, extending this season to the final game remains the goal of Nielsen and her Lady Spartan teammates.

 0 

More in News

Upcoming Events

March 30, 2023 12:00 am
VS Broken Arrow Festival
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
March 30, 2023 12:00 am
VS Owasso Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
March 30, 2023 1:30 pm
VS Deer Creek
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
March 30, 2023 4:30 pm
VS Bartlesville- JV Blue
@ Bartlesville High School
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
March 30, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
@ Bartlesville
March 30, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
@Bartlesville High School
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
March 30, 2023 8:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
@ Bartlesville High School
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
March 31, 2023 12:00 am
VS Owasso Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
March 31, 2023 12:00 am
VS Broken Arrow Festival
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
March 31, 2023 8:00 am
VS Bixby Invitational
@ Bixby
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
March 31, 2023 4:30 pm
VS Bishop Kelley- JV Blue
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
March 31, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Bishop Kelley
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 1, 2023 12:00 am
VS Owasso Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 1, 2023 12:00 am
VS Broken Arrow Festival
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 1, 2023 8:00 am
VS Bixby Invitational
@ Bixby
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 3, 2023 8:30 am
VS Meadowbrook
@ Meadowbrook Country Club
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 3, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 3, 2023 5:30 pm
VS Owasso
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
April 3, 2023 6:30 pm
VS Union
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 3, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Union
Home
Baseball - JV White
April 3, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Owasso
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
April 4, 2023 8:00 am
VS La Fortune Golf Course
LaFortune Park Golf Course
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 4, 2023 3:30 pm
VS Booker T Washington
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
April 4, 2023 3:30 pm
VS BTW- JV Blue
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 4, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Union
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 4, 2023 6:00 pm
VS BTW
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 4, 2023 6:30 pm
VS Union
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 4, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Union
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 4, 2023 8:00 pm
VS BTW
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 6, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Sapulpa
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 6, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Union Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 7, 2023 4:30 pm
VS Owasso
@ Owasso
April 7, 2023 4:30 pm
VS Owasso - JV Red
@ Owasso High School
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 7, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Broken Arrow
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 7, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Owasso
@ Owasso High School
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 7, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Owasso
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 7, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Union Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 7, 2023 8:00 pm
VS Owasso
@ Owasso High School
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 8, 2023 12:00 am
VS State Tournament
@ Bailey Ranch Golf Clube (Owasso)
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 8, 2023 8:00 am
VS Union Team tournament
@ Union
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 8, 2023 8:00 am
VS Union Team Tournament
@ Union
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 8, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Union Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 10, 2023 4:30 pm
VS Broken Arrow
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 10, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Enid
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 10, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Enid
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 11, 2023 8:00 am
VS Spartan Classic
@ Bixby
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 11, 2023 3:00 pm
VS Ponca City- JV Blue
@ Ponca City High School
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 11, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Ponca City
@ Ponca City
April 11, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Enid
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 11, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Enid
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 11, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Ponca City
@ Ponca City High School
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 11, 2023 7:30 pm
VS Broken Arrow
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 11, 2023 8:00 pm
VS Ponca City
@ Ponca City High School
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 12, 2023 8:00 am
VS Spartan Classic
@ Bixby
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 13, 2023 12:00 am
VS Coweta Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 13, 2023 12:00 am
VS Spartan/Tiger Turf War
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 13, 2023 12:00 am
VS Jenks Festival
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 14, 2023 12:00 am
VS Coweta Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 14, 2023 12:00 am
VS Jenks Festival
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 14, 2023 12:00 am
VS Spartan/Tiger Turf War
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 14, 2023 8:00 am
VS Broken Arrow Tournament
@ BA
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 14, 2023 3:30 pm
VS Broken Arrow-JV Blue/JV Red
@ Broken Arrow High School
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 14, 2023 3:30 pm
VS Broken Arrow
@ Broken Arrow
April 14, 2023 4:30 pm
VS Broken Arrow
@ Broken Arrow
April 14, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Broken Arrow
@ Broken Arrow High School
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 14, 2023 8:00 pm
VS Broken Arrow
@ Broken Arrow High School
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 15, 2023 12:00 am
VS Spartan/Tiger Turf War
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 15, 2023 12:00 am
VS Coweta Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 15, 2023 12:00 am
VS Jenks Festival
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 15, 2023 8:00 am
VS Broken Arrow Tournament
@ BA
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 15, 2023 8:30 am
VS Bailey Ranch
@ Bailey Ranch Golf Club (Owasso)
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 17, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Stillwater
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 17, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Stillwater
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 17, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Stillwater
Home
Baseball - JV White
April 18, 2023 8:00 am
VS Edmond North Tournament
@ Edmond
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 18, 2023 8:30 am
VS Conference Tournament at Indian
Indian Springs Country Club (Broken Arrow)
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 18, 2023 4:00 pm
VS Muskogee-JV Blue
@ Muskogee High School
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 18, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Muskogee
@Muskogee
April 18, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Stillwater
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 18, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Muskogee
@ Muskogee High School
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 18, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Stillwater
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 18, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Stillwater
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 18, 2023 8:00 pm
VS Muskogee
@ Muskogee High School
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 19, 2023 8:00 am
VS Edmond North Tournament
@ Edmond
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 20, 2023 12:00 am
VS Broken Arrow
@ Broken Arrow
April 21, 2023 3:30 pm
VS Tahlequah
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
April 21, 2023 3:30 pm
VS Tahlequah-JV Blue
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Girls Soccer JV1 - Soccer (Girls)
April 21, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Sand Springs
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 21, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Sand Springs
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 21, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Tahlequah(Senior Night)
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
April 21, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Collinsville
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 21, 2023 8:00 pm
VS Tahlequah (Senior Night)
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Boys Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Boys)
April 22, 2023 8:00 am
VS Ponca City Tournament
@ Ponca City
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 22, 2023 8:00 am
VS Ponca City Tournament
@ Ponca City
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 22, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Collinsville
Home
Baseball - JV White
April 24, 2023 8:00 am
VS Tournament
@ Adams Golf Club (Bartlesville)
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
April 24, 2023 8:00 am
VS Union Tournament
@ Tulsa
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 24, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Home
Baseball - JV Blue
April 24, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 24, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Home
Baseball - JV White
April 25, 2023 8:00 am
VS Union Tournament
@ Tulsa
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 25, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 25, 2023 6:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 25, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Bartlesville
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 26, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Bishop Kelley
Away
Baseball - JV Blue
April 27, 2023 4:15 pm
VS Claremore Dual
@ Claremore
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
April 27, 2023 4:15 pm
VS Claremore Dual
@ Claremore
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
April 27, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Cascia Hall
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 27, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Broken Arrow
Home
Baseball - JV White
April 28, 2023 12:00 am
VS Claremore Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
April 28, 2023 7:00 pm
VS Bishop Kelley
Away
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
April 29, 2023 12:00 am
VS Claremore Festival
Away
Baseball - JV White
May 1, 2023 8:00 am
VS Regional Tournament
TBD
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
May 1, 2023 9:00 am
VS Regionals TBD
@ Broken Arrow Golf & Athletic Club
Boys Golf Varsity - Golf (Boys)
May 1, 2023 5:00 pm
VS Berryhill
Home
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 2, 2023 12:00 am
VS 1st Round of Playoffs
@ Bixby Soccer/Track Complex
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
May 5, 2023 12:00 am
VS State Tournament
@ OKC
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
May 5, 2023 12:00 am
VS Quarterfinals
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
May 6, 2023 12:00 am
VS State Tournament
@ OKC
Tennis (Girls) - Tennis Varsity (Girls)
May 7, 2023 12:00 am
VS OSSAA Regional Tournament
TBA
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 8, 2023 12:00 am
VS OSSAA Regional Tournament
TBA
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 8, 2023 8:00 am
VS Regional Tournament
TBD
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
May 9, 2023 12:00 am
VS OSSAA Regional Tournament
TBA
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 9, 2023 12:00 am
VS Semi-Finals
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
May 12, 2023 12:00 am
VS State Tournament
TBD
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
May 12, 2023 12:00 am
VS State Finals
Girls Soccer Varsity - Soccer (Girls)
May 13, 2023 12:00 am
VS State Tournament
TBD
Tennis (Boys) - Tennis Varsity (Boys)
May 14, 2023 12:00 am
VS OSSAA State Tournament
TBA
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 15, 2023 12:00 am
VS OSSAA State Tournament
TBA
Baseball - Baseball Varsity
May 16, 2023 12:00 am
VS OSSAA State Tournament
TBA
Baseball - Baseball Varsity