- Order Now!!! VYPE Oklahoma Announces the 2020 Pigskin Preview
- VYPE Magazine Announces the Shelter Insurance Mr. & Miss Basketball Oklahoma Award Winners – Bryce Thompson & Aaliyah Moore
- VOTE NOW! Which Moore/Norman Area Slowpitch Softball Player Should We Feature Next? – Presented by Landers Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Norman (Poll Ends 4/24)
- VOTE NOW! Which Moore-Norman Area Golfer/Tennis Player Should We Feature Next? – Presented by Landers Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Norman (Poll Ends 4/20)
- VOTE NOW! Which Moore-Norman Area Boys Soccer Player Should We Feature Next? – Presented by Landers Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Norman (Poll Ends 4/15)
- Feature YOUR Senior in VYPE Today.
- VOTE NOW! Moore-Norman Area Cheerleader of the Year – Presented by Landers Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Norman (Poll ends 4/6)
- Buy the 2020 State Basketball Tournament Program 4A-2A While They Last!!!
- Buy the 2020 State Basketball Tournament Program 5A-6A While They Last!!!
- VOTE NOW! Which Moore/Norman Area Girls Soccer Player Should We Feature Next? – Presented by Landers Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Norman (Poll Ends 3/30)
Norman North's Holden Hopkins – Character Counts Presented by INTEGRIS Norman Express Care
- Updated: March 16, 2018
By John Tranchina
As a senior, Holden Hopkins has eagerly taken on a leadership role for the Norman North baseball team, and in fact, considers it an honor.
“I love it, it’s huge, and it’s passed down every year from senior to senior,” said Hopkins, a left-handed pitcher. “And this year, I took it over.”
Hopkins explained his approach to being a leader.
“I treat it as everyone’s a family. We’re all in this together, it’s not one person that wins the game by himself, it’s everyone together and I have to be supportive and uplift my teammates,” Hopkins said. “A big role for me is just to be like the top guy, make sure no one’s getting on each other, no butting heads or anything like that, making sure everyone’s positive, supporting each other and having a lot of energy in the dugout together.”
Hopkins, who will be attending Seminole State next season, has high hopes for the Timberwolves this season, after they went 28-8 last season, reaching the Class 6A state tournament before falling in the quarterfinals.
“The main goal is to be the first team in Norman North history to go back-to-back-to-back state tournament trips,” he said. “But we aren’t putting that in our mind right now, we’re just going one game at a time, building strong team chemistry and looking forward to having fun out there on the diamond.”
He also has some things he’ll be working on individually.
“For me, it’s just competing with batters, pounding the zone more and being more effective, whether it’s starting games or coming out of the bullpen,” Hopkins said, “and never giving up and fighting and showing how tough I am on the mound.”
Teammate and fellow senior pitcher Jackson McCormick believes Hopkins will have a strong season.
“He’s a big, tall lefty, he gets it into the mid-80s,” McCormick said of Hopkins. “With him, he’s got really good stuff, it’s just about being consistent. Whenever he’s consistent, there’s not a lot of people that can touch him. I’m confident he’s going to have a good year this year, he’s been working hard.”
