Dust Off Your School Spirit and Your Oars: It’s River Bowl Classic Time in OKC

It’s August, so the main topic of discussion in my family right now is football season: When it starts, what games we want to see, how recruiting has been shaping up, and whether or not the Sooners can make a real showing in their final year in the Big XII. In this, we aren’t that different from a lot of households around the state; even now, I can hear in my soul the grinding of Stillwater teeth as they think of Norman; the nails down the chair of Sulphur fans as they contemplate their upcoming match against Davis; or the signs and wonders in the heavens that portend the MidFirst Bank Backyard Bowl, that annual clash of the titans that are Tulsa Union and Jenks.

But by far, one of the state’s most famous—and fun—high school football rivalries is Oklahoma City’s Soul Bowl, which pits Millwood and Frederick A. Douglass high schools in a clash of not only football but bands, fans, and outright school spirit. Milwood is hosting that match this year at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 9. The publication date of this article is August 9, and if that feels like an eternity—and doesn’t August always feel like an eternity?—have I got news for you: You can preview all the spirited fun of the Soul Bowl from 6 to 9 p.m. this Saturday, August 12 at Oklahoma City Riversport not far from downtown. Folks, it’s time for the second-annual River Bowl Classic.

Riversport, as you know, is home to an enormity of aquatic adventures not to be missed, but this Saturday night, it’ll be a friendly battleground. Hosted by the Oklahoma City Black Alumni Coalition, the River Bowl Classic brings together Black alumni of all ages from seven Oklahoma City high schools—Millwood, Douglass, John Marshall, Northeast (NEA), Star Spencer, Southeast, and Northwest Classen—for a day of rowing fun with kayaking and dragon boat racing events all day. The event began last year, when founder Shawntay Alexander worked with Riversport to create an event for Oklahoma City’s Black community.

“Our vision has always been to bring all sectors of the community together at the Oklahoma River with rowing as a catalyst for building unity,” Alexander said of the event. “As we gear up for the Second Annual River Bowl Classic, we are excited to sitness even more enthusiasm and support from our community.”

The River Bowl Classic was inspired by the Soul Bowl, and last year’s event drew more than two hundred Oklahoma City schools alumni and their families. That event featured four dragon boat teams and three rowing teams, each practicing for eight weeks leading up to their races. This year’s event is free and open to the public, and there will be many opportunities for newbies to learn all about kayaking, rowing, and dragon boat racing should they decide, after seeing all the excitement on the water, to get started for themselves.

Written By

Nathan Gunter

A sixth-generation Oklahoman, Weatherford native, and Westmoore High School graduate, Nathan Gunter is the magazine's editor-in-chief. When he's not editor-in-chiefing, Nate enjoys live music, running, working out, gaming, cooking, and random road trips with no particular destination in mind. He holds degrees from Wake Forest University and the University of Oklahoma. He learned how to perform poetry from Maya Angelou; how to appreciate Italian art from Terisio Pignatti; comedy writing from Doug Marlette; how to make coconut cream pie from his great-grandma; and how not to approach farm dogs from trial and error. A seminary dropout, he lives just off Route 66 in Oklahoma City.