Oklahoma Schools Upset Over Enid Travel Requirements

Tahlequah coach criticizes state athletic association's decision

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Schools in Oklahoma's 5A East region have been jolted by new travel requirements that force them to travel to Enid, a significant distance from many of the schools. Tahlequah High School's head coach Matt Cloud criticized the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) for the decision, saying it takes the schools "one step forward and three steps back."

Why it matters

The new travel requirements have caused significant disruption and frustration for the affected schools, who must now spend more time and resources on transportation to games. This raises concerns about the fairness and practicality of the OSSAA's decision, especially for smaller schools with limited budgets.

The details

The 5A East region schools are now required to travel to Enid, which is a significant distance from many of the participating schools. This has created logistical challenges and added costs for transportation, taking away resources that could be better used for other school programs and activities.

  • The new travel requirements were announced in early 2026.

The players

Matt Cloud

The head coach of Tahlequah High School, who criticized the OSSAA's decision.

Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA)

The state organization that oversees high school sports and activities in Oklahoma and made the decision to require 5A East schools to travel to Enid.

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What they’re saying

“You take one step forward and three steps back every time you do something stupid like this.”

— Matt Cloud, Head Coach, Tahlequah High School (Tulsa World)

What’s next

The OSSAA has not indicated if it plans to reconsider the travel requirements for the 5A East schools.

The takeaway

The new travel requirements imposed by the OSSAA have caused significant disruption and frustration for the affected 5A East schools, raising concerns about the fairness and practicality of the decision, especially for smaller schools with limited budgets.