Upcoming Event: Softball versus Battle Series - 1 on October 3, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Softball
vs Battle Series - 1
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Ricketts Family Has Much to Cheer About
September 17, 2010 | Softball
Sept. 17, 2010
Jeff and Carol Ricketts have spent countless hours traveling to watch all four of their children compete at their respective universities, all of them Division I student-athletes.
Samantha, the oldest, was an All-American softball player at Oklahoma and is in her second year as a graduate assistant with the program. Stephanie, a softball pitcher at Hawaii, was the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. The youngest is Keilani, a sophomore softball standout at Oklahoma who earned second team All-America honors in 2010.
The only brother of the group is Rick, a senior cadet at the Air Force Academy and starting defensive lineman on the football team.
“We are very proud of all of our kids and right now we are living a dream life, just being able to go through the football and softball seasons following them with all their accomplishments,” Carol Ricketts said.
The last time the Ricketts family got together for a family photo was last May when Stephanie was playing in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. Because of hectic schedules and an abundance of training, the family is only together for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
On Saturday, the Ricketts family returns to Oklahoma but not for softball. It's Rick's turn as the Air Force football team comes to Norman for a showdown at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
It's a position the family has been in before – two kids, two opposing schools facing each other. In 2009, the Sooner softball team traveled to Hawaii where Samantha and Stephanie faced each other on the field. For the record, Stephanie struck out Samantha in the one plate appearance they faced each other. Jeff and Carol were there too, decked out in half crimson, half green jerseys.
Last season, Keilani and Stephanie were set to face each other but Mother Nature forced a cancellation of the contest.
When asked if the half-and-half uniforms might make a reappearance in crimson and blue, the answer was simple.
“This weekend the Ricketts clan will all be wearing the Air Force blue and cheering for Rick,” Samantha said. “Of course, Keilani and I want our Sooners to do well, so we're a little torn.”
When it comes down to it – family always comes first. Having attended many football games in her time at OU, Samantha knows what kind of atmosphere the Falcons will face on Saturday.
“It's been really great seeing my siblings all play whether I'm across from them on the field or not,” Samantha added. “I don't get to see Rick play as much as Stephanie or Keilani, but I have made a few trips to Colorado Springs to see him play.
“Having the chance to see him play in Norman and knowing what the gameday atmosphere he is going to face with the great crowd of Sooner fans is really exciting for the entire family.”
And one reason Keilani came to OU was because of the fan base. She's excited about seeing her brother play in Norman.
“It's awesome that my brother gets to play in Norman,” Keilani said. “Football season is so exciting here at OU and to watch my brother play makes it even better.”
And while all four children have received well-deserved honors, one of the proudest moments for Carol is her son's decision to serve his country.
“With Richard being our only son, he has given us so much to be proud of,” she added. “He has the same 'inner fire' and competitive spirit in sports that all our girls have and he's used that same mentality to work very hard at the Academy to succeed. He has committed himself to serving his country after he graduates which really could not make us any more proud than we are.”
It's a sentiment Keilani shares as well.
“I'm extremely proud to be able to tell people that my brother attends the Air Force Academy because of how much the armed forces mean to this country,” she added. “It also says a lot about his character by his decision to be a member of the Air Force.”
 |
|
 Samantha, Carol, Keilani, Rick, Stephanie and Jeff The last time the Ricketts family was together was last May in Oklahoma City when Stephanie's Hawaii softball team was playing in the WCWS. Photos courtesy of the Ricketts family. |
|
Samantha, the oldest, was an All-American softball player at Oklahoma and is in her second year as a graduate assistant with the program. Stephanie, a softball pitcher at Hawaii, was the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. The youngest is Keilani, a sophomore softball standout at Oklahoma who earned second team All-America honors in 2010.
The only brother of the group is Rick, a senior cadet at the Air Force Academy and starting defensive lineman on the football team.
“We are very proud of all of our kids and right now we are living a dream life, just being able to go through the football and softball seasons following them with all their accomplishments,” Carol Ricketts said.
The last time the Ricketts family got together for a family photo was last May when Stephanie was playing in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. Because of hectic schedules and an abundance of training, the family is only together for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
On Saturday, the Ricketts family returns to Oklahoma but not for softball. It's Rick's turn as the Air Force football team comes to Norman for a showdown at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
It's a position the family has been in before – two kids, two opposing schools facing each other. In 2009, the Sooner softball team traveled to Hawaii where Samantha and Stephanie faced each other on the field. For the record, Stephanie struck out Samantha in the one plate appearance they faced each other. Jeff and Carol were there too, decked out in half crimson, half green jerseys.
Last season, Keilani and Stephanie were set to face each other but Mother Nature forced a cancellation of the contest.
When asked if the half-and-half uniforms might make a reappearance in crimson and blue, the answer was simple.
“This weekend the Ricketts clan will all be wearing the Air Force blue and cheering for Rick,” Samantha said. “Of course, Keilani and I want our Sooners to do well, so we're a little torn.”
When it comes down to it – family always comes first. Having attended many football games in her time at OU, Samantha knows what kind of atmosphere the Falcons will face on Saturday.
“It's been really great seeing my siblings all play whether I'm across from them on the field or not,” Samantha added. “I don't get to see Rick play as much as Stephanie or Keilani, but I have made a few trips to Colorado Springs to see him play.
“Having the chance to see him play in Norman and knowing what the gameday atmosphere he is going to face with the great crowd of Sooner fans is really exciting for the entire family.”
And one reason Keilani came to OU was because of the fan base. She's excited about seeing her brother play in Norman.
“It's awesome that my brother gets to play in Norman,” Keilani said. “Football season is so exciting here at OU and to watch my brother play makes it even better.”
And while all four children have received well-deserved honors, one of the proudest moments for Carol is her son's decision to serve his country.
“With Richard being our only son, he has given us so much to be proud of,” she added. “He has the same 'inner fire' and competitive spirit in sports that all our girls have and he's used that same mentality to work very hard at the Academy to succeed. He has committed himself to serving his country after he graduates which really could not make us any more proud than we are.”
It's a sentiment Keilani shares as well.
“I'm extremely proud to be able to tell people that my brother attends the Air Force Academy because of how much the armed forces mean to this country,” she added. “It also says a lot about his character by his decision to be a member of the Air Force.”
Gasso, Landry, Parker, Barker, Dayton, Sanders Postgame vs Texas Tech
Monday, June 02
SB WCWS Highlights: OU 4, Oregon 1
Sunday, June 01
Gasso, Sanders, Emerling, Landry Postgame vs Oregon
Sunday, June 01
Championship Mindset: Season 3, Episode 5 - Together
Sunday, June 01
