JenksHigh School girls basketball star player, Jessica Washington was being recruited by OSU's coach Kurt Budke and his assistant coach Miranda Serna. When Jessica heard the two coaches were killed in a plane crash Thursday afternoon she didn't want to believe it. They were flying with pilot Olin Branstetter and his wife Paula Branstetter. Mr. Branstetter was an Oklahoma state senator from 1987-1991. He and his wife were also killed. The small plane, a 1964 Cherokee Piper PA-28, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, crashed in Perry County, AK. It was found 45 miles west of Little Rock.
Washington missed school Friday. She said was unable to face the day. She is a junior on the Lady Trojans and plays point guard. Coach Budke approached her about a full ride scholarship when she was in eighth grade and attending his basketball camp at OSU. He was the first recruiter to talk to her about a scholarship.
“I know you can't be negative to a recruit but they were so real, like the things they would say, it wasn't fake,” says Washington.
Washington’s dad, Travis Washington, was also close to the coaches. He has spent time talking with both of them and getting to know them on a personal level. He said it takes talent to see talent.
“That just showed me they really cared about her. Not just all of a sudden on a national scene as these other schools are starting to talk to her. They genuinely cared about her as a person.”
He spoke volumes about the coaches' positive attitudes about the game and about life.
“The mark they left on us was always being positive, and always being sincere in what they said; always their word was true.”
His daughter, Jessica will miss their constant encouragement the most. She received letters from Coach Budke, in them he would say things like, "You're a star and I mean it." About assistant coach Serna, Jessica said, "She would say she knew I was going to be a great player."
Jessica can't imagine how hard the rest of the season will be for his players.
“He is still going to be coaching his girls from up there and I mean they will still feel him inside.”
She hasn’t decided where she will attend college yet. Jessica and her dad want to take their time to make such a big decision.
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