(NOTE: This is a new column on West Metro Sports. Unlike most of the articles you find on this site, there will be some opinion mixed in. With this column taking the “West Metro Weekly” name, the weekly schedule is now called “West Metro Schedule.” – Joel)

The Putnam City schools play each other each year, usually in a non-district setting in most sports.

The players know each other. In today’s high school sports climate, some players have played for their opponent at one point in their high school career.

I think we need a “Putnam City Cup” or something like that for the PC district champions.

Pedlam? Nope, that’s not going to work. Edmond has that locked down.

You might notice that I include district standings when PC schools play each other. I’m trying to do my part nurture these rivalries.

First, here’s softball from the fall.

SCHOOL	PC DISTRICT RECORD
Putnam City North	1-0
Putnam City	1-1
Putnam City West	0-1

In football, Original takes the crown.

SCHOOL	PC DISTRICT RECORD
Putnam City	2-0
Putnam City North	1-1
Putnam City West	0-2

North has boys basketball bragging rights.

SCHOOL	PC DISTRICT RECORD
Putnam City North	2-0
Putnam City	1-1
Putnam City West	0-2

North also won the girls hoops crown.

SCHOOL	PC DISTRICT RECORD
Putnam City North	2-0
Putnam City	1-1
Putnam City West	0-2

Each school’s finish during the season could be points. In other sports where there are not head-to-head team matchups, you could find a way to calculate points based on individual finishes. I’m not a math teacher, my parents were, but I’m sure someone could figure it out.

It could be similar to the Learfield/NACDA Director’s Cup in college sports.

There’s nothing wrong with sparking healthy rivalries within the district.

PIRATES’ OLD/NEW GYM

Depending on your age, the east gym at Putnam City is the “old” gym or the “new” gym.

The current gym at PC was renovated in 2019. It was the original (no pun intended) gym when the current high school was built in 1958.

Years later, the east gym was built. It was the “new” gym and now it’s the “old” gym.

The Pirates and Lady Pirates have started the season in the east gym and that’s fine with Putnam City coach Brandon Jackson, a Putnam City alum.

“I love this gym. Obviously, I played in it,” Jackson said after the Pirates’ fell to North last Thursday (Dec. 5). “It means a lot to me. So, it was great to be back in here with the energy and the crowd that we had.”

With the rivalry game between sister schools, the east gym’s bigger seating capacity was a plus.

The court in the east gym is named after legendary Putnam City coach A.D. Burtschi (for whom Jackson played as a Pirate) and championship banners adorn the walls.

In the hallway, trophies line the glass case and along the other wall, Pirates who played in college in multiple sports remind student athletes of the possibilities.

There’s something special in that space.

Long ago, administration made the decision to redo the original gym. But, there has to be a way to transfer the history, tradition and mystique to the nice, new facility to the west.