OKLAHOMA CITY — Nicholas Eklund wanted out of Hilldale. Even if it meant trading in soccer — the sport he played for 13 years — to play football at Gore.

Eklund was an all-district soccer player as a junior at Hilldale, a high school in Muskogee, but took online classes to avoid being bullied.

When he returned in August for his senior year, he lasted about two weeks, he told an OSSAA appeals panel Wednesday.

“I just didn’t feel safe,” he said. “I just didn’t feel like it was my place to be.”

The panel agreed and voted 4-1 to overturn a previous ruling and reinstate Eklund’s eligibility at Gore, where he is expected to suit up for the football team Friday night.

“It’s going to be good,” Eklund told the World. “It’s going to be fun.”

Eklund played soccer at Owasso as a freshman and sop

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