Falcons Nest - October 9
Falcons Finish Regular Season Play
Varsity Cross Country
This week, the Falcons got to truly fly on their home course as O’Neal hosted the Sandhills Athletic Conference Preview here on campus. It was a beautiful meet and a great opportunity for our runners to compete on a course they know better than anyone. Our trail winds through the woods behind the school and features some steep hills that can challenge even experienced runners. But for our athletes, those hills are home—they’ve been training on this course year-round, and that preparation showed. The Falcons attacked the difficult sections of the course and continued to push when other runners began to fade, keeping their times strong despite the tougher terrain. A special shoutout goes to 9th grader Abigail Schupp and 8th grader Nate Trujillo, who have continued to set new personal records at every race this season—even as the courses have become more challenging. We’re excited to bring the SAC Conference Championship back to our home course on October 20th, and we’d love to see our community come out and cheer on the Falcons!
This week, the Falcons got to truly fly on their home course as O’Neal hosted the Sandhills Athletic Conference Preview here on campus. It was a beautiful meet and a great opportunity for our runners to compete on a course they know better than anyone. Our trail winds through the woods behind the school and features some steep hills that can challenge even experienced runners. But for our athletes, those hills are home—they’ve been training on this course year-round, and that preparation showed. The Falcons attacked the difficult sections of the course and continued to push when other runners began to fade, keeping their times strong despite the tougher terrain. A special shoutout goes to 9th grader Abigail Schupp and 8th grader Nate Trujillo, who have continued to set new personal records at every race this season—even as the courses have become more challenging. We’re excited to bring the SAC Conference Championship back to our home course on October 20th, and we’d love to see our community come out and cheer on the Falcons!
Middle School Cross Country
On Tuesday, October 6th , The O'Neal School hosted their SEMSAC/SAC Conference Preview. The school hosted 9 schools in total between the 3k and 5k races, with the majority of the teams being conference schools. The Falcons battled their backyard of hills, sandy trails, and great weather.
On Tuesday, October 6th , The O'Neal School hosted their SEMSAC/SAC Conference Preview. The school hosted 9 schools in total between the 3k and 5k races, with the majority of the teams being conference schools. The Falcons battled their backyard of hills, sandy trails, and great weather.
The Middle School girls were led by Landis Holwerda and Avery Pohlmeyer, finishing 4th and 5th place overall. 20 seconds later a pair of 6th graders finished within the top 11 overall, Nora Owsiany and Ava Rose Decker, finishing 10th and 11th place. Madeleine Beckman ran a personal best time of 15:44 in 18th place and Jordan Caretti finished in 23rd place. Emma Globke led Sadie Duffy in pacing her throughout the race, pushing Duffy to a 5-minute personal best time for a 3k. The Middle School girls finishing 2nd overall with 41 points, only 10 points away from 1st place.
The Middle School boys were led by 6th grader William Schupp in 2nd place while 8th grader Aiden Wilcox and 7th grader Cash Davies finished 5th and 9th place. Davies paced 6th grader Emmerson Williams for the first mile of the race, pushing Williams to a massive personal best. Collin Ames finished 26th overall with a minute personal record. The Middle School boys finished 3rd overall with 57 points, 4 points away from 2nd place.
8th grader Will Chalker ran his first 5k in his running career, finishing in 32nd place with a time of 23:29. The coaching staff was so proud of his dedication to pushing himself to this new goal.
The Falcons wrap up their season on October 20th where they will run in the SEMSAC Conference Championship at their home course!
Varsity Boys Soccer
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 5-0, Win
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 5-0, Win
On Monday, the Falcons celebrated their seniors in style with a dominant 5-0 victory over Berean Baptist Academy. Senior Captain Joseph Lucas made the night his own, scoring a hat trick, while fellow senior Andrew Miller added two goals to complete the scoring. The Falcons controlled the match from start to finish, earning the clean sheet and sending their seniors off their home field with a victory.
O'Neal vs Freedom Christian Academy: 3-5, Loss
O’Neal traveled to Freedom Christian Academy the following night looking to carry that momentum forward, but instead came out flat and quickly found itself in a hole. The Falcons fought their way back into the match, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome as Freedom earned the victory.
O’Neal traveled to Freedom Christian Academy the following night looking to carry that momentum forward, but instead came out flat and quickly found itself in a hole. The Falcons fought their way back into the match, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome as Freedom earned the victory.
It was a frustrating result after such a strong Senior Night performance and a reminder that, at this point in the season, every match demands focus and intensity from the opening whistle.
The Falcons now turn their attention toward the closing stretch of the regular season.
Middle School Boys Soccer
O'Neal vs. Berean Baptist: 5-0, Win
O'Neal vs. Berean Baptist: 5-0, Win
The Falcons delivered an outstanding team performance in their home matchup against Berean Baptist, earning a commanding 5-0 victory. O'Neal controlled the pace of play from the opening whistle, moving the ball effectively and creating scoring opportunities throughout the game.
With a comfortable lead, the Falcons were able to rotate players frequently, ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to contribute. The team also received a boost from eighth-grade varsity players Rafe Hardee, Oliver Gabor, and Luke Leland, whose experience and leadership added to an already strong effort. The combination of teamwork, energy, and unselfish play resulted in one of O'Neal's most complete performances of the season.
O'Neal vs. Freedom Christian: 4-3, Win
The Falcons traveled to Freedom Christian for their final game of the season and battled through difficult pitch conditions to earn a hard-fought 4-3 victory. Despite the challenging field, O'Neal remained composed and continued to find ways to create scoring chances.
The team's eighth graders rose to the occasion in their final middle school match, delivering strong performances throughout the game. Miller Stanton stood out with an impressive all-around effort, helping the Falcons compete on both ends of the field. In goal, Knox Van Scoyoc capped off his season with an excellent performance, making several key saves to preserve the victory.
The win was a fitting end to the season, as the Falcons displayed the teamwork, determination, and resilience that helped them grow throughout the year.
Varsity Girls Tennis
O’Neal vs Fayetteville Academy: 2-7, Loss
Lady Falcons hosted Fayetteville Academy on Monday in a highly competitive match that showcased the team's determination and resilience. Although the Falcons fell 2-7, the score did not reflect how closely contested many of the matches were. The team battled hard throughout the afternoon against a strong Fayetteville Academy squad and earned two impressive victories.
At Line 6 singles, Kennedy Aytes secured the Falcons' lone singles point with a strong performance and consistent play. In doubles, the Line 1 team of Vivienne Rhue and Beth Cordero delivered one of the most exciting matches of the day, staging a thrilling comeback to earn a hard-fought 9-7 victory.
The afternoon also included a special celebration honoring Maddie Hostler, the Lady Falcons' captain and senior leader. Maddie was recognized for her dedication, leadership, and commitment to the tennis program, and the team was proud to celebrate her contributions and accomplishments.
O’Neal vs Fayetteville Academy: 2-7, Loss
Lady Falcons hosted Fayetteville Academy on Monday in a highly competitive match that showcased the team's determination and resilience. Although the Falcons fell 2-7, the score did not reflect how closely contested many of the matches were. The team battled hard throughout the afternoon against a strong Fayetteville Academy squad and earned two impressive victories.
At Line 6 singles, Kennedy Aytes secured the Falcons' lone singles point with a strong performance and consistent play. In doubles, the Line 1 team of Vivienne Rhue and Beth Cordero delivered one of the most exciting matches of the day, staging a thrilling comeback to earn a hard-fought 9-7 victory.
The afternoon also included a special celebration honoring Maddie Hostler, the Lady Falcons' captain and senior leader. Maddie was recognized for her dedication, leadership, and commitment to the tennis program, and the team was proud to celebrate her contributions and accomplishments.
Varsity Girls Golf
Varsity girls golf enjoyed a beautiful day on the course during a nine-hole match at Gates Four Golf & Country Club in Fayetteville. Charlie Higashi once again posted the Falcons’ lowest score, continuing her strong play this season.
The Falcons now turn their attention to next week’s 18-hole Sandhills Athletic Conference Championship, also at Gates Four. We’re excited to see what these ladies can put together as they return to the course for championship competition!
Varsity girls golf enjoyed a beautiful day on the course during a nine-hole match at Gates Four Golf & Country Club in Fayetteville. Charlie Higashi once again posted the Falcons’ lowest score, continuing her strong play this season.
The Falcons now turn their attention to next week’s 18-hole Sandhills Athletic Conference Championship, also at Gates Four. We’re excited to see what these ladies can put together as they return to the course for championship competition!
Varsity Volleyball
O'Neal vs. Berean Baptist Academy: 0-3, Loss (9-25, 16-25, 26-28)
The Falcons hosted Berean Baptist Academy on Monday, October 5th and got better with every set, pushing a strong opponent to the brink in the third. After a difficult opening set, O'Neal steadied in the second and then came out firing in the third, siding out better than half the time and trading points down the stretch before falling 26-28. Serving was the Falcons' weapon all evening — O'Neal recorded 13 aces on the night, and eight of those came in the third set alone.
Emma Garrison ran the offense for all three sets and led the Falcons from the service line with four aces, adding 10 digs of her own. Reagan Lowth served a team-high 13 times without a single error, and Mallory McPeake chipped in three aces while taking on a front-row role. Myer Johnson anchored the back row, handling 24 receptions and matching Garrison with 10 digs, while Layla Duffy and Julie Wilson both passed at the best rates on the team in serve receive. Haddie Habbits also returned to the lineup for the Falcons.
The Falcons were back on the court the following night at Freedom Christian.
O'Neal at Freedom Christian: 0-3, Loss (10-25, 13-25, 18-25)
The Falcons traveled to Freedom Christian on Tuesday, October 6th for the second half of a two-match week. For the second night in a row O'Neal got stronger as the match went on, improving in every set and saving their most competitive volleyball for the third. Defense was the bright spot — the Falcons dug hard, extended rallies, and made Freedom Christian earn their points.
Emma Garrison set all three sets and led the Falcons with eight digs. Myer Johnson turned in another strong night in serve receive and added six digs of her own, while Reagan Lowth chipped in five. Mallory McPeake again took on a front-row role at right side.
The Falcons open the NCISAA Sandhills Athletic Conference Tournament Monday, October 12th, traveling to Village Christian Academy for a quarterfinal matchup. First serve will be at 6:15pm.
O'Neal vs. Berean Baptist Academy: 0-3, Loss (9-25, 16-25, 26-28)
The Falcons hosted Berean Baptist Academy on Monday, October 5th and got better with every set, pushing a strong opponent to the brink in the third. After a difficult opening set, O'Neal steadied in the second and then came out firing in the third, siding out better than half the time and trading points down the stretch before falling 26-28. Serving was the Falcons' weapon all evening — O'Neal recorded 13 aces on the night, and eight of those came in the third set alone.
Emma Garrison ran the offense for all three sets and led the Falcons from the service line with four aces, adding 10 digs of her own. Reagan Lowth served a team-high 13 times without a single error, and Mallory McPeake chipped in three aces while taking on a front-row role. Myer Johnson anchored the back row, handling 24 receptions and matching Garrison with 10 digs, while Layla Duffy and Julie Wilson both passed at the best rates on the team in serve receive. Haddie Habbits also returned to the lineup for the Falcons.
The Falcons were back on the court the following night at Freedom Christian.
O'Neal at Freedom Christian: 0-3, Loss (10-25, 13-25, 18-25)
The Falcons traveled to Freedom Christian on Tuesday, October 6th for the second half of a two-match week. For the second night in a row O'Neal got stronger as the match went on, improving in every set and saving their most competitive volleyball for the third. Defense was the bright spot — the Falcons dug hard, extended rallies, and made Freedom Christian earn their points.
Emma Garrison set all three sets and led the Falcons with eight digs. Myer Johnson turned in another strong night in serve receive and added six digs of her own, while Reagan Lowth chipped in five. Mallory McPeake again took on a front-row role at right side.
The Falcons open the NCISAA Sandhills Athletic Conference Tournament Monday, October 12th, traveling to Village Christian Academy for a quarterfinal matchup. First serve will be at 6:15pm.
Middle School Volleyball
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist: 0-2, Loss (25-9, 25-21)
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist: 0-2, Loss (25-9, 25-21)
On Monday, October 5, the Middle School Girls Volleyball team welcomed Berean Baptist to their home court for another competitive match. In the first set, the girls showed some good serving and passing, although they struggled with consistency at times. We also saw strong swings from Arya Stingle and Kennedy Morrow, along with some communication challenges that made it difficult to maintain control of the ball. In the second set, the girls came out with more energy and determination, putting together longer rallies and showing great teamwork to keep the ball up. Kayla McWhinney found smart spots for her tips and delivered some strong serves, while the entire team showed more aggressive plays, great hustle, and a willingness to fight for every ball. The girls even tied the score at 19, making the second set much closer than the first, but Berean Baptist ultimately took the set 25–21. Despite the loss, the girls showed clear improvement and great determination throughout the match!
O'Neal vs Freedom Christian: 0-2, Loss (25-13, 25-19)
On Tuesday, October 6, the Middle School Girls Volleyball team traveled to Freedom Christian for their final conference game of the season. With Olivia Hardee out due to injury and Kayla McWhinney also unavailable, the girls had to adjust to a new lineup on the court, but they handled the challenge with great energy, teamwork, and a positive attitude throughout the match. The girls showed consistent serving, strong communication, and some really fun points to watch, with Arya Stingle and Evelyn Scogin each contributing impressive serving streaks and aces. In the second set, we saw strong swings from Rylee Jones, along with great digs and serves from Kennedy Morrow. Although the girls were ahead by four points for most of the set, some inconsistencies on serves and difficulties with angling during serve receive in the final few points allowed Freedom Christian to come back and win 25–19. Ruby Emond and Riley Lucas also had a great performance and made important contributions throughout the match.
Although the girls did not finish the season with a win, they have shown incredible improvement from the beginning of the season to now, finishing strong and demonstrating just how much their confidence, teamwork, and skills have grown. We are so proud of this team, and they should be incredibly proud of themselves, too! The volleyball season may be coming to an end, but the fun is not over yet. In the upcoming weeks, the girls will have intersquad games with the B Team, along with soccer and volleyball scrimmages against the boys' soccer team. We will officially wrap up the season with a Volley Party and Candy Salad on October 30!
Photos by Wendy Hodges | The Pines Media
Note to Media: For higher resolution files, please email Director of Communications Kathy Taylor
On Tuesday, October 6, the Middle School Girls Volleyball team traveled to Freedom Christian for their final conference game of the season. With Olivia Hardee out due to injury and Kayla McWhinney also unavailable, the girls had to adjust to a new lineup on the court, but they handled the challenge with great energy, teamwork, and a positive attitude throughout the match. The girls showed consistent serving, strong communication, and some really fun points to watch, with Arya Stingle and Evelyn Scogin each contributing impressive serving streaks and aces. In the second set, we saw strong swings from Rylee Jones, along with great digs and serves from Kennedy Morrow. Although the girls were ahead by four points for most of the set, some inconsistencies on serves and difficulties with angling during serve receive in the final few points allowed Freedom Christian to come back and win 25–19. Ruby Emond and Riley Lucas also had a great performance and made important contributions throughout the match.
Although the girls did not finish the season with a win, they have shown incredible improvement from the beginning of the season to now, finishing strong and demonstrating just how much their confidence, teamwork, and skills have grown. We are so proud of this team, and they should be incredibly proud of themselves, too! The volleyball season may be coming to an end, but the fun is not over yet. In the upcoming weeks, the girls will have intersquad games with the B Team, along with soccer and volleyball scrimmages against the boys' soccer team. We will officially wrap up the season with a Volley Party and Candy Salad on October 30!
Photos by Wendy Hodges | The Pines Media
Note to Media: For higher resolution files, please email Director of Communications Kathy Taylor
Falcon Athletics Next Week 10/12/2026 - 10/16/2026
DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | SPORT | H/A | EVENT TIME |
MON | 10/12/2026 | Conference Championship Gates Four | GGOLF | Away | 12:30pm |
MON | 10/12/2026 | SAC Quarter Final Village Christian Academy | VB | Away | 6:15pm |
TUE | 10/13/2026 | SAC Semi Finals | VB | TBD | |
THU | 10/15/2026 | Northwood Temple Academy | BSOC | AWAY | 3:30pm |
TUE | 10/13/2026 | Village Christian Academy | GTN | Home | 3:30pm |
THU | 10/15/2026 | SAC Finals | GTN | Away | 3:30pm |
THU | 10/15/2026 | SAC Finals | VB | TBD |
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