Falcons Nest Oct. 17
A weekly recap of O'Neal Athletics
Middle School Cross Country:
The O’Neal Middle School Cross Country teams capped off an outstanding season with dominant performances at the conference championship home meet yesterday. Both the girls and boys teams earned first-place finishes, showcasing depth, determination, and steady improvement throughout the season.
The O’Neal Middle School Cross Country teams capped off an outstanding season with dominant performances at the conference championship home meet yesterday. Both the girls and boys teams earned first-place finishes, showcasing depth, determination, and steady improvement throughout the season.
Top finishers for the girls included:
Abigail Schupp – 11:59 (1st)
Olivia Hardee – 12:43 (3rd)
Makenzie Kemp – 13:28 (8th)
Lucy Emond – 13:41 (9th)
Avery Pohlmeyer – 14:39 (15th)
Abigail Schupp – 11:59 (1st)
Olivia Hardee – 12:43 (3rd)
Makenzie Kemp – 13:28 (8th)
Lucy Emond – 13:41 (9th)
Avery Pohlmeyer – 14:39 (15th)
Top finishers for the boys included:
Charlie Borland – 11:14 (2nd)
David Risseeuw – 11:27 (4th)
Eason Hodgkin – 11:45 (5th)
Hunter Monroe – 11:48 (6th)
Nate Trujillo – 12:30 (8th)
Charlie Borland – 11:14 (2nd)
David Risseeuw – 11:27 (4th)
Eason Hodgkin – 11:45 (5th)
Hunter Monroe – 11:48 (6th)
Nate Trujillo – 12:30 (8th)
Coaches praised the runners for their dedication, teamwork, and consistent effort throughout the season. The team will celebrate their accomplishments with an awards ceremony and pizza gathering following practice today.
Varsity Cross Country:
The Falcons had the privilege of hosting the SAC Conference Championship Meet this week—an incredible opportunity to bring such a big event to their home course. Coming off a restful fall break, the athletes were eager to compete and fueled by the energy of home-field advantage. Known for its steep hills and challenging wooded trails, O’Neal’s course tested every runner’s strength and endurance, offering a true cross-country experience.
The Falcons had the privilege of hosting the SAC Conference Championship Meet this week—an incredible opportunity to bring such a big event to their home course. Coming off a restful fall break, the athletes were eager to compete and fueled by the energy of home-field advantage. Known for its steep hills and challenging wooded trails, O’Neal’s course tested every runner’s strength and endurance, offering a true cross-country experience.
The girls’ team started the day strong, with Haddie Habets and Natalia Henderson finishing 7th and 8th overall. Habets especially impressed, running over 90 seconds faster than her previous time on the home course. The boys followed with an equally determined effort—Chris O’Melia earned a 2nd-place finish, Sam Schmitz placed 9th, and Nathan Riefenstahl and Jack Browning pushed each other stride for stride to the finish. Mason Wicks rounded out the Falcons’ scoring with a gutsy performance and a course PR. Racing tough on one of the most demanding courses of the season showed the team’s growing strength and resilience. They are both mentally and physically ready to take on the State Championship race next Friday, October 24th, at McAlpine Park in Monroe, NC.
Varsity Girls Tennis:
O'Neal vs. Fayetteville Academy: 2-7, L
After advancing in conference play on Tuesday, the Falcons traveled to Fayetteville Academy on Thursday, October 9th to play for the SAC championship. Once again, Fayetteville Academy proved to be a challenging competition for the team. The Falcons played a couple of close doubles matches to start the contest, but unfortunately were only able to come away with a victory at line 3. Beth Cordero and Izzy Grotzke won their match 8-3. In singles play, Fayetteville Academy's hard hitting was just too strong. 8th grader Izzy Grotzke won the only singles match for the Falcons in a split set, third set tiebreaker 10-5. The Falcons fell to Fayetteville Academy, but finished runner-up in the conference at 4-2 in regular season conference play and 1-1 in post season.
O'Neal vs. Burlington Christian Academy: 4-5, L
On Tuesday, October 14th the Falcons would begin their run at States. After a great season, the team had home court advantage and would host Burlington Christian Academy. This would mark the third face-off for the two teams this season. The Falcons were coming in with a 2-0 record against Burlington, and were feeling good about their chances to advance. The match began with doubles play and the Falcons felt they would have to win 2 of the 3 doubles matches to give them a strong chance of advancing. Unfortunately, the team only won one match in the line 2 position. Sophomores Sydney Davis and Valentina Roberts won their match 8-4. Now behind 1-2, the Falcons would have to sharpen their games and win 4 of the 6 singles matches. This proved a tough task, and the Falcons would come up short only winning 3 matches at lines 4, 5, and 6 falling to Burlington Christian Academy.
Even though conference and state play did not go the Falcons way, the season was not lost. The Falcons faced some tough competition this season, but the players always rose to the occasion as a team. While the end of season marks the final matches for Senior Hannah Claire Nesbit, her leadership has left a strong foundation for future success. The future of Falcons tennis is very bright.
O'Neal vs. Fayetteville Academy: 2-7, L
After advancing in conference play on Tuesday, the Falcons traveled to Fayetteville Academy on Thursday, October 9th to play for the SAC championship. Once again, Fayetteville Academy proved to be a challenging competition for the team. The Falcons played a couple of close doubles matches to start the contest, but unfortunately were only able to come away with a victory at line 3. Beth Cordero and Izzy Grotzke won their match 8-3. In singles play, Fayetteville Academy's hard hitting was just too strong. 8th grader Izzy Grotzke won the only singles match for the Falcons in a split set, third set tiebreaker 10-5. The Falcons fell to Fayetteville Academy, but finished runner-up in the conference at 4-2 in regular season conference play and 1-1 in post season.
O'Neal vs. Burlington Christian Academy: 4-5, L
On Tuesday, October 14th the Falcons would begin their run at States. After a great season, the team had home court advantage and would host Burlington Christian Academy. This would mark the third face-off for the two teams this season. The Falcons were coming in with a 2-0 record against Burlington, and were feeling good about their chances to advance. The match began with doubles play and the Falcons felt they would have to win 2 of the 3 doubles matches to give them a strong chance of advancing. Unfortunately, the team only won one match in the line 2 position. Sophomores Sydney Davis and Valentina Roberts won their match 8-4. Now behind 1-2, the Falcons would have to sharpen their games and win 4 of the 6 singles matches. This proved a tough task, and the Falcons would come up short only winning 3 matches at lines 4, 5, and 6 falling to Burlington Christian Academy.
Even though conference and state play did not go the Falcons way, the season was not lost. The Falcons faced some tough competition this season, but the players always rose to the occasion as a team. While the end of season marks the final matches for Senior Hannah Claire Nesbit, her leadership has left a strong foundation for future success. The future of Falcons tennis is very bright.
Varsity Boys Soccer:
O’Neal vs Gaston Day School: 0-6, L
The O’Neal Falcons Boys Varsity Soccer Team saw their season come to an end Tuesday night, falling 6-0 to #5 seed Gaston Day in the first round of the NCISAA State Playoffs. Despite the final score, the Falcons battled with heart and composure throughout the contest, showing the same determination that carried them through a challenging season.
The Falcons started the match well, competing evenly in the opening minutes and creating several attacking chances. Gaston Day broke through first on a corner kick in the 10th minute, slipping one past the O’Neal defense to take a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later, a defensive lapse allowed the hosts to double their advantage.
As fatigue set in late in the first half, Gaston Day capitalized with a flurry of four goals in the final ten minutes before halftime, pushing the score to 6-0. Still, the Falcons refused to back down.
In the second half, O’Neal regrouped and played some of their best soccer of the night, holding Gaston Day scoreless while continuing to search for a goal of their own. The Falcons’ defensive shape tightened, and their midfield battled to regain control.
Standout performances came from Joseph Lucas and Gabe Marrerro, who worked tirelessly in midfield, breaking up attacks and linking play forward, while Jack Habets anchored the back line with grit and leadership.
While the result wasn’t what they hoped for, the Falcons’ effort reflected the resilience and unity that defined their season. After navigating injuries, limited depth, and tough competition, the team showed consistent growth and pride in representing O’Neal.
The Falcons close the 2024 season with valuable experience and a renewed sense of purpose. With a strong core of returning players, O’Neal looks forward to building on this year’s lessons and coming back stronger next fall.
O’Neal vs Gaston Day School: 0-6, L
The O’Neal Falcons Boys Varsity Soccer Team saw their season come to an end Tuesday night, falling 6-0 to #5 seed Gaston Day in the first round of the NCISAA State Playoffs. Despite the final score, the Falcons battled with heart and composure throughout the contest, showing the same determination that carried them through a challenging season.
The Falcons started the match well, competing evenly in the opening minutes and creating several attacking chances. Gaston Day broke through first on a corner kick in the 10th minute, slipping one past the O’Neal defense to take a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later, a defensive lapse allowed the hosts to double their advantage.
As fatigue set in late in the first half, Gaston Day capitalized with a flurry of four goals in the final ten minutes before halftime, pushing the score to 6-0. Still, the Falcons refused to back down.
In the second half, O’Neal regrouped and played some of their best soccer of the night, holding Gaston Day scoreless while continuing to search for a goal of their own. The Falcons’ defensive shape tightened, and their midfield battled to regain control.
Standout performances came from Joseph Lucas and Gabe Marrerro, who worked tirelessly in midfield, breaking up attacks and linking play forward, while Jack Habets anchored the back line with grit and leadership.
While the result wasn’t what they hoped for, the Falcons’ effort reflected the resilience and unity that defined their season. After navigating injuries, limited depth, and tough competition, the team showed consistent growth and pride in representing O’Neal.
The Falcons close the 2024 season with valuable experience and a renewed sense of purpose. With a strong core of returning players, O’Neal looks forward to building on this year’s lessons and coming back stronger next fall.
Varsity Volleyball:
O’Neal vs Caldwell Academy: 0-3 (12-25, 16-25, 10-25), L
The O’Neal Varsity Volleyball team faced Caldwell Academy in the first round of the NCISAA State Tournament. Spirits were high as the Falcons prepared to take on a familiar opponent, having met Caldwell just a few weeks prior to the regular season.
There were many positives to take from the match. Though the Falcons struggled at times to return Caldwell’s strong attacks, the team showed grit and composure throughout. The Falcon offense found moments of success, but Caldwell’s consistent defense made scoring difficult. The girls celebrated the good plays and made adjustments as best they could, ultimately falling in three sets to bring their season to a close. The loss was especially emotional for the five seniors who have been a part of Falcon Volleyball since middle school.
Laura Schulze served well, delivering two aces from the line. Elli Hood recorded five kills with well-placed tips, pushes, and attacks. Jordin Reed tallied five digs, and Lily Stanley added two assists on the night.
Reflecting on the season, the coaches shared how proud they were of the team’s growth and resilience. This year brought a new varsity coach, a mix of returning and new players, and the challenge of building team chemistry and culture—all of which the athletes embraced with enthusiasm.
From the service line to the back row, the Falcons’ numbers tell the story of a team that battled hard every match. Eighth grader Elli Hood led the way with 46 aces, just ahead of senior Jordin Reed’s 44. Offensively, senior Kennedi Hamner powered through the season with 144 kills, while Hood added 105 of her own. Senior setter Lily Stanley kept the offense in rhythm, recording an impressive 275 assists. At the net, senior Jane Nguyen led with 12 blocks, with Hamner close behind at 11. Defensively, Reed (142 digs), eighth grader Myer Johnson (131), and Hamner (125) each broke the 100-dig mark—showcasing the team’s heart, hustle, and balance on the court.
The coaching staff expressed their appreciation for the players’ dedication and teamwork, noting excitement for the program’s future and upcoming offseason plans. The team also extended special thanks to Casey Teter and Pierce Adams of Access Fitness Systems for their support in the Performance Room, and to O’Neal Athletic Trainer Holly Cregan for keeping the athletes healthy and game-ready throughout the season.
O’Neal vs Caldwell Academy: 0-3 (12-25, 16-25, 10-25), L
The O’Neal Varsity Volleyball team faced Caldwell Academy in the first round of the NCISAA State Tournament. Spirits were high as the Falcons prepared to take on a familiar opponent, having met Caldwell just a few weeks prior to the regular season.
There were many positives to take from the match. Though the Falcons struggled at times to return Caldwell’s strong attacks, the team showed grit and composure throughout. The Falcon offense found moments of success, but Caldwell’s consistent defense made scoring difficult. The girls celebrated the good plays and made adjustments as best they could, ultimately falling in three sets to bring their season to a close. The loss was especially emotional for the five seniors who have been a part of Falcon Volleyball since middle school.
Laura Schulze served well, delivering two aces from the line. Elli Hood recorded five kills with well-placed tips, pushes, and attacks. Jordin Reed tallied five digs, and Lily Stanley added two assists on the night.
Reflecting on the season, the coaches shared how proud they were of the team’s growth and resilience. This year brought a new varsity coach, a mix of returning and new players, and the challenge of building team chemistry and culture—all of which the athletes embraced with enthusiasm.
From the service line to the back row, the Falcons’ numbers tell the story of a team that battled hard every match. Eighth grader Elli Hood led the way with 46 aces, just ahead of senior Jordin Reed’s 44. Offensively, senior Kennedi Hamner powered through the season with 144 kills, while Hood added 105 of her own. Senior setter Lily Stanley kept the offense in rhythm, recording an impressive 275 assists. At the net, senior Jane Nguyen led with 12 blocks, with Hamner close behind at 11. Defensively, Reed (142 digs), eighth grader Myer Johnson (131), and Hamner (125) each broke the 100-dig mark—showcasing the team’s heart, hustle, and balance on the court.
The coaching staff expressed their appreciation for the players’ dedication and teamwork, noting excitement for the program’s future and upcoming offseason plans. The team also extended special thanks to Casey Teter and Pierce Adams of Access Fitness Systems for their support in the Performance Room, and to O’Neal Athletic Trainer Holly Cregan for keeping the athletes healthy and game-ready throughout the season.
Falcon Athletics Next Week 10/21/25 - 10/24/25
DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | SPORT | H/A | EVENT TIME |
FRI | 10/24/25 | NCISAA State Championship | XC | AWAY | 11:20 G/11:55B |
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