Three Falcons Commit to College Teams

O’Neal senior Toyin Koleoso has committed to Skidmore College to play for the Thoroughbreds women’s basketball team. Koleoso is excited to begin her college journey sharing “I chose Skidmore because of its diversity and it felt like home when I visited. Skidmore is a great institution, and it will challenge me both athletically and academically, but I’m ready for it. I’m proud to say I’m graduating from a Lady Falcon to a Thoroughbred!”

 

Over her three years at the O’Neal School Toyin has been instrumental building the women’s basketball program. In her senior campaign, Koleoso led the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals helping the Falcons win an EPIC Conference and Tournament championship. In addition to the team success, Koleoso added individual awards to her resume being named the EPIC tournament MVP, EPIC Conference Player of the Year, and a member of the NCISAA 2A All-State team.

 

“To say Toyin has left an impact on our team and school is an incredible understatement,” shared Lulu Brase, O’Neal Basketball Coach. “Toyin is a leader on the court, in the classroom, and throughout the hallways. She has been instrumental in putting O’Neal Girls’ Basketball at the top of the EPIC conference standings. This season has been a terrific culmination of her hard work over the last three years. Her leadership and dedication has been unparalleled. It has been a tremendous pleasure coaching Toyin, and I’m excited to see all that Toyin will accomplish athletically and academically at Skidmore.

 

Koleoso has been a three-sport athlete throughout her time at O’Neal also competing in Track and Field and Volleyball, along with basketball. An all-conference member in both sports, in 2016 Koleoso also won the 1A/2A State Championship in the 300meter hurdles.

 

Skidmore College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Thoroughbreds are a NCAA Division III member and compete in the Liberty league.

 

A two-sport varsity athlete and track standout during her high school career at The O'Neal School, senior Alana McRae has elected to take her talents next year to Cincinnati Christian University. The Rockingham, NC native will join the Eagles of CCU who will be fielding Cincinnati Christian's first track and field team in school history. Under the direction of head coach Adam Cokonougher, McRae joins a talented recruiting class that looks to quickly climb the NAIA ranks and immediately contend for a River States Conference title. While competing for the Eagles, McRae plans to continue her rigorous academic pursuits by earning degrees in Theology and Cultural Psychology.

 

After transferring to The O'Neal School from Richmond Senior High School in 2016 as a junior, McRae's athletic potential began to blossom, and the two places she shone most were on the track and on the basketball court. A two-year stalwart performer on O'Neal's varsity basketball team, she consistently demonstrated what kind of athlete she was - unafraid to scrap on the low block for rebounds and do the often thank-less jobs. She helped lead a senior campaign that earned O'Neal a regular season EPIC Conference title, in addition to an EPIC Conference Championship Tournament victory. Both accomplishments marked the end of a championship drought that had persisted for years and did more than simply bring a title to the school; it helped incite a culture change that will continue in their wake.

 

On the track, McRae has developed into an impressive hurdler, sprinter, and relay member who has the potential for immediate impact on her new team next year. O'Neal Track and Field Head Coach Matt McMurray said, "as Captain her senior year, Alana ran to a top 3 finish in every hurdle event she competed in, ran integral legs on our All-Conference and All-State 4x100m and 4x400m relays, and scored vital points at the conference and state meet. With an atypically high track IQ and personal bests of 49.78 in the 300m Hurdles, 17.40 in the 100m Hurdles, 29.6 in the 200m Dash, she will be a perfect fit with Cincinnati Christian's new head sprints coach, Brent Gray." Gray, a NCAA Division 1 qualifier in the 400, an indoor and outdoor school record holder while at the University of Akron, and Mid-American Conference Champion in the 400, will undoubtedly be pleased about his team's future with McRae on board. She brings a wealth of experience, talent, and work ethic. 

 

O’Neal senior Ellie Henry has committed to the College of William and Mary to swim for the Tribe’s Women’s Swim team. Henry is convinced that William and Mary is the perfect fit, “I have been to many college campuses, but there was something that just stood out about William and Mary. I felt very at home there. It’s a wonderful school with a long and respected history; it’s just the perfect fit for me, both as a student, and as an athlete.”

 

Henry, who joined The O’Neal School as a pre-kindergarten student(!), is a three-time All-State recipient for the varsity swim team. O’Neal coach, Susanne Cooper states, “Ellie's iron-willed drive and innate talent, along with her strive to win at every level of competition, have made her an invaluable asset for the O'Neal Varsity Swimming Team. Not only is she a top-rate athlete, but as a Team Captain for the 2017-2018 Varsity Swimming season, Ellie's a fantastic role model for our team--she exudes dedication to her sport, her academics, and her teammates in an unparalleled manner.  The Tribe is getting a stellar swimmer and student.  I'm sure the Griffin will be thrilled to have her!"

 

As a junior, Henry built on her previous athletic accolades in the pool, earning EPIC All- Conference and NCISAA All-State honors, winning the 100 backstroke in the 1A/2A State Swimming Championship. Henry had numerous offers to swim in college and plans to study Film and Media Studies, with a minor in Marketing.

 

“Ellie has been a strong presence within our athletic programs,” shared James Franklin, Athletic Director. “She’s a dedicated year-round swimmer. She’s a leader and hardly takes a day off. She’s helped set a tone that hopefully our athletes will follow, that of dedication, perseverance and spirit. Ellie is every coach’s dream,” continued Franklin. “She is a leader in every facet for the swim team, in the classroom and for our campus in general. She has helped take our swim program to new levels and she is a valuable member of our athletic leadership academy. I’m excited for Ellie to continue her swimming career at William and Mary, and look forward to her continued successes as a student-athlete.”

           

Founded in 1693, The College of William and Mary is the second oldest University in the United States. William and Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and is an NCAA Division I member competing in the Colonial Athletic Association Conference.