Falcons Nest
The Falcons head into Martin Luther King Jr. weekend with points in the win column across all sports. The athletic department honors senior athlete Fanqi "Turbo" Meng.
Senior Athlete Spotlight
The athletics department would like to extend congratulations to our senior student-athletes. The department is very proud of their accomplishments and the bright futures ahead of them. This week we honor Fanqi “Turbo” Meng with a spotlight on his career as an O’Neal athlete.
Turbo Meng, Varsity Cheerleading
Accolades from Head Varsity Cheerleading coach Jennifer Huge:
Accolades from Head Varsity Cheerleading coach Jennifer Huge:
"When I think of Turbo the main word that comes to mind is kind. As described by one of his teammates ' Turbo makes everything better. He can take a tense situation, or a frustrating day and make you feel better.' He works hard but most of all, he ALWAYS supports his teammates."
Accolades from Track and Field coach Heather Weeks:
"Turbo was on our conference championship team as well as our 3rd place state team. He was a very valuable member of our top 7 all season long and he worked very hard putting in a lot of miles and solid workouts."
Accolades from Track and Field coach Heather Weeks:
"Turbo was on our conference championship team as well as our 3rd place state team. He was a very valuable member of our top 7 all season long and he worked very hard putting in a lot of miles and solid workouts."
Quick Facts about Turbo
Number of years at O’Neal: 2 1/2
Sports played at O’Neal: Cheerleading, Swimming, Track and Field, Cross Country and Soccer
College or University he plans to or wants to attend: New York University
Major or preferred course of study: Math, Economics, Business
Favorite quote: “Never give up”- Winston Churchill
Best O’Neal Athletics memory: Participating in Cross Country.
News from Athletics
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle” -Christian D. Larson, Author
Varsity Boys Basketball (Updated)
The Falcons lost by 13 on Friday night against a good Salem Baptist team. They competed for the whole game and just could not quite get over the hump closing the gap in the 4th quarter three times to three points. Freshman Jalen Lindsey turned in a great game scoring 22 points. Freshman Patrick Reaves chipped in 17. The Falcons have two big games this week, hosting American Hebrew on Tuesday night in The Hannah Center and Trinity Academy of Raleigh on Friday for Senior Night. Come out and support the Falcons and send the seniors, Avi Petal, Nolan Meese, Andy Jenkins and Bennett Moore out with a big cheer.
Varsity Girls Basketball (Updated)
Friday night the Falcons enjoyed a fast start to open their annual Silent Night basketball. On an evening where the fans and student section stays silent until the Falcons score their 5thpoint, the Falcons wasted no time getting on the board. What has become their staple, a high-pressure defense led the Falcons to a 22-7 first quarter start ultimately pushing it to 43-18 at the half. Every Falcon in uniform scored on the evening, as ball movement and making the extra pass were on display. Coach Brase shared, “Tonight was truly a team win. We had quick rotations going with everyone seeing quality minutes. Each young lady who hit the floor brought energy, passion, and played with a will to compete. It’s a testament to them as a group and the desire they have to be successful.” The Falcons were led by junior Hadiya Balser’s double-double pulling in 14 rebounds to join her 30 points. The win moves the Falcons to 15-2 overall and 8-0 in Tri- TAC conference play.
Monday the Falcons traveled to Durham to participate in the CE Jordan MLK Classic. The one day showcase featured some of the top schools in the state of North Carolina. The Falcons tipped off against Heritage High School, currently the #2 team in all of NC (public or private). A quick start from Heritage saw the Falcons scrap to a 48-16 halftime score. The Falcons fought throughout the afternoon, fighting for loose balls and working on their defensive rotations. In the end, Heritage’s depth, defensive pressure, and hot shooting were too much for the Falcons to overcome with a final score of 23-71. Senior Ralayah McRae led the Falcons with 7 points on the evening. The loss moves the Falcons to 15-3, 8-0 on the season.
The Falcons have a quick turn around and face Tri-TAC opponent American Hebrew on Tuesday, January 22nd at 5:00 PM in the Hannah Center gym.
Varsity Cheerleading
The varsity cheer squad competed in the Liberty Cheer Spirit Solutions Competition on Saturday, January 12th at the Crown Arena in Fayetteville, NC. The team won first place in the large varsity category bringing home the Liberty Cheer Star. Congratulations team!
Varsity Swimming
This week the Falcons headed back to American Hebrew Academy to compete against Burlington Christian Academy, American Hebrew Academy, Carolina Friends School and Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill on Thursday, January 17th at 12:00 PM. The O’Neal Boys team took home wins against Burlington Christian (63-62) and Carolina Friends (69-36). The lady Falcons swept the meet beating all 4 competing teams. Below are the total results of the meet:
O’Neal Boys
63-62 BCA
63-76 AHA
69-36 CF
60-65 TSDCH
Won2 Lost 2
O’Neal Girls
100-96 TSDCH
123-53 CF
117-45 BCA
112-91 AHA
Won 4
Next week the Falcons host Trinity Academy, Cape Fear Christian School and a home school team for senior night! Please come out and show your support for the team’s graduating seniors as this will be the last time they will compete at home. Go Falcons!
Middle School Boys Basketball
The O'Neal Middle School Boys Basketball team played two games this week. On Monday, they played extremely well against a tough Fayetteville Christian squad. The result was a four-point loss, 32-36, but they were proud of their effort and cohesiveness. Fortunately, Thursday proved to be an easier game against Sandhills Classical Christian as they had three starters out with injuries and sickness. The final score was 58-5. The Falcons current record is 8-4. Their next game is Thursday, January 24th at home against St. Patrick's at 3:30 PM.
Middle School Girls Basketball
The Lady Falcons traveled to Fayetteville Christian School on Monday to play the Warriors on their home court. Despite losing 40-14 to the perennial SEMSAC conference powerhouse, the score did not reflect the level of play and improvement the girls have experienced this season. Following the loss, Coach McMurray said, "Our team has improved significantly this season. Coach Flanagan and I are proud of the girls' commitment to efficiency on the offensive end, the discipline on defense, and their desire to compete until the final horn. This team has helped set the tone for the future of middle school girls' basketball here at O'Neal."
The girls, who are 5-3 in conference play, look to defend home court on Monday, January 28th, against Freedom Christian Academy. Should they walk away victorious, they give themselves a real opportunity to make the conference playoffs.
Middle School Cheerleading
The Middle School Cheerleading squad competed in the junior exhibition portion of the Liberty Cheer Spirit Solutions Competition on Saturday, January 12th at the Crown Arena in Fayetteville, NC. They completed their routine with stunts and pyramid in front of a huge crowd and closing out the show with a dynamic routine, representing the O'Neal School spirit and scored excellent in their category! Great job team!
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