O'Neal Athletics Hosts NGWSD Luncheon
The O’Neal Athletics Department hosted its annual luncheon for female student-athletes on Wednesday commemorating the 34th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The celebration inspires girls and women to play and be active, and to realize their full potential. Through sports participation girls and women acquire the tools to become strong leaders in sports and beyond.
Guest speaker, Sandhills Community College Associate Athletic Director Alicia Riggan, addressed the student-athletes. She spoke of her background, being a part of an active outdoor family and the fact that she played not three, but four sports at North Moore High School as well as UNC Pembroke. Coach Riggan shared that playing sports allowed her opportunities to grow socially by being a part of a team as well as how to persevere in challenging environments. Other advantages were having the ability to stay fit, and learning to set and achieve goals, developing the drive to compete and learning diligence in structuring the day to afford time for both academic and athletic demands.
Coach Riggan is also an associate professor in health, fitness & exercise science. On top of educating, she is a wife, mom and the head coach of the Sandhills Flyers Volleyball Team. She established the SCC Scramble for high school volleyball teams as well as summer volleyball camps and open gyms.
Coach Riggan is also an associate professor in health, fitness & exercise science. On top of educating, she is a wife, mom and the head coach of the Sandhills Flyers Volleyball Team. She established the SCC Scramble for high school volleyball teams as well as summer volleyball camps and open gyms.
Also at the luncheon, Assistant Athletic Director Kelley Adams summarized recent accomplishments of O’Neal’s female student-athletes. They are listed below:
- Varsity Girls Tennis – state tournament appearance
- Varsity Girls Cross Country - 5 of 7 runners made personal best times at the state championship meet. Individual 1st runner up
- Varsity Girls Golf – team state champions / individual 1st runner up
- Middle School Girls Volleyball – playoff appearance
- Varsity Girls Volleyball – consecutive state tournament appearances
- Varsity Girls Basketball – consecutive conference champions – last year’s state 1st runner-up
- Middle School Girls Basketball – 3rd place in conference (1st playoff next week)
- Varsity Girls Swimming – conference 1st runner up and 7 lady medalists / last year’s state champion (2020 state championship next week)
- 15 All-Conference Female Student -Athletes so far
- 3 All-State Female Student-Athletes so far
- 22 our of 27 leadership academy students are females
- Varsity Girls Soccer / and Track coming up this spring!
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