Falcon’s Weekly Recap - May 9.
Varsity Track & Field
This year, the Sandhills Athletic Conference hosted its first conference championship meet since 2018. It was an incredible opportunity for our athletes to compete against schools of similar size and competition level, with 24 O’Neal athletes competing across middle school and varsity divisions. The meet moved quickly due to the smaller nature of the conference, forcing athletes to adapt and stay prepared throughout the day. Despite the fast pace, our teams competed with resilience and determination.
Both middle school teams earned 2nd place overall finishes. Standout performances included Cash Davies placing 2nd in the 200m dash, Casen Dowd winning both shot put and discus, Axel Schuerger taking 2nd in the 1600m run, and Lucy Emond winning the 400m dash.
The varsity boys battled to a strong 3rd place team finish, led by Senior Ashton Fager winning the 400m dash, Gabriel Marrero placing 2nd in the 800m, and seniors Chris and Sam taking 2nd and 3rd in the 1600m run.
Overall, the team competed hard on tired legs and continued to represent O’Neal with pride, toughness, and determination. This meet was great preparation as we now look ahead to the State Championship on May 15th at Wingate University.
Varsity Girls Soccer
O’Neal vs The Burlington School: 0-9, Loss
The Varsity Girls Soccer team closed out the 2026 season with a final record of 12-6 after falling to The Burlington School in the first round of the state playoffs on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the Falcons struggled to find their rhythm from the opening whistle and were unable to recover in a difficult end to an otherwise strong season.
Throughout the year, the team battled through the usual injuries and illnesses that seem to challenge the program each season. Players were consistently asked to step into unfamiliar roles and responsibilities, and the growth that came from those experiences will undoubtedly make them stronger and more complete soccer players moving forward.
Senior Captain Jordin Reed capped off an outstanding season as one of the top offensive players in the state and conference. Reed finished with 70 total points on 31 goals and 8 assists, placing her in the top ten in the state in points while leading the Sandhills Athletic Conference by a wide margin. The next closest conference player finished with 39 points and 14 goals. Haddie Habets and Lilly Hobson also finished among the conference leaders in points, while Sydney Davis led the conference in assists.
The Falcons will graduate two important senior leaders in Reed and Kennedi Hamner. Reed will continue her soccer career at Carteret Community College, while Hamner will continue playing at Southern Virginia University. Their leadership, competitiveness, and commitment to the program will be greatly missed, and the Falcons are excited to cheer them on at the next level.
Varsity Boys Tennis
O'Neal vs. The Burlington School: 5-4, Win
The Falcons opened state tournament play in impressive fashion Tuesday, traveling to face The Burlington School in a first-round matchup. This would be the programs' first meeting of the season. The match was played at Alamance Country Club, on a mix of clay and hard courts.
Starting with doubles, the Falcons set the tone early with a strong showing. The line one team of Ethan Kim and Will French delivered an exciting win, while Jacob Lian and Johannes Pester controlled play at line three to secure another decisive victory. Taking two of three doubles matches gave the Falcons a critical early advantage and momentum heading into singles.
Needing three wins to clinch the match, the Falcons rose to the occasion in singles play. Oriol Masdeu put together a composed performance at line six, earning a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory. Jacob Lian followed with one of the most dramatic matches of the day, battling back from a set down and gutting out a third-set tiebreak win that proved pivotal.
With the match on the line, Will French stepped up at line two and delivered, securing the clinching victory and sending the Falcons into the next round. A 6-3, 6-0 match score.
With a complete team effort and strong performances across the lineup, the Falcons advance with confidence and momentum in state tournament play.
O'Neal s. Caldwell Academy: 0-5, Loss
The Falcons’ postseason run came to a close Thursday in the second round of the state playoffs, as they traveled to Greensboro to face a familiar and formidable opponent in Caldwell Academy.
Having faced Caldwell earlier in the season, the Falcons knew the challenge ahead would be a tough one. That task became even steeper as the team was without three of its top six players due to academic commitments, forcing the lineup to shift and several players to compete up three spots against strong competition.
Despite the adversity, the Falcons embraced the moment with determination and grit. Across the singles lineup, players battled in long, competitive matches, showing resilience and a willingness to rise to the occasion. Each court featured hard-fought points and extended rallies, with the Falcons refusing to back down.
Will French and Joseph Lucas came up just short in their line 1 doubles match. In singles, The Falcons gave it their all knowing the season was on the line. Notable matches included Will French at line 1, Joseph Lucas at Line 2, and Will Chalker putting in a strong effort at line 6.
In the end, Caldwell Academy managed to edge out the victory, but the scoreline did little to reflect the competitiveness and effort displayed throughout the match.
The loss brings an end to a memorable season for the Falcons—one defined by growth, perseverance, and a strong sense of team unity. With valuable experience gained and a foundation firmly in place, the future remains bright for the program.
Varsity Boys Baseball
O’Neal vs Hickory Christian Academy: 2-10, Loss
The Falcons ended up losing to Hickory Christian Academy in the first round of state playoffs, but don't let that take away from the great season they had. They were the 3-seed in their conference and with a young core and 3 seniors, they banded together and pushed for a playoff run. Although stopped short of tying the school's farthest playoff run (2nd round of states), these boys never stopped having fun and playing the game that they enjoyed. A season of highs and lows turned out to be a special season. This varsity team had a laid back approach but still competed all the way till the end. It was a great season with momentum going in their direction; the young core will look to chase history again next year.
Varsity Boys Golf
The Varsity Golf team recently celebrated Senior Recognition for Andrew Hobbs and the impact he has had on the program throughout his career at O’Neal. Andrew has been a member of the varsity team since the eighth grade and has experienced every side of Falcon Golf along the way.
From being part of teams that finished as state runner-up and later won a state championship, to watching the program go through difficult rebuilding years after losing coaches and athletes, Andrew has remained a steady and committed presence. His dedication to the program and willingness to help rebuild the culture has played a major role in the growth the team is now experiencing.
In addition to golf, Andrew has also been a valuable contributor to the Boys Soccer and Basketball programs during his senior year, showing the same commitment and team-first attitude across all three sports.
Andrew’s leadership, positive attitude, and dedication have been an inspiration to the younger golfers on the team. His presence will be greatly missed, and the Falcons are grateful for everything he has contributed to the program over the years.
Falcon Golf will also send Luke Valkovics and Samar Sandhu to the State Championships after the team narrowly missed qualifying as a full squad by a small margin. The Falcons are excited to cheer them on as they represent O’Neal on the state stage and wish them the best as they close out an impressive season.
Contributed.
