The Sooner the better for O’Neill
The University of Oklahoma made Riley O’Neill an offer she couldn’t refuse.
The 18-year-old, Grade 12 student at Lakeshore Catholic University couldn’t say yes fast enough when she was offered a full rowing scholarship at the Division 1 school beginning this fall.
O’Neill didn’t expect the offer considering full rides are few and far between for coxies.
“I went down there to look at the opportunities and see what the school is. We were expecting 70 per cent or under and if they weren’t going to offer me money, I wasn’t going to go because I couldn’t afford it.
“They called and offered a full ride and it was, “Wow, this is great.’ ’’
O’Neill can’t wait to become a Sooner.
“I am so excited to go to Oklahoma. Just having a team of coxies to support me, I’ve never had that before.
“I’m just blown away by the opportunity.”
O’Neill, who began rowing six years ago with a learn-to-row program in her native Port Colborne, also considered the University of Victoria.
“I wanted to pursue rowing for the (Canadian) national team but I was just blown away by the friendliness and the team support at Oklahoma,” she said. “I wasn’t going to get that out there. I was going to have to do this all by myself.
“Oklahoma is going to help me and really care about me and my athlete development.”
O’Neill feels the school will be a perfect fit in the classroom as well.
“I’m got to study exercise science and I want to be a coach,” she said. “Getting into the NCAA is like getting my foot into NCAA coaching. I’m so excited to go and get the foundation of an NCAA coach.”
O’Neill already helps coach crews at Lakeshore, including teaching special education student Lauren Patterson, who she also rows with in a double.
“I view her as an assistant coach,” Lakeshore rowing coach Bob Young said. “I have no problem putting her with seniors or juniors because I know they are going to be well taken care of.”
Lakeshore rowing coach Bob Young, O’Neill, and student success teacher/moderator for rowing Teresa Lenahan.
O’Neill said the secret to being a good coxie or teacher is simple.
“You have to love the sport and have to know how to row,” she said. “You have to be a well-rounded athlete, know what you’re talking about and have a passion for the sport.
“You have to be able to deliver that passion in a way people are going to understand.”
She said being able to row at the same time as being a coxie has given her a huge advantage, something Young encouraged her to do.
“Bob has been great, he’s been awesome,” she said. “The way he coaches and gives me different vantage points. I didn’t want to row. I wanted to sit in a boat and coxie. I didn’t want to sit in a boat and row. It’s the greatest vantage point you can have.”
Lakeshore student success teacher and moderator for rowing Teresa Lenahan couldn’t be happier for O’Neill.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for her. She has put in so much time, coxieing and coaching these kids,” Lenahan said.
O’Neill is set to leave in mid-August for Oklahoma where she plans to hit the gym to bulk up to 110 pounds from her current 93 pounds.
“I have to gain weight so when I get there they will put me on a meal plan and weights twice a week on top of the rowing,” she said. “I can eat whatever I want.”
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