By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/19/16
Academy of the New Church 2019 midfielder Bailey O’Connor has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at the United States Military Academy at West Point and begin the admissions process.
Bailey O’Connor profile:
Bailey O’Connor
High School: Academy of the New Church
Graduation Year: 2019
Position: Midfielder
College Choice: United States Military Academy at West Point–ARMY
Club Affiliation: Dukes LC
Lacrosse Honors:
Under Armour Underclassmen All-American 2019 (Team Philly)
Big 12 All-Star selection
Dukes LC Captain
Received a Varsity Letter as a Freshman
Academic Honors: 2015-2016 Vice President, National History Day State Qualifier, 4.1 Freshman GPA
What will you major in/study? “West Point is always ranked as one of the best academic institutions in the country, so I have many options, however I have an interest in History/Government/Law.”
Why did you choose West Point? “I chose West Point because of the great honor, respect, and benefits one can receive by graduating from the school. Also, the bond of the players and coaches and the locker room atmosphere was a vibe that was very appealing to me, as I never got a greater sense of a complete family of brothers. Lastly, Army is regularly ranked as one of the top schools in the world, and to earn this opportunity was one I could not pass up.”
HS team’s outlook for the 2017 season? “Coming to ANC was a great opportunity for me. On the athletic side it has been cool to watch the spirit support of the fall sports, so I cannot wait for lacrosse season. Our team returns some great kids from last year, and we have some new kids as well, yet we are a small team where we have to play much more than just a few lines in a game. I know they have won the Friends League the last few years and have developed some great rivalries. Being invited to compete at the end of the season in the Inter-AC Challenge is also great. So hopefully we can stay healthy and continue to focus on improvement. We have great coaches and a challenging schedule, so the opportunities are there for us, we just need to take advantage of them.”
Thank You: “I would like to say thank you to Coach Ebe Helm of the Dukes LC for bringing me into the program and Coach Jason Christmas of the Dukes LC for all the help with college recruiting. Also, I would like the thank Coach Scott Ketcham of Emmaus High School for helping me realize my potential as a student athlete and believing in me and my high goals.
“Next, I would like to thank coaches Rob and Jack Forster of the Academy of the New Church for bringing me into the ANC family and helping develop my game to the next level.
“Lastly, and most importantly I would like to thank Desi and Lou Gonzales for introducing me to the sport and setting the building blocks and worth ethic of my lacrosse career. They have helped me with everything from my skills to stringing my heads, and I owe a great deal of thanks to each of them.”
Other schools considered: Naval Academy, The University of Notre Dame, Lehigh University, and the University of Pennsylvania
Maplezone Sports Institute (MSI), the official sponsor for PhillyLacrosse.com boys’ recruits, congratulates Bailey O’Connor. With indoor facilities located on Route 322 in Garnet Valley, PA and all turf outdoor fields on Chichester Avenue in Aston, PA, MSI is home to all your training needs, both on and off the field. To learn more, visit us at Maplezone.com or contact mattv@maplezone.com