Three ACS senior athletes — Lindsey Ash, Solomon Griffith, and Ayolola “Lola” Oguntuase — have committed to play sports at the collegiate level and were recognized for their accomplishments at a March 22 ceremony in the school gym. “We’re so proud of each of these seniors and the way they have worked hard to develop the abilities that God has given them and now they are being blessed for their efforts,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who presided over the ceremony.
As fellow classmates, teachers, and proud parents looked on, Lola signed a formal Letter of Intent with Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where she is receiving a scholarship to play on the Women’s Soccer team. Solomon has been accepted to Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, where he will be playing on the Men’s Baseball team, and Lindsey will be attending William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, where she will be playing on the Women’s Soccer team.
During the ceremony, Hitchner also recognized sophomore Sydney Pearson, a member of the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, for pulling down 500 rebounds this season. She achieved this accomplishment when the Lady Cougars were away in Ohio in early March playing in a national tournament. “Sydney is only the 11th basketball player in school history to reach this significant milestone, and we wanted to recognize and honor you here at home in front of your school family,” Hitchner said.
A stand-out shortstop on the ACS Varsity Baseball team, Solomon is the first player in school history to get 100 hits during his high school career, a milestone that he reached at the end of last year’s season. Hitchner unveiled a new school banner with Solomon’s name that will be hung in the ACS gym.
Varsity Boys’ Baseball head coach Ray Picking described Solomon “as every coach’s dream, a young man who first and foremost loves the Lord and seeks to please Him in everything he does.” Solomon’s strong academic record, coupled with his outstanding skills fielding and at bat, helped paved the way for him to be accepted to Ursinus, a NCAA Division III school in the Centennial Conference.
Playing right wing, Lola scored 85 goals during her four years on the ACS Varsity Girls’ soccer team, led as captain in her senior year, and earned the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference MVP award in 2018. “Lola has the golden foot,” said Varsity Girls’ Head Coach Carly Witherow. She will be joining the NCAA Division II team that is part of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the most competitive conference in the country.
Lindsey, who played center mid for three years on the Varsity Girls’ soccer team, will be bringing her strong foot skills as a passer and a keen ability to see and control the field, to the NCAA Division III women’s soccer team at William Paterson that is part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
