Many might contend that football put Oaks Christian School on the map and the OCS football program is, indeed, impressive. Today, however, Oaks Christian School demonstrated its sports prominence across the field and around the track. Under the leadership of Coach Tim Penprase, the most athletic scholarships went to the OCS baseball program and included Phillip Bickford (California State University, Fullerton), Brandon Evans (UCSB), Jack Kruger (U.S. Military Academy at West Point), Andrew Lindo (Air Force Academy), Nate Palace (Valparaiso University), and Cole Taylor (University of Utah). The OCS track program received international attention this past summer when OCS senior Danielle Alakija ran for Fiji in the 2012 London Olympics. She signed with Georgetown University and her fellow track athletes also signed with prestigious university programs—Jordan Pitcher will run for Lipscomb University and Vincent Saucer signed with University of Iowa. Adding to the sports variety, acrobat and world-class tumbler Kiara Nowlin signed with Baylor University, Lauren Iannetta will join the crew team at University of California, San Diego, Jennings Franciskovic will serve on the volleyball court at University of Hawaii, and Joseph Nelson will take his winning water polo skills to University of Southern California.
The OCS girls soccer team is defending its two-time state championship this season and three seniors will go on to play college ball. Jessica Burns signed with Biola University, Rachel Conners signed with University of San Diego, and Amber Goldberg signed with The Master’s College. The OCS girls basketball senior Meghan McIntyre signed with Yale University. “I am very excited to play for Yale,” said McIntyre. “Most people don’t realize this is a Division I program where I can combine Ivy League academics with sports.”
OCS football is always in the national spotlight. Coveted running back and outside linebacker Cameron Judge will join fellow Lions to play for the UCLA Bruins next fall. After Judge announced his decision, Bruin and former OCS wide receiver Jordan Payton called him up to welcome him to the team. Celebrated wide receiver and safety Francis Owusu drew the attention of many top universities and chose to follow in his brother’s footsteps, signing with Stanford University. Francis Owusu is one of five Owusu siblings—sister Crystal plays basketball for Columbia University, brother Brian plays football at Harvard University, and brother Chris graduated Stanford University and now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Youngest brother, Michael, is an OCS eighth grader. “My advice to my younger brother is to study hard,” said Francis Owusu. “Football will come naturally to him. And I tell him to listen to God. That is definitely the most important thing.”
