(Husson athletics)
Julia O’Leary
The former Bristol Eastern tennis player has been doing well as a freshman on the Husson University women’s team.
O’Leary had a particularly good week while the Eagles recorded the longest win and undefeated streaks in program history, and she was rewarded with North Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Week honors. She went 3-0 and didn’t lose a set.
O’Leary started her week with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Thomas College’s Amber Paine at No. 4 singles. O’Leary continued her week with a 6-4, 6-2 over Lesley University’s Mary Pulling at No. 5 singles. The week ended with a 6-4, 6-0 over the University of Southern Maine’s Margaret Smith at No. 5 singles.
O’Leary in majoring in Occupational Therapy.
Marcello Delvalle and Dillon Willis
(USJ athletics)
Men’s soccer is a first-year program at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, and Delvalle is one of two former Bristol Central players who has been on the field for the BlueJays as a freshman.
USJ has played seven games so far this season, and Delvalle has started every single one of them as a midfielder. The BlueJays opened their inaugural season with a 5-0 win over the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and Delvalle scored a goal. In fact, the midfielder’s goal was the first one scored by a USJ men’s soccer player.
The first goal in program history was an own goal by MCLA 31:37 into the match. Just over four minutes later, Domeniko Skrelja got the ball to Matt Lombardo, who passed to Delvalle. Delvalle scored and put the BlueJays ahead 2-0 at the 35:44 mark of the first half.
Delvalle is majoring in Nutrition & Wellness.
Willis, another freshman, is the other Bristol Central player who has seen a ton of playing time for the BlueJays as a freshman.
He has started all seven games on defense for USJ, which is 5-1-1 through seven games. Willis has been part of a BlueJay defense that has allowed a total of three goals in the team’s five victories and one tie. He has been a physical presence on the back end for USJ all season.
Willis took his first and only shot so far this season in a 3-1 victory over Fisher College on Sept. 11.
Willis is majoring in Nursing.
Veronica Diaz
(Husson athletics)
Diaz was an All-NVL girls golfer as a junior at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury.
At Husson, the freshman was part of record team effort as the Eagles finished second in the 2018 Maine Intercollegiate Golf Association Championship at the Bangor Municipal Golf Course. The 728 (364-364) Husson shot as a team is a program low for a two-day event.
Diaz had the second-best score of the first day for Husson after shooting a 90. It was the first in program history that all five golfers had shot a score under 100. The Husson golf program had its inaugural season in 2015-16. She shot a 106 on the second day and finished with a two-day total of 196.
Diaz is majoring in Criminal Justice.
Eric Langland
(UNE athletics)
Switching positions is not really out of the ordinary in football.
For this former St. Paul standout, he made a move slightly down the line of scrimmage. After anchoring a strong offensive line and provided blocking for the wishbone offense with the Falcons, Langland is playing at tight end for the University of New England.
The freshman has started both games for the Nor’Easters this season. Langland’s first game was a homecoming of sorts when he returned to Connecticut. UNE faced the Coast Guard Academy in New London on Aug. 30.
Langland is majoring in Nursing.
Statistics and information compiled from the team website of each athlete.
