HIGH-SCHOOL

Taunton's O'Leary commits to Villanova in signing ceremony

Cameron Merritt
The Taunton Daily Gazette

TAUNTON— It's official: Caelen O'Leary is headed to Villanova.

The Taunton High School senior and track and field standout put pen to paper for the Wildcats Thursday in a ceremony in the Rabouin Field House attended by family, friends and her track and field hockey teammates.

"I can’t thank everyone enough for their support," O'Leary said. "The amount of my teammates that showed up, friends, family, it just means the world to me to know that I have all of that support at home even when I’m going so far away and I know that my parents and everyone is so proud of me, so I’m grateful for that."

A 2022-23 Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Indoor Track All-Scholastic, as well as a 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Field Hockey All-Scholastic, O'Leary has been a key piece of the Tigers' mid-distance running, recently finishing fourth in the 400 meter with a time of 1:01.45 and second in the 4x400 meter relay as part of a team with Phylicia Dias, Ava Uhl and Emersyn DePonte with a time of 4:21.21 at the Hockomock League Championship and came in third at the 600 meter with a time of 1:42.01 at the Hockomock Indoor Championship this winter and competed at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston in March.

Crystal O'Leary (left) and Brian O'Leary (right) watch on as their daughter Caelen O'Leary (center) signs her National Letter of Intent committing to Villanova University in a ceremony at Taunton High School.

In college, she'll continue running mid-distance in the 400 and 800 meter, and with Villanova not having a 600 meter option, she will most likely compete in either the 300 or 500 meter and possibly take on a longer distance heat like the mile.

"We’ll see what they have in store for me," O'Leary said.

As for choosing Villanova, O'Leary said the people she met there made it easy.

"I love the teammates, I love the location of it and the coaching staff is just awesome in general," O'Leary said. "They’re a very athletic and superior team in the Big East and in general and hopefully I will thrive there."

O'Leary becomes the second former Tiger standout to join the Wildcats in three years, with two time state champion Kelsey White currently starring for the Villanova softball team.

Taunton's Caelen O'Leary poses with her family after signing her National Letter of Intent committing to Villanova University.

For O'Leary's parents, they couldn't be prouder of their daughter's accomplishment.

"It means everything," her mom Crystal O'Leary said. "She’s worked really hard and it’s been a long road where we didn’t really know where she was going to end up at. We hoped that she was going to go to college and we hoped that she maybe would do a sport, but we didn’t know what sport it would be, so the fact that she arrived doing something that she loves and that she’s been able to achieve great things in, we’re really excited and happy for her, and she’s going to a great school which is the best part."

"I’m just very proud of her for accomplishing this knowing how hard she’s worked all of these years to get here and just the hours and time she’s put in to be here today," her dad Brian O'Leary said. "I’m glad it hasn’t gone unnoticed and just to see that with the turnout here I’m just so very proud of everybody here at the school also to show the support that they’ve shown her."

O'Leary was also grateful for the support she received from her field hockey teammates and coaches that came to the ceremony.

"They are like my sisters and even though I’m not playing field hockey in college, I know I can rely on them whenever I need them and my coaches (Liz Hathaway and Mike Fox) mean the world to me too and they’re so proud of me even though I didn’t go for field hockey," O'Leary said.

Now with the MIAA Division I Championship coming up, O'Leary said she feels a mix of emotions heading into her final high school races.

"It’s just a whirlwind of emotions," O'Leary said. "I can’t believe this is actually the end but at the same time it’s different because even though I’m closing this chapter in high school I know I’m going to have a brand new team and teammates and a whole new slate of meets to do for the next four years, so I’m just kind of taking it back and having fun making the most of it."

From left to right: Crystal O'Leary, Caelen O'Leary and Brian O'Leary are all smiles as Caelen committed to Villanova University in a signing ceremony at Taunton High School.

Overall, it's been all of her teammates and coaches that have made her time at Taunton High so special.

"I can’t thank my coaches and my teammates enough," O'Leary said. "They’ve done so much for me. They’re there on my lowest days, on my best days and I’m going to miss them so much when I’m gone but I know they have my back no matter what."

Looking forward to next year, both of O'Leary's parents are excited to head down to Philadelphia to watch their daughter compete for the Wildcats.

"I don’t think I can quite believe it honestly, I think that this is something where she’ll be not just at the collegiate level, but the Division I level," Crystal O'Leary said. "I think it’s not going to hit us until she’s there but we’re really excited and we’re learning as we go. It’s going to be new for all of us and we’re just really excited to see it happen."

“I’m looking forward to seeing all of the talent that’s there," Brian O'Leary said. "I’ve been so impressed already with the level they’re competing at here at the high school, so I can only imagine what it’ll be like once we arrive at the college.”

Additionally, Crystal O'Leary praised her daughter's teachers in Taunton for helping to make her a well-rounded student as well as an athlete.

"I’m just really grateful for the school and the support she’s had here at Taunton High School," Crystal O'Leary said. "Everything from academic support, which her teachers have made her high school career incredible and she’s not going to this school for athletics alone, she’s going because she’s a complete full student academically and athletically and her coaches have provided an amazing support system and they’re great at what they do and I just can’t thank them enough. We’re here because of them."

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.