Holton-Arms Alumnae Make Their Mark at Duke
The transition from high school to college can be daunting, but two standout athletes from Holton-Arms’ Class of 2024 have risen to the challenge, earning spots on Duke University's women's basketball and crew teams as walk-ons. Ella, a basketball player, and Leilani, a rower, both leveraged the skills and experiences they gained at Holton Arms to make an impression and secure roster spots on their respective Duke teams.
Ella Moore '24 Duke Media Day Photo
Ella always knew she wanted to pursue athletics in college, whether through a club sport or trying to walk on to a varsity team. After a successful high school basketball career, she set her sights on the Blue Devils.
"I had thought about attempting to walk onto the track team initially, but after the basketball season, I realized how much I missed being on the court and thought I would take the chance and reach out to the women's basketball program," Ella said.
The tryout process involved demonstrating her skills, resilience, and ability to work with the team during practices. Ella's former Holton-Arms coach, Jacquie, praised her relentless drive and competitive spirit.
"You won't find many student-athletes that are built like Ella. Her relentless drive to excel on the court was infectious, inspiring her teammates to elevate their own performance and embrace a competitive spirit," Coach Fernandez said. “Every game became a masterclass in dedication and pure drive. Her natural leadership shone through not only in her individual play but also in her ability to uplift those around her, fostering a culture of teamwork and mutual respect. Watching her compete at such a high level was not just about winning games; it was about witnessing the growth of a player who truly made everyone around her better, both on and off the court. Ella never backed down from a challenge and she simply put in the work. She was dedicated to her craft and all of her hard work has paid off, to say the least. I admire her humility and dedication. I think a lot of athletes want to be great at their sport, but truly don't understand what it takes to take your game to that level. Her excellence certainly wasn't by chance or luck, she was incredibly dedicated and was rarely satisfied with her skills; she never settled. To top it off, she may be one of the most competitive players I have ever coached; high school or college.”
Leilani's path to the Duke crew team was a bit different. Coach Acerra recounts, “Leilani had tried several sports in Upper School at Holton but always seemed to come back to the water. Leilani had been a competitive swimmer and swam all four years at Holton. Additionally, she tried track and cross country and returned to the water in her junior spring by joining the crew team. I do not think she realized how much she would like the sport! As a tall, athletic person, Leilani took to rowing quickly, easily learning the stroke and already aware that success comes with hard work. Daily at practice, she put her all into every piece we did on the water or in a land workout. A no-nonsense, get-the-job-done kind of attitude drove Leilani to be a leader of the team by example. Teammates worked to emulate her drive and determination. I always knew that if I asked Leilani to do something she would do it to the best of her ability, whether just helping with equipment or fixing a technical aspect of her stroke, Leilani was willing to try! Leilani recognizes that the desire to win begins with taking a risk and then the willingness to work hard to achieve that goal. By the end of her junior spring, she had worked her way into the second varsity boat at Stotesbury and, with her boatmates, advanced to the semi-finals. By her senior spring, Leilani was the stroke seat of the first varsity four and, together with her boat mates, again made semi-finals at Stotesbury and just missed advancing at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America's National Championship (if they had been in any other heat they would have advanced). At the end of the spring, Leilani mentioned that she might try to walk on to the Duke team. Clearly, she was determined and worked hard all summer to make this possible!”
Leilani Clark '24 Pictured Far Left
The tryout process for Leilani included erg workouts, running drills, biking, 500M row tests, and other assessments to evaluate her skills and potential. Leilani embraced the challenge and competed against the other four women who were competing for a spot.
Both Ella and Leilani credit their time at Holton-Arms for preparing them to excel at the collegiate level. Ella highlighted the importance of "confidence in yourself and your abilities, being resilient, and how to connect with others" — traits she's drawn upon during her transition.
Leilani noted that Holton's demanding academics and her experience as a multi-sport athlete have helped her balance the rigor of Duke's coursework with the added responsibilities of being a student-athlete.
As they embark on their first seasons with the Blue Devils, Ella and Leilani are excited for the opportunity to learn and grow. Ella hopes to "garner a lot of wisdom" from her talented teammates, while Leilani aims to perfect her technique and see her performance improve on the water. These Holton-Arms alumnae have already proven their determination and ability to succeed at the highest level. Their journeys serve as an inspiration to current and future Holton students, demonstrating that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.