Football | 10/22/2024 3:41:00 PM

Charleston, SC – Pick a Friday night in the fall and there is a good chance of there being a strong Oceanside Collegiate Academy presence at Johnson-Hagood Stadium in Charleston on the campus of The Citadel.
 
The same could be said of many Saturday afternoons as many of the same fans who show up to support the Landsharks return to support the Bulldogs. Obviously, there is a strong connection between the two schools, especially the football programs.
 
Since first opening for the 2016-17 school year OCA has sent almost 200 student-athletes on to play their sports at colleges all over the country. That list includes The Citadel, which has recruited and signed a pair of former Landsharks to its football program – Carson Arnold in 2022 and Jace Kraftchick in 2023.
 
While Kraftchick is no longer listed on the roster, Arnold is making a name for himself at The Citadel. Currently a redshirt sophomore, Arnold is a defensive end and has played in 19 games so far in his career. In eight games this season he has 10 total tackles, with four of those coming behind the line of scrimmage with two sacks.
 
He was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team in 2023 when he played in all 11 games, recording 11 tackles.
 
At those Saturday home games you will naturally find his parents, Matthew and Allison, in the stands cheering for their son, but there are normally even more Oceanside fans who attend the Bulldogs' games.
 
When The Citadel hosted North Greenville University last month, there were plenty of OCA fans outside Johnson-Hagood Stadium for pregame festivities, as well as inside for the game. In addition to Arnold playing in the contest, former Landsharks Miles Robinson and Phen Johnson were on the sidelines for North Greenville. Both are in their first year at the school and are redshirting.
 
In addition to those, 2024 OCA graduate Ben Britton is on the roster at Army West Point, but has not yet played this year. Monroe Freeling, who was the top player in South Carolina in the class of 2023, is a regular contributor on the offensive line at Georgia, Zach Hagedon is a safety at Old Dominion and has played in six games this year and running back Vaughn Blue has seen action in five games this year at Liberty.
 
There have been many more OCA players in college football over the years. The most notable is Sam Hartman, who played at Wake Forest and Notre Dame and is now a backup for the Washington Commanders.
 
That Citadel-North Greensboro game in September brought out a nice crowd of Oceanside supporters. OCA parent and board member Sandra Patrick helped to put together an OCA tailgate prior to the game.
 
"I thought it would be a great opportunity for current OCA families and alumni families to get together and celebrate the accomplishments of these young men," Patrick said. "These boys and their families have seen what The Citadel looks like under Friday night lights, but many haven't seen what the school can offer during the day. It was great to highlight an amazing college and, at the same time, cheer on a few OCA grads.
 
 
Some of the OCA parents who attended the tailgate and game said it was a great experience.
 
"There is not much that is more exciting than tailgating and attending a Citadel game, especially when you can do it with fellow Oceanside parents and students while seeing OCA alumni on both sides," Michael Hunt, already a parent to two OCA grads. "My son is just a freshman at OCA, and my daughter is in the eighth grade and will be there next year, so it was nice to meet some other parents and OCA students."
 
Patrick said the Oceanside tailgate is easy to find with flags and tents set up representing the Landsharks.
 
"Parking was readily available, and the people were very nice and sociable," Hunt said. "There were plenty of tents, so we were able to avoid both the sun and the rain and there was a band playing good music right next to us. It was a great time, and it is worth going every Saturday they have a game."
 
Another OCA parent, Leslie Bogstad, who has a current student (Elijah) who is a junior and a recent OCA grad (Class of 2024) said it was nice to get together with OCA parents.
 
"It was so much fun to get together with our Oceanside parents and friends at The Citadel-North Greenville game," Bogstad said. "We got to watch the game and celebrate some of our Oceanside Alumni. What a great way to spend a weekend."
 
The 2024 Landsharks are off this week but will play their final game of the year at Park West Recreational Fields on Friday, November 1, against Orangeburg-Wilkinson High. It will be Senior Night for 17 members of the Class of 2025. The Landsharks will return to Johnson-Hagood Stadium for the opening round of the Class AAA playoffs on November 8.

The Citadel has two more home games this season. The Bulldogs will host Samford this Saturday at 2 p.m. and will then host Chattanooga on Nov. 9 for Homecoming.

About Oceanside Collegiate Academy: Oceanside Collegiate Academy (OCA), located in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while earning up to two years of college credit. OCA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10 grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades Learn more about OCA by visiting our website at OceansideCollegiateAcademy.org and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channel.