Alfred University Athletics

ALFRED, NY – In the fall of 2018, Alfred University welcomed two-thirds of a set of triplet sisters to its picturesque, valley surroundings as Allison O’Toole and Amber O’Toole moved into their dorms to start their first semester of college, having moved all the way from California.
 
The O’Toole family is located out of Simi Valley, located just northwest of Los Angeles, right outside of Thousand Oakes. Driving, the trip from Simi Valley to Alfred would take 39 hours and 2,616 miles. Though daunting as it may seem, leaving their third triplet sister, brother, mother and father behind in California, Amber and Allison knew they were starting new chapters in their respective academic and athletic careers, and they were excited for the opportunity.
 

“When Allison and our parents were visiting campus and they were up in admissions, they saw a picture of a barn and I was looking for schools with equestrian programs,” Amber said. “I was looking at Oklahoma, Montana and Wyoming, like those areas. My parents and Allison then toured the barn and my mom texted me right after saying, ‘This school is perfect for you, if Allison doesn’t end up going here, you definitely should go here,’ and it just worked out perfectly for us as Alfred would allow Allison to play both softball and basketball.”
 
“It’s kind of funny now when I joke with her and I’m just like, ‘Yeah I just kind of dragged you with me,’ as she [Amber] didn’t even see Alfred,” Allison said.
 
Upon starting at Alfred University, Allison was on both of the women’s basketball and softball rosters while Amber was listed as a member of both of the hunt seat and western equestrian teams.
 
“Allison is one of the most special people I've had the pleasure of working with," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz of the AU women’s basketball team said, "She has a competitive fire inside of her that you just don't see a lot. At the same time, she is so disciplined and pursues excellence in everything she does. I believe 'playing hard is a skill,' and there has never been an instance where I've ever questioned her work ethic. Allison has won our team Toughness Award by a big margin each of the last two years and finished second her first year, behind Katie Boland. She just absolutely personifies who we are and what we do at AU Women's Basketball, both on and off the court. Her academics have always been a priority, she treats people the right way and she makes everyone around her better each and every day. You really can't ask for much more, and I know Amber also represents many of these qualities. That no doubt comes from their parents, John and Kim, who are such great role models and have done a great job raising their family. We are so lucky to have both Allison and Amber here representing Alfred University and appreciate the impact they make on all of us every day."
 
Both Allison and Amber were instance impacts on their respective teams even as early as the first semester. By December, both were achieving strong successes as Allison averaged double-digit scoring during that month and Amber already started collecting blue ribbons from her numerous shows during the semester.
 

“The first time I met Amber she was confident, respectful and very talented. From that day forward she has developed in every part of her equestrian life, "Head Coach of the western equestrian team and Equestrian Program Director Steve Shank said, "Amber has become more involved and leads our western team as one of our tri-captains and one of two open horsemanship and open reining riders. Amber is very engaged, hardworking and dedicated in everything she encounters. She is also a very strong competitor on Alfred University's hunt seat team. It has been an honor to help with her western riding career during this short time she is at Alfred University. She has been a joy to work with and I will dearly miss her talent, dedication and hard work when she is gone."
 
In her inaugural season in hunt seat, Amber won her division in her first show of her collegiate experience while also ending her western season as the only first-year to compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Semifinals, hosted by the University of Findlay in Findlay, OH. The semifinals wrapped up on Sunday, March 17, 2019 and Allison had just competed the Saxon softball spring break training trip out in California, having spent a week playing collegiate games in her home state before returning to New York on March 16 for what would be a thrilling season.
 
Allison played primarily as an infielder for the Saxons while occasionally filling in the lineup for outfielders when needed. “Allison is a go-getter. She plays multiple sports at a private school, while maintaining Dean's List quality grades. That is very tough to do. She is a hard-worker and a very good communicator on the field and continues to show leadership qualities while staying lighthearted and having fun while playing the two sports she really loves, "AU softball Head Coach Luke Wesneski said, "As for the impact she has had on our team – the numbers speak for themselves! She is tough and plays the game hard. She has held down the 2B position for three years and has great chemistry with the other middle infielders. We expect Allison to show up in February (post WBB season) with the same enthusiasm and championship mindset that made her an All-American last season.”
 
Since beginning her collegiate softball career, Allison has helped the Saxons to post-season play in both of their complete seasons, falling short of the Empire 8 title in 2019 and winning it in 2021.
 

“Because Alfred University is such a small school, everyone in athletics knows each other, so everyone supports each other,” Allison said about what makes the Alfred University Athletics Department special to her. “It’s a great environment to compete in as you have the town of Alfred, athletics and everyone else behind you.”
 
“It’s like we’re all a big family here,” Amber said on the same topic. “Everyone supports everyone else and it’s just very welcoming. Especially for equestrian, as we just got under athletics last year so now we’re really brought into the culture here and we’ve seen a lot of positive things from that.”
 
Outside of their athletic venues of competition, both of the O’Toole sisters have a bevy of academic honors. Amber had made Empire 8 President’s List three times while Allison has two awards. Allison also has made Dean’s List three times and has been named a Saxon Scholar each of those semesters as well while Amber also has three Dean’s List awards and four Saxon Scholar designations. Both of the sisters are members of Chi Alpha Sigma Honors Society.
 
Allison adds three softball-specific academic honors as a two-time NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete in 2019 and 2021 while also garnering the 2021 CoSIDA Softball Academic All-District III honors. Amber also has sport-specific academic honors as she has made IHSA All-Academic every single year with variations between First and Second Team.
 
They are also active in non-athletic and non-academic activities on and around campus. This year, Amber is the President of Alfred University’s chapter of Student-Athlete Activities Council (SAAC) while Allison is the Vice President, both being elected to those positions in the spring of 2021. They are also very active with community service and fundraising for charities. They, along with members of SAAC, helped with a university-wide toy drive for families in need this holiday season, working closely with the event organizer, Victoria Cramp of the Alfred University women’s swimming & diving team, who is also very active within the community in Hornell.
 

Under their administration, SAAC also has held multiple fundraising events such as 50/50 raffle ticket sales during home football games and even a tennis ball toss during halftime of one of those games.
 
Both Amber and Allison are looking to return to Alfred University to pursue their Masters of Business Administration degrees. Both are currently business administration majors while Amber also has a minor in leadership. They are also currently involved in already strong senior seasons on their respective teams. Amber was recently named a high point rider during the last morning western show of the 2021 season and Allison has helped the women’s basketball team to their best start since the 2011-12 season as the Saxons are now 5-1.