Penn Wood’s Holmes to run track, play soccer at Tulsa

For a time, the recruiting interest in Penn Wood’s Christina Holmes can be best described as minimal. Holmes said she had received “some looks’ for soccer and emails in track, but that was it.

And then Holmes went to the Disney Girls Showcase with her club soccer team, FC Europa Storm, in late December and early January. The Storm went 2-0-1 in pool play and beat FASA Elite Impact out of Virginia in the final, 2-0.

“There were a lot of coaches there and when I got home coaches started calling me,” Holmes said. “Everything opened up.”

That presented the All-Delco track standout with a dilemma: Does she play soccer or run track in college?

As it turned out, Holmes won’t have to worry about that. She’s going to compete in both sports at the University of Tulsa.

Holmes announced her decision Thursday afternoon during a press conference at Penn Wood High School. She chose Tulsa over the University of Arkansas, which also was going to let her compete in both sports.

“I just felt I fit in better at Tulsa,” Holmes said. “I felt I got along with the team (at Tulsa) a little better and I really liked the coaches. They’re great. I love it.”

Holmes may be a little better known in Delco for her prowess in track. She earned first-team All-Delco honors and was part of Penn Wood’s PIAA Class AAA championship 4 x 400-meter relay team. This season, she was the Delco indoor champ in the 55-meter dash. But playing both sports was important to Holmes. She did not want to have to choose one sport over the other.

“I don’t think I could do it,” Holmes said.

However, Holmes kept that little fact to herself until the recruiting got a little more serious, and that also was not a problem. Tulsa and Arkansas were interested in her for both sports, which eased her mind considerably.

Finalizing her decision, though, was the biggest relief of all.

“I’m very happy it’s over,” Holmes said. “The whole recruiting procedure is very exciting, but a little scary, too. It can be overwhelming. I’m just glad I’m done with it and can enjoy the rest of my senior year.”