Annie Dyson named ILWomen Preseason All-American
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
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Senior Annie Dyson was named a 2022 Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse.
Dyson, a Tewaaraton Award Top 25 nominee, was an honorable mention selection. The midfielder returns after leading the team in draw controls (56) a year ago. She was second in ground balls (34), third in caused turnovers (14) and fifth in points (35).
Dyson scored multiple goals in seven games, including a career-high four in the win over UConn in the NCAA First Round. She had a goal and an assist in six games and had at least one ground ball, one caused turnover and one draw control in eight games.
Dyson picked up a career-high eight draw controls in the win over Virginia Tech and recorded a career-best four caused turnovers in two games.
Virginia will open the 2022 season at Elon on Friday, February 11.
Jay Aiello named ACC Wrestler of the Week
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
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Virginia 197-pound grad student Jay Aiello has been named the ACC Wrestler of the Week.
Aiello went 4-0 last week with three bonus-point victories in matches at the Virginia Duals last week, picking up a pair of first-period pins and a tech fall in his first three matches. He closed the weekend with a 6-1 decision over No. 11 Jake Woodley of Oklahoma. Woodley was a 2021 All-American and NCAA semifinalist.
With the victories, Aiello improved to 7-0 on the season after returning to action following his bronze-medal outing at the U23 World Games back in November.
Virginia returns to action this weekend when the Cavaliers open ACC dual competition at No. 19 Pittsburgh on Friday (Jan. 21). Wrestling is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Game Notes: Virginia faces Pitt on Wednesday
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
Virginia (10-7, 4-3 ACC) plays at Pitt (7-10, 2-4 ACC) in ACC action on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Tipoff at Petersen Events Center is set for 9 p.m.
For Openers
- Virginia (10-7, 4-3 ACC) defeated Pitt (7-10, 2-4 ACC) 57-56 in the first meeting between the teams on Dec. 3 at John Paul Jones Arena.
- UVA’s Armaan Franklin is averaging 15 points on 48.3 percent shooting from the field the past five games.
- UVA is averaging 66.7 points on 47.4 percent shooting in its 10 wins, while yielding 53.3 points on 35.6 percent shooting for its opponents.
Broadcast Information
- The Virginia-Pitt game will be televised on ACC Network and streamed online at WatchESPN.com and ESPN App.
- The game will also be broadcast on Virginia Sports Radio Network, VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Sports app.
- Live statistics will be available on VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Sports app.
The Head Coach
- Dean and Markel Families Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tony Bennett has a 305-110 (.735) mark in 13 seasons at UVA and 374-143 (.723) career mark in 16 seasons as a head coach.
- Bennett won his 300th game at Virginia with the 61-43 victory against Lehigh on Nov. 26, 2021.
- The three-time National (2007, 2015 and 2018) and four-time ACC Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019) guided the Cavaliers to their 10th ACC regular-season championship in 2020-21.
- In 2018-19, Bennett led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA national championship, a share of their ninth ACC regular-season title and a school-record 35 wins.
- Bennett has led UVA to 10 consecutive postseason appearances (2012-21) and seven consecutive NCAA tournaments (2014-21).
- UVA is 153-65 (.702) in ACC play (86-23 at home & 67-42 away), 173-34 (.836) at home and 152-45 (.772) in non-conference action (86-9 at JPJ) under Bennett.
- Bennett ranks third all-time in winning percentage (.702) among ACC head coaches with 100 or more ACC wins.
Hoo Are These Cavaliers?
- UVA is led by its returning backcourt of Kihei Clark (9.2 ppg & 3.9 apg) and Reece Beekman (7.5 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.6 rpg & 2.2 spg), and the additions of transfers Jayden Gardner (14 ppg & 7.2 rpg) and Armaan Franklin (12.5 ppg).
- Clark has played 110 games at UVA and is averaging a career high in 3-point percentage (40 %).
- The Cavaliers added transfers Gardner (East Carolina) and Franklin (Indiana) to fill the void left by standouts Sam Hauser (16 ppg), Jay Huff (13 ppg) and Trey Murphy III (11.3 ppg).
- Gardner averaged 18.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in 79 career games at East Carolina, while Franklin averaged 11.4 points and shot 42.5 percent from 3-point range in 2020-21.
- Kadin Shedrick (5.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg & 2.71 bpg) and Francisco Caffaro (4.1 ppg & 3.5 rpg) anchor the paint, while Kody Stattmann (40.7% 3FGs), Taine Murray (42.1% 3FGs), Igor Miliĉić Jr. (36.4% 3FGs) and Carson McCorkle (33.3% 3FGs) provide perimeter depth.
Virginia All-Time vs. Pitt
- Virginia is 18-4 all-time vs. Pitt in the series that dates back to 1957-58.
- UVA has won seven straight contests vs. the Panthers, including a 57-56 win on Dec. 3, 2021, at John Paul Jones Arena.
- Virginia has won 14 of the last 15 games against Pitt, including a 7-3 record in Pittsburgh.
- UVA is 11-1 against Pitt since 2013-14 when the Panthers joined the ACC.
- The Cavaliers have a two-game winning streak against the Panthers at Petersen Events Center.
- Tony Bennett is 11-2 all-time vs. Pitt.
Last Time vs. The Panthers
- Jayden Gardner’s step-back jumper with 0.9 seconds remaining lifted Virginia (6-3, 1-0 ACC) to an improbable 57-56 win over Pitt (2-6, 0-1 ACC) on Dec. 3 at John Paul Jones Arena.
- Gardner’s 3-point play with 9.7 seconds and ensuing five second in-bounds violation on Pitt set up the game-winner which came off a rebound on a Taine Murray missed 3-pointer.
- Gardner finished with a game-high 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, tallied five rebounds and tied his career high of four assists.
- Armaan Franklin had 10 points and Kihei Clark added nine.
- UVA had a season-high 18 assists.
- John Hugley led the Panthers with 12 points.
Last Time Out
- Wake Forest (14-4, 4-3 ACC) outscored Virginia (10-7, 4-3 ACC) 36-26 in the second half as the Demon Deacons held on to win 63-55 at John Paul Jones Arena on Jan. 15.
- Wake Forest shot 45 percent (23-51 FG) from the field, while the Cavaliers shot 36 percent (21-58 FG).
- Virginia was active on both ends of the floor, tallying 10 steals and 17 assists, but a 13-0 run by the Demon Deacons in the second half proved to be the difference in the game.
- UVA suffered a 6:48 scoring drought in the second half.
- Armaan Franklin scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
- Kody Stattmann tied his career high of 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
- Reece Beekman, the ACC’s leader in steals per game, tallied five steals in the loss.
On The Horizon
- Virginia travels to NC State for an ACC contest on Saturday, Jan. 22. Tipoff at PNC Arena is set for 4 p.m. on ACC Network.
Scattershooting: Forbes lights up the ACC teleconference, Bennett looking for consistency & more UVA notes
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Scattershooting around Virginia athletics …
Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes, who won Monday’s ACC coaches teleconference with some of his comments, was asked if beating Virginia in Charlottesville over the weekend was a validation as to how good the Demon Deacons are this season.
Virginia owned a seven-point lead with 10:23 to play when the Cavaliers suffered yet another one of its momentum-killing scoring droughts, giving up a 13-0 Wake run over the next seven minutes and eventually lost, 63-55. The Cavaliers scored a mere eight points over the final 10 minutes of the game.
“I don’t think it was a validation,” Forbes said. “It was just a great road win at Virginia. We hadn’t won at Virginia in 11 years. It felt good. We know it’s going to be a 40-minute game. We put the ball in the hands of our two best players.”
One of those best players was Alondes Williams, a guard who scored 14 points, one of four Deacs in double figures.
“He’s one of those Burger King All-Americans that likes to kick McDonald’s ass,” Forbes quipped.
Even though the Deacs won the game, Forbes knew his team was fortunate to walk out of JPJ having broken the streak, the second ACC team to steal a win at JPJ and end a long losing streak this season. Earlier, Clemson ended a similar 11-game losing streak to the Cavaliers.
“To me, [Virginia] is the most physical team in the league,” Forbes said, echoing thoughts of Virginia Tech’s Mike Young earlier last week. “You’re in a grinder. It’s like getting all your teeth pulled one at a time without any pain medication.”
Tony trying to figure it out
Meanwhile, Tony Bennett is pressing forward. He knows his team has more limitations than any squad he has previously coached. There’s more of an offensive problem than a defensive one.
While Forbes put the ball in the hands of his best two players, Bennett doesn’t have a consistent go-to guy offensively when Virginia really, desperately needs a basket.
“I thought we left a lot of baskets out there,” Bennett said of the Wake loss. “The ability to finish some of those when we had some point-blank layups and then just a couple lapses, whether it was defensive rebounding or something at crucial times, it was just enough (to help Wake win).
“I told the guys you play as hard as you can for as long as you can. When you’ve done that, you’ve been in possession games down the stretch. You’ve got to be sound and make some plays. Wake Forest did a better job of that.”
Virginia was only 6 of 23 on layups in that game.
The Cavaliers travel to Pitt on Wednesday for a rematch with the Panthers, who they defeated in December with a huge comeback.
Quick hitters …
- Tony Elliott and his staff are not wasting time in trying to get to know the state’s high school coaches. Elliott and his two coordinators, John Rudzinski (defense) and Des Kitchings (offense), are scheduled to speak at the Championship Football Coaches Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 26 in Richmond.
- Two graduate-transfer prospects that have been offered by Virginia, tight end Steven Stilianos of Lafayette and John Paul Flores, an offensive lineman from Dartmouth, made official visits to UVA this past weekend during Junior Day, where tons of high school prospects attended. On Monday, Stilianos, who holds lots of offers, picked up another one from Pitt.
- Former Virginia point guard Kyle Guy made quite an impression during his two 10-day contracts with the Miami Heat. Guy performed so well that the Heat has decided to sign him to a two-way contract. Miami made the decision when Marcus Garrett was waived because of wrist surgery.
- Somewhat overlooked in UVA’s loss to Wake Forest was Reece Beekman’s linescore: six points, seven assists, two turnovers, two blocks and five steals. Our friend Danny Neckel came up with this nugget on Beekman’s game: it has been more than three years since a major-conference player had at least those numbers in a game. During Monday’s ACC teleconference, Pitt coach Jeff Capel called Beekman “an elite defender.” He wasn’t kidding. Beekman has 75 assists, an ACC-leading 35 steals and 10 blocks this season.
- A brief inspection of Virginia’s 2022 roster, revealed on the Cavaliers’ website on Monday (the last day to declare for the NFL Draft), showed that “Mr. Football,” Keytaon Thompson, is returning to the team, which completes the notion that UVA will boast one of the most explosive offenses returning next season with almost all of its receivers and QB Brennan Armstrong.
- In the bad news, promising freshman linebacker West Weeks from Georgia has transferred to LSU. Weeks, who came on strong at the end of his freshman year for the Cavaliers, broke his ankle in the Virginia Tech game.
- Pro Football Focus, a great football analytics company, has rated UVA’s Armstrong as the No. 3 returning QB in the nation, behind only Heisman-winning Bryce Young of Alabama and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State. Now, if UVA can just put together an offensive line to protect him and develop a running game that will enhance him.
- With Mamadi Diakite making an appearance with the Oklahoma City Thunder this past week, Virginia can boast 12 of its players are in the NBA. Only six other schools have more: Kentucky (29), Duke (23), Kansas (15), Texas (14), Michigan (14) and Carolina (13). Remember when opposing coaches used to tell recruits, “Don’t go to Virginia, you’ll never get to the NBA if you go to Virginia.” Bullfeathers.
Women’s Basketball: Smithfield Commonwealth Clash game Tuesday in Blacksburg
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
The Virginia women’s basketball team (3-10, 0-3 ACC) faces Virginia Tech (12-4, 4-1 ACC) in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg.
Broadcast Information
- The game will be televised on the ACC Network and streamed online through ACCNX. ACCNX streams are available through participating TV providers that carry ACC Network and can be watched on the ESPN app and through WatchESPN
- All of the 2021-22 Virginia women’s basketball games are available locally on the radio on NewsRadio 1070 AM and 98.9 FM WINA
- Live stats will also be available for the game
Virginia Notes
- This game was originally scheduled for Jan. 6
- Sunday’s scheduled game against Syracuse was postponed because of a snowstorm in Charlottesville. It was the fifth game in UVA’s last seven scheduled contests to be moved, canceled or postponed. Virginia Tech also postponed its Sunday home game against Clemson because of snow
- With the rescheduling of the Virginia Tech game to Tuesday, UVA will now play six games in a 13-day span. The Cavaliers and Hokies will play one another twice in 10 days
- The Cavaliers are coming off a 66-43 loss against No. 4 NC State on Thursday night. The Cavaliers held a nine-point lead in the first quarter and led for 7:37 of the contest, but NC State mounted a 20-1 run from the end of the first quarter into the second quarter to take control of the game
- UVA shot 80.0 percent in the fourth quarter, going 8-of-10 from the field. This was the highest single-quarter shooting percentage for the team since women’s basketball adopted the quarter system. The previous high was a 9-of-12 performance (75.0 percent) in the fourth quarter at Virginia Tech on Feb. 23, 2020
- Grad student center Eleah Parker had a season-best five blocked shots in the game. Parker ranked third in the country in blocked shots in 2018-19, averaging 3.19 per game. She tied the Penn single-season record that season with 99, which ranks second in the Ivy League record book
- Parker ranks 10th in the ACC in blocked shots per game at 1.33
- The seven blocked shots by the team was a season high. The previous high was five which they logged against JMU and William & Mary
- Grad student guard has taken over the team scoring lead averaging 12.9 points per game. Toi had a game-high 14 points against NC State. She has led the Cavaliers in scoring in each of the last seven games and eight of the last nine
- Toi continues to lead the ACC in minutes played per game at 36.1
- Junior guard Taylor Valladay ranks seventh in the ACC in assists per game at 3.6. She is also 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.39
- Valladay scored seven points against NC State, all in the first quarter
The Commonwealth Clash
- The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, originally called the Commonwealth Challenge (2005-2007), has been a part of the UVA-Virginia Tech rivalry since 2014. It was an all-sports points-based program with the Commonwealth
- Clash trophy presented to the winning school each year for its dominance in head-to-head competitions. This game is worth 0.5 points. The Hokies currently lead 3.0-1.5
- Virginia Tech has been ranked as high as No. 24 in the AP Poll this season
- The Hokies lead the ACC in made-three-pointers per game (8.9). Aisha Shepard leads that charge with 3.0 per game. Cayla King is shooting 42.3 percent from behind the arc
- Elizabeth Kitley is second in the ACC in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.6 and 10.9 respectively
- Virginia leads the all-time series 51-14 and has won six of the last eight meetings
- In 2020, the teams split the contests with Virginia Tech winning in Charlottesville (69-61) and the Cavaliers coming out on top in Blacksburg (86-76)
- In that last meeting (2/23/20), the Cavaliers jumped out to a 13-point lead in the first quarter, but the Hokies came back to take a one-point lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Virginia shot over seventy percent from the field in the final 10 minutes to outscore Virginia Tech 22-13 and log the 10-point victory.
- Dominique Toussaint scored a career-high 29 points with fellow senior guard Jocelyn Willoughby matching that total while also grabbing 10 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the year. Aisha Sheppard of Virginia Tech scored 32 points, going 10-of-22 overall from the field and 8-of-15 from three-point range
On the Horizon
- Virginia has two more road games this week, playing at No. 21 North Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 20 and at No. 16 Duke on Sunday, Jan. 23. Both games tip at 6 p.m. with the latter being televised on the ACC Network
- The Cavaliers return home to host No. 20 Notre Dame on Tuesday, Jan. 25 in another rescheduled game
Air Force secondary coach confirms he’s been hired by Virginia
By Jerry Ratcliffe
As reported here Saturday morning, former Air Force secondary coach Curome Cox has joined Tony Elliott’s Virginia staff.
Cox announced his hiring on his Twitter account: “The BOLT family is nothing short of amazing,” Cox tweeted. “I will miss the players and relationships most. I’m beyond excited for the opportunity to come back home to Virginia. Ready to get to work, impacting the lives of young men. Look forward to meeting Wahoo Nation.”
Cox, who played at Maryland before embarking on a three-year NFL career, wrote on his Twitter account that he will coach defensive backs and serve as passing game coordinator.
At UVA, Cox will reunite with new Cavaliers’ defensive coordinator John Rudzinski, who served in the same capacity at Air Force.
Michigan State defensive end transfer to Virginia
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Virginia has found some help for its depleted defense through the transfer portal.
The Cavaliers gained former Michigan State defensive end Jack Camper, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior with two years of eligibility remaining. Camper, who is originally from Virginia Beach, announced he had committed to Virginia on his Twitter account.
Camper was a three-year letter winner at Michigan State, where over 28 games, recorded 29 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery. He had two starts during an injury-plagued career, including a start in 2020 against Penn State.
Having starred at powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Camper was considered one of the top 35 tight ends in the country his senior season, and one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Florida.
At Michigan State, he converted to defensive end during his freshman campaign.
A 2018 redshirt, he moved on to play 39 snaps in 2019 before he was injured. In virus-shortened 2020, he played in all seven games, starting the Penn State game. Camper played in the Spartans’ first three games this past season before suffering a significant injury.
Virginia lost starting defensive end Mandy Alonso to graduation after this past season, and Alonso’s backup, Nusi Malani, who transferred to Washington State.
Swimming and Diving: Virginia splits dual at Virginia Tech
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
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The Virginia swimming & diving teams split in its dual at Virginia Tech on Saturday morning at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
The UVA women won 193-107, while the men fell 113-187. The Cavaliers won 16 events overall in the meet.
“It’s always a tough trip heading down to Virginia Tech coming off our block of winter training and we like to use this as a gauge and steppingstone for the back half of the season,” head coach Todd DeSorbo said. “The men and women executed races really well, which is what is most important in mid-January. I expect both the men and women to continue to improve as the winter progresses towards championship season.
“Our divers, especially the women, had a great day on the boards. Quite a few season and personal bests, so I’m excited to see them improving significantly. Overall, a quick day trip for some good racing to kick off the semester. Hats off to VT for some great competition as always. Looking forward to next weekend to compete at home and honor our fourth years in their last home dual meets.”
No. 1 Virginia women at Virginia Tech
- UVA won all but three events in the dual and swept the top three finishes in two events.
- Freshman Gretchen Walsh led the Cavaliers with three individual wins. She placed first in the 50-yard freestyle (22.18), 200-yard backstroke (1:54.67) and 200-yard IM (2:01.24).
- Junior Kate Douglass won two events, taking the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.01) and 100-yard freestyle (48.11).
- Junior Maddie Donohoe swept the distance free events with wins in the 500-yard freestyle (4:52.54) and 1000-yard (10.00.69) freestyle.
- Sophomore Alex Walsh picked up wins in the 100-yard backstroke (52.68) and 100-yard butterfly (52.74).
- Freshman Emma Weyant won the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.87) and senior Alexis Wenger finished first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:14.08).
- UVA took the top two spots in the 200-yard medley relay. Kate Douglass, Ella Nelson, Abby Harter and Alex Walsh, respectively, took first in 1:39.46.
- The Cavaliers won the 400-yard freestyle relay to close out the meet. Ella Nelson, Ella Bathurst, Reilly Tiltmann and Alex Walsh, respectively, finished first in 3:20.10.
- In diving, Lizzy Kaye finished second on both the 1-meter (305.10) and 3-meter (305.63) boards, scoring career-highs in both events. Junior Charlotte Bowen was fourth on the 1-meter and junior Jennifer Bell was fourth on the 3-meter.
No. 17 Virginia men at No. 16 Virginia Tech
- The Cavalier men picked up three event wins against the Hokies.
- Sophomore Noah Nichols won the 100-yard breaststroke (53.92), sophomore Matt King was first in the 50-yard freestyle (20.05) and senior Justin Grender won the 200-yard backstroke (1:44.71).
- UVA took the top two spots in the 50-yard freestyle, with sophomore Matt Brownstead finishing second in 20.06, just behind King.
- Grender also finished second in the 100-yard backstroke (48.47).
- King added a second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle (43.98).
- Sophomore Tanner Hering (9:33.05) and freshman Peter Thompson (9:40.67) were two-three in the 1000-yard freestyle.
- Sophomore Jack Wright finished second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:38.61).
- Junior Josh Fong (1:48.64) and senior Casey Storch (1:48.84) finished second and third, respectively, in the 200-yard butterfly.
- Storch was second in the 200-yard IM (1:49.19).
- In diving, senior Walker Creedon finished third on both the 1-meter and 3-meter and freshman Nicholas Sanders took fourth in both events.
Up next
Virginia closes the dual meet season next weekend at home, hosting North Carolina on Friday, Jan. 21 and NC State on Saturday, Jan. 22. Saturday’s meet will be Senior Day.
Cavaliers close Virginia Duals with strong performance Saturday
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
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Members of the Virginia wrestling team combined to win 10-of-12 individual matches wrestled on the day, including wins in all three matchups against nationally-ranked opponents, to close out the Virginia Duals on Saturday at the Hampton Coliseum.
Instead of wrestling the traditional dual-meet format, the Cavaliers wrestled individual matches against athletes from Kent State, No. 18 Oklahoma and South Dakota State.
Virginia started the day off strong, winning all three individual matches against wrestlers from Kent State, with Jarod Verkleeren (149), Jake Keating (157) and Michael Battista (184) all posting bonus-point victories.
The Cavaliers closed the day against wrestlers from the No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners, winning six of the seven matches between the teams. Included in those wins were decisions over nationally-ranked opponents by Patrick McCormick (125), Battista (184) and 16th-ranked Jay Aiello. McCormick defeated No. 23 Joey Prata, while Battista took a win over No. 21 Darrien Roberts and Aiello bested No. 11 Jake Woodley.
Two extra matches were also wrestled with Aiello pinning South Dakota State’s Nick Casperson, while the Jackrabbit’s Jack Thompson slipped past Jon Errico at 157 pounds.
UVA Notes
- UVA won 10-of-12 matches wrestled, including all three against Kent State and six-of-seven vs. Oklahoma.
- In all three matches involving ranked foes, the Cavaliers came out on top each time against the Sooners.
- Jay Aiello improved to 8-0 on the season with his two wins on Saturday afternoon.
- Michael Battista improved to 11-1 with his two wins Saturday – including the upset of No. 21 Roberts.
- Virginia posted five bonus-point victories on the day, including two pins and two tech falls.
UVA coach Steve Garland
“This trip started out with a ton of adversity, but wow did it end on a high note. I’m really proud of our guys. They just wrestled so well today. From start to finish we had some tremendous performances, today in particular. Starting off with Patrick McCormick with a signature win over a highly nationally-ranked guy and really showing us what he’s all about. He’s had a roller coaster of a season. It was a pleasure to see him wrestle like we know he can. I’m really happy for him.”
“Brian Courtney also turned in some gritty performances on the day, winning late in both matches. Jarod Verkleeren might be the story of the weekend, though, wrestling one of the toughest kids in the country in his weight class and finding a way to win. He looked great all tournament. Michael Battista continues to impress us and beat another nationally-ranked opponent, while Jay Aiello defeated a returning All-American and very tough opponent from Oklahoma. Jay wrestled really smart and technically sound to get the win.”
“I’m really thankful to Mike McCormick and his entire team for putting this event together and I’m thankful for the other coaches and their programs for working with us to get these matches in. I’d also like to thank our athletic trainer, Matt Tipton, for all the work he’s putting in with our guys – especially in recent weeks.”
Virginia vs. Kent State
149: Jarod Verkleeren pinned Tyler Johnson (KSU), 2:09
157: Jake Keating tech fall Robert Pryhocki (KSU), 20-5 (2:49)
184: Michael Battista tech fall Mike Caniglia (KSU), 23-8 (6:35)
Virginia vs. Oklahoma
125: Patrick McCormick dec. No. 23 Joey Prata (OU), 2-1
133: No. 14 Brian Courtney major dec. Gabe Vidlak (OU), 13-5
133: No. 14 Brian Courtney dec. Caleb Tanner (OU), 9-7
149: Jarod Verkleeren dec. Dom Demas (OU), 3-2
157: No. 16 Justin Thomas (OU) dec. Jake Keating, 11-5
184: Michael Battista dec. No. 21 Darrien Roberts (OU), 3-1
197: No. 16 Jay Aiello dec. No. 11 Jake Woodley (OU), 6-1
Extra Matches
157: Jack Thompson (South Dakota State) dec. Jon Errico, 11-7
197: No. 16 Jay Aiello pinned Nick Casperson (South Dakota State), 2:48
Virginia picks up a pair of wins on second day of Virginia Tech Invitational
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
Highlighted by event wins from Bex Hawkins and Claire Frazier Bolton, Virginia’s men’s and women’s track teams put on a strong performance in the final day of competition at the Virginia Tech Invitational.
Bex Hawkins kicked things off for the Hoos with an impressive performance in the high jump. Her mark of 1.76m (5’9.5”) tied a personal best and earned her first place in the event. Hawkins’ win was the first of the meet for the Cavaliers. Hawkins currently ranks seventh on Virginia’s all-time performance list.
Sophomore Claire Frazier Bolton picked up another win for the Cavaliers in the 800m. In her first collegiate attempt at the event, Bolton raced to a time of 2:12.75 to claim first-place.
Maria Deaviz placed third in the shot put with her mark of 15.72m (51’7”). Ashley Anumba followed in fifth for the Hoos with her mark of 14.90m (48’10.75”).
On the men’s side, Claudio Romero opened his season with a third-place finish in the shot put as he reached a mark of 17.54m (57’6.5”).
Jada Seaman placed second in the 200m dash as she clocked in at 24.58. Kayla Bonnick followed in ninth-place at 25.18.
In the men’s long jump, Heldi Valikaj finished in seventh with his mark of 7.22m (23’8.25”). Ayende Watson came in tenth at 7.02m (23’.5”).
From Director of Track and Field Vin Lananna:
“Our sprinters, jumpers, and throwers had a great first meet. We had an opportunity to capitalize on our strengths and identify areas to improve over the season. I was proud of our women and men. We are looking forward to next weekend.”
Up Next
Virginia will return to the Rector Field House on Friday, Jan. 21 to compete in the Hokie Invitational.
Women’s Tennis: No. 7 Virginia opens season with a pair of sweeps
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
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The No. 7 Virginia women’s tennis team opened the 2022 dual match season with a pair of 7-0 victories against Marshall and Longwood on Saturday at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
The Cavaliers won all three doubles matches against Marshall and took all six singles matches in straight sets.
In the match against the Lancers, the Cavaliers swept the doubles and singles matches with freshmen Elaine Chervinsky and Nicole Kiefer both posting 6-0, 6-0 scores.
UVA coach Sara O’Leary
“It was a great feeling to be out on out home courts competing in front of our fans. The team has been preparing really well and stepped on the court confidently and with a lot of professionalism today. We’re excited about this start and look forward to building off of it and preparing for our match next Friday.
Next up
- The Cavaliers host Richmond on Friday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. at the Boar’s Head Sports Club
#7 Virginia 7, Marshall 0
Singles competition
- Emma Navarro (VA) def. Emma Vanderheyden (MAR) 6-3, 6-2
- #90 Elaine Chervinsky (VA) def. Liz Stefancic (MAR) 6-1, 6-1
- #29 Natasha Subhash (VA) def. Madi Ballow (MAR) 6-0, 6-1
- Sofia Munera (VA) def. Aisling McGrane (MAR) 6-0, 6-0
- Amber O’Dell (VA) def. Gabrielle Clairotte (MAR) 6-1, 7-5
- Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. Jutte Van Hansewyck (MAR) 7-5, 7-5
Doubles competition
- Emma Navarro/Amber O’Dell (VA) def. Emma Vanderheyden/Liz Stefancic (MAR) 6-4
- Elaine Chervinsky/Natasha Subhash (VA) def. Madi Ballow/Aisling McGrane (MAR) 6-0
- Sofia Munera/Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. Jutte Van Hansewyck/Gabrielle Clairotte (MAR) 6-1
Order of finish:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,2,1,5,6)
T-2:25 A-42
#7 Virginia 7, Longwood 0
Singles competition
- #66 Elaine Chervinsky (VA) def. NURGAZIEVA, Emma (LWU) 6-0, 6-0
- #29 Natasha Subhash (VA) def. SAEZ, Maria (LWU) 6-0, 6-1
- Sofia Munera (VA) def. CZERNY, Wiktoria (LWU) 6-1, 6-3
- Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. HEDERICH, Nina (LWU) 6-0, 6-1
- Amber O’Dell (VA) def. BARTON, Zoe (LWU) 6-1, 6-6
- Nicole Kiefer (VA) def. HINCU, Alexandra (LWU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
- Emma Navarro/Amber O’Dell (VA) def. NURGAZIEVA, Emma/RIZVANOVA, Karina (LWU) 6-2
- Elaine Chervinsky/Natasha Subhash (VA) def. SAEZ, Maria/HEDERICH, Nina (LWU) 6-0
- Sofia Munera/Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. JOLLIFF, Briee/BARTON, Zoe (LWU) 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,5,2,6,4,3)
T-1:45
Lillie, Sambach receive invites to Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
(© Kevin Carden – stock.adobe.com)
Virginia women’s golfers Beth Lillie (Fullerton, Calif.) and Amanda Sambach (Davidson, N.C.) have received invitations to the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship. This year’s tournament takes place March 30 through April 2. Both players met the standard of being among the United States’ top-30 players in the final World Amateur Golf Rankings for 2021 to qualify for the field.
This will be Lillie’s first appearance at the event while Sambach will be making a return showing after competing at the 2021 tournament. Previously, UVA’s Anna Redding played in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019. The 2020 championship was canceled due to the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
This fall Lillie and Sambach competed in four tournaments for Virginia. The Cavaliers finished the fall ranked No. 7 by Golfstat with top-five finishes in all four of their tournaments.
This year the first 36 holes of the Augusta Women’s Amateur Championship will be contested over two days on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., March 30-31. The entire field will then play Augusta National for an official practice round Friday, April 1. The final round will take place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 2 and will feature the top 30 competitors who made the cut.
NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours of live final-round coverage at Augusta National from 12-3 p.m. EDT on April 2, 2022. NBC Sports will also provide pre-event promotion across NBCUniversal’s portfolio, while Golf Channel will deliver highlights, live reports and news coverage throughout the event, including onsite during the first two competitive rounds at Champions Retreat. Additionally, Golf Channel’s “Live From the Masters” will commence on Friday, April 1 from Augusta National and wrap ANWA coverage on Saturday, April 2.
More information is available www.ANWAgolf.com.
UVA goes cold, lets one slip away against Wake, 63-55
By Scott Ratcliffe
Photo: UVA Athletics
Virginia had a chance to make it 10-straight victories over Wake Forest Saturday, but the Cavaliers let a 7-point, second-half lead slip away as the Demon Deacons closed the game on a 23-8 run to win in Charlottesville for the first time since 2010, 63-55.
The Wahoos (10-7, 4-3 ACC) got a big game from Armaan Franklin, but misfired on 11 of their final 15 shots, including seven in a row while the Deacs (14-4, 4-3) took control of the contest.
With the game tied up at 36-all, Franklin drilled his third 3-pointer of the evening with 13 minutes left, and then split two free throws to give the Hoos a four-point cushion.
Senior wing Kody Stattmann followed with a spinning, old-fashioned three-point play, and UVA led, 43-38, as the game went under 12 minutes. Moments later off of a turnover, Stattmann scored on a nifty Eurostep move, matching his career high in scoring.
The John Paul Jones Arena crowd nearly exploded when Reece Beekman’s ensuing steal and would-be three-point play was waived off, and called on the floor, prior to the shot. UVA maintained possession and Jayden Gardner’s jumper extended the UVA lead to 47-40 midway through the second half, and that’s about the time the Cavaliers went ice cold.
The Deacs scored the game’s next 13 points, grabbing a 48-47 edge on an Isaiah Mucius 3-ball with 6:19 remaining. Jake LaRavia gave Wake a 53-47 lead with a two-hand flush, prompting a Tony Bennett timeout with 4:11 to play, as he had seen his team go over six minutes without a single point.
Beekman finally got one to fall with 3:35 left, but the Hoos couldn’t get any closer than four points the rest of the way.
On the day, the Cavaliers shot 36 percent from the field (21 of 58) and 38 percent from beyond the arc (5 for 13). Franklin led all scorers with 18 points (7 for 11; 3 of 5 from deep), Stattmann added 11 (4 for 8; 2 for 4), and no other teammates finished in double figures.
Gardner, the team’s leading scorer, had an off night, going scoreless in the first half but registering 9 points on 3-of-14 shooting. Beekman had 6 points, 7 assists, 5 steals and a pair of blocks, while Kadin Shedrick posted 4 points, 5 boards and 2 swats.
Virginia lost the battle of the boards, 35-31, but assisted on all but four baskets (17 of 21) and converted 13 Wake turnovers into 15 points. UVA committed 11 giveaways, but outscored Wake’s bench, 15-3.
The Deacons finished the game shooting 45 percent overall (23 of 51) and 33 percent from 3-point land (6 of 18), and were led by LaRavia’s 15 points.
Wake’s Alondes Williams, who came into the contest leading the conference in both scoring (20.7 ppg) and assists (5.0 apg), came alive in the second half to finish with 14 points. Mucius and Daivien Williamson added 12 apiece.
FIRST HALF
Francisco Caffaro got the start at center and picked up where he left off against Virginia Tech Wednesday. The big man scored the game’s first basket before being called to the bench after picking up an early foul.
The Deacons scored eight unanswered points in the opening minutes to take an 11-6 lead, as the Hoos missed seven-straight field goals and didn’t score for nearly six minutes, until Shedrick sank a pair from the line with 11:41 to go, during a stretch when both he and Caffaro were on the floor.
A Franklin floater with 9:55 left trimmed it to one, snapping a string of nine straight misses from the field, and then Stattmann put the Cavaliers back in front with a 3-pointer. Franklin followed with a long ball of his own, capping a 10-0 spurt and giving UVA a 16-11 advantage with 8:10 on the clock.
Franklin struck again from downtown on the next trip down, and then at the 6:15 mark, Stattmann made it a nine-point game, 22-13, with his second triple of the half.
Wake tied it up with a late 10-1 run, but the Hoos held the lead going into the locker room. As the half went under two minutes, Franklin found Shedrick for a monster slam just before Shedrick poked the ball away from Williams and dished to Beekman, who threw one down to further electrify the JPJ crowd.
Mucius trimmed it to 29-27 with 34 ticks left, and Igor Miličić couldn’t get one to drop in the closing seconds. Neither team shot the ball well across the opening 20 minutes — UVA went 10 for 30 (33 percent), Wake went 10 for 27 (37 percent) — but the Hoos connected on 4 of 7 from deep, compared to just 3 for 10 for the Deacs.
UVA assisted on all 10 of its buckets in the first half, but made just 3 of 13 shots on either layup or dunk attempts. The Cavalier defense held Williams to just 2 points at the break on 1-of-4 shooting.
Franklin led all scorers with 10 points in the first half, marking his seventh-consecutive game in double figures.
Team Notes
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
- Virginia fell to 10-7, 4-3 ACC
- UVA is 6-4 at John Paul Jones Arena
- Wake Forest went on a 13-0 run to gain a 53-47 lead at 4:11 of the second half
- UVA had a scoring drought of 6:48 in the second half
- Wake Forest had a 32-22 advantage in the paint and 17 second chance points
- UVA started 4 of 17 from the field until back-to-back 3-pointers from Kody Stattmann and Armaan Franklin finished a 10-0 run for a 16-11 lead
- UVA led 29-27 at the half
Series Notes
- Virginia is 69-71 all-time vs. Wake Forest, including a 42-22 mark in Charlottesville, in the series that dates back to 1910-11.
- The loss ended UVA’s nine-game winning streak in the series
- UVA had won the last six meetings between the teams in Charlottesville
- Tony Bennett is 10-5 vs. Wake Forest as head coach at Virginia
Player Notes
- Double Figure Scorers: Armaan Franklin (18), Kody Stattmann (11)
- Franklin reached double figures for the 12th time (26th career)
- Franklin has a seven-game double figure scoring streak
- Stattmann matched a career best with 11 points
- Stattmann reached double figures for the first time (3rd career)
- Stattmann matched a career best with a pair of 3-pointers
- Francisco Caffaro made his first start of the season (3rd career)
- Kadin Shedrick (2 blocks) had his 13th multi-block game
- Virginia started Clark, Beekman, Franklin, Gardner and Shedrick in its first 16 games of 2021-22
- ACC steals leader Reece Beekman had five steals and tied a season high with seven assists
- Beekman has a seven-game steal streak
- Beekman matched a career high with two blocks
UP NEXT
UVA goes back on the road for a Wednesday-night tilt in the Steel City, facing Pittsburgh at 9 p.m. on ACC Network.
Women’s Basketball: Virginia/Virginia Tech rescheduled for Jan. 18
The Atlantic Coast Conference today announced that the Virginia at Virginia Tech women’s basketball game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 18. The game was originally slated for Jan. 6 but postponed due to COVID protocols.
Following the ACC’s modified 2021-22 COVID-19 Game Rescheduling Policy, the previously postponed game has been rescheduled and will tip off at 5 p.m. on ACC Network.
The full 2021-22 ACC women’s basketball schedule can be found on theACC.com.
UVA football makes offers to transfer portal linemen
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Virginia has offered at least three offensive linemen presently in the transfer portal. The Cavaliers are in dire need of players at those positions after losing their entire starting offensive line, mostly as transfers.
Star center Olusegun Oluwatimi transferred to Michigan, left tackle Bobby Haskins transferred to Southern Cal, guard Joe Bissinger transferred to SMU and right tackle Ryan Swoboda transferred this week to Central Florida. Meanwhile, Ryan Nelson announced Friday that he will be declaring for the NFL Draft.
Meanwhile, UVA’s new coaching staff has reached out to a few linemen from other schools in the portal:
# Georgetown grad transfer Mac Hollensteiner, a 6-6, 310, offensive tackle with two years of eligibility remaining. Hollensteiner holds offers from Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Fresno State, Tulane, East Carolina, Rice and others.
# Lafayette College grad transfer Steven Stilianos, a 6-5, 250, tight end, also with two years of eligibility remaining. He is a two-time, first-team All-Patriot League player. He has been offered by Syracuse, JMU, Rutgers, Temple, East Carolina, Georgia Southern and Rhode Island.
# Tommy Brown, a redshirt junior at Alabama. Brown, who is scheduled to visit Virginia on Sunday (he’s presently visiting Colorado), started one game at right guard for the Crimson Tide this season and filled in at left guard vs. New Mexico State. He appeared in a total of 10 games. He is a former 4-star recruit.
Another Air Force coach to join Elliott’s coaching staff?
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Could it be that Virginia may go back to Colorado Springs for another assistant football coach?
Air Force defensive backs coach Curome Cox has changed his Twitter profile background to a Virginia logo. Cox worked under former Air Force defensive coordinator John Rudzinski, who was hired Thursday as Tony Elliott’s new defensive coordinator at UVA.
Cox just finished his second season as defensive backs coach for the Falcons, after a stint at Albany where he served as cornerbacks coach in 2019. He also coached at UConn and Coastal Carolina.
A former NFL player for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons (43 total games over three seasons), he was a standout defensive back at Maryland under Ralph Friedgen. That Terps team played in the Orange Bowl 2002, then three more bowls after that.
Cox was a star special teams player, earning a finalist spot for the 2006 AFC Special Teams Player of the Year Award.
Virginia basketball makes it first offer to Class of 2024 prospect
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Virginia basketball has made its first offer for the Class of 2024, to Jarin Stevenson, a 6-foot-9, 190-pound power forward from Seaforth High in Pittsboro, N.C.
Stevenson has been offered by Virginia, North Carolina, Wake Forest and NC State. He has visited UNC, UVA and State either officially or unofficially.
His mom, Nicole Walker Stevenson, played college basketball at North Carolina. His dad, Jarod Stevenson, played at Richmond in the late 1990s.
“I can be a stretch five or stretch four,” Stevenson told Jamie Shaw, national recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. “I can even play the three a little with how I can handle the ball. I can also guard one through five at the high school level and I have a consistent jump shot.”
That is the type of player that Tony Bennett values, one who is versatile enough to defend and play multiple positions.
Stevenson also told Shaw what he liked about UVA: “They value defense up there. Their program has great chemistry and they focus on bringing each other up.”
Game Notes: Cavaliers battle Demon Deacons Saturday afternoon at JPJ
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
Photo courtesy UVA Athletics.
Virginia (10-6, 4-2 ACC) hosts Wake Forest (13-4, 3-3 ACC) in ACC action on Saturday, Jan. 15. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 4:30 p.m. on Regional Sports Networks.
For Openers
- Virginia (10-6, 4-2 ACC) hosts Wake Forest (13-4, 3-3) in the lone meeting between the teams in 2021-22.
- UVA’s Reece Beekman is averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists over the past five games.
- Wake Forest’s Alondes Williams leads the ACC in scoring at 20.7 points per game.
Broadcast Information
- The Virginia-Wake Forest game will be televised on Regional Sports Networks.
- The game will also be broadcast on Virginia Sports Radio Network, VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Sports app.
- Live statistics will be available on VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Sports app.
The Head Coach
- Dean and Markel Families Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tony Bennett has a 305-109 (.737) mark in 13 seasons at UVA and 374-142 (.725) career mark in 16 seasons as a head coach.
- Bennett won his 300th game at Virginia with the 61-43 victory against Lehigh on Nov. 26, 2021.
- The three-time National (2007, 2015 and 2018) and four-time ACC Coach of the Year (2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019) guided the Cavaliers to their 10th ACC regular-season championship in 2020-21.
- In 2018-19, Bennett led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA national championship, a share of their ninth ACC regular-season title and a school-record 35 wins.
- Bennett has led UVA to 10 consecutive postseason appearances (2012-21) and seven consecutive NCAA tournaments (2014-21).
- UVA is 153-64 (.705) in ACC play (86-22 at home & 67-42 away), 173-33 (.840) at home and 152-45 (.772) in non-conference action (86-9 at JPJ) under Bennett.
- Bennett ranks third all-time in winning percentage (.705) among ACC head coaches with 100 or more ACC wins.
Hoo Are These Cavaliers?
- UVA is led by its returning backcourt of Kihei Clark (9.6 ppg & 3.9 apg) and Reece Beekman (7.6 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.9 rpg & 2.1 spg), and the additions of transfers Jayden Gardner (14.3 ppg & 7.4 rpg) and Armaan Franklin (12.2 ppg).
- Clark has played 109 games at UVA and is averaging a career high in 3-point percentage (40.3%).
- The Cavaliers added transfers Gardner (East Carolina) and Franklin (Indiana) to fill the void left by standouts Sam Hauser (16 ppg), Jay Huff (13 ppg) and Trey Murphy III (11.3 ppg).
- Gardner averaged 18.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in 79 career games at East Carolina, while Franklin averaged 11.4 points and shot 42.5 percent from 3-point range in 2020-21.
- Kadin Shedrick (5.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg & 2.75 bpg) and Francisco Caffaro (4 ppg & 3.3 rpg) anchor the paint, while Kody Stattmann (39.1% 3FGs), Taine Murray (42.1% 3FGs), Igor Miliĉić Jr. (38.1% 3FGs) and Carson McCorkle (33.3% 3FGs) provide perimeter depth.
Virginia All-Time vs. Wake Forest
- Virginia is 69-70 all-time vs. Wake Forest, including a 42-21 mark in Charlottesville, in the series that dates back to 1910-11.
- UVA has won nine straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings in the series, including a 70-61 win last season at John Paul Jones Arena.
- The Cavaliers road game at Wake Forest last season (Dec. 16, 2020) was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within UVA’s program.
- The Cavaliers have scored 65 or more points in seven of their last nine games (all wins) vs. the Demon Deacons.
- UVA has won the last six meetings between the teams in Charlottesville.
- Tony Bennett is 10-4 vs. Wake Forest as head coach at Virginia.
Last Time vs. The Demon Deacons
- Sam Hauser tallied 16 points and 11 rebounds to guide then-No. 22 Virginia to a 70-61 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 6, 2021.
- Reece Beekman added then-career highs in points (12) and steals (5), and Trey Murphy (13 points), Jay Huff (11 points) and Kihei Clark (10) also reached double figures.
- Wake Forest led 39-34 on 62.5 percent shooting in the first half, but UVA outscored the Demon Deacons 36-22 in the second stanza.
Last Time Out
- The Cavaliers (10-6, 3-2 ACC) held Virginia Tech (8-7, 0-4 ACC) scoreless in the in the final 3:13 and the Hokies missed a pair of potential game-winning 3-pointers as Virginia held on to win 54-52 in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Jan. 12.
- UVA center Francisco Caffaro scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds to lead the Cavaliers.
- Armaan Franklin (15 points) and Reece Beekman (11 points) also scored in double figures for Virginia.
- The Cavalier defense forced a dozen Virginia Tech turnovers, which turned into 14 points on the opposite end of the floor.
- Virginia, which concluded the night with 18 bench points, also held the Hokies’ non-starters to just two points.
- Keve Aluma led the Hokies with 22 points.
On The Horizon
- Virginia travels to Pitt for an ACC contest on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Tipoff at Petersen Events Center is set for 9 p.m. on ACC Network.
Six Hoos go undefeated on Day 1 at Virginia Duals
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
(© Michael Chamberlin – stock.adobe.com)
Six Virginia wrestlers went undefeated on the day to lead the Cavaliers in competition at the Virginia Duals on Friday at the Hampton Coliseum. Wrestling will continue with day two of action as Virginia wrestles individual matches against Kent State wrestlers at 11:30 a.m. and Oklahoma wrestlers at 4 p.m.
Instead of wrestling the traditional dual format, the Cavaliers wrestled a series of individual matches against both Chattanooga and Lock Haven on Friday. In the series of individual matches against the Mocs and the Bald Eagles, Michael Battista (184), Jake Keating (157) and Jarod Verkleeren picked up wins in both sessions.
Jay Aiello (197) went undefeated on the day with a win in the session against Lock Haven and also grabbed a win in an extra match by technical fall. Jon Errico (157) was the other Cavalier to go undefeated on the afternoon with a pair of pins in extra matches.
Justin McCoy won the only match he wrestled on the afternoon.
Notes
- Jay Aiello improved to 6-0 on the season with his pin and a win by tech fall on Friday.
- Jake Keating returned to the lineup for the Hoos and improved to 7-1 on the season with his pair of wins.
- Five Hoos went 2-0 with Aiello and Keating joined by Michael Battista, Jon Errico and Jarod Verkleeren.
- The scores of the extra matches have not been posted, but are supposed to be available by the end of the day.
UVA coach Steve Garland
“The day did not start well for us, but our guys really rebounded in the second set of matches. We were able to win five of the six in the second round of matches and looked really good overall. Bonus-point wins by Jarod Verkleeren, Michael Battista and Jay Aiello were the highlights. Brian Courtney got back on track with a solid win and both Jake Keating and Jon Errico won for a second time on the day as well.”
Virginia vs. Chattanooga
125: No. 22 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) tech fall Patrick McCormick, 16-1 (7:00)
133: No. 21 Brayden Palmer (UTC) dec. No. 14 Brian Courtney, 4-0
149: Jarod Verkleeren dec. Noah Castillo (UTC), 8-1
157: Jake Keating dec. Weston Wichman (UTC), 12-10
165: No. 16 Justin McCoy dec. Drew Nicholson (UTC), 10-5
174: Carial Tarter (UTC) dec. Robby Patrick, 6-4 (sv-1)
184: Michael Battista dec. Matthew Waddell (UTC), 3-1 (sv-1)
Virginia vs. Lock Haven
125: No. 27 Anthony Noto (LH) major dec. Patrick McCormick, 18-5
133: No. 14 Brian Courtney dec. Gable Strickland (LH), 5-0
149: Jarod Verkleeren major dec. Dashawn Farber (LH), 15-5
157: Jake Keating vs. Ben Barton (LH), 10-6
184: Michael Battista vs. Colin Fegley (LH), 19-6
197: No. 16 Jay Aiello pinned Parker McCleallen (LH), 2:22
Virginia concludes Day 1 at Virginia Tech Invitational
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
The Virginia men’s and women’s track and field teams completed the opening day of the Virginia Tech Invitational at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg on Friday, Jan. 14 with strong performances from several athletes.
The Cavalier women’s pole vaulters opened their season strong as Gabriella Recce set a collegiate personal best mark at 3.90 (12’9.5”) in a second-place performance. Following Recce in third was Trina Barcarola who set an indoor personal best mark at 3.80 (12’5.6”). Riley Larsen finished in fifth at 3.65 (11’11.7”).
In the 60m dash Jada Seaman, Kayla Bonnick and Jada Pierre all won their heats to earn spots in the finals. Seaman claimed second in the finals with a time of 7.45. She was followed by Bonnick in third-place at 7.55 while Pierre clocked in at 7.63 in sixth-place.
Owayne Owens put together an impressive performance in the triple jump. The defending ACC Champion leaped to a mark of 16.23m (53’2.9”). He finished second only to former Cavalier Jordan Scott (16.27m) who competed unattached.
Jordan Willis finished third in the 500m as he clocked in at a personal best 1:03.54.
Kyle Mosteller and Kane Aldrich earned fourth and seventh place respectively in the pole vault as each hit marks of 4.60m (15’1.1”)
