As autumn’s colors give way to the increasingly leafless cold of late November, the fall sports season gives way to the winter sports season. From the warmth of rivalry wins to the chills of postseason heartbreak, this year has been one to remember. Below, three beat writers from The Cavalier Daily discuss their thoughts at the digital Thanksgiving table.
Which Cavalier victory are you most thankful for this year?
Caroline Wulff, Staff Writer: Covering cross country, the victory I have been most thankful for was the men’s win at ACCs this year. Led by senior Gary Martin, who took second overall, the team was able to achieve a very cohesive placement and managed to defeat the runners from Syracuse who had posed a serious challenge in the second third of the race. This Virginia team was made up mostly of graduate students and seniors, who have been with the program for years, and this race was really the culmination of so much of their work.
Joe Schweisow, Staff Writer: It may feel like the obvious answer, but Virginia’s monumental unranked upset over then-No. 8 Florida State will be a night discussed at Cavalier Thanksgiving tables for generations to come. With a standalone primetime television slot, the largest ESPN Friday game audience turned to Scott Stadium. Between coaxing a pivotal Seminole false start in double overtime and a viral field storming, the Virginia faithful lived up to the “4th Side” moniker the University community adorns them with. And with an attendance number standing over 50,000 strong, the stories of triumph are sure to be passed on across the commonweatlh and beyond.
Mariam Tafwed, Staff Writer: The men’s soccer team had a monumental season, stacked with upsets, aggressive plays and a rock-solid 8-0-4 home record. The tone-setter of this season? Their exciting upset against No. 1 Wake Forest, where they took down the Demon Deacons 6-3 at Klöckner Stadium. Punching out a 5-0 lead, Virginia never flinched even despite an aggressive pushback in the latter half of the game from Wake Forest, with six substitutions and three goals within a 13-minute span. This victory marked the program’s first major win over a top-ranked men’s soccer team since 2019, setting the pace for an exciting and dominant season.
Virginia takes on the Hokies in football Saturday. What are you watching for in this year’s Commonwealth Clash?
CW: Outside of the team, I am really looking to see if, even over Thanksgiving break, Virginia can pull a large crowd to Scott Stadium. This year has really kept Cavalier fans on the edge of their seat –– Virginia football did not get the nickname “the Cardiac Cavaliers” for no reason. That engagement from students and fans, leading to better attendance compared to last year, has made games like the match versus Florida State so much more exciting. Ideally, against the Hokies Saturday, Scott Stadium is filled to the brim with orange and blue.
JS: I’ll be sure to keep an eye on the Cavalier injury report both before and after the Commonwealth Clash. Tuesday, Coach Tony Elliott confirmed that junior linebacker Kam Robinson will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Meanwhile, graduate quarterback Chandler Morris has had his share of shoulder concerns, and a potential concussion. Virginia needs its playmakers on the field, and while the Cavaliers cannot look past the Hokies, they will need their stars that much more in a potential ACC Championship bout.
MT: Aside from experiencing the electric atmosphere that Scott Stadium has been serving all season — paired with the delicious rowdiness of a rivalry — I am personally excited for this year’s Commonwealth Clash because I think it might be a closer and more high-scoring must-win than expected. I expect Virginia’s offense to continue its dominant run and am excited to see how Virginia Tech’s defense fares in response — especially coming off of its loss against Miami in which they allowed 320 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Everyone loves a Thanksgiving side dish — which Cavalier has dished the best assists in any sport this year?
CW: Men’s soccer’s graduate defender Sebastian Pop has been a key part of the team. Coach George Gelnovatch called him “the best center back in our league,” which is a pretty outstanding compliment for a player that has only been with Virginia this season. Even though men’s soccer was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in a shocking second round upset, Pop and company produced a stellar season. He deserves his flowers.
JS: In an aspect of the game that often goes unlauded, I’d like to give thanks for graduate punter Daniel Sparks and the way he assists the defense by flipping the field. While the offensive growth for the Cavaliers this year has provided Sparks less than 30 opportunities to show off the boot, the productivity remains as he ranks second in the ACC in yards per punt. While no team wants to rely on their punter every game, Virginia can be thankful they have Sparks when it comes time to pin the opposition deep.
MT: One Cavalier that I have been following closely this year has been men’s basketball’s graduate guard Dallin Hall. He proved to be a strong asset in the program’s season opening triumph over Rider, in which he picked up five points, five assists and four rebounds. Hall demonstrates a kind of well-roundedness that speaks to the strengths and experiences he brings to the program from his time at BYU. Continuing this momentum, he dished out seven assists along with three points and two rebounds against Hampton eight days later. I firmly believe his early-on steadiness and tacticity on the court have made him an important and emerging presence on the roster.
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