Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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cavalier sports 8 CAVALIER CORNER W ally Bunker is a sports enthusiast. Growing up, he developed a pas- sion for soccer and played the sport com- petitively for nine years. Like most sports enthusiasts, he also has his loy- alties and the Hoos top his list. In fact, he has season tickets for four sports. Bunker got his first taste of Virginia football in 1994 when some friends took him to a game against Maryland. Five years later, Bunker retired from the Suffolk, Va., Po- lice Department and moved to Culpeper, where he began working as a reporter for The Culpeper Star-Exponent. "The newspaper had season tickets and I'd occasionally go to a football game," Bunker recalled. "In 2003, I went in with some friends and bought season tickets, and I've been getting them ever since." But it didn't stop there. "My girlfriend, Sue Hamm, likes women's basketball and we frequently attended games at the end of Debbie Ryan's coaching career," he continued. "Nine years ago, we purchased season tickets for women's basketball, and we go to all the games." When Bunker "got tired of watching [his] Washington Redskins lose another game," he and Hamm decided to go to Charlottesville to watch the women's soccer team. "Sue knew nothing about soccer. We played Clemson and won," Bunker re- called. "That was seven years ago. She liked it so much we went to every game the rest of the season." "I really fell in love with the women's soccer program," Bunker said. "Coach Steve Swanson, the staff, and players are top notch." The couple added men's basketball season tickets five years ago. Bunker loves sports — especially UVA sports and he cares deeply for the student-athletes. "People forget the wording," he noted. "It's 'student-athlete.' Student is the first word in that phrase for a reason. It's really heartening when you get emails announcing that so many of these kids are All-ACC Academic members. "They are going to be successful in life because that UVA degree means s o m e t h i n g . S o I started donating to the VAF. You need that education; there is life after sports." Bunker is also a Legacy Scholarship donor for women's soccer and believes the Athletics Depart- ment has made great strides over the last decade. "Craig Littlepage made an incredible hire in Tony Ben- nett," Bunker said of the UVA men's basketball coach. "You don't find anybody with higher character and integrity. He's amazing at what he does and how he does it. The football program has gone to three straight bowl games. The men's basketball and lacrosse teams have won national championships. "The Virginia Athletics Master Plan is quite something in its vision. It's how Vir- ginia strives to be a major voice in the col- lege athletics world. The softball stadium is going to be beautiful when it's done." Bunker is excited about the future of Virginia Athletics. "The University is on the rise," he said. However, big-time college athletics in 2020 require big commitments from its supporters. "It's a tough job," Bunker said. "When you need to raise $20 million a year, donors need to step up." Several highlights stand out in Bun- ker's memories of watching Virginia sports over the years, one being the top- ranked women's soccer team's 1-0 over- time win over unbeaten Florida State in 2013. Another fond memory is the wom- en's basketball team's 69-64 overtime win over Pat Summit and Tennessee in Joanne Boyle's first season as head coach. His top moment? Virginia men's bas- ketball's 65-63 win over Duke in Cam- eron Indoor Stadium in 2018, the Hoos' first triumph in Durham in 23 seasons. "That win at Cameron was probably one of the coolest games that I've ever been to," Bunker said. — Greg Waters Wally Bunker WAHOO NATION Bunker is an avid fan and supporter of Virginia Athletics, and has season tickets for four sports. PHOTO COURTESY WALLY BUNKER JOE BELL — SOCCER After starting 22 of 24 matches for Virginia, tallying seven goals and four assists, and scoring three goals in the NCAA Tournament, the accolades flooded in for the third-year midfielder from Wanaka, New Zealand. Bell was named to the United Soccer Coaches All- America first team, awarded the ACC Midfielder of the Year, and hailed as the United Soccer Coaches Scholar Player of the Year and a first-team Scholar All-American. The Cavaliers' co-captain announced his decision to turn professional and is expected to sign with a professional soccer club in Norway. KATE DOUGLASS — SWIMMING The first-year set a UVA long- course record in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 25.18 in a meet against Auburn Jan. 4. Douglass' wins in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-yard individual medley and 100-yard freestyle were enough to nab her third ACC Swim- mer of the Week honor this season. As of mid-January, the Pelham, N.Y., native held the fastest time nationally in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:06.19). She also ranked second in the 200-yard individual medley (1:52.84), and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (21.53) and 100-yard butterfly (50.30). JORDAN MACK — FOOTBALL The fourth-year linebacker earned the ACC's Jim Tatum Award, given annually to the top senior student- athlete in football. On the field, Mack tallied 69 tack- les and a team-high 7.5 sacks en route to third-team All-ACC accolades. As a student, the Lithonia, Ga., product is set to graduate with a degree in education with an emphasis on youth and social innovation. Mack also regularly volunteers at the Kindness Café + Play and the Boys & Girls Club. MEGHAN MCCOOL — SOCCER The fourth-year forward and Glenside, Pa., native earned third- team All-America honors from the United Soccer Coaches, and was a first-team All-ACC selection and Scholar All-American. The team captain tied for the ACC lead with 15 goals, including six game-winners. In the classroom, she held a 3.5 GPA while majoring in American Stud- ies with a minor in health and well-being. HOO'S HOT Recognizing the "Who's Hoo" in UVA athletics — Cavalier student-athletes, past, present and future who are making news around the world of sports.