Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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14 CAVALIER CORNER 2023-24 IN REVIEW On the way to earning All-America honors, UVA wide receiver Malik Washington, a gradu- ate transfer from Northwestern, produced one of the most productive seasons in ACC foot- ball history. He pulled in a school-record 110 receptions for 1,426 yards — also a school record. His catch total was the most in the country and it also allowed him to break the ACC single-season record. Washington's 9.17 receptions per game set a single-season ACC record and ranked first among FBS players. Mike Hollins' remarkable comeback to rejoin his teammates by the time spring football practice began despite suffering two gunshot wounds drew national attention. By season's end, he was recognized for his cour- age and perseverance by being named the winner of multiple character-based awards. The ACC honored him as the Brian Piccolo Award winner. The Orange Bowl presented him with its Courage Award. He also was named the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year given out by the College Sports Com- municators, Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl, and he was presented the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. THE CUP AND THE CLASH For the second consecutive year Virginia led all ACC teams when the final Learfield Directors' Cup standings were announced. The Cavaliers placed fifth among all Division I school in the all-sports ranking. UVA won an NCAA title in women's swimming and diving and ACC championships in women's swim- ming and diving and men's track and field. UVA also claimed the Smithfield Com- monwealth Clash, its all-sports points- based program with Virginia Tech. The Commonwealth Clash trophy is presented annually to the school that performs bet- ter in head-to-head competitions. In some sports, the point is decided by team finishes in ACC Championship competition. UVA dominated the competition, outscoring the Hokies by a wide 15-7 margin. SAYING HELLO AND GOODBYE The 2023-24 season also marked the close of one of the athletic department's most storied careers when rowing head coach Kevin Sauer announced his retire- ment. Sauer directed the UVA program for 29 years, guiding the Cavaliers to a pair of NCAA championships, 22 ACC champion- ships and nine NCAA boat titles. With Sauer's departure, UVA welcomed Wesley Ng as its new head rowing coach. Ng guided Penn's program to a highly success- ful run over the past eight seasons. On the field hockey front, Ole Keusgen took over as UVA's head coach late in the season, replac- ing veteran coach Michele Madison. • Shane Cohen won the NCAA 800-meter outdoor title to help the Cavaliers post their third-highest finish at the meet in program history (eighth). • Gretchen Walsh (women's swimming and diving) and Chris Rodesch (men's tennis) were named ACC Scholar-Athletes of the Year. • Alex Walsh won two events (200 IM and 200 breast) and was part of the four relays that won NCAA titles. • Jasmine Nocentini won the 100 breast and was part of the four relays that won NCAA titles. • Maxine Parker was part of the four re- lays that won NCAA titles. • Carly Novelline was part of the four relays that won NCAA titles. • Alex Walsh also picked up an individual gold and relay first-place victory to up her career ACC gold medal count to 26, the most ever by any ACC swimmer. • Reece Beekman (men's basketball) became just the third player to repeat as the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year. • Men's lacrosse standout Payton Corm- ier became the NCAA Division I career goals record holder (224). • Men's lacrosse All-American Con- nor Shellenberger set the UVA career points record (323) and the ACC ca- reer assists mark (192). • Kate Galica was recognized as ACC Women's Lacrosse Freshman of the Year. • Morgan Schwab set a UVA career assists record with 159. • Hibah Shaikh (women's tennis) was voted the ITA Atlantic Re- gion Senior Player of the Year and the region's Most Improved Player. • Chris Rodesch (men's tennis) was named the ITA Atlantic Region Senior of the Year. Alex Walsh increased her career ACC gold medal count to 26 this spring, the most ever by any ACC swimmer. (Photos courtesy UVA) INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES • Dylan Dietrich (men's tennis) earned ITA Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year honors. • Alexander Kiefer was named the national recipient of the 2024 Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sports- manship Award. • Men's soccer standout Stephen Annor became the first Cavalier named the ACC Freshman of the Year since 2008. • Brian O'Connor was inducted into the 2024 American Base- ball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. • O'Connor reached his 850th ca- reer win in a 6-3 victory against Penn State March 5. • Men's soccer coach George Gel- novatch recorded his 100th ACC victory. • Sonia LaMonica who was recog- nized as the ACC Women's La- crosse Co-Coach of the Year. • Sara O'Leary was named ACC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year.