Most college students spend their Christmas
break just relaxing and rejuvenating at home with
family and friends, but the Virginia baseball team
had other ideas this December. The 2014 College
World Series runners-up spent their break in Cen-
tral America canoeing and zip lining.
The team landed in Panama Dec. 17 and re-
turned to Charlottesville on Christmas day. While
baseball was certainly on the agenda, head coach
Brian O'Connor said the trip had a deeper pur-
pose.
"The goal and the focus of the trip was team
bonding and team unity, and trying to bring our
guys together," the Virginia skipper said. "You
spend seven or eight days on the road with each
other, on the road in hotels eating all the meals
and activities together, and you start learning a lot
about each other."
Third-year pitcher Brandon Waddell said the
bonding process had special significance this sea-
son with the largest incoming first-year class ever
under O'Connor.
"You were with the team the whole time, mak-
ing memories with the guys and bonding with
BEHIND THE SCENES
BASEBALL'S CENTRAL AMERICAN TRIP
The Cavaliers, who welcome 14 first-years this season, used their trip to Panama and Costa Rica to
foster team bonding and team unity.
PHOTO COURTESY UVA
