Written By: Victoria Williamson ~ Sports Editor
Lynchburg Volleyball celebrating a point. Photographed by Caroline Gerke.
As fall sports conclude and winter competitions gain momentum, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the achievements earned through countless hours of dedication and determination.
After being picked first in the preseason poll, Lynchburg Men’s Soccer did not disappoint throughout the fall, collecting four ODAC player of the week accolades: two for junior goalie Thomas Viscuso, one for fifth-year forward Manzi Shalita, and one for sophomore forward Chris Wiley.
Four players were named first-team all-conference, one was named second-team, and one was named third-team. This season was filled with outstanding players who formed a chemistry that enabled them to compete for the ODAC championship and the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Lynchburg’s Cross-Country team also saw much success this season, with the Men’s team finishing first in regionals right after winning their 21st conference championship and the Women placing third overall. In addition to this, junior Kayla Werner and junior Chasen Hunt had noteworthy performances this season, Werner earning two ODAC player of the week awards and Hunt having three in total this season.
Seeing much success for the 2024 season, the Lynchburg Field Hockey team put in the work this season to compete in two matches of the NCAA tournament before their appearance in the ODAC championship.
Throughout the season, the team also named several ODAC players of the week, with sophomore forward Anna Dorrestijn, senior midfielder Madison Mark, and junior goalie Samira Gharavi all receiving the accolade.
Lynchburg Women’s Soccer’s season was highlighted by head coach Dr. Todd Olsen’s 500th career win after 29 seasons with the Lady Hornets. The team made it to the semifinals in the ODAC tournament and finished the season with a 12-5-3 record, and senior goalie Meredith Bowers was named one of the ODAC defensive players of the week.
Having one of their most successful seasons since 2016, Lynchburg Women’s Volleyball welcomed a new head coach this fall, Kevin Cardoza. Making it to the semifinals after hosting for the first time in eight years, the team ended with the most wins since 2017 and had sophomore middle Ava Meinhardt and sophomore outside hitter Tori Williamson placed on the all-conference third team.
While not every accolade earned by Lynchburg’s fall sports athletes and teams has been named, it’s clear that this season was another remarkable chapter. The dedication of coaches, trainers, and players has shone through in the strength and passion displayed across every field, court, and track this fall, marking another season that passed all too quickly.
