Spring Sports Roundup
by Tim Hoffstaetter
The Roanoke baseball team has been very active this season. Playing 22 games and having a record of 14-8, they are currently on a six-game winning streak and are 7-1 in ODAC play. The team features Caleb Lingenfelter and Will Turner who were both named ODAC pitcher of the week on March 13 and March 6, respectively.
Keeping it on the diamond, the softball team has also been playing very well. They are 6-6 overall this season with no ODAC games played yet. Their record is not a great indicator of how well they are actually playing — they lost to the #1 DIII team in the nation twice and they gave them a run for their money in each game.
The cycling team visited the University of North Carolina to compete in two races this past weekend where Hays Edmund came in fifth place. This is not the first DI meet they have competed at this year — they also competed at NC State this year with a sixth place finish from Edmund and eleventh place finish by Ben Cerkovnik in Raleigh.
In their inaugural season, the men’s volleyball team has fought hard to build up their program while also competing in a tough conference. They have faced competitors who have had multiple years to build team culture and chemistry while the Maroons are coming in for the first time. They have impressed fans so far and will surely build upon their early success in future seasons.
Roanoke’s women’s lacrosse team has been off to a dominant start this season. Currently they are 7-1, winning their singular conference game so far. Kyleigh Chickering was named ODAC Defensive Player of the Week in late March. Their one loss this season came to the #3 DIII team in the nation. Although, the Maroons did beat the #19 DIII team earlier this season, earning Grace Koutouzis the honor of being named the USA Lacrosse Magazine DIII Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Week.
The men’s lacrosse team has also had a strong start to the year with a 6-4 record and undefeated in ODAC play. Wyatt Whitlow was named ODAC men’s lacrosse Player of the Week on March 20.
The track and field team has had two meets so far, one at Bridgewater and at Washington & Lee. Both the men and women had strong performances at these two meets. The school 4x400m relay team broke the school record with a strong performance by Samuel Crawford, recently named ODAC Track Athlete of the Week. The women’s high jump crew swept at Washington & Lee with their jumps of 1.53 meters — tied for second in the ODAC.
The golf team has also been competing this spring season. Their biggest matchup has been the Jekyll Island Intercollegiate in Georgia where 21 of the top-ranked DIII schools competed. Palmer Cuny was not ranked heading into this weekend, but after his performance of beating or tying thirteen ranked golfers he should be ranked very soon.
