COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Christopher Newport’s Connor Barry was named one of 15 semifinalists (including nine quarterbacks) for the Gagliardi Trophy, which goes to the outstanding player in Division III. He was the first player in CNU’s 25-year football history to be named a Gagliardi semifinalist.
The finalists will be announced Dec. 18, and the winner will be revealed on d3football.com during the week of the national championship game, which is set for Canton, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 2026.
Virginia midfielder Lia Godfrey and defender Laney Rouse earned All-America honors from the United Soccer Coaches. Godfrey was on the first team, Rouse on the fourth team.
Godfrey, who was named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy honoring the nation’s top collegiate player this week, was tabbed as the Atlantic Coast Conference Midfielder of the Year and an All-ACC first-team honoree this season. She tallied 11 goals and four assists.
Rouse anchored a back line for the Cavaliers (14-3-5) that posted 13 shutouts and held opponents to 15 goals on the season. She logged 1,916 minutes and was named an All-ACC second-team selection.
Also making the fourth team was James Madison forward Ginny Lackey. She became the first player in JMU history to make two All-American teams, and the first to do so in back-to-back seasons, following her third-team honors in 2024. Her selection marked the first time a JMU player was selected in consecutive seasons since 2007-08.
This year, Lackey produced 11 goals and six assists for 28 points. Her efforts earned her Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors as the Dukes posted a 9-4-6 record, going 5-2-3 in the Sun Belt.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Va. Wesleyan’s DeVeaux again ODAC Player of Week
For the second time this season, Virginia Wesleyan guard Omari DeVeaux was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
He registered a trio of games with 20 or more points and shot better than 50% from the field in each: 21 in a 74-58 victory over Regent, 28 in an 83-67 win over Pfeiffer and 20 in a 70-56 victory over Dickinson.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER
Captains’ Heaton repeats as All-American
Christopher Newport senior midfielder Hanna Heaton ended her stellar career by being named a first-team All-American for the second time in Division III by the United Soccer Coaches.
Heaton, from Gloucester, joined Gabby Gillis (2017, 2018) and joined by Riley Cook (2018, 2019, 2021) as Captains to be named first-team All-Americans more than once, as well as the 14th CNU athlete to earn such honors more than once.
In three years, Heaton finished with 29 goals and 28 assists while helping the Captains finish 52-4-8.
COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY
CNU coaches gain region honor
Head coach Carrie Moura and assistants Marlene Lichty, Alex Morales and Maddison Steele of Christopher Newport were named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Region VI Coaching Staff of the Year. They led the Captains to a 19-0 record and the nation’s No. 1 ranking before their only loss of the season, an NCAA semifinal to eventual champion Tufts.
AUTO RACING
Queen to drive No. 12 Dodge in Truck Series
Hickory High graduate Brenden Queen will race in the No. 12 Dodge Ram next season for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Truck Series. His teammates will include Daniel Dye (10) and Justin Haley (16).