Virginia
Five takeaways from Virginia lacrosse’s 12-10 loss to No. 8 Syracuse
The Virginia Cavaliers’ three turnovers during the last 4:26 against the No. 8 Syracuse Orange crushed the Wahoos’ chances of finishing an otherwise encouraging performance in their ACC opener on Saturday. The storied rivalry was littered with quick ball movement and stellar goalie play as Virginia and Syracuse combined for nearly 100 shots and 33 saves.
Virginia sophomore attackman McCabe Millon led the game with six points, off three goals and three assists, while senior attackmen Owen Hiltz led Syracuse with three goals and an assist.
Here are five takeaways from Virginia’s 12-10 loss:
UVA’s fast start breeds life
After freshman defender Luke Hublitz forced a turnover on Syracuse’s first possession, the ‘Hoos rattled off five shots before midfielder Johnny Hackett buried the sixth. Virginia continued to pester goalie Jimmy McCool throughout the entire first quarter, finishing it with 19 shots, 10 of which were on cage. Syracuse had just nine shots in the first quarter as the Orange fell behind 5-1.
Sophomore attackman Truitt Sunderland found twine twice, with his second goal being assisted by junior midfielder Charles Balsamo for just his third point of the season. Despite not finishing the game with an assist, Hackett was able to consistently get his hands free against short stick matchups and finished with two goals.
“I actually turned to [offensive coordinator] Kevin [Cassese] and at one point I thought we were going to try to possess a little bit more and not take shots every 12 seconds, but these are good shots,” head coach Lars Tiffany said. “So we were just more aggressive, and we were in attack mode, and Kevin was able to manipulate their slide schemes a little bit and got us in some openings.”
Virginia held its own at the faceoff stripe
Despite Syracuse’s sophomore FOGO John Mullen ranking first in the country in faceoff percentage among FOGO’s with at least 200 faceoffs taken, the ‘Hoos held their own against him on Saturday. Virginia finished the game with a 16-9 advantage.
“He has really fast hands,” Andrew Greenspan said of Mullen. “He likes to get it in and out really fast. He does it at a really high level. So we tried to muck it up in that sense as much as we can. But he’s a great faceoff guy.”
The ‘Hoos had a considerable amount of help from the officials on the X as Syracuse was called for five violations, while Virginia stayed clean at the X. The ‘Hoos beat Syracuse 6-5 at the X in the first half before dominating in the second, winning nine of the second half’s first 11 faceoffs.
Senior FOGO Anthony Ghobriel, who’s missed Virginia’s previous two games due to an injury, suited up for Saturday’s game before being limited after taking a hit in the first quarter. Sophomore Andrew Greenspan took a season-high 18 faceoffs and won 12 of them, including during a crucial moment with 2:10 remaining in regulation.
Syracuse’s second half start plagued the ‘Hoos
Syracuse started the second half almost identically to Virginia’s first half, scoring four consecutive goals within the first seven minutes. Junior midfielder Michael Leo scored three of Syracuse’s first four goals of the half.
“He was able to finish off what other guys were starting,” Tiffany said of Leo. “[Sam] English is such a handful, the fastest guy on the field — you don’t have six poles so you’re trying to figure out who you’re going to short. Leo even against a pole … was just blowing by us a couple times.”
Tiffany added that Syracuse forced Virginia’s defense to slide more than he wanted during the Orange’s four goal run, which led to Leo’s step down looks.
“Big difference when you give a division 1 shooter like him the ball hands free, time and room at 10 yards, versus on the run, sweeping,” Tiffany said. “So, they got us rotating there and on the other end… just give them credit [when] they fell into a zone.”
Millon stopped the Orange’s run during the middle of the game with consecutive goals, but that lopsided portion of the matchup hindered the ‘Hoos down the stretch. Sophomore attackman Payton Anderson started his first game of the season on Saturday in relief of Trey Deere, who had scored a combined eight goals in his last two games.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Anderson proved to be a tough matchup for the ‘Hoos and finished the game with two goals.
John Schroter dominated Joey Spallina
While he didn’t finish with a caused turnover or ground ball, junior defender John Schroter continued to show his prowess as one of the most elite defenders in the country on Saturday.
For the second year in a row, John Schroter shut down former No. 1 overall recruit Joey Spallina — as he finished with just one assist and zero goals. Spallina entered Saturday’s game second in assists in the country.
“That’s King Kong, Godzilla contact in the corner right there at the GLE,” Tiffany said. “Talk about two big guys initiating contact and when Spallina did get free, Matt Nunes was able to bail John Schroter out. But it’s a great matchup between those two. They battled in high school and in club games, and now we’re seeing that battle again.”
Tiffany added that he wanted all of the Cavaliers’ adjacent defenders to shut off their matchups while Schroter was engaged with Spallina, suggesting Spallina’s ability to pass but also Schroter’s coverage capability.
Schroter will likely have his hands full with another elite matchup next week against sophomore attackman Owen Duffy — the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year.
Virginia’s turnovers came at the wrong time
In a matchup that had no shortage of advanced stick work and complicated offensive and defensive strategy, the simple things plagued Virginia. The ‘Hoos turned the ball over four times during the fourth quarter compared to Syracuse’s zero. Syracuse finished the game with an 8-13 edge in the turnover battle, while Virginia caused just five turnovers to the Orange’s 10.
After Syracuse tied the game at 10 with 7:15 left, senior Virginia goalie Matthew Nunes stopped three shots during an over five minute scoring drought for both sides. However, the ‘Hoos had two costly turnovers within two minutes of each other, which led to Hiltz’ go-ahead goal with 2:10 remaining.
Virginia had an opportunity to tie the game after a faceoff win by Greenspan, but Syracuse’s zone defense stifled the ‘Hoos and Millon turned the ball over with 1:09 remaining. Syracuse outshot Virginia 17-5 in the fourth quarter with nine of the Orange’s shots being on cage.
“Give them credit,” Tiffany said, “we swung the ball to the left side, got it over to the right side, and, ‘Oh, he’s covered, how’d they do that.’ They rotated really well in our last minute [six versus six] possession.”
Virginia
Giants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia
The New York Giants will be forced to hold their 2026 training camp, the first with John Harbaugh as head coach, out of state.
Per a report from the New York Post, the Giants will hold what will likely be the first two weeks of training camp in West Virginia at the Greenbrier Resort, located in White Sulpher Springs.
Part of the reason for the move is the fact that World Cup games will be held at MetLife Stadium this summer. There is also ongoing construction at the Giants’ facility at 1925 Giants Drive. The Giants are expanding their locker room, weight room, dining facility and office space at their headquarters, constructed in 2009. That work began before Harbaugh was named head coach.
NFL teams have used the Greenbier extensively since 2014, when it was first established to host training camp for the New Orleans Saints. The Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns have held training camps there, and other have practiced there during extended road trips.
The facility has two grass fields and a FieldTurf field, as well as all of the other accommodations an NFL needs.
The Giants have trained at their own Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J. since 2013.
Exact dates for NFL training camps have not yet been set, but the starting date is generally some time in late July. Per the Post, most practices at the Greenbrier are expected to be open to the public.
Virginia
Senate approves lawmaker pay raise as teacher pay hike stalls in Virginia budget talks
RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) — As the legislative session in Richmond comes closer to an end, lawmakers are still hard at work hammering out the budget for the year ahead. This year, the Senate has approved a pay raise for lawmakers after tabling bills that would have provided larger pay increases for teachers.
With the cost of living rising, teachers across Virginia have been watching the proposed budget closely and hoping for higher pay.
In February, a bill that would have raised teacher salaries by 4.5% each year until reaching the national average of $77,000 was tabled until next year. The decision left some educators disappointed.
“It’s definitely disappointing. We’re at a time where we are struggling to keep highly qualified staff in the buildings and in the profession, to be quite honest, because we have to compete with other industries,” Karl Loos, president of the Lynchburg Education Association, said.
SEE ALSO: ‘Strangest election cycle:’ Registrars prepare for referendum vote despite legal limbo
There is still a 3% increase for teachers included in the proposed Senate budget, and a 2% increase in the House of Delegates’ proposed budget. But Loos said a 3% raise only matches the rate of inflation, and will likely not be appealing enough to fill vacant positions.
“I think certainly teacher pay is a deterrent for a lot of people, especially as they see the amount of work that goes into it and the compensation for that work,” Loos said.
The Virginia Education Association also advocated for the 4.5% pay increase. Chad Stewart, the interim director of Government Relations and Research, said they believe budget uncertainty may have made lawmakers hesitant to commit to long-term increases they might not be able to sustain.
According to the State Fiscal Impact Statement, seen below, it would have required an additional $159.0 million in 2027, and increasing amounts for the next couple of years to meet the goal of reaching the national average.
“We’ve seen commitments going back decades from previous governors who have all stated they want to get the national teacher pay average, but no governor has ever delivered on it,” Stewart said.
Stewart said the average national pay for teachers they are hoping to meet is $77,000, and that the current average salary for teachers in the Commonwealth is around $70,000. He said ultimately it comes down to the budget, and he hopes in the following years teachers will receive that larger pay increase. Stewart said the organization hopes Gov. Spanberger will be the first to follow through on that promise.
Meanwhile, legislation that would increase pay for state lawmakers was passed in the Senate on Thursday. Republican Del. Tim Griffin of the 53rd District said he voted against the measure.
“I was outraged last week when they raised their own pay. I voted against it,” Griffin said. “When you run on affordability, I think people expected it to be more affordable for the people that live and work in Virginia, not for ourselves. It kind of defeats the purpose.”
When asked about the proposed pay increases in the House and the Senate, Campbell County Superintendent Clay Stanley said in a statement, “I am praying for 3%. Our teachers, at minimum, deserve a raise that matches the cost of living increase.”
ABC13 reached out to local Democratic lawmakers for comment on the teacher pay raise legislation, but did not receive a response.
Virginia
Why a 6-year-old with diabetes is pushing for change in Virginia – WTOP News
First grader Ruston Revell is pressing Virginia lawmakers to pass a bill that he argues will make schools safer for kids with diabetes.
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Why a 6-year-old with diabetes is pushing for change in Virginia
Speaking in front of Virginia lawmakers, 6-year-old Ruston Revell needs a wooden stool to reach the microphone for his testimony about diabetes.
Dressed in his blue suit and red tie, he’s there on a mission.
“Living with diabetes isn’t easy, there are lots of ups and downs — just like my blood sugar,” Ruston told legislators in the Virginia General Assembly.
The legislation that brought Ruston from Prince William County to Richmond would update an existing law to specify how Virginia schools handle accommodations for students with diabetes.
“When I’m at school, my nurse and all my teachers help me when I need it, but not all kids like me are that lucky,” Ruston told WTOP. “These bills change that, so kids with diabetes can be safer in schools.”
He’s testified before committees in both chambers as corresponding bills move through the Virginia General Assembly. HB1301 and SB122 have both earned support in their respective chamber.
“Although, I’m small, my voice is big and it can change the world,” Ruston said.
In his testimony, the first grader clearly explained the care he requires to manage his Type 1 diabetes during the school day.
“He just pops up on his little stool and takes control of the room,” said Kelly Revell, Ruston’s mom. “It’s usually a little quiet, and after he finishes, he gets a whole room full of applause.”
Today, Ruston enjoys playing baseball, swimming and spending time at the playground.
But things were different before his diagnosis five years ago.
A life-changing diagnosis at 15 months old
During the summer of 2020, Kelly said her son started showing signs of diabetes, such as extreme thirst — symptoms she recognized because her father had been diagnosed in his 20s.
“He would just lounge around the house and have no interest in playing with his sister,” Kelly said. “He stopped eating, so he was eventually airlifted to Children’s National in D.C., where he was admitted to the pediatric ICU for nearly a week.”
At just 15 months old, Ruston was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Kelly said that news was life-changing.
“Now, in order to keep him alive, we have to hurt him multiple times a day, by giving him four to five shots and even a dozen finger pricks just to make sure his blood sugar is in range,” she recalled.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks cells that make insulin. A lack of insulin can lead to high blood sugar, which could cause serious health issues or be deadly.
“We had to wake up at 2 a.m. every night for six weeks, before we started utilizing technology, just to make sure that he was safe and healthy with his blood sugar,” Kelly said. “A lot of times, it resulted in phone calls to the hospital because he was at a dangerous level, and then we would be up for hours making sure he was back in range.”
For the Revell family, managing Ruston’s diabetes looks different nowadays.
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)
Courtesy Kelly Revell
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)
Courtesy Kelly Revell
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)
Courtesy Kelly Revell
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)
Courtesy Kelly Revell
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)
Courtesy Kelly Revell
How a 6-year-old handles his diabetes
Ruston knows how to prick his finger to check whether his blood sugar is in range.
“My mom and dad help me change my insulin pump every three days, and my CGM every 10 days,” Ruston said, referencing his continuous glucose monitor, known as a CGM.
“It hurts, but at least I don’t have to do shots. They’re the worst.”
Living with diabetes, Ruston needs to calculate the number of carbs he’s getting to determine his insulin dose, which is administered automatically through a pump.
“He is a pro at using a food scale,” Kelly said. “If he wants to eat anything, apple slices, we cut them up, and he puts them on the food scale and determines how many carbs are in that.”
Halfway through his interview with WTOP, Ruston’s phone beeped, flagging his low blood sugar and triggering a quick juice-box break.
That’s the kind of intervention he could require at school.
“When I’m low, Nurse Barnes tells Ms. Grant for me to have a juice box or gummies,” Ruston said, describing a snack to correct his blood sugar.
At his current school, Kelly said Ruston has had all his medical accommodations met since his first day of kindergarten.
“He gets so many hugs. Everyone knows him. He walks into the front office every day to visit the clinic, and they just they really take care of him,” she said.
Things were more complicated before Ruston began kindergarten. Kelly said the family was initially told that the accommodations requested by his doctor would not be allowed.
“What was most difficult at the time was the thought that a kindergartener would be responsible for alerting adults if his phone signaled a low or high blood sugar, rather than having trained staff receive those alerts directly through available technology,” she told WTOP.
The situation was resolved, but it drew Kelly’s attention toward legal protections for kids with diabetes.
What Kelly and Ruston are asking Virginia lawmakers to do
For the past several years, Kelly has been involved with an advocacy group, FOLLOWT1Ds, which argues that unclear or inconsistent school policies can create stress for families and put kids in danger.
“Prince William County has updated their diabetes policies recently, so more students with diabetes across our county are better protected,” Kelly said. “But that’s not happening everywhere in Virginia.”
The bills moving through the Virginia legislature would require school systems to create a divisionwide plan for supporting students with diabetes.
That would include making sure school staff are trained to follow through with a child’s medical orders.
“You really have to put in all of your trust in your school,” Kelly said. “This is a life-threatening disease, and if they forget to give him a juice box when he’s low, that can result in him going to the hospital, or it could be fatal.”
The legislation would also require schools have procedures for administering insulin and glucagon.
Families who have students with diabetes would send schools medical orders from their doctors that outline the child’s needs.
“A lot of times, the schools will either deny or modify these accommodations, even though they’re medically necessary,” Kelly said.
The statewide regulations haven’t been updated since 1999, Kelly said.
“While we’ve had all of these technology advances, like the insulin pump and the CGM, Virginia still hasn’t advanced their laws to align with standard methods of care that we’re using today,” Kelly said.
Ruston doesn’t receive insulin shots anymore. But Virginia law is behind on that front, according to Kelly and other advocates.
“Right now, the policy in Virginia, if his pump were to fall off while at school, they would, instead of reinsert the pump, they would give him a shot,” Kelly said.
In that scenario, Kelly said the school employee would have to calculate how much insulin to dose.
“I wouldn’t even know what to dose him, because with the pump, it’s automated nowadays,” she said. “It would require an immediate call to his doctor for guidance.”
She worries that it could lead to a miscalculation and health complications.
Kelly said the lack of consistency can impact older students, too. She said some high schoolers have gotten in trouble for having their cellphones at schools that ban the devices.
But those phones let students monitor their blood sugar, communicate medical treatments and administer insulin.
It’s the second year in a row that advocates like Kelly have asked legislators in Richmond to approve revisions to state law.
This time, Ruston is joining the push for change by sharing his story with lawmakers.
“I want to make sure other kids in different schools can have more help with diabetes,” Ruston told WTOP.
Anyone interested in following the legislation or submitting a comment to lawmakers can find more information on FOLLOW T1Ds’ website.
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