Saturday, April 18th, 2026

Sports

Baseball falls short against GW to start weekend series

April 17, 2026

Drew Thompson, Sports Editor VCU lost 4-3 to George Washington University on Friday to start a three game series, falling back to earth after its upset win over the University of Virginia earlier this week.  Neither team made much of an impact in the first inning, with both sides failing to get a hit.  VCU cruised through the top of the second despite redshirt fourth-year pitcher Elias Holbert hitting two batters.  The Rams started the bottom of the second with a lead-off double from third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick. Graduate student catcher Teige Lethert followed up with an RBI double to score VCU’s first run of the game.  The third inning came and went without much action. VCU’s Holbert walked two batters before a double-play brought in the Rams hitters. However, VCU went out three up, three down.  Holbert walked two more batters in the top of the top of the fourth, but VCU escaped the inning again without giving up a hit or a run. The Rams came into the bottom of the fourth looking to capitalize on the good defensive play, but once again went three up three down.  George Washington upended VCU in the top of the fifth

Women’s tennis dominates Duquesne through injuries and intense heat

April 16, 2026

Benney Koch, Contributing Writer VCU dominated the nationally ranked, No. 67 Duquesne University on Thursday, winning 4-0. A strong doubles performance gave the Rams the momentum needed to secure a team victory in the singles. VCU second-years Andrea Magallanes and Sofia Jane Thorne took over. The pair quickly found rhythm and built a commanding lead behind strong coordination at the net. Magallanes’ long-range shots created openings, while Jane Thorne consistently closed points at the net, helping the duo finish with a 6-2 win. VCU third-years Tan Andrade Sabando and Mariam Ibrahim got their second doubles victory with a match score of 6-3. Sabando and Ibrahim secured an early lead and maintained pressure by forcing errors from their opponents. Ibrahim’s well-timed feints and Sabando’s aggressive returns sealed the result. The Rams’ second-year Sara Alba and first-year Viktoria Lackova had a difficult match. They fell behind early and battled hard, but weren’t able to recover before VCU secured the doubles point. VCU entered the singles stage needing only two winning matches for the team victory, as Duquesne was short a player. Ibrahim won a tight first set, but the match ended early in the second after building up a 5-1 lead.  VCU

APRIL 15 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 15, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Men’s tennis vs. Liberty University VCU men’s tennis suffered a tough 6-1 homecourt defeat at the hands of No. 60 ranked Liberty. The Rams were competitive early, but eventually dropped the doubles point to fall behind 1-0. Despite multiple competitive three set matches, VCU could not string together enough momentum to turn the tide. The Rams’ lone point came from second-year Erwann Bouchet, who won his match 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Men’s track at Duke University, University of South Florida and University of Mount Olive VCU men’s track and field had a historic weekend, breaking the school triple jump record twice in the same meet. Third-year Isaiah-Taji Kargbo-Owens broke the record first with a score of 15.64 meters. Fourth-year Philip Daniel then broke his record with a score of 15.73 meters. In the 400 meter dash third-year Jude Okafor clocked in a time of 46.96, the second fastest time in VCU program history. Women’s track at Duke University, University of South Florida and University of Mount Olive VCU women’s track and field had an incredible meet with three athletes finishing top three in program history in their respective events. Fourth-year Sydney Carr finished second in program history

Richmond swordfighter ranks among world’s best

April 15, 2026

Benney Koch, Contributing Writer On a tennis court in Richmond, athletes gather with heavy bags of gear to clash with their blades. Donning great masks and thick gloves, fencers tap their swords before engaging with one another in quick combat. In an instant, one fighter strikes another, and they ready themselves to go at it again.  It looks like something out of a historical or fantasy film, but for Zach Showalter, it is the result of nearly a decade of disciplined training. Showalter, founder of the Scuffletown Fetterfechters, is currently ranked No. 10 in the world at longsword in Historical European Martial Arts, or HEMA.  What began as curiosity after watching an online video has grown into a competitive career and a central role in shaping Richmond’s expanding HEMA scene. “I thought it was the coolest thing,” Showalter said. “I was like, I have to do this.” HEMA is a martial art practiced through historical European fighting systems. Athletes read centuries-old manuals to adapt them into a modern, historically researched sport where they can compete against one another.  While HEMA is sometimes mistaken for LARPing — live action role playing — or Olympic fencing, the historical aspect and study balances

Do VCU students actually care about men’s basketball?

April 15, 2026

Bryer Haywood, Staff Writer Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor VCU men’s basketball garnered national attention for its historic performance in this year’s March Madness. Their comeback against the University of North Carolina was the largest in first round NCAA Tournament history. Men’s basketball is undeniably the premier attraction for VCU Athletics, and it receives the funding to back it up. VCU Athletics Director Ed McLaughlin promised to devote $4-5 million to pay men’s basketball players last year.  With the success of the team this past season, that number is only slated to increase. The team is also already revered by the Richmond community, with home games averaging a sell out of 7,614 people. Even for away games, thousands of people show up to support the Rams.  Official statistics from VCU Athletics show that 14,178 Rams fans went to the second round game against the University of Illinois. Though the Rams ultimately lost that game by 21 points, the fervor for the team has not diminished.  However, while the community travels in droves to support the Rams, the student section tends to remain the emptiest come the opening whistle.  VCU is home to over 29,000 students, but the

What women’s basketball fans can expect from Banbury

April 15, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer  Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Chelsea Banbury was announced as the new VCU women’s basketball head coach after a challenging 2025-2026 season. Banbury was hired from High Point University and is the 14th head coach in VCU women’s basketball history.  The Rams ended last season with an 8-23 overall record after head coach Beth O’Boyle was dismissed from her position midway through the season. VCU former assistant coach Kirk Crawford filled the role as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.  After Crawford took on the role as head coach, the team did not see another win the rest of the season. The Rams were hindered by coaching changes and injuries to key players as they crawled past the finish line.  Banbury is looking to revitalize the team after her seven successful seasons at HPU. She did not have a single losing season during her time at High Point, with an overall record of 140-79.  Banbury held a win percentage of 64%, compared to O’Boyle who held an overall win percentage of 53% during her VCU tenure.  Prior to O’Boyle’s dismissal, the Rams were lower in nearly every statistical category from Banbury’s Panthers.  Banbury and

VCU baseball pummels No. 9 Virginia 6-2

April 14, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer VCU baseball put together one of its most complete performances of the season Tuesday night, defeating the No. 9-ranked University of Virginia 6-2 to secure its first win in the rivalry since 2022. The Cavaliers struck immediately — third-year outfielder AJ Gracia opened the game with a leadoff home run in the top of the first to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead. However, VCU responded quickly, chipping away slowly before breaking the game open late. The Rams tied it in the second inning when third-year infielder/outfielder Trent Adelman delivered an RBI single to score third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick. Adelman later added another key hit in the sixth, finishing with multiple hits and RBI’s. “It all just started by my teammates. They set me up well,” Adelman said. “Not trying to do too much, just staying calm.” VCU took control in the third inning after loading the bases with no outs. A wild pitch brought in the go-ahead run, and a sacrifice groundout from graduate student catcher Teige Lethert extended the lead to 3-1. While the offense began to find rhythm, the pitching staff delivered in high-pressure moments. Virginia totaled 11 hits but left 14 runners

Baseball falls short against GW to start weekend series

April 17, 2026

Drew Thompson, Sports Editor VCU lost 4-3 to George Washington University on Friday to start a three game series, falling back to earth after its upset win over the University of Virginia earlier this week.  Neither team made much of an impact in the first inning, with both sides failing to get a hit.  VCU cruised through the top of the second despite redshirt fourth-year pitcher Elias Holbert hitting two batters.  The Rams started the bottom of the second with a lead-off double from third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick. Graduate student catcher Teige Lethert followed up with an RBI double to score VCU’s first run of the game.  The third inning came and went without much action. VCU’s Holbert walked two batters before a double-play brought in the Rams hitters. However, VCU went out three up, three down.  Holbert walked two more batters in the top of the top of the fourth, but VCU escaped the inning again without giving up a hit or a run. The Rams came into the bottom of the fourth looking to capitalize on the good defensive play, but once again went three up three down.  George Washington upended VCU in the top of the fifth after the Rams brought in third-year pitcher Caleb Clover. The Revolutionaries doubled, before the baserunner got home on a fielding error. Another double sent a second baserunner home to give GW a 2-1 lead.  VCU responded with a lead-off double from redshirt first-year infielder Alec Warden, but Warden got picked off at second. The Rams could not move forward from there, going into the sixth still down one.  Both the sixth and seventh inning came-and-went with little action. VCU got a runner in scoring position in the seventh but failed to tie the game.  George Washington scored two more runs in the top of the eighth off of RBI singles.  VCU brought in third-year pitcher Brody Leyboldt, who put a runner in scoring position off a wild pitch before getting immediately replaced by second-year pitcher Cooper Campbell.  Campbell gave up the second RBI single of the inning, giving GW a 4-1 lead.  VCU answered back with an RBI double from third-year outfielder Michael Petite and an RBI single from Kirkpatrick, bringing the lead back to 4-3.  The Rams ran through three Revolutionary batters to start the top of the ninth, giving VCU the chance to tie or walk-off the game

Women’s tennis dominates Duquesne through injuries and intense heat

April 16, 2026

Benney Koch, Contributing Writer VCU dominated the nationally ranked, No. 67 Duquesne University on Thursday, winning 4-0. A strong doubles performance gave the Rams the momentum needed to secure a team victory in the singles. VCU second-years Andrea Magallanes and Sofia Jane Thorne took over. The pair quickly found rhythm and built a commanding lead behind strong coordination at the net. Magallanes’ long-range shots created openings, while Jane Thorne consistently closed points at the net, helping the duo finish with a 6-2 win. VCU third-years Tan Andrade Sabando and Mariam Ibrahim got their second doubles victory with a match score of 6-3. Sabando and Ibrahim secured an early lead and maintained pressure by forcing errors from their opponents. Ibrahim’s well-timed feints and Sabando’s aggressive returns sealed the result. The Rams’ second-year Sara Alba and first-year Viktoria Lackova had a difficult match. They fell behind early and battled hard, but weren’t able to recover before VCU secured the doubles point. VCU entered the singles stage needing only two winning matches for the team victory, as Duquesne was short a player. Ibrahim won a tight first set, but the match ended early in the second after building up a 5-1 lead.  VCU

APRIL 15 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 15, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Men’s tennis vs. Liberty University VCU men’s tennis suffered a tough 6-1 homecourt defeat at the hands of No. 60 ranked Liberty. The Rams were competitive early, but eventually dropped the doubles point to fall behind 1-0. Despite multiple competitive three set matches, VCU could not string together enough momentum to turn the tide. The Rams’ lone point came from second-year Erwann Bouchet, who won his match 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Men’s track at Duke University, University of South Florida and University of Mount Olive VCU men’s track and field had a historic weekend, breaking the school triple jump record twice in the same meet. Third-year Isaiah-Taji Kargbo-Owens broke the record first with a score of 15.64 meters. Fourth-year Philip Daniel then broke his record with a score of 15.73 meters. In the 400 meter dash third-year Jude Okafor clocked in a time of 46.96, the second fastest time in VCU program history. Women’s track at Duke University, University of South Florida and University of Mount Olive VCU women’s track and field had an incredible meet with three athletes finishing top three in program history in their respective events. Fourth-year Sydney Carr finished second in program history

Richmond swordfighter ranks among world’s best

April 15, 2026

Benney Koch, Contributing Writer On a tennis court in Richmond, athletes gather with heavy bags of gear to clash with their blades. Donning great masks and thick gloves, fencers tap their swords before engaging with one another in quick combat. In an instant, one fighter strikes another, and they ready themselves to go at it again.  It looks like something out of a historical or fantasy film, but for Zach Showalter, it is the result of nearly a decade of disciplined training. Showalter, founder of the Scuffletown Fetterfechters, is currently ranked No. 10 in the world at longsword in Historical European Martial Arts, or HEMA.  What began as curiosity after watching an online video has grown into a competitive career and a central role in shaping Richmond’s expanding HEMA scene. “I thought it was the coolest thing,” Showalter said. “I was like, I have to do this.” HEMA is a martial art practiced through historical European fighting systems. Athletes read centuries-old manuals to adapt them into a modern, historically researched sport where they can compete against one another.  While HEMA is sometimes mistaken for LARPing — live action role playing — or Olympic fencing, the historical aspect and study balances

Do VCU students actually care about men’s basketball?

Sports Editor April 15, 2026

Bryer Haywood, Staff Writer Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor VCU men’s basketball garnered national attention for its historic performance in this year’s March Madness. Their comeback against the University of North Carolina was the largest in first round NCAA Tournament history. Men’s basketball is undeniably the premier attraction for VCU Athletics, and it receives the funding to back it up. VCU Athletics Director Ed McLaughlin promised to devote $4-5 million to pay men’s basketball players last year.  With the success of the team this past season, that number is only slated to increase. The team is also already revered by the Richmond community, with home games averaging a sell out of 7,614 people. Even for away games, thousands of people show up to support the Rams.  Official statistics from VCU Athletics show that 14,178 Rams fans went to the second round game against the University of Illinois. Though the Rams ultimately lost that game by 21 points, the fervor for the team has not diminished.  However, while the community travels in droves to support the Rams, the student section tends to remain the emptiest come the opening whistle.  VCU is home to over 29,000 students, but the

What women’s basketball fans can expect from Banbury

Sports Editor April 15, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer  Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Chelsea Banbury was announced as the new VCU women’s basketball head coach after a challenging 2025-2026 season. Banbury was hired from High Point University and is the 14th head coach in VCU women’s basketball history.  The Rams ended last season with an 8-23 overall record after head coach Beth O’Boyle was dismissed from her position midway through the season. VCU former assistant coach Kirk Crawford filled the role as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.  After Crawford took on the role as head coach, the team did not see another win the rest of the season. The Rams were hindered by coaching changes and injuries to key players as they crawled past the finish line.  Banbury is looking to revitalize the team after her seven successful seasons at HPU. She did not have a single losing season during her time at High Point, with an overall record of 140-79.  Banbury held a win percentage of 64%, compared to O’Boyle who held an overall win percentage of 53% during her VCU tenure.  Prior to O’Boyle’s dismissal, the Rams were lower in nearly every statistical category from Banbury’s Panthers.  Banbury and

VCU baseball pummels No. 9 Virginia 6-2

Sports Editor April 14, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer VCU baseball put together one of its most complete performances of the season Tuesday night, defeating the No. 9-ranked University of Virginia 6-2 to secure its first win in the rivalry since 2022. The Cavaliers struck immediately — third-year outfielder AJ Gracia opened the game with a leadoff home run in the top of the first to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead. However, VCU responded quickly, chipping away slowly before breaking the game open late. The Rams tied it in the second inning when third-year infielder/outfielder Trent Adelman delivered an RBI single to score third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick. Adelman later added another key hit in the sixth, finishing with multiple hits and RBI’s. “It all just started by my teammates. They set me up well,” Adelman said. “Not trying to do too much, just staying calm.” VCU took control in the third inning after loading the bases with no outs. A wild pitch brought in the go-ahead run, and a sacrifice groundout from graduate student catcher Teige Lethert extended the lead to 3-1. While the offense began to find rhythm, the pitching staff delivered in high-pressure moments. Virginia totaled 11 hits but left 14 runners

Do VCU students actually care about men’s basketball?

April 15, 2026

Bryer Haywood, Staff Writer Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor VCU men’s basketball garnered national attention for its historic performance in this year’s March Madness. Their comeback against the University of North Carolina was the largest in first round NCAA Tournament history. Men’s basketball is undeniably the premier attraction for VCU Athletics, and it receives the funding to back it up. VCU Athletics Director Ed McLaughlin promised to devote $4-5 million to pay men’s basketball players last year.  With the success of the team this past season, that number is only slated to increase. The team is also already revered by the Richmond community, with home games averaging a sell out of 7,614 people. Even for away games, thousands of people show up to support the Rams.  Official statistics from VCU Athletics show that 14,178 Rams fans went to the second round game against the University of Illinois. Though the Rams ultimately lost that game by 21 points, the fervor for the team has not diminished.  However, while the community travels in droves to support the Rams, the student section tends to remain the emptiest come the opening whistle.  VCU is home to over 29,000 students, but the

What women’s basketball fans can expect from Banbury

April 15, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer  Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Chelsea Banbury was announced as the new VCU women’s basketball head coach after a challenging 2025-2026 season. Banbury was hired from High Point University and is the 14th head coach in VCU women’s basketball history.  The Rams ended last season with an 8-23 overall record after head coach Beth O’Boyle was dismissed from her position midway through the season. VCU former assistant coach Kirk Crawford filled the role as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.  After Crawford took on the role as head coach, the team did not see another win the rest of the season. The Rams were hindered by coaching changes and injuries to key players as they crawled past the finish line.  Banbury is looking to revitalize the team after her seven successful seasons at HPU. She did not have a single losing season during her time at High Point, with an overall record of 140-79.  Banbury held a win percentage of 64%, compared to O’Boyle who held an overall win percentage of 53% during her VCU tenure.  Prior to O’Boyle’s dismissal, the Rams were lower in nearly every statistical category from Banbury’s Panthers.  Banbury and

VCU baseball pummels No. 9 Virginia 6-2

April 14, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer VCU baseball put together one of its most complete performances of the season Tuesday night, defeating the No. 9-ranked University of Virginia 6-2 to secure its first win in the rivalry since 2022. The Cavaliers struck immediately — third-year outfielder AJ Gracia opened the game with a leadoff home run in the top of the first to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead. However, VCU responded quickly, chipping away slowly before breaking the game open late. The Rams tied it in the second inning when third-year infielder/outfielder Trent Adelman delivered an RBI single to score third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick. Adelman later added another key hit in the sixth, finishing with multiple hits and RBI’s. “It all just started by my teammates. They set me up well,” Adelman said. “Not trying to do too much, just staying calm.” VCU took control in the third inning after loading the bases with no outs. A wild pitch brought in the go-ahead run, and a sacrifice groundout from graduate student catcher Teige Lethert extended the lead to 3-1. While the offense began to find rhythm, the pitching staff delivered in high-pressure moments. Virginia totaled 11 hits but left 14 runners

Men’s tennis flames out against No. 60 Liberty

April 10, 2026

Drew Thompson, Sports Editor VCU men’s tennis failed to capitalize against nationally ranked No. 60 Liberty University on April 9, losing 6-1.  Liberty opened the day with a 6-2 win in the first doubles match over VCU first-year Patrik Petera and second-year Leon Zaorski. VCU brought it back even after second-years Erwann Bouchet and Gevorg Mnatsakanyan won their set 6-3. However, a 6-4 Liberty win on the second court secured the doubles point for the Flames.  The Rams brought the fight to the singles matches; however, the results stayed the same as they failed to capitalize.  VCU second-year Mats Bredschneijder lost in two sets after sending the first set to extras. A similar story followed fourth-year Alfred Almasi, who took the first set to extras before losing in the second, shooting Liberty out to an early 3-0 lead. Bouchet breathed some much-needed life back into a faltering VCU side after a hard-fought three set victory. Bouchet went down 4-6 in the first, before dominating the next two sets 6-2 and 6-1, giving VCU its first point.  The Rams attempted to carry that momentum into the closing matches but came up short each time. Zaorski lost in two sets on court

Martelli aims to retain core players prior to transfer portal

April 8, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball’s standards have increased as they earned a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title and the conference tournament championship for its second straight season.  VCU secured its spot at the NCAA Tournament, where it faced off against No. 6 University of North Carolina.  The Rams won a thrilling 19-point comeback before eventually losing to No. 3 University of Illinois in the round of 32.  Despite the Rams’ loss in the second round, the astonishing upset against UNC left VCU ready to use the offseason to its advantage.  However, with the rise of the transfer portal, VCU’s team roster remains in question.  Head coach Phil Martelli Jr. believes that one of the most crucial aspects of college basketball is player consistency. Backing his belief, Martelli has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031-32 season, demonstrating his commitment and gratitude towards VCU.  “VCU is built to compete at the highest level and we have to continue to push that forward,” Martelli said in a post-game press conference. “I talk a lot about the people that came before us and what they’ve done to build this legacy, but it’s really now it’s the people

PRESS BOX: Is NIL ruining March Madness?

April 8, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer March Madness is supposed to be pure, unfiltered chaos where any school has a chance, no matter how big the opponent is.  The idea that a small program like Siena University can go toe-to-toe with a blue blood like Duke University is what makes the tournament so special. But with the turnout of last year’s and this year’s tournaments, that unpredictability feels like it’s fading.  Fans don’t want to see all top seeds battling it out in the Final Four like in recent tournaments. They want Cinderella stories, buzzer-beaters and the chaos that made March Madness what it is. Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) is the legal right of college athletes to profit off their fame. It was introduced in 2021 and since then college sports have changed as we know it — and so has March Madness.  One of the last true Cinderella runs came in 2022, when Saint Peter’s University shocked the country. Saint Peter’s became the first team in tournament history to reach the Elite Eight as a No. 15 seed, defeating powerhouse programs like the University of Kentucky and Purdue University along the way.  Runs like that are what make the NCAA

APRIL 8 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 8, 2026

Christa Anderson, Contributing Writer Lacrosse vs. Elon University  VCU women’s lacrosse lost to Elon 13-8. The Rams scored their first three points early in the game, but the Phoenixes made up the points quickly and pulled ahead. Third-year attacker Rachel Koeneke led the Rams with three goals scored and two assists. This home game matchup brought VCU’s record to 8-3.  Baseball vs. Longwood University VCU defeated Longwood 6-1 to take its fourth straight win. While the game started off close, the Rams forged ahead and second-year catcher Jacob Lee hit his sixth home run of the season. This brings VCU’s season record to 17-11 and 8-1 in Atlantic 10 conference games.  Women’s tennis at the University of Delaware  The Rams played the Blue Hens in doubles and singles matches, losing 2-4. Third-year Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando clinched points for the Rams in singles matchups following a straight-set win by VCU second-year Sofia Jane Thorne. This brings the Rams’ record to an even 9-9. Lacrosse vs. Duquesne University VCU hosted Duquesne in a home matchup, securing a major win. The Rams started off strong, racking up 15 points before the Dukes’ first goal. The game ended in a VCU victory, 19-6.