Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) says boating incidents and deaths decreased this past year at both Claytor and Smith Mountain lakes. At Claytor Lake, there was a total of five boating incidents in 2025. Four of those incidents involved an injury. One of the incidents involved property damage. There were no reported fatalities.
In 2024, nine incidents occurred at Smith Mountain Lake, but there were no fatalities reported. 2024 data by DWR showed seven incidents at Claytor Lake; one involved property damage and six incidents resulted in injuries.
Statewide, boating incidents in 2025 totaled 75, down from 89 incidents in 2024.
The 2025 Recreational Boating Incident Summary is compiled by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Boating Division. The data used in this report is retrieved by Reportable Boating Incident reports submitted by DWR Conservation Police, Virginia Marine Resources Commission Marine Police, and local law enforcement agencies. Data included in this report is for incidents which occurred during the 2025 calendar year.
To be considered a “reportable boating incident”, an incident must involve death, missing person, an injury which requires or should have required treatment beyond first aid, or property damage of $2,000 or more. Virginia requires operators involved in an incident to immediately notify DWR and provide information to the investigating officer.
Hokie swimmers All-Americans
The Hokie women wrapped up competition at the NCAA Championships, highlighted by an 11th-place Honorable Mention All-American finish for Carmen Weiler Sastre in the 200 free (1:42.91). Throughout the meet, the Hokies earned top-25 finishes in every event.
Weiler Sastre, who qualified in three individual events, logged an 18th-place finish in the 200 back as well, posting a 1:52.06. In the 100 back, she touched the wall at 51.58 seconds, good for 25th place overall.
The 200 free relay, swam by Weiler Sastre, Emily Claesson, Fanni Gyurinovics and Eliza Tan, clocked a new program ninth-best time (1:28.90) with an 18th-place finish. The 800 free relay, swam by Weiler Sastre, Claesson, Chiara Klein and Gyurinovics, placed 18th overall with a time of 7:04.79. The 400 free relay also logged an 18th-place finish (3:14.12), with strong swims from Weiler Sastre, Claesson, Gyurinovics and Tan.
Highlander player of week
The Big South Conference has announced Raymond Ladd has been named the Starting Pitcher of the Week after a commanding performance against VMI that saw the Radford University pick up a 9-4 victory.
Ladd is off to a strong start in his 2026 campaign after his 2025 season was cut short by injury. Continuing to build back his workload, Ladd took another significant step forward in game one of the Highlanders’ series against VMI. He delivered a season-high six innings, allowing five hits while striking out a season-best seven batters. The Big South’s top draft prospect is proving exactly why he’s earned that distinction, and he looks poised to keep trending upward as the season progresses.
Hokie ACC performer of year
Following a historic indoor season, George Couttie earned ACC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Performer of the Year honors for 2026, the conference announced Friday.
Couttie delivered one of the most decorated seasons in program history, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 3:59.30 to earn First Team All-American honors. He also placed 11th in the 3,000 meters (8:07.18), securing Second Team All-American recognition for the second consecutive year in the event.
He ranked No. 2 nationally in the mile, breaking his own Virginia Tech record with a time of 3:52.02—No. 7 all-time in NCAA history—and set the program record in the 3,000 meters at 7:36.74, which ranks No. 9 all-time collegiately. Couttie also contributed to Virginia Tech’s distance medley relay record, which stands No. 3 all-time.
On the conference stage, Couttie earned First Team All-ACC honors with a second-place finish in the 3,000 meters (7:46.40) at the ACC Indoor Championships.
Former coach back in Blacksburg
Virginia Tech head men’s soccer coach Mike Brizendine announced the hiring of Jeff Kinney as Associate Head Coach, adding a veteran leader with extensive collegiate, professional and developmental experience to the Hokies’ staff.
Kinney, who served a five-year stint as the head coach at UAB, makes his return to Blacksburg after holding the Associate Head Coach role beginning in the summer of 2017 following five seasons as an assistant with the Hokies. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in rebuilding the program after significant recruiting restrictions, overseeing all facets of the program including recruiting, budget management, training sessions, and scheduling.
During his time at Virginia Tech, Kinney helped guide the Hokies to one of the most successful seasons in program history, advancing to the Elite Eight of the 2016 NCAA Tournament and finishing with a No. 8 final national ranking—the program’s highest since its 2007 College Cup run. He also helped develop six All-ACC selections and coached three MLS Draft picks, including Devante Dubose (2014), Juan Pablo Saavedra (2017) and first-round selection Ben Lundgaard (2018).
