The Ava Five: A Record-Breaking Convergence on the William & Mary Soccer Team

Strategic Insights -

The William & Mary soccer team has seen an unprecedented convergence of five players named Ava, a phenomenon that has led to a shift in team dynamics and even inspired a game show idea. When Ava Lentz joined the team in 2022 as an emergency walk-on, the team's recruiting class in 2023 included three more players named Ava, and a fourth joined in 2024, leaving the team with five players by the same name.

Key Takeaways:

  • The William & Mary soccer team has a record-breaking five players named Ava, a phenomenon that has led to a shift in team dynamics.
  • The team has had to adapt to the challenge of having multiple players with the same name, with each player developing nicknames to distinguish themselves.
  • The Ava Five plan to host a game show, where they will share stories about one of them, and their teammates will guess who it's about.
  • Junior midfielder Molly Widderich may have an advantage in the game show, as she lives with two of the Avas, Marvin and Schultz.
  • The team's coach, Julie Shackford, quipped that having five players named Ava "has got to be an NCAA record," nearly six.
  • The name Ava has become so common on the team that the coaches play "Find the Ava" during recruiting, as almost every team has an Ava.

Statistics:

  • In the 2022 season, Ava Lentz joined the William & Mary soccer team as an emergency walk-on.
  • The 2023 recruiting class included three players named Ava: Ava Lewis, Ava Marvin, and Ava Schultz.
  • A fourth Ava, Ava Reybitz, joined the team in 2024.
  • The team now has a total of five players named Ava.
  • Ava Lentz's nickname is "Slay," while Ava Lewis prefers to be called "Lew."
  • Ava Marvin's nickname is "Marv," and Ava Schultz's nickname is "Schultzy."

Sources:

  • The State of Virginia news release
  • William & Mary University
  • Social Security website