3at5Georgia Southern
Fifth Inning Rally by GS Drops Dukes5/3/2025 10:11:00 PM | Baseball
(JMU Athletics) – An early deficit could not be overcome by James Madison softball as it fell 3-1 to Georgia Southern in the regular-season finale of Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park.adButlerLazyLoad("442653101186830920",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
13-11 SBC) took advantage of two on and nobody out as Faith Barth hit her second home run of the series in the third inning
a three-run shot to give the Eagles all they needed to take game three of the series
11-13 SBC) had opportunities to put runs across the board
including the tying runs with two out in the bottom of the seventh
Payton List and Kylee Gleason put together a three-hit campaign
including List’s eighth double of the season
List and Gleason finish the regular season with 18 and 14 multi-hit games
respectively.adButlerLazyLoad("569275994883901725",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Jasmine Hall notched her second two-hit performance of the series
as she finished the three-game set going 5-for-8 with two walks
The only run for the Dukes on the afternoon was an RBI groundout off the bat of Reed Butler
as the Georgia Southern pitching duo of Alana Barnard and Bailey Holland were able to limit the damage to just that
giving up just one run on six hits and Holland came in to shut the door
going the final two frames to earn her first save of the season
Fleet limited the damage to just the third-inning home run
as she went three innings to allow three runs on five hits and fan two batters
and striking out three.adButlerLazyLoad("2482051099149461993",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
— JMU Athletics —adButlerLazyLoad("2384247512269858914",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
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The Dukes went 8-4 in the 2024 regular season
and they’ll hope to build on their successes in 2025
A big 2025 season will come down largely to roster management
Charlotte — Culp began his career at Austin Peay before transferring to Troy and then Charlotte
He’s an athletic DB who had 29 tackles and an interception in 10 games in 2024
The veteran is an above-average cover guy with good tackling skills and nearly 1,300 career snaps played
He’ll compete for a starting role at corner
He recorded 38 tackles and posted a good PFF tackling grade of 73.4 over the season
He should immediately add depth and could develop into a starter later in his career
Studio performed well despite playing for an 0-12 team
He should thrive on a talented defense on a winning team
Holy Cross — The massive defensive end has three years of eligibility left after only playing four games in 2024
He has 40 career tackles and 5 sacks in 15 career games
He’s a really promising player who adds important depth along the defensive front
Robinson can also line up at defensive tackle
The Dukes should feel good about their defensive line situation
Holy Cross — With two years of eligibility left
Spinogatti adds valuable depth at linebacker
although he also posted a 49.4 season-long PFF grade that illustrates inconsistency from the rising junior
and his familiarity with JMU’s coaches should prove beneficial
He should play a depth role for the Dukes in 2025
Louisiana Tech — Rea is likely JMU’s starting punter in 2025 after starting for Louisiana Tech in 2024
He averaged just under 40 yards per punt last season
pinning 23 of his 67 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line
He’s a capable punter with G5 experience
Holy Cross — He’s coming off a season-ending injury
including a two-touchdown performance against Boston College in 2023
the Dukes have one of the best short-yardage tandems at RB in the Sun Belt
Stanford/Duke — While the graduate transfer has only played 71 career offensive snaps at the Power Four level
the former four-star recruit is a sweet addition by JMU’s coaches
and he gives JMU added depth at left tackle to compete with returner Joseph Simmons
The big-bodied linemen should be well-suited for the Group of Five level
and it’s possible he has two years of eligibility left depending on NCAA approval of a waiver request
P (6’4 and 215 lbs) – The Dukes backup punter in 2024
VanSlyke isn’t so much an addition as he is a returner
He exited the portal recently and will return to the Dukes in 2025
which is meaningful as he can play both punter and kicker
He’s a great depth piece and developmental prospect on special teams
with a chance to earn the starting punter job in the near future
Army/Iowa State — He might be JMU’s most impactful spring addition
Alston is a big-bodied WR with speed and game-changing ability as a deep threat
He played sparingly for the Cyclones after a great career at Army
He caught two passes for 52 yards for Iowa State in the team’s bowl game against Miami
and he had over 1,000 yards receiving in four seasons at Army
given the fact that the service academy program rarely throws the football compared to FBS peers
He gives JMU an NFL-sized target on the outside
He’s entering his final year of college football
Cincinnati — Willis recorded 23 tackles and two interceptions in 170 snaps in 2023 before only playing 20 snaps in 2024
He’s lined up at both corner and safety during his career
and he gives JMU additional depth with two years of eligibility left
although it’s unclear exactly which position he’ll play for the Dukes in the defensive backfield.
Maryland — A slot receiver and return specialist
Wisloski will help fill the role opened when Yamir Knight entered the portal
Wisloski is a top candidate to win JMU’s kickoff and punt return jobs
He returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against UVA in 2023
and Wisloski averaged over 8 yards per punt return in 2024
He only caught five passes for 75 yards in 2024
but he was on a Maryland team with multiple NFL prospects at WR
He has two years of eligibility left.
Colgate — This is a nice get for the Dukes in the spring portal
as Taddeo was one of the best FCS players available
He finished the 2024 season with 34 tackles
He’ll earn playing time in the interior of the defensive line
and he has potential to be a starter alongside Immanuel Bush
He has one year of eligibility left.
Holy Cross – McNair started at right tackle for the Crusaders in 2024
earning First Team All-Patriot League honors
the graduate transfer will work into JMU’s offensive line rotation in his final collegiate season
He has starting potential and will be a factor once he arrives in Harrisonburg over the summer
Stonehill – Miller caught 15 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns at the FCS level in 2024
He’ll have a chance to earn time at receiver
Miller started his career as a walk-on at Illinois
Richmond – One of JMU’s best pickups in the portal
DeGennaro has 162 receptions for 2,002 yards and 16 TDs over his last three seasons at Richmond
The graduate transfer began his career at Maryland and has one year of eligibility left
as 2025 will be his sixth season of college football
He’s a good route runner with elite hands
only dropping one pass over the last two seasons despite being targeted 161 times
dropped seven passes last fall across 63 targets
DeGennaro’s 2024 season only lasted nine games because of injury
but when healthy he’s likely to be among the most productive G5 receivers
Coleman helped lead Richmond to 10 wins in 2024
completing 65% of his passes and adding 342 yards on the ground
He ran for six TDs and threw for 13 and 5 INTs
He’s a really good player and will push for the starting job in 2025
His PFF grade of 85 was among the best of any QB at the FCS level in 2024.
Holy Cross and UNLV – Chesney’s former QB is coming to Harrisonburg for his final college season
Sluka dealt with significant attention last year after leaving UNLV over an NIL dispute
as he completed just 43.8% of his passes for the Rebels
but he tossed six touchdowns compared to just one interception
ran for 253 yards and beat Houston and Kansas
Sluka threw for nearly 6,000 yards during his career
He tossed 59 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions
He ran for over 1,000 yards in both 2022 and 2023 and he tallied 34 rushing touchdowns from 2021-23
He’s one of the best rushing QBs in the FBS
William & Mary – A 2024 Phil Steele Freshman All-American
McGill comes to JMU with 3 years of eligibility after redshirting in 2023 after playing in 4 games
He was one of the top defensive backs in the CAA this past season racking up 61 tackles
NC native was high school teammates with KJ Flowe at Julius L
Villanova – With over 1,200 yards across the last two seasons
Sanchez is a highly productive FCS receiver
He’ll immediately compete for playing time at JMU
Notre Dame – Injuries derailed Gobaira’s time with the Fighting Irish
but the athletic defensive end has three years of eligibility left and was a top-300 player coming out of high school
If he regains his health — he battled an ACL injury in 2023 and 2024 — the traits are there for Gobaira to be disruptive at the G5 level
He’s a fascinating developmental prospect with high upside
Holy Cross – Harris-Lopez checks all the boxes in an ideal transfer acquisition
Familiarity with Bob Chesney and other coaches
as he had 9.5 TFLs in 2024 and 56 total tackles
as Harris-Lopez had two interceptions and seven pass breakups last season
He played well in the team’s lone FBS matchup
posting six tackles and two tackles for loss against a 10-win Syracuse team
He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the Crusaders
Expect him to play significant snaps in 2025 for the Dukes
perhaps even starting alongside Jacob Thomas
Louisiana Tech – Bush began his career at LSU before moving to the G5
Liberty and WKU also recruited the defensive tackle
He needs to improve his consistency — he was the lowest-graded defender on Louisiana Tech’s team
per PFF — but his talent and size make him an interesting developmental prospect with high upside
East Texas A&M – The Dukes added a long snapper with one year of eligibility left
He’s one of the highest-graded long snappers in all of college football
Maryland – Harley began his collegiate career at Villanova and spent the last three seasons at Maryland
He will be a redshirt senior with one year of eligibility remaining
Harley was one of the few bright spots in the Terps’ secondary in 2024
recording a 66.8 PFF grade in 185 snaps over eight games.
Maine – This is a MASSIVE get for JMU
This helps make up for the loss of Eric O’Neill
as Holmes is a big-bodied edge with elite potential
He should immediately play meaningful snaps at DE for JMU
UNC – An interior offensive linemen from UNC
Greenberg began his career at the D3 level
He played in four games for the Tar Heels in 2024
He’s a potential starting center or guard for JMU in his final year of eligibility.
Watch our interview with Zach here.
Tusculum – The Dukes added a Tusculum (DII) transfer last season in CB Jordan Taylor
Collins played just four games for Tusculum in 2024
including Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina
Watch our interview with Za’Ron here
Shepherd – The Division II standout had 62 tackles
Kouame-Yao posted 66 tackles and three interceptions
He’s solid in coverage and a sound tackler with one year of eligibility remaining
He adds valuable depth to the linebacker room
receiving mostly FCS offers during this cycle in addition to UTEP and UCF made a late push with Scott Frost
Watch our interview with JT here
Francis – Rodgers posted a 72.3 PFF grade in nearly 500 snaps in 2024
recording 25 tackles and seven pass breakups
The former DIII star is a potential contributor for the Dukes
He has one year of eligibility remaining and should compete for a starting CB spot with Terrence Spence
Watch our interview with Mekhi here
Charlotte – 24/7 Sports reported that Lacota Dippre is joining JMU
The defensive end had 25 tackles for Charlotte last season
Dippre will play tight end for JMU in 2025
He began his Charlotte career at TE before becoming an impact player at DE in 2024
Richmond – The Dukes added a star WR from the area
Ellis caught 50 passes for over 500 yards and 4 TDs in 2024
That would’ve been the highest of any JMU wide receiver in 2024
giving him better size than most of the Dukes’ returning receivers
WR to SMU — Knight caught 53 passes for 605 yards and four touchdowns for the Dukes in 2024 and was expected to start at slot WR in 2025
He’ll join a program that made the College Football Playoff in 2024
CB to Memphis — A three-year contributor for the Dukes
as he was seemingly benched/injured for several games
Logan’s size and production (22 pass breakups in three seasons) could be challenging for the Dukes to replace
but he lacked consistency during his JMU tenure.
QB to South Carolina State — A longtime JMU backup
Atkins led the Dukes to their first bowl win last season
as he struggled early in his career with a rough performance against Marshall in 2023
But he stuck with the program despite Curt Cignetti putting him on blast
He was called upon in the 2024 bowl game with Alonza Barnett and Dylan Morris both injured
and he delivered an efficient performance to help the Dukes make history
Ruelas has an NFL leg and connected from 50+ yards in the spring game
He will spend 2025 in the Big 12 with Scott Frost’s program.
Lexington “Kick-Fil-A” Matthews
P — The D2 punter joined JMU in the winter
but is back in the portal according to 24/7 Sports
Matthews had 10 punts of 50+ yards in 2024
He was the likely replacement for Ryan Hanson
Matthews has three years of eligibility left
Watch our previous interview with Lexington here
LS to Hawaii — JMU didn’t need three long snappers on the roster
Kudos to Mowrey for landing with another FBS program in a fun destination to play college football
OL to WKU — Jenkins was a reserve guard for the Dukes in 2024
It’s possible Western Kentucky offers a better path to playing time
OL — Mawali came to JMU over the winter from Valdosta State
We expected him to see playing time in 2025
Was he unlikely to see the field as much as he hoped in 2025 or did a P4 program swoop in and offer him an NIL bag
CB — Booth began his career at Michigan State before joining JMU for the 2022
He appeared in six games in 2024 and has two years of eligibility remaining
CB – Spivey is a promising underclassman who shined in the 2024 spring and early fall camp
he struggled to find playing time (one career appearance at JMU) and will likely seek time at a different G5 or FCS program.
CB to Oregon State – A young corner with four years left
Hopper was one of the highest-rated recruits of the Chesney era
there was not a path to immediate playing time
DL – Adams didn’t have a path to immediate playing time
but could find himself at a solid FCS destination with four years of eligibility left.
DL – Pennix was a reserve DL without a clear path to playing time at JMU
Jones is a large offensive lineman with good potential
He’ll look for more playing time elsewhere
CB — The former Indiana transfer only played in two games over two seasons in Harrisonburg
EDGE — Thomas was a 3-star EDGE out of Florida who was part of the most recent recruiting class
He joined JMU at the start of the spring semester
Has all 4 years of eligibility left.
OL — The reserve offensive lineman from Richmond didn’t appear in a game during his JMU career
OL — The backup played in a pair of games for JMU in 2024
OL — McLain began his career at Virginia Tech before transferring to JMU
He wasn’t expected to see playing time in 2025
Nash hit the portal with four years of eligibility left.
DT — Ogunade came to JMU as a 225-pound DE prospect before putting on nearly 80 lbs over a couple years
He blossomed into a 300-pound defensive tackle with promise
but he was buried on JMU’s depth chart
He could find a role at another G5 or FCS program.
DE — The DE has two years of eligibility left after being a backup during his JMU career
WR to UVA – Ross enters the portal after one season at JMU
Ross was Third Team All-Sun Belt as a return specialist and was fourth on JMU in receiving yards with 443
He enters the portal with one year of eligibility remaining and has received P4 interest
including from UVA and Virginia Tech.
UVA – Wyatt is the second LT to enter the portal after Jesse Ramil entered earlier this offseason
Wyatt was a three-year starter and an all-conference caliber player
He missed all of 2024 while rehabbing an injury suffered near the end of the 2023 season
He has one year of eligibility remaining for the Cavaliers.
Rutgers – By far the biggest loss in this portal cycle
Eric O’Neill was a dominant defensive end
He graded out as a top-10 DE in the entire FBS
tallied 28 tackles and six tackles for loss in 2024
and he’ll play in the Big Ten for Rutgers in 2025
– JMU’s starting left tackle was headed to the SEC before reentering the portal in the spring
Francis and was highly productive in his first FBS season.
S to Akron – The defense back played at JMU in 2023 and 2024
He should find increased playing time elsewhere
Jean will play elsewhere for his final year of eligibility
It’s unlikely he would’ve played a major role in 2025
RB to Charleston Southern – The redshirt freshman announced on Instagram that he is entering the portal
He played in 6 games across two years and redshirted in 2023
He will have three years of eligibility.
Hampton – Moss played two seasons for the Dukes
recording three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown
There were hopes he would blossom into an impact player
but Moss struggled to earn playing time in a crowded receiving room
Gardner-Webb – The wide receiver came to JMU with high expectations (he was a highly regarded prospect from South Carolina)
but he never received significant playing time
Harris will likely seek increased playing time elsewhere.
WR – Green was a reserve WR during his time at JMU
QB – Griffis spent 2024 injured and was stuck behind a lot of talented QBs
These are players JMU has either offered or hosted for visits in the transfer portal
Columbia — Milia tells us he’s considering JMU
and 4 INTs over the past two seasons (17 games)
He’s capable of shedding blocks with good strength
He’s fast sideline to sideline and has excellent coverage skills
He’s posted 80+ coverage grades on PFF over the past two seasons
The graduate transfer would contribute immediately at the G5 level
UNC — Blackwell caught 31 passes for 448 yards and a touchdown during his time with the Tar Heels
He received the majority of his targets in 2022 and 2023
Towson — We really like Middleton’s game
The rangy linebacker tallied 87 tackles for Towson in 2024
He’s produced consistently at the FCS level and would fit well on a Group of Five roster
That ranked in the top 50 nationally among FCS linebackers
and his tackling grade of 87.5 was tied for eighth among all FCS linebacker
although it’s unclear if the Dukes have offered him a scholarship
Virginia Tech — Jayden McDonald’s twin brother
Jorden McDonald is a gifted pass rusher who was buried on the Hokies’ depth chart
He has nine tackles and 2.5 TFLs in 32 games played
Jacksonville State — One of the more interesting players the Dukes offered
He’s super athletic and could be used as a big blitzer at the LB/safety position
Tennessee State — He had five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in just four games last fall
suggesting he could be a huge contributor over a 12-game season at the G5 level
App State and Memphis recently hosted Bell for visits
William & Mary – Frye has three years of eligibility remaining and can play left or right tackle
He was a solid pass blocker (72.4 PFF grade in 2024)
He would add depth at a position losing both Jesse Ramil and Tyshawn Wyatt
These players were offered by JMU but will play elsewhere in 2025
Incarnate Word to West Virginia — He spent two seasons at Colorado before becoming a beast at the FCS level
He recorded 11 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2024.
Grand Valley State to Tennessee — A big defensive end
Schell recorded 35 tackles and three tackles for loss for an 11-win team in 2024
as his length at the line of scrimmage rattled D2 QBs
He lands with a College Football Playoff contender in the SEC
Western Carolina to Marshall— Tamarez caught 33 passes for 576 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 at the FCS level
He received G5 interest from numerous SBC schools
South Dakota to Cal — The undersized WR is a big play waiting to happen
He had 21 touches in 2024 and six of those touches went for touchdowns
as he averaged over 30 yards per reception/rush
Virginia Tech to UCF — McDonald has Power Four size
and he was a good player for the Hokies when healthy
Injuries cut his 2024 season short after two games
but he recorded 30 tackles in 2023 and 20 tackles in 2022
he can be an impactful defender at the FBS level
Ohio to Charlotte — Taylor could have started immediately for JMU
He posted a 79.1 PFF grade (third-best on the defense) for an 11-win Ohio team
and he ended up following his coach to Charlotte
Chattanooga to UCF— Domercant caught 36 passes for 640 yards and two touchdowns in 2024
LIU to Rutgers — A second team All-NEC player as a redshirt freshman
Elon to Wake Forest— Smiley is a load in the trenches
suggesting he’s ready for the FBS level
Bethune-Cookman to UCF — He played in just four games in 2024
Two of the four games came against G5 teams (USF and Western Michigan)
Tennessee State to Wake Forest — The standout WR will play in the ACC in 2025
Southern Illinois to West Virginia — It became evident in early in Bogle’s recruitment that his P4 interest would be an obstacle for the Dukes
Charleston Southern to App State — Manuel was a standout freshman at the FCS level
recording 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks
He received significant G5 interest and has three years of eligibility left for the Mountaineers
Eastern Michigan to Coastal Carolina — After a 94-tackle 2024 campaign
Both JMU and Murphy shared initial interest
North Alabama to Tulsa — He earned FCS Freshman All-American honors in 2024 for recording 81 tackles
but opted not to go to JMU despite visiting
He should see immediate playing time at Tulsa
Southern Illinois to Cincinnati— A big body in the middle
He also has three years of eligibility left
but he opted to play in the Big 12 over the SBC.
Merrimack to Rhode Island – Positional versatility
The Dukes have returning long snappers and added one via the portal
He earned an above average 64.8 grade in 2024 playing left guard for Merrimack
Colgate to UCF – A star linebacker at the FCS level
Last season he was named first team All-Patriot League and was the third highest rated defender for Colgate per PFF with a 79.6 grade
Over 3 years at Colgate he racked up 201 tackles
played in all 16 games (started 14) for the FCS national runner-up in 2024
He had 41 tackles and seven pass breakups as a sophomore.
Weber State to Liberty – UConn and Liberty were also trying to land the FCS transfer
but the Flames won the G5 recruiting battle
Louisville to Tulane – The speedy running back visited JMU but chose another G5 power
Colorado State to Missouri – Brown started his career at the JUCO level before playing at Colorado State in 2023 and 2024
His PFF blocking grades were slightly below average
but he used his big frame well in the passing game
catching 24 passes for 256 yards and three scores in 2024
Texas State to SMU – Coleman posted a 70.8 PFF grade in 2024
He’ll stay in Texas but move to the ACC
Western Carolina to Tulsa – A high school teammate of KJ Flowe
Booker also visited and was offered by Virginia Tech
The talented receiver caught 39 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 in just eight games
UNC to Liberty – Merdinger threw just 12 passes as a true freshman
The developmental prospect visited JMU but will join Liberty
Valparaiso to Central Michigan – A talented pass blocker
Wyoming to Arizona – Siders posted 23.5 TFLs and 14 sacks over three seasons with Wyoming
He’s an athletic end who could have dominated in the Sun Belt
among the best marks on Wyoming’s defense
Cincinnati to Wake Forest – Berkhalter caught 11 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown in 2024
He’ll be an ACC wide receiver in 2025
West Alabama to Akron – JMU has offered Jones Jr
The DII product was an all conference and first team all-region player
Houston to WKU – Emery recorded 26 tackles and seven pass breakups in 2022 before seeing a reduced role for the Cougars in 2023 and 2024 when they moved to the Big 12
Limestone to UCF – The D2 prospect began his career as a walk-on at South Carolina before moving to the D2 ranks
as he recorded 939 receiving yards and 11 TDs in 2024 at the D2 level
Youngstown State to Wyoming – Martin has posted PFF grades over 70 in three consecutive seasons
He’ll spend 2025 in the Mountain West
South Dakota State to South Dakota State – Clayborne would have been an incredible addition
posting a 79.4 PFF grade for the Jackrabbits after beginning his career at the D2 level
Clayborne had 33 pressures and 4.5 sacks in 2024
while also posting a rushing defense grade over 80
Virginia Union to Wake Forest – The DII standout posted over 1,000 receiving yards in 2024
and he’s received multiple P4 offers.
Southern Illinois to Nebraska – Conn initially verbally committed to JMU at the end of December
there was never pen to paper and Conn ended up flipping to Nebraska
He told us one of the main reasons for the flip to the Cornhuskers was the opportunity to achieve a dream and play near family.
Utah State to Pitt – Spires started his career at Bowling Green before moving to Utah State
He had five sacks in 2023 and one sack in just four games in 2024
He was second on the team with 27 pressures in 2023
Wyoming to Utah – The standout wide receiver caught 17 passes for 204 yards and three TDs in 2024 as a freshman.
Houston to ECU – The Houston native ran for 464 yards and three touchdowns in 2023 before seeing a reduced role under a new coaching staff in 2024.
Temple to Wake Forest – One of the best players JMU offered
Siani has three years of eligibility remaining and was being courted by P4 teams
Siani posted a 76.9 pass blocking grade in 2024
Eastern Michigan to Pitt – Zelinksy will visit the Dukes
and he would have been an immediate contributor at defensive end
He has 67 tackles and 11.5 TFLs over the last two seasons
ODU to Louisville – The interior defensive lineman earned Sun Belt Honorable Mention in 2023 and 2024
He finished with a whopping 51 tackles in 2024 and will face JMU again in 2025
Sam Houston to North Texas – Evans caught 43 passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns in 2024
He’s a potential impact player at WR for North Texas’ high-octane passing attack
West Alabama to Arkansas State – Sigler dominated at the Division II level
He’s been offered by a bunch of good G5 teams and will play in the Sun Belt.
Louisiana Tech to Louisiana Tech – There aren’t many CBs in the portal with Woods’ experience
He’s played 2,481 snaps over five seasons with Louisiana Tech
but he’s redshirted once and 2020 doesn’t count against his eligibility
He has 112 career tackles and four INTs over 46 career games
Penn to Georgia Tech – This guy is a stud
rushing for over 1,000 yards in just 10 games in 2024
Garden City CC to ECU – The JUCO prospect ran for over 1,000 yards last season
Kennesaw State to Oklahoma – Kent visited JMU but ultimately opted to join an SEC team
Chattanooga to Iowa – Phillips is one of the best FCS wide receivers in the portal
as he averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game last season
Wofford to Tulane – With 39 games played
He posted an incredible 85.9 PFF grade in 2024 across over 600 snaps
Charlotte to Rutgers – A productive tight end with over 500 receiving yards across the last two seasons
Weber posted an 81.2 PFF grade in 2023 before a dip in 2024.
Albany to Kansas – The grad transfer out of Albany had 72.4 receiving grade for the Great Danes this past season
Wentz began his career at ODU and had 866 receiving yards the last two years with Albany
Richmond to Memphis – The Spiders’ starting right tackle has played over 1,000 career snaps and is a big get for the Tigers
Elon to Boston College – An interior defensive lineman
Nnaeto posted a 73.6 PFF grade for the Phoenix in 2024 across 409 snaps
Harvard to Memphis – With over 30 career starts
Gentle is a significant pickup for the Tigers
Indiana State to Tulane – Was one of the top blockers for Indiana State last season
He had an average PFF grade of 67.3 this season
The rising junior has two years of eligibility remaining for the Green Wave
NC Central to Minnesota – One of the best FCS defenders in 2024
Bowden posted an 81.1 PFF grade this season
Campbell to Boston College – The Dukes lost a competitive recruiting battle to a P4 foe
Kent State to Michigan State – McCray caught 40 passes for 705 yards and nine TDs in the MAC in 2024
NIU to Mississippi State – Sanders is a pass-rushing specialist
recording 4.5 sacks in just 96 snaps this season
Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications
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2025; more at vaprojectpipeline.virginia.gov
STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
in partnership with the City of Harrisonburg
is seeking feedback on a transportation study assessing potential solutions on Route 42 (Virginia Avenue) between Gay Street and the Harrisonburg city limit
This study will focus on identifying measures to encourage lower speeds
The study will evaluate alternatives to preserve throughput on the two-lane segment from Gay Street to Edom Road
identified in the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan as being over capacity in the future
The corridor also has barriers to use for people biking and walking to destinations such as nearby activity centers and the transit connections used for travel throughout the city and beyond
VDOT invites residents and travelers to learn more and take an online survey which is available May 5-19
Community input received through this survey will help the study team identify existing issues along the study corridor and develop recommendations for potential improvements that will be evaluated and presented during the next phase of the study
which will include another opportunity for public comment
The survey, which has a translation tool for other languages, is available at https://publicinput.com/st-25-01. Comments can also be sent to brad.reed@vdot.virginia.gov or to Brad Reed
Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District
VDOT and Harrisonburg Public Works will host an open house for the study on Tuesday
There will be two location/timeframe options to attend where the community may share their experiences
thoughts and questions related to traveling the area
The open house location/time options include:
as well as regional and local funding sources
The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and X (Twitter). Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube
The VDOT Web page is located at https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
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on Saturday morning at Bank of the James Field
Georgia Southern got on the board in the third inning courtesy of a three-run shot off the bat of Faith Barth
The home run marks the third of the season for the senior
Madison Humber led off the inning reaching on a bunt single and Emma Davis doubled to put runners in scoring position for Barth
James Madison responded in the bottom half of the..
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Run Away from Bulls 18-95/3/2025 4:41:00 PM | Lacrosse
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHARRISONBURG
(WHSV) - East Market Street is now clear after a traffic crash that sent two people to the hospital Monday afternoon
The Harrisonburg Police Department first reported the crash at East Market Street and Betts Road at 2:35 p.m
The crash had caused the eastbound lanes of East Market Street to be blocked
but an HPD spokesperson told WHSV at 3:40 p.m
Two people were taken to area hospitals — one to UVA Medical Center and another to Sentara RMH Medical Center
WHSV will provide updates on air and online as more details are available
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — The City of Harrisonburg is introducing their first ever Dog Mayor
City residents submitted their dogs to be on a ballot to hold office.adButlerLazyLoad("865308771940687908",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
While the Dog Mayor will not be on an official council
they will be invited to participate in City events
Voting is open now and will close on May 31
The winner will be announced in early June with the Inaugural Ceremony at Harrisonburg’s Best.Weekend.Ever
All of the nominees and more information can be found at the Downtown Harrisonburg website here.adButlerLazyLoad("3040543949805207382",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Jacquelynn first started as a part time news anchor and reporter for WSVA in 2022
Before the launch of Rocktown Now in April of 2024
she was Assistant Editor and then became Editor-in-Chief in November of 2024
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Supporters of the “Virginia Right to Contraception Act” gathered in Harrisonburg this morning
the bill would codify the right to use FDA-approved forms of contraception.adButlerLazyLoad("3245329128111684120",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed joined officials from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and Americans for Contraception at the Democratic Headquarters on West Market Street to call Governor Glenn Youngkin to sign the bill into law before tomorrow’s deadline
“We can and must protect our status as the last safe haven for reproductive rights in the South,” said Mayor Reed
Harrisonburg’s Senator Mark Obenshain and Delegate Tony Wilt both voted against the Right to Contraception Act in the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year.adButlerLazyLoad("127498718068418225",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Youngkin has until 11:59 PM tomorrow night to act on the bill
Linden has been morning news anchor and reporter for WSVA since September 2024
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The City of Harrisonburg is building connections between families
schools and the broader community through an upcoming event that empowers kids and their families to utilize active and fun ways to get to school.adButlerLazyLoad("1609729162463233613",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Participants in Harrisonburg will join schools around the country on May 7 in celebrating National Bike & Roll to School Day
The event raises awareness of the need to create safer routes for bicycling
walking or rolling to school campuses – emphasizing the importance of issues including increasing physical activity and pedestrian safety
reducing traffic congestion and concern for the environment
Harrisonburg’s Bike & Roll to School Day event is an active way for students to get to school safely while building a healthier community
As part of Harrisonburg’s Safe Routes to School Program
the event encourages families and students to bike
and experience the joy of alternative ways to travel to school as a community
While the official name of the national day is “Bike & Roll,” there are other ways schools are participating
highlighting the joys of active movement and safety of kids
Harrisonburg’s Safe Routes to School Program will provide opportunities for all schools to participate in this event to increase awareness of pedestrian and cyclist safety to K-12 students
The City’s goal is to continuously work toward safer infrastructure and heightened awareness throughout our community.adButlerLazyLoad("1659019678789318074",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
“We are excited about how Harrisonburg City Public Schools are continuing participation in the Safe Routes to School program such as walking or biking ‘school buses,’ students walking the track as ‘buses’ arrive
or other safe walking and biking education opportunities,” Harrisonburg Public Works Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator Andrea Troyer explained in a press release
A walking ‘school bus’ or ‘bike bus’ is a group of children walking or biking to school with adult supervision
designated areas and pick up time to join along the way
“Bike & Roll to School Day is about celebrating where our community is currently with biking/walking/rolling to school while also building participation in these activities,” Troyer continued
“We encourage local students and families to participate in the day if they can!”
School-specific activities for Bike & Roll to School Day are being communicated by each participating school
School and City staff are providing guidance on safety the day of the event and helping to lead walking and biking “buses” at participating school routes
parents and guardians can support their children by joining the ride or walk
Harrisonburg Police Department staff also will take part in the event to help escort and to assist in road crossings during travel to school.adButlerLazyLoad("246590567028670452",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Visit https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/bike-roll-to-school for additional information about the Bike & Roll to School Day
Questions about the event may be sent to Andrea Troyer by emailing andrea.troyer@harrisonburgva.gov or by calling 540-434-5928
Carolynn graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Journalism
She is the Assistant Editor of Rocktown Now as of January 2025
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The City of Harrisonburg and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are seeking community input on how to address the needs of people who use Virginia Avenue (Route 42) to serve their transportation needs between Gay Street and the northern City limits.adButlerLazyLoad("918088568378524655",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
An online survey also will be available from May 5 at 10 a.m. through May 20 at https://vaprojectpipeline.virginia.gov/studies/staunton/st-25-01
The survey can be taken in a variety of languages using a built-in translate tool at the upper right of the screen
The study will identify solutions for crash hot spots as well as identified operational issues during peak traffic periods
The study is intended to assess mid-term to long-term challenges and opportunities and will identify project recommendations that can be advanced for federal
state and local funding opportunities.adButlerLazyLoad("806643327904461750",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Written or oral comments may be submitted to Brittany Clem-Hott by emailing brittany.clem-hott@harrisonburgva.gov or calling 540-434-5928
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — It’s six months in prison for the Harrisonburg teenager who was arrested for tossing a large firework into a crowd
Grayson Hall Smith was sentenced last Friday to 10 years in prison with 9 of those years and 6 months suspended.adButlerLazyLoad("520424719911739736",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
This is the final chapter of an incident that started on September 23rd, 2023, when Smith was accused of throwing a mortar-style firework into a social gathering on South Main Street.
“This was an unnecessary and avoidable incident that resulted in permanent injuries for the victim,” said Harrisonburg Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Armstrong at the time of his arrest.adButlerLazyLoad("383747896496918587",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — The ribbon has been cut on a brand-new Goodwill Outlet Store and Donation Center in Harrisonburg
officials from Goodwill Industries of the Valley
and Rockingham County Chamber of Commerce officials welcomed in over 100 shoppers to the new outlet store which has items you would normally find at a Goodwill store
rather than individually.adButlerLazyLoad("1189627565972333625",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Clothing up to 25 pounds is $1.89 per pound and over 25 pounds is $1.39
and stuffed animals are all $1.09 per pound
There are some things that are priced per item including electronics/small appliances at $3 each
Magazines and children’s books are 10 cents each
Specialty items and furniture are priced as marked
Chief Operating Officer of Goodwill Industries of the Valley
said at the grand opening that this store will add another level of sustainability to the community
“All of the items in our outlet are items that we could not sell in our regular retail stores
It gives them a second chance to sell here and before they go out the door for recycling sales
it gives the public an opportunity to shop.”adButlerLazyLoad("309670657889582628",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Boyd added that this will add a convenient donation center on this side of town
“At our Harrisonburg South location on Route 11
We would love you to come to this new covered location with a brand-new attendant that’s out of the weather and easy access from the main road.”
The new Goodwill Outlet Store and Donation Center is located at 3145 E
Kaylor Park Drive in Harrisonburg and is open Mondays through Saturdays 10am to 7pm and Sundays 12pm to 6pm
Aerial view of I-81 and Pleasant Valley Road overpass bridge
The purpose of this project is to improve safety
traffic operations and reliability along Interstate 81 by adding a third travel lane in each direction
The project totals 6.8 miles of I-81 widening and pavement rehabilitation in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County
The additional lanes will be added to the inside (median side) between mile markers 242.0 and 248.8
In 2019 Route I-81 through Harrisonburg had an average daily traffic count of 58,000 vehicles per day. By the design year of 2047 the estimated average daily traffic volume is 81,300 vehicles per day
The Interstate 81 Harrisonburg-Area Widening (Exit 243 to Exit 247) is among 65 construction projects in the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP unlocks I-81 by enhancing safety and reliability, reducing congestion and supporting economic growth along the interstate’s 325 miles in Virginia. Find out more at https://improve81.vdot.virginia.gov
The project is one of a series of corridor improvements to I-81
This project improves safety and traffic flow northbound and southbound on Interstate 81 in the Harrisonburg area by providing an additional travel lane
It will ease existing congestion and provide for future capacity needs
Noise barriers will be located between the right shoulder and right-of-way line of northbound and southbound I-81 where determined to be warranted and feasible
Project displays below show the locations (in magenta).
Note: Display 1 (south of Pleasant Valley Road overpass) does not include noise barriers
Displays below show preliminary noise barrier locations
Lat/long: ' + markerLat.trim().substring(0,9) + '
Most work will take place behind concrete barriers with 24/7 shoulder closures
Estimated start date: Fall 2025 (advertise for construction)
Estimated completion date: To be determined
Estimated cost of the project: $336.9 million
Major funding source: I-81 Corridor Improvement Program
4-7 p.m.Pleasant Valley Elementary School215 Pleasant Valley Road
Public Meeting Information
Videos of project renderings (showing preliminary noise barrier locations):
Please note that this file is not ADA compliant
(WHSV) - A new Goodwill outlet store held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting in Harrisonburg on Thursday
are being sold at a more discounted price than at the traditional retail store
Goodwill’s director of retail store support
said a majority of the store’s items are textiles
“Sustainability is vital to our mission and is really important to us as an organization
The Goodwill bins give these items a second opportunity to find a home before they go on to their final destination,” Marston said
“Our Goodwill stores offer a fantastic price to the community
but there is still a segment of the community that would benefit from a lower price
and it is fun to find some super neat things at a super low price.”
The Goodwill outlet used to be located in Staunton
and Marston said the company has wanted to return to the Shenandoah Valley
While the new store is located in Harrisonburg
not all of the items will come from the area
“Most of the items are going to come from the Harrisonburg area
some more jobs were added to the city as well
“This location is bringing 12 jobs to the area,” Marston said
“We relied heavily on our management team from our other two stores to facilitate that training.”
Marston said the store is excited to be back in the Shenandoah Valley
Harrisonburg resident Ryan Lambert was arrested April 29 after he was chased from Rockingham into Greene County
The 40-year-old Lambert is accused of being responsible for a string of incidents that started at approximately 11 p.m
Harrisonburg and Rockingham County first responders were called to the report of fireworks being launched near an East Market Street location
That was followed by a call reporting a man having started a fire in a trash can in the Harrisonburg Crossing Shopping Center on Burgess Road
On that scene firefighters found another fire in the same shopping center
An additional fire was then found near another business again in a trash can
Firefighters were able to extinguish each of the fires as they arrived
and no injuries occurred in any of those incidents
All calls reported the same suspect’s vehicle an orange truck pulling a white jeep
law enforcement was able to quickly locate the vehicle at a convenience store back on Market Street
On officers’ arrival Lambert refused to exit his vehicle and fled
Rockingham County Deputies found Lambert at a convenience store near Spotswood Trail outside of Harrisonburg
Again Lambert fled and the pursuit entered Greene County where Lambert was stopped and taken into custody
Lambert has been charged with felony eluding and obstruction of justice
Additional charges are pending following the investigation by the Harrisonburg Fire Department
Further investigation found Lambert was wanted out of Chesterfield County for protective order violations
Lambert is being held without bond in the Rockingham Harrisonburg regional Jail
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
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HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — UPDATE (5/1/25): It appears that the man who was arrested early yesterday morning for allegedly setting multiple fires in Harrisonburg will remain in custody for the foreseeable future.adButlerLazyLoad("383305039193197912",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
a bond hearing for Ryan Lambert was continued until May 20th in general district court
He is currently being held at the Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail
A man was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly setting multiple fires near businesses on the eastern side of Harrisonburg before fleeing police and eventually being captured in Greene County.adButlerLazyLoad("1849906888325383265",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
40-year-old Ryan Lambert is accused of being responsible for a string of incidents that started at approximately 11 p.m
on Monday evening when the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call about fireworks being launched near Kroger off East Market Street
That was quickly followed by a call stating that a man had just set a fire in a trash can in front of Best Buy in the Harrisonburg Crossing shopping center off Burgess Road
while responding to the shopping center for the call near Best Buy
witnessed an additional fire that had been set in a trash can in front of the Model Nail Spa in the shopping center at the corner of Burgess Road and East Market Street
Another fire appeared to have been set in a trash can in front of the nearby PetSmart
HFD extinguished the fires upon arrival and no one was hurt as a result of these incidents
The HFD Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating
All 9-1-1 calls identified the same suspect vehicle description – an orange truck pulling a white jeep – which allowed Harrisonburg Police Department officers to locate the vehicle nearby at the Sheetz on East Market Street at approximately 1:15 a.m
refused to exit his vehicle and fled the scene into Rockingham County where the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office located him at a convenience store on Spotswood Trail just outside of Harrisonburg
Lambert was stopped in Greene County and taken into custody.adButlerLazyLoad("16999759997653900",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
HPD has obtained charges for Felony Eluding and Obstruction of Justice
Charges from HFD are pending the conclusion of the department’s investigation
Lambert was wanted in Chesterfield County on a capias for arrest related to charges that include a firearms violation and a protective order violation
Lambert is currently being held at the Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail without bond
Visa restored for third UVa international student; Virginia football lands commitment
A Richmond man accused of setting fire to multiple businesses in Harrisonburg has been apprehended in Greene County after a cross-county chase
has been charged with eluding authorities and obstruction of justice
Additional charges are pending a Harrisonburg Fire Department investigation
Monday when authorities in Harrisonburg were alerted to someone setting off fireworks near a Kroger grocery store on East Market Street in the city
That 911 call was followed in short order by another call claiming a man had set fire to a nearby trash can in front of the Best Buy electronics store in the Harrisonburg Crossing shopping center off Burgess Road
while responding to the shopping center call near Best Buy
witnessed an additional fire that had been set in a trash can in front of the Model Nail Spa in the shopping center," the city of Harrisonburg said in a statement
"Another fire appeared to have been set in a trash can in front of the nearby PetSmart."
and the Harrisonburg Fire Department was able to contain the blazes
all 911 calls that came in to the Harrisonburg Police Department included the same suspect vehicle description — an orange truck pulling a white Jeep — which police said allowed them to locate the vehicle at a nearby Sheetz gas station on East Market Street by 1:15 a.m
refused to exit and fled the scene into Rockingham County
where the local sheriff's office again found him at a convenience store on Spotswood Trail outside Harrisonburg
ending in Greene County where Lambert was taken into custody
authorities reported that Lambert was also wanted in Chesterfield County for firearms and protective order violations
He remained in custody as of Wednesday night at the Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail
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An Orange County man had a surprise waiting for him in his yard the other night: a 50 millimeter French mortar
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“I had every intention of nominating Harrisonburg for the Strongest Town Contest this past weekend,” Brent Finnegan wrote on his blog
and a member of the city’s Ordinance Advisory Committee since 2020
Finnegan clearly loves his Virginia city of 51,000
But as he worked through the nomination form
he couldn’t help but dwell on where Harrisonburg fell short
On the issue of mandatory parking minimums
he saw a major flaw: The city requires developers to include a minimum number of parking spaces for almost every type of new development or redevelopment
he conceded that the city scored a zero in HousingForward Virginia’s ADU playbook. “Unless or until we change our zoning and subdivision ordinances to prioritize housing for people over temporary car storage
we are not what I would consider a strong town,” Finnegan wrote.
Each question in the nomination form reinforced the same conclusion—Harrisonburg wasn’t quite ready to compete
there was always hope for the future: “If we can address parking mandates
and by-right incremental housing … Harrisonburg could be a good candidate for America’s Strongest Town next year.”
But the Strongest Town Contest isn’t a pageant for towns that have “figured it out.” No place is perfect
and no city has “arrived.” The towns that rise in this contest are the ones willing to examine their weaknesses
They recognize that strength isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions and taking small
meaningful steps toward a more prosperous future
The contest is for towns like Harrisonburg
where people like Finnegan are interrogating the norms that have trapped Harrisonburg in a pattern of growth that is no longer serving the town
“Harrisonburg is becoming a strong town,” he declared.
Harrisonburg advanced to the Final Four of the Strongest Town Contest.
Finnegan’s change of heart came after a reader reminded him of just how much progress Harrisonburg has made
parking mandates still exist—but the city lifted off-street parking requirements in its downtown central business district
but neighboring towns could learn a lot from Harrisonburg’s ambitions
there’s an undeniable sense of local pride and momentum
I was one of 150 local residents that packed the council chambers in support of building the city’s first shared-use path
the Northend Greenway,” Finnegan wrote in his follow-up post
The pace of change may not be as fast as some would like
but there’s no denying that Harrisonburg is putting its principles into action:
A newly installed crosswalk and stop lines are improving safety in a neighborhood where residents have long raised concerns about speeding
The redevelopment of the “Bird District” is a strong example of adaptive reuse and mixed-use development in a place with no off-street parking minimums
The city recently launched a new process to sell surplus city-owned land to spur residential development
And every summer, the Best.Weekend.Ever festival temporarily closes downtown streets to car traffic
“Traffic-restricted festivals like this can help us re-imagine what and who our streets are for,” Finnegan underscored
Harrisonburg’s story is exactly why the Strongest Town Contest exists—not to crown a winner among perfect cities
Asia (pronounced “ah-sha”) Mieleszko serves as a Staff Writer for Strong Towns
she's excited to convert a lifetime of ad-hoc volunteerism into a career
Her unconventional background includes directing a Ukrainian folk choir
She can be found wherever Wi-Fi is reliable
typically along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor
Harrisonburg is competing for the title of Strongest Town 2025
They’re only one round away from the championship match
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HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — Harrisonburg Police have arrested a Nelson County murder suspect
22-year-old Katelynn Ann Hipes of Augusta County was arrested on Tuesday afternoon on two different charges in Nelson County including second degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.adButlerLazyLoad("3444611716924896010",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
HPD says they received information from the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office that Hipes
who was wanted in connection with the early morning homicide of Kevin Scott Small
were able to identify her location at a residence on Lee Avenue in Harrisonburg
and HPD’s Criminal Investigations Division then obtained a search warrant for the address
the HPD Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team executed the search warrant at the residence
With assistance from the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT)
Hipes was taken into custody without incident.adButlerLazyLoad("1391228988205666855",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
HPD would like to thank its public safety partners
the Harrisonburg Fire Department (HFD) and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Center (ECC)
who played a critical role in making this a successful operation
The ECC issued a shelter-in-place order at approximately 4:13 p.m
directed at the affected neighborhood and nearby streets
aimed to alert the public about a potential threat within their vicinity
Community members can register to receive these types of alerts by going online to https://harrisonburgva.gov/eas
Description: The Harrisonburg City Public School Board in Virginia is usurping parents’ right to direct the upbringing of their children and forcing school staff to violate their religious beliefs by affirming the board’s view on gender identity
school district policy requires staff to immediately begin using opposite-sex pronouns and forbids staff from sharing information with parents about their child’s request
instead instructing staff to mislead and deceive parents
ADF attorneys favorably settle case with Harrisonburg school board
officials agree they will not require teachers to use pronouns that are inconsistent with a student’s sex
HARRISONBURG, Va. – To settle a lawsuit brought by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing three Virginia teachers, the Harrisonburg City School Board agreed to respect the teachers’ constitutionally protected right to do their job in accordance with their religious beliefs
the school board agreed that Deborah Figliola
and Laura Nelson do not have to ask students to share their pronouns and the teachers need not necessarily use pronouns inconsistent with students’ biological sex
The school district also acknowledged that it “does not support hiding or withholding information from parents” and it will continue to inform staff that similar religious accommodations are available to employees
and Laura—like all teachers—are protected under the Constitution to do their job in alignment with their religious beliefs
including how they refer to their students and the vital information they share with parents,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kate Anderson
director of the ADF Center for Parental Rights
who argued before the Rockingham County Circuit Court Tuesday
“We are pleased to favorably resolve this case on behalf of our clients and ensure that the Harrisonburg City School Board will respect every teacher’s right to speak consistent with her faith.”
we care deeply about the children entrusted to our care,” Figliola said
“We could not idly stand by while the schools’ administration enforced a policy with a radical
one-size-fits-all approach to students struggling with their gender
and that allowed parents to be pushed out of the picture
We’re thrilled for this legal victory that allows religious educators in the Harrisonburg school district to do the job we love
in a series of on-the-job trainings related to the school board’s nondiscrimination policy
the board directed teachers to “immediately implement” these practices: (1) to ask students’ “preferred” names and pronouns; (2) to always use them
even when contrary to a student’s sex; and
(3) to do so without notifying parents or seeking their consent
And the nondiscrimination policy threatened discipline—including termination—for noncompliance
The teachers filed the lawsuit in June 2022 challenging the board’s actions as violations of the Virginia Constitution’s Free Speech Clause
the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act
and other legal provisions by compelling them to speak a message to which they object
ADF attorneys filed a dismissal of the case Figliola v
The School Board of the City of Harrisonburg
In a similar case litigated by ADF attorneys
the West Point School Board in Virginia agreed to pay $575,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees to settle a lawsuit brought by a former high school teacher who was fired for avoiding the use of pronouns to refer to one of his students
The favorable settlement followed the Virginia Supreme Court’s landmark decision affirming that the Virginia Constitution contains robust free speech and free exercise protections for public employees
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building
non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom
HCPS “Supporting Our Transgender Students” staff presentation
One-page case summary
Kate Anderson serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom
where she is the director of the Center for Parental Rights
she leads the team working to ensure schools respect the role of parents in directing the upbringing
successfully defended parents in Wisconsin
and her team is actively engaged in many other states and courts protecting the fundamental rights of parents
Anderson’s work at ADF began in 2015
focusing on protecting the conscience rights of individuals being unjustly compelled to forfeit their beliefs under threat of government retaliation
Anderson was an associate attorney with Ellis
where she litigated both civil and criminal cases
She obtained her law degree magna cum laude in 2009 from Gonzaga University School of Law
where she served on the Gonzaga Law Review
She is admitted to the state bars of Arizona and Washington
and several federal district and appellate courts
Vincent Wagner serves as senior counsel with the Center for Parental Rights at Alliance Defending Freedom where he safeguards parents’ rights to direct the upbringing
Wagner served the state of Arkansas as deputy solicitor general
Wagner was an associate with Baker Botts L.L.P
he clerked for then-Chief Judge Ed Carnes of the U.S
Wagner is admitted to the state bars of Arkansas
© 2025 Alliance Defending Freedom is a registered 501(C)(3) Charity. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
Strong cities learn from their struggles and celebrate the progress they've already made
is embracing that ethos and making strides toward a stronger future
planning commissioner Brent Finnegan invited geoaccounting analyst Joshua McCarty to give a presentation to the Harrisonburg Planning Commission about how we can improve our land use policies
McCarty’s analysis showed a clear spike in land value in the downtown central business district where the zoning is mixed-use by-right and there are no off-street parking requirements
His analysis reinforced what Livable Harrisonburg
has long pushed for: citywide parking reform and the legalization of incremental housing development
Downtown’s north end is already seeing the type of change the advocates are championing
who owns a local diner and coworking space
revitalizing old buildings in what’s informally known as “the bird district.” Beyond fixing up older structures
And that’s what Livable Harrisonburg is eager to see
in partnership with the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition
hosted Charles Marohn last year to discuss The Housing Trap with local leaders
This conversation helped spark a new housing coalition that is now drafting policy proposals and pushing for zoning reform and a dedicated affordable housing fund
The coalition brings together a diverse range of stakeholders—from homeless services organizations and business groups to environmental advocates—all united in the goal of making housing more accessible and affordable in Harrisonburg
These advocates aren’t waiting for change—they’re driving it
They show up at Planning Commission and City Council meetings
championing missing-middle and mixed-use developments like the Bluestone Town Center
they’re ensuring that zoning reform stays front and center
Their dedication runs deep—on the night of a crucial public hearing
Their stance is clear: allowing city-wide by-right incremental development will produce the least resistance and the most expansion of housing options
Keeping single-family zoning untouched only tightens the squeeze on affordability and fuels car dependency
Harrisonburg is beginning to make progress toward reprioritizing people over automobile speed in the city
The city’s Public Works department has implemented the neighborhood traffic calming program in three neighborhoods
The Public Works Department has also been adding bike lanes and reconfiguring lanes to reduce the amount of road space dedicated to automobiles
The city took an incremental quick build approach to addressing traffic safety concerns on Federal Street downtown
eventually reconfiguring the street to restrict car traffic to one direction
The Downtown 2040 Plan lays out a vision to do the same sort of separated bike lane reconfiguration on Liberty Street
sponsors events that close downtown streets to car traffic so local vendors and artists can perform or sell their work to a local audience
has organized and co-sponsored a number of public events since 2022 to educate community members about the need to prioritize safety and housing over automobile speed and storage
Harrisonburg is regionally known as a bike destination
thanks in large part to the work of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition
which organizes the annual Bike-Walk Summit
and pedestrian safety advocates to work on improving safety on our streets
Those many years of advocacy are paying off
Harrisonburg now has three shared-use paths that connect parks and schools
Icelandic bicycle company Lauf opened an assembly plant in downtown Harrisonburg
While “The Friendly City” still has a long way to go
work is already being done to reclaim street space from cars to make the city more walkable and bikeable
Although Harrisonburg still observes mandatory parking minimums in most of the city
the downtown central business district is exempt
And there’s hope with the city’s Downtown 2040 Plan
which lays out a vision for a Harrisonburg that’s friendlier to people traveling by foot and by bike
the city is already building out a protected bike path running the length of downtown on Liberty Street
is playing a big role in educating the city’s leaders about parking mandates
they teamed up with the Sierra Club to bring Professor Andrew Mondshein from the University of Virginia to educate City Council members and Planning Commissioners about the long-term impacts of parking minimums
The group is also a regular presence at city hall
One of their more notable appearances was when they addressed the developers of the 900-unit "Quarry Heights" project
trying to convince them to reconsider the scale of their parking
the development will now feature traffic-separated shared-use paths to encourage modes of transportation other than driving
Harrisonburg is a designated refugee resettlement area
a group of local refugees identified transportation as a major challenge
and decades of car-centric development made getting to and from work difficult
Local realtor Ritchie Vaughn created a volunteer initiative called Bikes for Refugees
which refurbished used bikes to give to refugees
and trained participants on bicycle safety and showed them how to navigate the city safely by bike
The initiative was later adopted by the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) and renamed Bikes for Neighbors
In 2024 SVBC announced that the coalition added Ben Wyse
to become the full-time leader of its Bikes for Neighbors program
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new outlet store this week.adButlerLazyLoad("1271820098368645809",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
the new Outlet Store on East Kaylor Park Drive in Harrisonburg will offer “high-quality
housewares and more — priced by the pound.”
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce President Chris Quinn will be joined by various Goodwill Industries executives
The first 100 shoppers will receive a free gift as part of the grand opening festivities that begin Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m
(WHSV) - The Harrisonburg Police Department is investigating a burglary that happened just after 4 a.m
Friday at Liberty Arms on East Market Street
HPD responded to a burglary alarm at the business
the store’s doors had been forced open and the suspect had already fled the scene
As officers canvassed the area to find the suspect
there was a heavy police presence in the area of East Market Street and Country Club Road
including HPD’s SWAT team and the Criminal Investigations Division
The search expanded as officers attempted to locate the suspect and related evidence
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the case or the identity of the suspect is asked to call Crime Solvers at 540-574-5050
Tips can also be submitted online through HPD’s website or by texting “HPDVA” to 847411
Information leading to the suspect’s arrest may be eligible for a reward through Crime Solvers
President Trump's overhaul of immigration law enforcement, from deportation to detention policies
has many people in Harrisonburg’s immigrant community worried
But local advocates and institutions have been preparing
More than 17% of Harrisonburg’s population is made up of immigrants, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau
And with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency - also known as ICE - expanding their operations following orders from Trump
[sound of Angel Luna Anavitate on megaphone]
Angel Luna Anavitate is an immigration attorney in Harrisonburg
and his mission over the past month has been to inform the public of their rights if an ICE agent knocks on their door
ANGEL LUNA ANAVITATE: These are the red cards
He recently distributed cards outlining those rights at a march in support of the city’s immigrant community
ANAVITATE: They don’t have to talk to an ICE officer
they don’t have to give them their status or give them any kind of documentation of where they are or where they’re coming from
If ICE doesn’t have a warrant for your arrest or a warrant to search you
ICE has operated a local field office in Harrisonburg since 2005
but Anavitate said its operations have expanded along with enforcement priorities
ANAVITATE: I haven’t seen any raids at the time
but I do know they are actively working on looking for people that have certain charges such as DUIs
According to Anavitate, ICE agents have been working with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department to enforce the new laws. Among them is the Laken Riley Act
which requires the federal detention of undocumented people accused of theft and violent crimes
The sheriff’s office could not be reached for comment
Anavitate said that anyone arrested on those types of charges is generally detained at Rockingham County Regional Jail
which has him concerned about the department’s collaboration
ANAVITATE: I do know that they are communicating with ICE because if you don’t have a social security number
they will go ahead and issue a detainer – ICE will issue a detainer -- and ICE has 72 hours to go ahead and pick up that person
Local agencies supporting Harrisonburg’s international community have also been hard at work preparing for the possibility of mass deportation attempts
which facilitates refugee resettlement in the city
has had to quell fears of families who feel they may be targeted
said the Trump administration’s recent slashing of federal funds has made it difficult to do their job
two-thirds of our staff today got furloughed
they’re still working to uphold their commitments to the people they’ve helped to resettle
The president’s removal of protection for sensitive spaces
has also made it possible for ICE agents to enter school grounds in order to detain undocumented students
With a number of immigrant students in Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Superintendent Michael Richards said staff had been preparing well into last semester for a second Trump presidency
MICHAEL RICHARDS: Our emphasis is always on student safety
And many of them don’t feel safe right now
Richards sent letters to parents outlining the steps teachers and staff have been trained to follow should an ICE officer enter school grounds
RICHARDS: An ICE agent can’t just go into our school
They have to ring the buzzer like anyone else
and staff will inform them that they need to sit tight while a school official or the school attorney greets them and talks to them
and what we’d do in that case is ensure that they have a judicial warrant
then school officials have to work with them
But Richards stressed that those warrants cannot be obtained on a whim
RICHARDS: Which would mean that there would be some reason for this agent to want to make contact with this particular
students have been worried about participating in activities off school grounds such as sports and field trips
SAL ROMERO: Anything that is sanctioned by the school system
and while the students are under supervision
we remain committed to keeping them safe and following the same protocols that we’re following as if they were in the school
Both within the schools and outside in the community
Romero and other leaders have organized a network of local employers
and others to support immigrant families with students in HCPS if they encounter ICE
ROMERO: The groups that I’m referring to are considering putting in a tip line
having a volunteer-based group that will be driving around the city
attending to any rumors of any ICE presence
… It’s really the way to cover some of those areas that we as a school system don’t have a whole lot of control over
has all the makings of a storybook fall getaway
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – A national organization focused on advancing professional local government through leadership
innovation and ethics has bestowed a much-deserved recognition upon a long-time Harrisonburg leader.adButlerLazyLoad("856076493287602530",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Harrisonburg City Manager Ande Banks has officially received the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in acknowledgement of his dedicated work in local government and passionate belief in the values and morals key to supporting the community he serves
“Civil service is a calling in all its forms,” Banks said
“I am deeply humbled and honored to attain the ICMA credential and look forward to continuing to challenge myself to pursue the highest ideals in government leadership.”
ICMA members must have significant experience as a senior management executive in local government; have earned a degree
preferably in public administration or a related field; and demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity and to lifelong learning and professional development in order to be considered for the Credentialed Manager designation.adButlerLazyLoad("331531848157433176",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
with a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from James Madison University and a Bachelor of Science in History from Eastern Mennonite University
started in local government with the City of Harrisonburg in 2009 as the City’s director of special projects and grants management
He later became the City’s assistant to the city manager
before being appointed as city manager in 2022
Banks attended the Senior Executive Institute at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in 2019 and achieved a Certificate in Local Government Management from Virginia Tech in 2013
Banks is a member of the Virginia Local Government Management Association
where he serves as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and is past chair of the organization’s Deputies
Banks is co-chair of the MPA Advisory Board for JMU and is professional advisor for the student chapter of ICMA at the university
“I couldn’t be prouder of Ande for this accomplishment – having worked with him for many years I can say that he is not only without a doubt deserving of this honor but is an example of what city managers across our country should be working hard to emulate,” Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed said
“Ande dedicates himself to making our community a better place every day
and I can’t imagine a Harrisonburg without him.”adButlerLazyLoad("618102131114183148",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD)
in coordination with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO)
is set to participate in the 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday
offering the Harrisonburg and Rockingham communities a safe
and anonymous way to dispose of unneeded prescription medications.adButlerLazyLoad("1263856601300250720",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
HPD Officers and RCSO Deputies will have collection boxes available in the parking lot of Valley Mall
located at 1925 E Market Street in Harrisonburg
Take Back Day aims to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse by helping Americans safely remove expired
or unused medications from their homes— medications that might otherwise be misused
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications
In conjunction with our public safety and community partners
Saturday’s event will also feature a touch-a-truck with vehicles from HPD
and the Harrisonburg Fire Department (HFD)
Vehicle operators will be on hand to demonstrate how their vehicles work
and why they are such an important asset to the community.adButlerLazyLoad("2548188102501722534",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034");
Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again.