Sports

College Lacrosse Team Already Canceled Practice For January To Watch 6’7 Teammate Play Basketball

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Cole Kastner Stanford Basketball Virginia Lacrosse
Getty Image / Stanford Athletics

The University of Virginia is expected to compete for a national championship in college lacrosse during the 2025 season. However, the Cavaliers already canceled practice for one specific day in January so the players can go watch their former teammate, Cole Kastner, play college basketball.

It is one of the coolest stories in sports this year!

Kastner, one of the best defenseman in the country, was a two-time Tewaaraton Award (the Heisman Trophy of NCAA lax) nominee while at UVA. He was named as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and won a national championship with the Hoos in 2021.

At 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, the California-native caused 95 turnovers during his four-year lacrosse career, which is third all-time. Kastner was a monster defender and even scored a few long-pole goals.

Kastner was drafted into the PLL by the California Redwoods.

However, he decided to go a very different route and went back home to Palo Alto to play college basketball at Stanford as a graduate transfer. His lacrosse days are over… for now.

Cole Kastner averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game as a senior at the Menlo School. Hoops is actually his first love.

The Cardinal began its 2024-25 campaign on Monday. Kastner was on the bench but didn’t get in the game.

Meanwhile, back in Charlottesville, Virginia lacrosse will begin its practice in a couple of months. They already have off on Jan. 18.

Stanford basketball is playing at North Carolina. The Cavaliers are going to road trip to watch their former teammate play. Head coach Lars Tiffany was told that no one would show up even if he tried to practice.

I’ve already been warned, we’re not practicing that day, that everyone’s going to drive three and a half hours — just the love for him.

— Lars Tiffany

Although Cole Kastner is not the first college lacrosse player to transition to another sport, it is still pretty unique. And his buddies at Virginia get a day off of practice because of his switch!