Senior Spotlight: Gavin Gill
Story Links
Family Ties
by Raj Sagar
For the last 10 years, there are several components of the Virginia lacrosse program that have been constant. Head coach Dom Starsia has instilled a culture of winning as the Cavaliers have won three national championships en route to becoming a national powerhouse. Klckner Stadium has been their home while the rowdy and raucous fans help create an unrivaled lacrosse experience as titans such as Syracuse and Johns Hopkins consistently have faced-off with Virginia, ensuring the highest level of competition. Naturally, the roster provides the greatest variable in the program as the team members inevitably graduate from the University; however, there is one name that has remained consistent throughout the decade: Gill.
Beginning with eldest, Conor Gill in 1999, a Gill has been a lacrosse playing Cavalier for the past 10 years. As an aspiring Cavalier, youngest brother Gavin, then 11, watched in awe from the stands as his older brother excelled playing attack for Virginia from 1999-2002.
“I remember Klckner Stadium just has that presence about it when you walk up there it kind ofI don’t want to use the term magicalbut there is something about it, something that draws you in there that kind of makes things look a little bit surreal,” recalls the younger Gill, now a senior at UVa. “When the weather is good and the crowd is out, it usually makes for a pretty electrifying atmosphere. I remember walking up to the field when I was younger, seeing all those athletes out on the field, realizing that this is a pretty special place to play lacrosse.”
After winning ACC Rookie of the Year in ’99, Conor was was named a first-team All-American in 2000 and 2001 before finishing his career tied for second in assists (146) and seventh in career points (223) in ACC history. A standout for UVa, he led the team to a national championship victory in 1999. The younger Gill brother was undoubtedly astutely watching as he hoped to one day take his brother’s place.
“The championship game [in 1999] was really impressive to see him step up [as a freshman] when the team needed it the most,” said Gill. “It looked like Syracuse was going to swing back and make a comeback. He kind of put his foot down and said that’s not happening.”
After seeing the incredible success of the first Gill brother, Virginia head coach Dom Starsia logically sought middle brother, Brendan, who had previously joined Conor in the backyard as they worked on their shooting, and in turn, toughened up younger brother Gavin.
“One memory I have from when I was really young is that we all loved shooting on goal,” said Gavin. “So one year for my birthday Conor and Brendan got me a bunch of tennis balls and a goalie stick. Little did I know it was so that they could take me out back back and shoot on me.”
Throughout Brendan’s career as an attackman with Virginia, which also included a national championship in 2003, Gavin continued to occasionally make the trip from his hometown of Lutherville, Md., where his own stock as a high school lacrosse player at St. Paul’s School was rapidly rising. When it came time to make a decision as to where he would play collegiate lacrosse, the decision for Gavin was relatively easy.
“I knew from the get go that Virginia was a great choice for me,” he said. “I knew unless some other school was going to blow me away, that there’s probably no chance that I was going anywhere else. I wanted to go to a school that was going to have good academics, good lacrosse, and a good social life.”
As a freshman, Gavin was able to contribute from the onset, as he appeared in 12 games during the Cavaliers’ record setting 17-0 season which culminated in yet another national championship in 2006. Gill had 10 assists, finishing 13th in the country among freshmen. Now, as he walks up to Klckner Stadium on game day, he recalls the days when he was just an eager youngster, coming to see his older brothers play.
“It’s different, because I’m not a spectator now, so I have to focus a lot more,” said Gill. “It’s more of a business attitude, but there are moments up there where you kind of realize how lucky you we are to be a part of this program.”
Last season, Gill played in every game for the first time in his career. He hit career highs with 10 goals and 11 assists, making him the only double digit reserve in the ACC. Now in his senior season, Gill has cemented his role on the team on man-up while also subbing through the box. He has developed the ability to shoot the ball effectively and has found himself subsequently gaining more playing time.
“In high school I was a drive-to-the-cage-and-get-as-close-as-possible-for-a-shot (player), so I didn’t have many outside shots,” said Gill. “That’s something that developed from going to practice here, just zoning in and trying to take advantage of something that could possibly get me on the field.”
Starsia has plenty to say about each of the brothers in terms of lacrosse, but perhaps his comments on them in a broader sense are more telling in defining their surname.
“All of them are simply terrific kids,” said Starsia. “These are three of the most respectful, mature, responsible young guys I’ve been around. They prepare properly for athletics. They take care of themselves away from the field. They just epitomize what I would think the University of Virginia would want as a model undergraduate. They are a University of Virginia student-athlete to the nth degree.”