Unique Pathways presented by H3

Starting offensive tackle for the Virginia Cavaliers Jack Witmer joins host Ben Rekosh for the newest episode of Unique Pathways presented by H3 Sports. Witmer is a native of Cypress, Texas and committed to UVA under Bronco Mendenhall out of high school as a tight end. He talks about his journey in high school and why he chose Virginia; then the experience of training during the pandemic. Witmer also gives his thoughts on why the offensive line goes under-the-radar and its role in the success of the team. Change has been a defining factor of Witmer’s tenure at UVA, including going through a coaching search and switching positions. He also shares his thoughts on the leadership of Tony Elliott during the tragedy after the 2022 season and how that impacted the program. Witmer then looks ahead to the 2025 season and reflects upon the 2024 season, plus his thoughts on the new era of college athletics. He then gives some rapid fire answers and closes the show with some words of wisdom from a former coach. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMygApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2fSUPPORT OUR SHOW

Former professional golfer and student-athlete at Davidson College Alex Ross joins Ben Rekosh to sit down and talk about his experiences playing golf at varying levels. Ross famously shot a 15-under-par shot at the Dogwood Invitational as a Davidson Wildcat in June 2019, which is one of the best scores in the course’s history. Ross grew up in one of the best states for golf in all of America – Georgia – and he talks about his time there plus playing other sports. Attending Pace Academy outside of Atlanta, Ross earned a plethora of awards en route to earning an offer and eventually committing to Davidson. He was a part of two A-10 championship winning teams, as well as taking home A-10 freshman of the year honors in 2018; he talks about the meaning of those awards and what it was like playing through the pandemic. Ross transferred to the University of Southern California for a graduate year to play on the west coast; he spoke on that decision and what it was like to experience a different landscape. Ross also spent time playing professional golf on minor league circuits before transitioning to the workforce. He ended the conversation by sharing a few words of advice and reflecting on his golf journey as a whole. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMygApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2fSUPPORT OUR SHOW

Former Duke Blue Devils forward Javin Delaurier joins Ben Rekosh on a pre-March Madness episode of Unique Pathways to chat about his journey that started in the Central Virginia are and led him to the NBA. Delaurier graduated from the St. Anne’s Belfield school and once held a number of program records for the Saints; after a growth spurt in high school, his stock quickly began to rise and the big man became a highly-touted, highly-ranked prospect. Ultimately choosing to head to Duke University and play under the coaching of Mike Krzyzewski, Delaurier was a productive player on multiple ACC championship teams and got the opportunity to play with a variety of successful NBA players – he was able to speak on his relationship with those players and how Coach K impacted him as a player and as a person. The Duke team in 2020 was poised to make another run in March Madnes before their season got cut short, and Delaurier was able to share some of that perspective fighting through the pandemic. Through that process he tested the waters for the NBA Draft but got feedback that led him to return to college. He went on to play in the G League in the ensuing seasons and had a brief stint up with the Milwaukee Bucks, which is touched on in this conversation. Delaurier has played overseas for the past few years, and has stories from that perspective now recovering from an injury. On the heels of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, he gives thought to what makes this event such an annual global phenomenon. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMygApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2fSUPPORT OUR SHOW

Maggie Foxx and Maggie Heaphy join the show to talk with Ben Rekosh about their experience growing up as females playing America’s Pastime and how they’ve seen the sport develop over the past decade. Foxx was a stellar catcher in New Hampshire growing up, as well as excelling at a variety of other sports – she now is a freshman at Brown University on the Softball team. Heaphy is a native of the Central Virginia area and had taken a liking to the sport of baseball since a young age, she went on to play second base at Charlottesville High School, and is now a student at California Berkeley. The group went through the dynamics of being a girl in a boy’s sport, the toughness and importance of strong mentality, and how to grow the game in the future. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMygApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2fSUPPORT OUR SHOW

H3 is thrilled to welcome friend-of-the-show Kyle Bogese onto Unique Pathways to join Ben Rekosh in discussing a plethora of topics. Kyle founded and owns The Backyard Baseball Lab in Richmond, which holds a lot of the same values that makes H3 great in growing the game for all people; he has also been able to see first-hand how sports have the ability to impact people beyond the field of play. His life experiences have shaped a strong perspective and competitiveness that is still lit to this day, even with a variety of life experiences under his belt. He grew up in Chester, VA as a man of many talents and the decision to fully commit to baseball in high school. After a tumultuous senior year, that decision ended up paying off with a great deal of success at Division-III Trinity, and eventually playing in the minor leagues. He talks about what playing collegiate baseball is like as well as the ups and downs of lower-level organizations. One night in 2018 his life changed forever, and Kyle is really candid about how difficult that time was and who helped them get there. Since his injuries, Bogese has found a new purpose within the game of developing young pitchers in the Virginia area and helping them become better young men on and off the field. He has lots of strong advice for people in any situation, and believes in the power of work ethic and having a tough mentality. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMygApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2fSUPPORT OUR SHOW

Ben Rekosh, host of Unique Pathways, is joined by Yoon Chae for a discussion about baseball, school, and everything in between. Yoon moved to Toronto from South Korea at a young age, and then he spent some time in Virginia at Cape Henry Collegiate School in preparation to play baseball at the next level. Rekosh discusses with Chae about his time living in each of those places and how they helped him and his family shape them into who they are today. Chae is a multi-talented person and incredibly gifted academically, so he tries to give some perspective on how his desire to perform in the classroom has impacted his performance on the baseball field. The two talk about Chae’s stellar first season with Amherst College and what it meant for him to pick a school with such a prestigious student-athlete experience. Following discussion about his busy summer 2024, he gets the opportunity to look ahead to 2025 and quickly answer some closing questions. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well.Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMygApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2fSUPPORT OUR SHOW

Going into his first year as the head coach at his alma mater, Sean Thompson sits down with Ben Rekosh on Unique Pathways to discuss his journey to becoming the youngest head coach in Division I collegiate baseball. Thompson opens the conversation by talking about the impact that H3 Baseball has on the community and how VCU is able to use sports to impact the lives of numerous different types of people. Thompson was a star pitcher for the Rams, leading the team to the program’s biggest win in 2015, and stayed all four years in Richmond. Following that, he spent a few years in the minor leagues but quickly realized his passion for coaching – spent time as an assistant at FIU, Monmouth and VCU. Thompson and Rekosh go through the transition period in 2024 after the program captured a conference championship and discuss the moments after he got offered his current position. Coach Thompson will be the first to say that being a head coach is a lot different than it may seem, but he’s excited for his first season at the top spot. The two then end with some rapid fire questions to get to know the coach's personality and give some life advice. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well.Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMygApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2fSUPPORT OUR SHOW

In the debut episode of Unique Pathways, Ben Rekosh sits down with former student-athlete at the University of Virginia and current Physician's Assistant, Allie Crider. She shares what it was like growing up in Charlottesville in a sports-heavy family, and what made a different sport so special to her. Crider has an interesting story and perspective on the recruitment process on what she experienced in high school, and she was able to transition to an entirely new sport. With four years of learning from Kevin Sauer and the staff at UVA, Crider was able to massively improve and become a champion in the sport of rowing; she and Rekosh have a conversation about the sport as a whole and what it means to row in Charlottesville. Additionally, she holds a special knowledge about what it means to be a successful student and is able to draw parallels between team sport and working in the medical field.  Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Ben Rekosh sits down for a conversation with play-by-play broadcaster and sports media personality Jake Marsh to discuss the ever-changing sports media landscape and some of Marsh’s unique experience over the past few years. Known for being a part of the Pardon My Take podcast, Marsh has been with Barstool Sports since 2020 providing a number of different roles for the media mogul. Before that, Marsh graduated from Syracuse University where he got a great deal of experience in sports broadcasting and the industry that he has grown a passion for; following graduation, he took a job with Vermont Athletics. Marsh is able to share his unique perspective on the value of an online presence for athletes and personalities in the modern era, plus the ways that the pandemic built an opportunity for him. The two are able to go through a few personal favorite broadcasters and sports memories. Marsh shares his thoughts on how he sees himself in the future of the industry, and the opportunities that Barstool Sports has given him.  Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Director of Marketing, Media & Athlete Engagement for CavFutures Kellie Booth joins Ben Rekosh on a new episode of Unique Pathways to discuss a variety of topics, including the always-changing nature of college athletics in the 2024 landscape. Booth is originally from Charlottesville, VA, and she got her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University; at Cornell she was a member of the varsity polo team in addition to earning a degree in sociology. Booth worked with the video production team in the athletics department, as well, and she revealed that this is where her passion for sports marketing got reignited. Following graduation from Cornell, Booth returned to Central Virginia to earn a master’s degree from UVa – focusing on a path that would soon end up becoming a career. Booth then talks with Rekosh about what her new role at CavFutures entails and some of the perks of being in that position. The two then share thoughts on NIL becoming a major factor in college athletics over the last half decade, and all of the good and bad that comes with it. Topics include the sanctity of sports, mental health, sustainability over time, what needs to be fixed, and all of the good that comes from various types of partnerships. They end with a few light-hearted questions, but it is a strong conversation overall.  Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

2024 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Community Impact Award-Winner Carter Cunningham joins Ben Rekosh on Unique Pathways presented by H3 Sports for an in-depth conversation on a variety of topics. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays organization in June, Cunningham has spent a majority of his time in Dunedin, Florida with the single-A team. Originally a native of Haymarket, he played for Coach Jay Burkhardt at Battlefield High School; committed to Gardner-Webb before his senior season, Cunningham would go on to play with three schools in five years. He talks about the impact that covid-19 had on his journey, the overall value of the transfer portal in the modern college athletics landscapes, and how his newfound faith has transformed his life. In addition to leading the East Carolina Pirates to an AAC Championship in 2024, he started the Homers That Help initiative and raised $50,000 for the ECU hospital. Rekosh closes out the interview by getting to know a bit of Cunningham’s personality, and he offers some wise words of advice to end the show. Thank you for tuning in - please consider leaving a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Unique Pathways presented by H3 Sports is back for another round of great conversation surrounding the ever-evolving sports world. Ben Rekosh is set to talk to a number of guests about why they are why they are, how they got to the position that they are in, and who helped them get there - plus, the impacts that they’re making, whether it be on or off the playing field.  In this episode, producer Andy Huffmyer put together a “best of” series of some of the greatest moments from season one. The spring of 2024 was filled with a number of fantastic interviews: Nic Kent, Jonas Sanker, Henry Ford, Eric Jones Jr., and more! Enjoy and stay tuned for all-new interviews coming every Wednesday!  Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Ben Rekosh is joined by the legendary Eric Jones Jr. on Unique Pathways presented by H3 Sports; Jones is a former MLB bullpen catcher and current star on the global sensation Savannah Bananas. He discusses the ups and downs of his journey, including on-field injuries, championships with the Davidson Wildcats and Charlottesville Tom Sox, minor league baseball, and time with the Seattle Mariners. Jones gives an inside look on what it’s like to be a part of the Savannah Bananas and tells some stories from his time traveling the country. Rekosh and Jones close out the conversation by taking time to reflect on all Jones has accomplished thus far and look ahead to the future of his career.  Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

A native of Crozet, Chris McGahren has been a UVA athletics fan his entire life, and in 2021 he got the chance to suit up for the Cavaliers for his senior season as a manager. Host of Unique Pathways presented by H3 Sports Ben Rekosh sits down with McGahren to discuss his journey growing up in Charlottesville, earning region player of the year honors, leading the Western Albemarle Warriors to the state semifinals, and his prestigious baseball career. Rekosh and McGahren discuss the decision to stay home and the potential of walking-on for Virginia, plus what that process looks like. McGahren gives a peek behind the curtain of what it takes to be a manager for the Cavaliers, plus his experience during the 2019 national championship and the COVID-19 pandemic. McGahren takes some time to reflect on his time at the University of Virginia and shares what he is up to post-graduation. Rekosh takes time for McGahren to offer more about himself and his journey.  Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Currently serving as an assistant coach for the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, Caylee Waters has already had a very unique journey to be in the position that she is today. Host of Unique Pathways presented by H3 Sports Ben Rekosh sits down with Waters to discuss everything from her life growing up in Connecticut with a family full of athletes and how lacrosse made its way into the picture, to ultimately receiving the call to joining the Virginia Cavaliers as a full-time assistant coach. Waters, who won the National Championship in 2016 as a North Carolina Tar Heel, was then drafted number one overall to play professionally then took home gold in 2022 as a part of Team USA. Rekosh and Waters discuss the impact of lacrosse on a global scale, plus what being a coach on this year’s Cavaliers means to her. The wahoos just beat #3 Boston College and are preparing for a deep run in the ACC and NCAA tournaments through April & May.   Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Charlottesville native Henry Ford joins host Ben Rekosh to discuss his growth and journey as a baseball player to now being one of the premiere freshmen infielders in the NCAA. Ford grew up a fan of UVA baseball and comes from a family of baseball players. An attendee of St. Anne’s Belfield school through his first two years of high school, Ford was a member of the basketball team as well as the baseball team. During December of his freshman year, Ford committed to play baseball for Coach Brian O’Connor at UVA, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He went through the storied process of getting noticed by and communicating with the coaching staff to commit at such a young age. Ford decided to go all-in on his baseball development after his sophomore season at STAB by transferring to the Baylor School in Tennessee.When he got on grounds, Ford was set to achieve his goal of earning a starting spot in Coach O’Connor’s lineup. He’s done just that; Ford has appeared in all 32 of UVA’s games so far, driving 10 home runs with 43 runs batted in. Rekosh closes out the conversation with a few quick questions to get to know Ford better and showcase his personality to the fans. CBS19 interview mentioned: https://www.cbs19news.com/story/49313830/little-league-legend-henry-ford-ready-for-collegiate-debut Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

The Sanker brothers join Ben Rekosh and Jeff Burton for a joint edition of H3 Conversations and Unique Pathways. Nic, a linebacker for Princeton football, and Jonas, a linebacker for UVA football, are natives of the Charlottesville area and recently started a training company for up-and-coming football players. They go through the process of being on the other side of the coach-player relationship, what it means to be able to give back to the community, and much more. The group also dives into the different stages of college football, various family dynamics, and much more.  Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg⁠ Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f⁠ SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Host Ben Rekosh is joined by Ryan Ingram, the all-time leading scorer in Western Albemarle High School history and recent graduate of Swarthmore College. The two discuss the impact of Tony Bennett on a young Ingram, while growing up in the golden period of UVA basketball. Ingram was a multi-sport athlete and a member of the original H3 Baseball Bunch; he was also a mentor within the organization, and they discuss the impact of that role. After a stellar high school career, Ingram committed to continue his academic and athletic career at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Ingram made an immediate impact on his team, who ultimately lost in the NCAA tournament. COVID-19 cut his second year short, which he then took as an opportunity to take time off and help out at his alma mater. After graduating in Economics and Psychology in 2022, Ingram is now successful post-basketball. Rekosh wraps up the show by getting to know Ingram’s personality with rapid fire questions and some valuable life advice.  Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-pathways-presented-by-h3/id1734673215 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hc5X4RsoGQC8pO2TtAjQ9?si=7ff3f704357d4c2f SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Nic Kent, former freshman all-american infielder for UVA, joins Unique Pathways presented by H3 Sports to chat with host Ben Rekosh before the 2024 baseball season gets underway. The two dive into his time with H3 sports as both a mentor and a player, being part of a stacked travel team, plus what coaching teaches about playing. Kent graduated from St. Anne's-Belfield was a star in basketball and base, after committing to play for UVA after his freshman season. Kent was an instant star with Brian O’Connor team, earning All-ACC honors. His second season got cut short due to the covid-19 pandemic, and Kent shares some stories from that, as well. The 2021 UVA baseball team made it to the College World Series in Omaha, but ultimately fell short in the semifinals. Kent was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2021, and he has been playing in their system since then. Host Ben Rekosh then closes out the conversation with a few fun questions to look into the deeper personality of the baseball star.  Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGzLY5n_ROKXGZkj2NxMyg Apple:  Spotify:  SUPPORT OUR SHOW

Hosted by Ben Rekosh, Unique Pathways is presented by H3 Sports. We talk with athletes from a variety of sports discussing how they got to where they are today, the road it took to get there, and who was pivotal in helping them in that journey. Leave a comment & review! Be sure to like & subscribe as well