Lucas Thomae

Sports Managing Editor

Lucas Thomae is the 2023-24 sports managing editor at The Daily Tar Heel. He has previously served as an assistant sports editor and summer editor. Lucas is a senior pursuing a major in journalism and media with a minor in data science.

Carson Elm-Picard

Audio

LISTEN: UNC Football's Season Opener

By Shelby Swanson , Lucas Thomae , Ben McCormick , Gwen Peace and Sierra Pfeifer | September 7

Welcome to a new season of Hark The Pod from The Daily Tar Heel! Sports editor Shelby Swanson, assistant sports editors Daniel Wei and Gwen Peace, sports managing editor Lucas Thomae and sports staff writer Ben McCormick discuss Drake Maye's performance during the UNC football season opener and talk predictions for the upcoming game against App State. Listen now to get your weekly dose of UNC sports updates and banter.

Lara Crochik

Sports

UNC defense shows growth in year two under Chizik with nine sacks against South Carolina

By Lucas Thomae | September 3

North Carolina's defensive line gave Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler fits all night, sacking him nine times.

Kennedy Cox

Sports

North Carolina opens 2023 season with victory over South Carolina, Mack Brown's 100th at UNC

By Lucas Thomae | September 2

The North Carolina defense ended with nine sacks, and quarterback Drake Maye finished with 294 total yards of offense and 2 passing touchdowns.

Sports

Rob Koll tapped to replace Coleman Scott as UNC wrestling coach

By Shelby Swanson and Lucas Thomae | August 31

Koll was a 1988 national champion wrestler at UNC and previously coached at Stanford and Cornell. In his 30 years of coaching experience, Koll has helped produce 74 All-Americans.

Samantha Lewis

City & State

UNC shooting suspect makes first court appearance, is being held without bond

By Lucas Thomae and Abby Pender | August 29

Tailei Qi, 34, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a gun on educational property on Monday. Qi is currently being held without bond in the Orange County Detention Center.

Lucas Thomae

Sports

Chelsea and Wrexham to face off in UNC's Kenan Stadium this summer

By Lucas Thomae | April 21

On Thursday, UNC Athletics and the Florida Cup Series announced that Chelsea FC and Wrexham AFC will face each other in Chapel Hill on July 19. Tickets will go on sale on April 27, and a portion of sales will be donated to the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Clinic at the UNC Children's Hospital.

Taylor Nock

Sports

No. 1 UNC women's lacrosse snaps 29-game winning streak with loss at No. 3 Northwestern

By Lucas Thomae | March 19

Northwestern's Izzy Scane was the best player on the field and notched a first-half hat trick to prove it. The Wildcats outplayed North Carolina top to bottom on Sunday, dominating on draw controls, forcing turnovers and winning 50-50 balls to get out to an early lead.

20230211 - UNC MEN'S BASKETBALL VS. CLEMSON

Kennedy Cox

Sports

How North Carolina men's basketball can make the NCAA Tournament

By Lucas Thomae | March 6

NET rankings? Quad One wins? Last Four In? Here is your definitive guide to how the Tar Heels can make it back to the NCAA Tournament.

Natalie Peoples

Sports

Three-point shooting renaissance leads Tar Heels to upset victory over No. 6 Virginia

By Lucas Thomae | February 26

"At the end of the day we're gonna have to be able to knock down some perimeter jump shots," head coach Hubert Davis said he told his team on Friday. "It is what it is."

Sports

UNC women's basketball puts social justice issues front and center with Black History Month Celebration

By Lucas Thomae | February 21

The team collaborated with the Carolina Black Caucus to make custom warmup shirts as part of their Black History Month Celebration. Between quarters, the team honored three "outstanding community members" — former Carolina Union Director Crystal King, former player Camille Little and educator Lillian Lee.

News

UNC Football's Season Opener

By Shelby Swanson , Lucas Thomae , Ben McCormick , Gwen Peace and Sierra Pfeifer | September 13

Lucas Thomae

LISTEN: UNC Football's Season Opener

UNC defense shows growth in year two under Chizik with nine sacks against South Carolina

North Carolina opens 2023 season with victory over South Carolina, Mack Brown's 100th at UNC

Rob Koll tapped to replace Coleman Scott as UNC wrestling coach

UNC shooting suspect makes first court appearance, is being held without bond

Chelsea and Wrexham to face off in UNC's Kenan Stadium this summer

No. 1 UNC women's lacrosse snaps 29-game winning streak with loss at No. 3 Northwestern

How North Carolina men's basketball can make the NCAA Tournament

Three-point shooting renaissance leads Tar Heels to upset victory over No. 6 Virginia

UNC women's basketball puts social justice issues front and center with Black History Month Celebration

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UNC Football's Season Opener

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