Three Tech student-athletes receive postgraduate scholarships from ACC
Three Virginia Tech student-athletes were one of 42 ACC student-athletes to be named recipients of postgraduate scholarships, as announced by the league in early March. The three Tech student-athletes included women’s cross country and track standout Tasmin Fanning, women’s soccer player Kim Hickey, and men’s soccer player Taylor Walsh.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan and Jim and Pat Thacker scholarships are given to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate-level degree following graduation. Each recipient will receive $5,000 to use towards his or her graduate education. Student-athletes receiving the award have performed with distinction in both the classroom and in their respective sports, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
The 42 student-athletes will be honored April 15 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C., at a luncheon put on by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club.
Fanning, a senior from Charlottesville, Va., is double majoring in human nutrition, foods and exercise and communication. She finished third at the NCAA Cross Country Championships last fall – the highest finish ever for a Tech runner.
Hickey, a senior from Richboro, Pa., is a human nutrition, foods and exercise major, and plans on enrolling in nursing school next fall. Walsh, a senior from Roanoke, Va., is majoring in engineering. Both Hickey and Walsh played in 15 games this past fall.
Eleven earn Super Iron Hokie honors in S&C testing
Eleven Tech players earned Super Iron Hokie honors and 57 players overall received recognition for their work during this spring’s strength and conditioning testing held the first week of March.
The list of Super Iron Hokies included Greg Boone, Josh Call, Kenny Jefferson, Josh Oglesby, Tyrod Taylor, Dorian Porch, Barquell Rivers, Demetrius Taylor, Kam Chancellor, Kenny Younger and Jake Johnson.
Demetrius Taylor, as expected, paced Tech in the weight room. He recorded the top lifts in the bench press (430) and push jerk (400), and finished second in the back squat (600) and power clean (360).
Also, 11 position records fell during the testing, with Tyrod Taylor breaking two of them. Taylor recorded a 385-pound front squat and a 310-pound power clean, breaking the quarterback marks in both lifts.
Five position marks fell in the power clean lift. In addition to Taylor, Lorenzo Williams (331 pounds), Cody Grimm (326), Greg Nosal (361) and Jarrett Boykin (331) broke the record in this lift for their respective positions.
Three records fell in the front squat – a lift only done by the skill players. In addition to Taylor, Darren Evans (440) and Danny Coale (420) set the record for their respective spots.
Boone set the back squat mark for tight ends (620); Patrick Terry set the vertical jump record for receivers (40.5); and Chancellor set the bench press record for free safeties (380).
Here is a look at the top five in each event tested:
| Bench press | Front squat |
| Demetrius Taylor (430) | Dorian Porch (450) |
| Vinston Painter (415) | Darren Evans (440) |
| Kenny Younger (410) | Danny Coale (420) |
| Josh Call (410) | Kenny Jefferson (420) |
| Greg Nosal (410) | Josh Call (420) |
| Blake DeChristopher (410) | Patrick Terry (410) |
| Back squat | Power clean |
| Greg Boone (620) | Greg Nosal (361) |
| Demetrius Taylor (600) | Demetrius Taylor (360) |
| Will Alvarez (600) | Jake Johnson (351) |
| Jake Johnson (560) | Barquell Rivers (346) |
| James Brown (550) | Ed Wang (341) |
| Push jerk | Vertical jump |
| Demetrius Taylor (400) | Patrick Terry (40.5) |
| Ed Wang (360) | Marcus Davis (40.5) |
| Greg Nosal (351) | Dorian Porch (39.5) |
| Blake DeChristopher (351) | Cris Hill (37) |
| Kenny Jefferson (346) | Ron Cooper (37) |
| 10-yard sprint | NFL shuttle |
| Danny Coale (1.62) | Cody Grimm (4.02) |
| Dyrell Roberts (1.62) | Dorian Porch (4.03) |
| Stephan Virgil (1.62) | Josh Oglesby (4.07) |
| Tony Gregory (1.62) | Lorenzo Williams (4.09) |
| Cody Grimm (1.64) | Rashad Carmichael (4.09) |
(Note: Beau Warren also recorded a 346-pound lift in the push jerk. Stephan Virgil and Cody Grimm also recorded 37-inch vertical jumps.)
2008 football team awards handed out
The Virginia Tech football team awards for the 2008 season were handed out recently, and the following awards were voted on by the team:
Permanent team captains: Brett Warren, Ryan Shuman, Orion Martin, Victor “Macho” Harris
Outstanding defensive lineman – Jason Worilds
Outstanding defensive linebacker – Brett Warren
Outstanding defensive back – Macho Harris
Outstanding offensive lineman – Ryan Shuman
Outstanding offensive receiver – Greg Boone
Outstanding offensive back - Darren Evans
Outstanding specialist – Dustin Keys
Most valuable player – Victor “Macho” Harris
The following awards were voted on by the coaching staff:
- John William Schneider Award (this is given in memory of former player William Schneider, who was killed in an automobile crash. It goes to a player who excels in athletics, scholarship and leadership): Dustin Pickle
- Paul Torgersen Award (given in honor of former Tech President Paul Torgersen, who has served the university with distinction for three decades in a variety of capacities. The award goes to a player who shows a commitment to hard work and great effort every time he takes the field): Sean Glennon
- Williams–Moss Award (named in honor of John E. Williams, a former Dean of the College, and Joseph S. Moss, a former player and coach at Tech. The award goes to the player who demonstrates the highest quality of leadership and character): Brett Warren
- Paul Frederick Cobb Award (this award is given in memory of former Tech player Freddie Cobb, who was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism in Vietnam. It goes to the most spirited player): Jonas Houseright
- Lawrence R. White Award (this award is given in honor of the late Lawrence White, a former Tech linebacker who excelled in the weight room and was a positive role model for all Tech football players. It is given to the team's most outstanding strength and conditioning athlete): Devin Perez
- Wes Worsham Award (named for long-time Tech supporter Wes Worsham, this award is given to a player who exceeds expectations and surprises everyone with his performance): Purnell Sturdivant
- Edward G. Ferrell Award (this award is given in honor of the late Eddie Ferrell, whose hard work, sense of humor, devotion and unselfishness touched thousands of athletes during his 28-year career as a trainer at Tech. It is given to the player who best exemplifies hard work and unselfishness): Cory Holt
- Outstanding Senior Award: Orion Martin
