Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 3 | January 2019

42 Inside Hokie Sports The Hokies expect Matthew Manilli to step into that role and become someone with the ability to score in the multi-events at ACC Championships. Manilli’s 4,939 points in the heptathlon at the ACC Indoor Championships rank sixth in program history. Manilli’s younger brother, John, expects to be a multi-event performer for the Hokies as well as a freshman this season. Tech’s squad features two exciting new jumpers in Chambers and Cheatham, two freshmen. Chambers was a first-team All-Met choice by The Washington Post after winning district, region and state championships in the triple jump (Class 5A). The Springfield, Virginia product comes in with a personal-best mark of 48 feet, 9.75 inches. Cheatham, who went to Oscar Smith High, came in seventh in the long jump at the Class 6A state meet this past spring. WOMEN TOP RETURNERS Stefanie Aeschlimann, Eszter Bajnok, Cecelia Marenick, Laurel Miller NEWCOMERS Maya Pighet, Erin Shaffrey OVERVIEW Last season represented a coming-out party for Bajnok, who won three ACC gold medals, claiming the triple jump at both the indoor and outdoor meets, while also finishing first in the long jump at the outdoor meet. She truly shined at the outdoor meet, setting school records in both the long jump (6.17 meters; 20 feet, 3 inches) and triple jump (13.55 meters; 44 feet, 5.5 inches). Bajnok came in fifth in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn her first All-America honor. The junior now holds all school records in the long jump and triple jump – both indoor and outdoor –andheads into this season looking like a national title contender. Aeschlimann scored points in the triple jump at both ACC meets as a freshman last season. She certainly has the ability to be on the podium at both ACC Championships this season. Marenick took a redshirt season as a freshman this past year, and both she and Miller, a transfer from the College of Charleston (WV), should add depth. Overall, this group appears to be deep – and talented. JUMPS/MULTI-EVENTS COACH PAUL ZALEWSKI’S TAKE “Matt Manilli has done a phenomenal job in his training and attitude and what he’s bringing to the table. I’m really, really excited to see what’s in store for him this season. He’s a whole new athlete. He’s focused, and he knows what his goals are. It’s the same story with Jaelyn. He’s made some great technical changes, he’s training well, staying healthy, and I’m looking for the two of them and the two freshmen to step up and make a difference at the conference meet. “You couldn’t ask for a better season than what Eszter did last year. It really was phenomenal what she was able to accomplish. I’m really excited to see what’s in store, but the best thing about her was that, despite all the success, she came back, got back down to earth, re-focused and came in as hungry as I’ve ever seen her to get better. We talked over the summer and the beginning of the semester this past fall about what the expectation is for the season and what we can accomplish – and there are some pretty lofty goals ahead for her this year, but nothing that she’s not capable of.” THROWERS MEN TOP RETURNER Matthew Reinhart NEWCOMERS Tyson Jones, Isaiah Rogers OVERVIEW Reinhart, a junior, is the lone returner from last season’s squad. The former Tech football player continues to get better in the javelin, as