Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 13 No. 6 | June 2021

inside.hokiesports.com 27 BASEBALL Over the weekend of April 30th–May 2nd, the Baseball program hosted Baseball Alumni Weekend during the 3-game series against the University of Virginia. Alumni Weekend kicked off on Friday morning with over 60 golfers participating in a golf tournament hosted at Auburn Hills Golf Club. The opening game of the series vs. the Cavaliers was on Friday night in front of an enthusiastic crowd at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. On Saturday, the program hosted a cookout for former players, many of whom traveled from out of state including Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Pregame festivities on Saturday also included a Celebration of Life and video tribute on the jumbotron at English Field to longtime VT baseball coach and VT Hall of Fame member Chuck Hartman . Alumni Weekend concluded on Sunday with the third game of the series against Virginia. The Virginia Tech baseball program plans to host Baseball Alumni Weekend during the last home series of the regular season moving forward. If you would like to join the Virginia Tech Baseball Alumni communication list for program and event updates, connect with Baseball Director Chip Runyon ’02 (chip.runyon@beaconharborwealth. com). The baseball alumni athletes are also on Facebook at Virginia Tech Baseball Alumni . SPIRIT Under the coaching guidance of Josh Larric k, the Cheer and HighTechs filmed their entry the Conference Cheer and Dance Championships in March. This was a virtual competition for the cheerleading and dance programs, as presented by the ACC. VT Spirit Squads submitted their videos within a 24-hr. period and judges scored them after the submission had closed. Judges for both cheer and dance were nationally recognized and of the highest caliber. The HighTechs placed 3rd in the Gameday Division, as well as placing 3rd in the Performance Division for their Jazz routine. Both teams also sent virtual submissions to the 2021 College National Championships for UDA and UCA. The Cheer Squad placed 3rd in the Division IA Virtual Cheer Championship, while the HighTechs placed 6th in the Division IA Jazz Championship. Congratulations VT Spirit Squads! ( Mary-Catherine Steigerwald ’10, mhutc06@vt.edu ). MEN’S SOCCER For the fourth time in five years, the VT Men’s Soccer team reached the Sweet Sixteen and, in dramatic fashion, clinched the program’s tenth NCAA tournament win during the process, with a closing-seconds overtime goal by Jacob Labovitz (’21). A trip to the Elite Eight was cut short as the Hokies fell to #6 Seton Hall, after eight rounds of penalty kicks . As it relates to upcoming VTMS alumni events, whether in Blacksburg or regionally, please make sure you are connected with your Monogram Club men’s soccer representative, Charlie Howe (’06) at charlieh. howe@gmail.com . To connect with your former soccer alumni, please look for us on Facebook as we continue to grow our network and share past pictures and memories. Please search for “ Virginia Tech Men’s Soccer Players, Alumni, and Friends of the Program .” WOMEN’S SOCCER VT annually honors student-athletes who achieve various accolades in each sport, highlighting exceptional accomplishments. The Monogram Club has the honor to support the most prestigious award given to a female and a male student-athlete who above all others exemplifies excellence academically and athletically, has a service mindset and brings a positive impact on and off the field. These two awards, named the Golden Gobbler , are awarded as a part of the year-end Gobblers program inclusive of student athletes in all 22 sports; this year’s ceremony was conducted virtually. Emily Gray (’22) of the Women’s Soccer team is the ’21 Female Golden Gobbler awardee. Gray led the Hokies in goals (nine), assists Continued on page 28 2021 Baseball Alumni Weekend Reunion– English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park