inside.hokiesports.com 3 ATHLETICSANNUALREPORT Virginia Tech Athletics garnered the attention of fans around the country with the Hokies’ success beyond the confines of the regular season. The 2021-2022 athletics year gave Tech fans plenty of cathartic moments in the postseason, making this time period one of the most memorable in the history of Hokie sports. (Please note: the article was completed on June 2, 2022.) MEN’S BASKETBALL CUTS DOWN THE NETS Mike Young’s group of tenacious Hokies stormed through the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn in March 2022. Darius Maddox’s buzzerbeating three pointer in overtime to beat Clemson sparked a Hokies’ run that lasted for three more games, knocking off the higher seeded Notre Dame, North Carolina, and Duke. Hunter Cattoor’s lights-out, 31 point-performance lifted Tech to an 82-67 victory over the ACC Regular Season champ Blue Devils in the final, giving the Hokies their first ACC title in program history. HOKIES SOFTBALL SHINES IN BLACKSBURG Virginia Tech Softball’s 2022 regular season performance allowed them to host an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history in May 2022. Senior All-American pitcher Keely Rochard tossed a no-hitter in a game one 4-0 victory over Saint Francis. After a heartbreaking loss in game two against Kentucky, the Hokies fought through the gauntlet valiantly. Tech came from behind to beat Miami (OH) 5-4 and Kentucky 9-2 in game six. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Mackenzie Lawter smoked a three-run home run that gave the Hokies a lead they would not surrender. Emma Lemley and Rochard led the Hokies’ pitching efforts to beat the Wildcats 5-4 and clinch a bid to host the NCAA Super Regional. WRESTLING FINISHES AMONGST THE NATION’S BEST Tony Robie has cultivated a consistent winner in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech Wrestling finished 8th in the country at the NCAA Championships in Detroit in March 2022. Mekhi Lewis led the Hokies with a National Runner-Up finish at 174, making him a two-time finalist and All-American. Korbin Myers and Bryce Andonian joined Lewis in All-American recognition as well. The Hokies were runners-up in the 2022 ACC Championship and finished with three champions in Lewis, Myers, and Nathan Traxler. TRACK & FIELD RUNS TO DUAL CHAMPIONSHIP The Hokies took advantage of the 2022 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships being held at Rector Field House in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech ran a complete sweep of the ACC team titles, with both the men and the women claiming the trophy. Cole Beck was the ACC Indoor Track MVP, accounting for 16 team points behind his gold finish in the 200m and bronze in the 60m. Victoria Gorlova’s performance in the triple jump was 43 centimeters better than anyone else in the event, earning her the ACC crown as well as Women’s Field MVP honors. At the end of the ACC Indoor Championships, 16 men received All-ACC honors and 12 women. This was the first time in history that a host school won both men’s and women’s team championships. postseason competition EXCELSin Continued on page 4 The Hokies crowd the podium to celebrate the 2022 ACC Championship.
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