Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 5 | May 2019

38 Inside Hokie Sports NEWMONOGRAMCLUB DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS FOR 2019-20 Directors for individual sports serve on the Monogram Club Board and are elected on a three-year rotating basis. At the April 2019 annual membership meeting, three directors were re-elected to their positions for terms of 2019-22: Anne Jones (women’s tennis), Blair Nelson (women’s soccer), and Quinton Nottingham (men’s basketball). Two new directors were elected for football and swimming and diving for terms of 2019-22 and are presented below. The Club thanks John Shipley (football) and Morgan Latimer (swimming and diving) for their service as outgoing directors. Contact data for all officers and directors are found at: http://monogram.hokiesports.com . The Club membership voted to add an additional director to the Board, bringing the total number to 18 directors. The new director is to represent those who earn letters as trainers, managers and video staff . This new director initially will be Board appointed for the period of 2019-22 and then stand for election in 2022. Those interested in this role are urged to contact the Club (vtmonogramclub@vt.edu ). FOOTBALL Chad Beasley (Class of 2001; B.S. in human services) played football for the Hokies from 1997-2001. He won the IronMan competition in 1999, along with playing for the national championship in 1999. He was elected as one of the team captains in his senior season of 2001. Beasley currently resides in Abingdon, Virginia, where he works as the executive vice president for Meade Tractor. He and his wife, Ashley, have been blessed with three children: Emery, Carson and Ryan. Contact Beasley at beasleychad@yahoo.com . Beasley says, “In an effort to live up to the Ut Prosim motto…I hope I can continue to build on the foundation that others have left and continue to grow support for Virginia Tech and all of Hokie Nation!” SWIMMING AND DIVING John Schmidt (Class of 1979; B.S. in forestry and wildlife sciences) was a recruited walk-on and competed in swimming for all four seasons (1975-76 to 1978-79). He earned a scholarship his sophomore year, held a number of school records in breaststroke events during his career, and was team co-captain his senior year. Schmidt is a life member of the Club, and this is his second stint on the Board of Directors, having represented swimming and diving in the early 2000s and also previously serving as Monogram Club president. He currently serves as a field office supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s West Virginia field office in Elkins, West Virginia and officiates both high school and collegiate swimming meets throughout West Virginia. After retirement this coming June, he plans to remain in Elkins to devote more time to his other passions: coaching (Randolph Area YMCA Swim Team-RAYS), fly-fishing guiding, and being a grandfather. Contact Schmidt at jschmidt01@cebridge.net, or 304-641-2157. Schmidt says, “I am going to work hard to expand Monogram Club membership among my fellow H2Okies. I plan to continue attending at least one home swim meet a season and attend all H2Okies alumni functions. I will do my best to make both current team members, as well as all our former teammates, aware of the great Monogram Club membership benefits, including football game tailgates and being on the field for pre-game festivities.” OFFICERS Officers for the Club are elected in April of odd years for two-year terms. At the April 2019 annual membership meeting, three officers were re-elected to their current positions for the term of 2019-21: Angie Edwards (vice president); Sharon McCloskey (secretary) and Quinton Nottingham (treasurer). The position of president is similarly elected for a two-year term, but with a maximum of two terms (four years). In this regard, Brian Walter was elected as president for 2019-21 and will continue to serve as a director (track & field/cross country). Mike Saunders will continue on the Board in the position of past president. Brian Walter (Class of 1990, M.S. in management science) ran track and cross country and was a cross country All-American in 1989. He lives in Blacksburg and works for MAXIMUS Federal as director of software development. While serving as Club president, Walter also will retain his position as director of track & field/cross country. Walter says, “I look forward to serving as Monogram Club president and continuing the great momentum the Club has recently experienced. We are a strong organization with a great vision of serving past, present and future Virginia Tech student-athletes, and I will continue to foster that vision.” Mike Saunders (Class of 1966; B.S. in civil engineering) played football in 1962-65. Over the past four years, the Club has seen many changes and expanded activities. As departing president, Saunders says, “The Club’s future is bright, yet challenges and opportunities abound. These include: (1.) identification and publication of all past letterwinners in all past and current sports; (2.) delineation of an administrative process, startingwith 2018 letterwinners and forward, for capturing all letterwinners into permanent “VT letterwinner archive”; (3.) continuation of the publication of Club news and updates in team literature, and athletics and university publications; (4.) continued pursuit of Club space & rooms throughout athletics facilities, with student-athlete alumni to be challenged to lead in development and funding of these facilities; and (5.) challenging the membership and student-athlete alumni to proactively develop new programs and initiate team reunions and sport reunions that bring us all together and back Home!” SPORTS NEWS VOLLEYBALL TEAM HOLDS INAUGURAL “BLOCK PARTY” The Virginia Tech women’s volleyball team held its first annual Block Party recently on April 14 from 9-11:30 a.m. This exciting and informative fundraising event was well attended and enjoyed by many. The primary purpose was to share with the public many insights about various aspects of Virginia Tech volleyball. The event began with introductions and breakfast and then participants rotated between three stations of recruiting, scouting, and positions and rules. Each station lasted about 20 minutes and was followed by a Q&A with coaches, staff and players. A short team practice on skills and drills followed, showing participants some drills and activities that occur during a typical practice session. Finally, the event ended with a raffle winner announcement. Aside from a time to share with the public the interesting aspects of a Division I volleyball program, this event was also a fundraiser for the team’s summer of 2020 trip to Europe. This European trip will include cultural learning, team building and interesting European competition. More details about the European trip will come! MONOGRAM CLUB HOLDS SPRING GOLF OUTING At the annual membership weekend, the Club held a golf competition at the River Course on April 12. Initiating a new component this year, Mike Ligon (men’s golf, director) had “hole sponsors” solicited from amongst the Board. The 2019 hole sponsors included: volleyball, baseball, men’s basketball, football, men’s golf, men’s soccer, the Claiborne Boys—Football 1961-70; and one each in memory of Mike Hvozdovic (Class of ‘65), Les Hanly (Class of ’66) and Jud Bigelow