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1. Late bloomer - Hardly recruited out of high school, Chris Diaz has turned into one of the nation's elite wrestlers

Wrestling :: Wrestling Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 5

"I was always telling Coach Dresser since I first got here that I was going to be his first All-American and his first national champion ... It made me happy that I was able to fulfill one of my goals and actually be the first All-Americ…

2. Through the pain - Sarah Milton has overcome serious obstacles along the way to becoming one of Virginia Tech's most successful divers

Swimming & Diving :: Swimming and Diving Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 5

@font-face {"Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt;"Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } It was an early morning in May of 2009. Sarah Milton remem…

3. THE TIME IS NOW - That's the theme as a stacked Virginia Tech wrestling team begins another promising season

Wrestling :: Wrestling Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 4

Thanks to the Virginia Tech athletics facilities boon, the Hokie football team is enjoying life in their brand new locker room facility that was built adjacent to Jamerson Athletic Center this past summer. But an added bonus to the fac…

4. DISHING IT OUT - Volleyball star Erin Leaser shares some thoughts on herself and the craft of setting

Volleyball :: Volleyball Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 4

Erin Leaser With a 15-8 record at the start of November, the Virginia Tech volleyball squad once again was turning in a solid season. At the helm of the team is setter Erin Leaser, a junior whom, through the month of October, ranked sec…

5. USING HER HEAD - Jennifer Harvey has used her head - literally - both on and off the field during a solid career

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 4

Jennifer Harvey Jennifer Harvey has been as reliable as they come over the course of her four-year career as a Virginia Tech soccer player. She’s tied for the program’s all time lead with 85 matches played, and she ranks second in m…

6. H2Okies add top recruit with Christiansburg Aquatic Center

Swimming & Diving :: Swimming and Diving Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 3

@font-face { }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } New swimming and diving facility to aid Tech's chances in upcoming season Usually whe…

7. Meet the 2010-2011 Women's Basketball team

Basketball (W) :: Women's Basketball profiles :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 3

#42 ELIZABETH BASHAM Class: Senior Position: Forward Height: 6-2 Hometown: Abingdon, Va. Inside the numbers: Missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, but averaged just more than 10 minutes played per game in 25 contests a…

8. Large nucleus of talented youngsters has women's hoops staff full of optimism

Basketball (W) :: Women's Basketball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 3

Alyssa Fenyn averaged 7.5 points per game as a freshman and should greatly improve on those numbers this season. The hallmark of this year’s men’s basketball team, and the reason why many consider them to be one of the top threats i…

9. Diamond in the rough - Marika Gray's academic goals led her to the soccer field, and she's been quite a find for the Hokies

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 2

Marika Gray As a high school student, all Marika Gray wanted to do was to go to college and become a surgeon. Now a senior biology major, the Alexandria, Virginia, native is still on the path toward doing so, but a funny thing happened …

10. Right Place at the Right Time - Felicia Willoughby has bounced around the world over the years, but her stay in Blacksburg has resulted in a banner volleyball career

Volleyball :: Volleyball Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 2

Felicia Willoughby Think of yourself as an up-and-coming volleyball star, one who had spent eight years living in the frigid temperatures of Alaska before landing in sun-splashed California for your high school days. Knocking on your do…

11. Q&A: A look at the upcoming cross country season with head coach Ben Thomas

Cross Country :: Cross Country Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 1

Junior Will Mulherin has had an award-winning career on the track and is hoping to add a cross country title to his resume this season. The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s cross country teams don’t open their seasons until Sept. 3…

12. Dealing with success - The Tech women's soccer team begins the 2010 season in an unfamiliar but enjoyable position

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 1

Kelly Lynch will serve as one of the Hokies' four senior captains, and her experience as a threeyear starter will be important for a defense that will be breaking in a new goalkeeper. For years, the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team p…

13. Nice to meet you - The success of the 2010 men's soccer team could depend on how quickly a group of strangers unite

Soccer (M) :: Men's Soccer Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 1

Senior James Shupp is a three-year starter whom Tech coaches hope can make a positive influence on some of the team’s many young newcomers. If there’s a key to the 2010 Virginia Tech men’s soccer season, it’s going to be, as sec…

14. Stepping it up - Hokies to prepare themselves for the ACC's long haul with tough non-conference slate

Volleyball :: Volleyball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 3 Iss. 1

Amy Wengrenovich will play a bigger role in her senior season as one of the Hokies’ defensive stoppers. Hot summer day after hot summer day, children of all ages filed into Cassell Coliseum for one of the many camps held by the Virgin…

15. Tech baseball falls just short of Super Regional after thrilling postseason run

Baseball :: Baseball Season Recap :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 11

Despite a season-ending defeat at South Carolina on June 6, offensive stars Steve Domecus and Austin Wates kept their heads high while addressing the media about Virginia Tech's breakthrough 2010 season. Steve Domecus looked longingly o…

16. A long throw from home - A roundtable discussion with the foreign throwers of the Virginia Tech men's track and field program

Track & Field :: Track & Field Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 10

Pictured from left to right: Alexander Ziegler, Denis Mahmic, Marcel Lomnicky, Igor Misljenovic, Matej Muza, Matthias Treff The Virginia Tech track and field program has gained much notoriety thanks to the successes of women’s hurdler…

17. Riding the tide - Steve Domecus' energetic personality and hard work have turned his baseball career (and the Hokies' season) into a huge success

Baseball :: Baseball Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 10

Steve Domecus can’t surf as much as he used to when he was in California, so longboarding around campus (top image) is how he gets his fix. Already a little bit frustrated, Steve Domecus walked into his coach’s office for his end-of…

18. Reyna Gilbert has got the life

General Release :: Administration Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 10

Reyna Gilbert A look at how student-athletes become well-rounded citizens of the real world through the Office of Student Life Performing well on the field of play and succeeding in the classroom are the main goals of every Hokie stu…

19. On the mat with All-American Chris Diaz

Wrestling :: Wrestling Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 9

Photo courtesy of Mirror Image PhotographyJunior Chris Diaz became Tech's first All-American since 2006 when he placed eighth in the 141-pound bracket at last month's NCAA Championships. Virginia Tech junior Chris Diaz helped the Hokie …

20. Word of mouth - Virginia Tech's strong reputation among former players keeps the Hokies stocked with talent

Tennis (M) :: Men's Tennis Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 9

Luka Somen Italy, Chile, Canada, Ecuador, Croatia. The list reads like Anthony Bourdain’s flight itinerary for his show No Reservations on the Travel Channel. But it’s actually the list of countries from which the members of the V…

21. Hokie on the move - A cross-country relocation in the middle of high school tested Austin Wates' cool, but he's all the better for it now

Baseball :: Baseball Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 9

Austin Wates Looking back on it now, it wasn’t exactly the greatest bargaining chip, but Tawnya Pettiford-Wates was doing everything – anything at all – to get her 16-year-old son, Austin, to accept a move across the country smack…

22. Injury report - A look at how athletic training has changed over the years

General Release :: Administration Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 9

Jimmy LawrencePhoto Courtesy of Kip Brundage With spring football underway and many other sports going full bore, Virginia Tech’s athletic training staff is as busy as ever. One of those athletic trainers is 31-year veteran Jimmy Lawr…

23. Hung(a)ry for more - A move to America, and specifically Virginia Tech, has renewed Erika Hajnal's passion for swimming and turned her into one of the ACC's best

Swimming & Diving :: Swimming Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 8

Erika Hajnal Not even two years into her swimming career at Virginia Tech, sophomore Erika Hajnal is well on her way to becoming one of the all-time Hokie greats. After an honorable mention All-America performance as a freshman and a ha…

24. In the dugout with Pete Hughes

Baseball :: Baseball Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 8

Pete Hughes Though the wintry weather may suggest otherwise, the college baseball season is underway. After back-to-back weekends in South Carolina, the Virginia Tech Hokies returned home with a 4-2 record at press time, with the only l…

25. Coach in training - Jesse Dong's career in wrestling is just getting started

Wrestling :: Wrestling Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 8

Jesse Dong One isn’t likely to walk into Rector Field House and see director of track and field Dave Cianelli hopping over hurdles in a race against Queen Harrison. Likewise, the chances are slim that Frank Beamer is on the football …

26. Hokies bow out of ACC Tournament with loss to Boston College

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Notebook :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 8

One of the highlights of the Hokies’ season was the upset of then-No. 10 North Carolina on Jan. 12, which marked just the fourth win over a top-10 team in school history. They say it’s hard to beat the same team twice in a short spa…

27. Hokies still young but talent and attitude have them headed in the right direction

Lacrosse :: Lacrosse Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 7

Junior Allie Emala is Tech’s leading returning scorer, but she will also be counted on to become the vocal leader of the offensive attack. The 2009 Virginia Tech lacrosse team had its most successful season in head coach Katrina Sil…

28. Experienced and battle-tested Hokies begin 2010 with eyes on the postseason

Baseball :: Baseball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 7

Justin Wright enters 2010 as the Hokies' No. 1 starter, having compiled an 11-2 record over his first two seasons. “I would be really disappointed if we didn’t make the national tournament.” Those are the words of Virginia Te…

29. Mixture of new and returning talent gives Hokies a chance to get back to winning ways

Softball :: Softball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 7

After transferring from Tennessee, junior Ashton Ward will do double duty for the Hokies, serving as one of the team’s top pitchers and also providing a solid bat in the lineup. When a softball team loses six seniors, including an A…

30. A shooter's mentality - Lindsay Biggs has persevered through tough times to become one of the best long-distance bombers in Tech history

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 7

Lindsay Biggs Lindsay Biggs is a shooter. The type of shooter with unlimited range, and one who’s a 3-point threat soon after she crosses half-court. The type of shooter whom opponents prepare for days in advance, trying to figu…

31. Completion of indoor baseball building continues facilities arms race

Baseball :: Baseball Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 6

The Virginia Tech athletics department is constantly looking for ways to upgrade its facilities, as evidenced by the completion of the Basketball Practice Facility in the summer and the construction of the football locker room project go…

32. Like father, like daughter - Utahya Drye's loving relationship with her father has driven her basketball career

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 6

Utahya Drye enters the postgame media session after every game still sweaty, still in uniform and still catching her breath from the game that ended no more than five minutes earlier. But without fail, she always shows up wearing a p…

33. Men's track and field begins season with most balanced team in years - Women's squad has talent to surprise at the national level

Track & Field :: Track & Field Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 6

Defending hammer throw national champion Marcel Lomnicky will lead a group of men’s throwers that ranks among the best in the nation. Two short years ago, the Virginia Tech women’s track and field team was beginning the 2008 seaso…

34. Logging on - A look at the role of the Hokies' information technology director

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 6

Take a minute to stop and think about how much time per day you spend looking at a computer. Truth is, we live in a wireless and computer-dominated world now, and as the director of information technology (IT) for Virginia Tech athle…

35. Unforgettable - Looking back on the women's soccer team's banner season

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Recap :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 5

The Virginia Tech women's soccer team had the best season in school history. Partly because of the timing of postseason play in women’s soccer, and partly because of the publication schedule of this monthly magazine, we here at Insi…

36. Sign here - Various Tech teams reel in some impressive recruits

General Release :: Olympic Sports Recruiting :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 5

This fall’s early signing period – Nov. 11-18, when high school student-athletes officially complete their national letters-of-intent – wasn’t just about the basketball programs (see pages 28 and 29). It was also the same time th…

37. Degree of Difficulty - Mikey McDonald

Swimming & Diving :: Diving Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 5

Mikey McDonald will finish his career as the best diver in Tech history, but it may have never happened without a coincidental convergence with a coach from his past. The first thing you notice about Mikey McDonald when he walks into …

38. Youth movement continues as women's hoops adds five recruits

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Recruiting :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 5

Latorri Hines-Allen, a forward from Montclair, N.J., is one of three recently signed Tech recruits ranked among the nation's top 100 by ESPNU. As fun as it’s been to watch this year’s five freshmen begin to inject new energy into …

39. First Impressions - The early play of Tech's five rookies has things looking up for the future of women's hoops

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Notebook :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 5

Alyssa Fenyn, who averaged 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in her first six starts, is a big reason why Tech's five freshmen have made an immediate impact. They won’t be mistaken for the “Fab Five” of early 90s Michigan lo…

40. Having fun? - Tech's marketing and promotions staff hopes so

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 5

Alicia LongworthEver wonder who books the entertainment act at halftime of a basketball game, or who decides what music gets played between innings at a baseball game? Most of the time, those decisions, and many more, are made by someone…

41. Mulherin and Cornwall post all-conference efforts at ACC championships

Cross Country :: Cross Country Recap :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 4

Sophomore Will Mulherin placed seventh at the ACC Championships to lead the Hokies and to earn the first all-conference honor of his cross country career. It wasn’t quite the finish he was hoping for, but sometimes, that’s the roll …

42. SISTER ACT

Volleyball :: Volleyball Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 4

Jayme and Jill Gergen Jayme Gergen (right) is in her fifth season as Virginia Tech’s assistant volleyball coach. Jill Gergen (left) is in her senior season and is the Hokies’ starting libero. Which one knows her sister better? We as…

43. A Winning Record - Outside hitter Justine Record is thriving in her sophomore year

Volleyball :: Volleyball Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 4

Justine Record has been the Hokies' go-to option on the attack in her sophomore year. At 5-foot-8, she’s just an inch or two taller than most defensive specialists, and just an inch or two shorter than most setters. One might say she …

44. Saving the best for last - Tech wrestling squad eyeing March success as 2009-10 season begins

Wrestling :: Wrestling Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 4

Virginia Tech Head Coach Kevin Dresser The first phone call was to confirm hotel reservations for mid-March in Omaha, Neb., the site of the 2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The second phone call, albeit a not-so-good one, was from a …

45. Q&A: On the sidelines with Kelly Cagle

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 4

Kelly Cagle Although Tech’s football team has been highly ranked all season long, the women’s soccer team across the street has been making big headlines of its own, recording three wins over top-20 teams on its way to the highest w…

46. Admission granted - A view from the front-row seats of Tech's ticket office

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 4

Stephen Medley You probably don’t think twice when you walk up to the gates of Lane Stadium and hand the attendant your ticket to get into the game. But as associate ticket manager for Virginia Tech athletics, Stephen Medley knows the…

47. Under the boards with Kerri Gardin

Basketball (W) :: Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 3

Kerri GardinWhile looking ahead to the new basketball season in this issue, a visit by a former women’s great in late September gave us reason to look back. Kerri Gardin (2002-06) was recently in Blacksburg visiting with the coaching s…

48. FRESH WATER - With new swimsuit regulations and a pool of young contributors, the H2Okies approach the upcoming season with optimism

Swimming & Diving :: Swimming and Diving Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 3

Erika Hajnal was an honorable mention All-American as a freshman in the 1,650 freestyle, and returns to headline the Tech women's team this season. Those who have paid any attention at all to the sports world over the past few years a…

49. THROWING HERSELF IN - Julian Johnson's unique talent and perseverance are helping the Hokies to the best season in program history

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 3

Julian Johnson“Have you seen the girl with the long throw-in, No. 9?” It was an innocent question, casually asked by a Virginia Tech fan to a Clemson fan at a women’s soccer match on a perfect September evening. The tw…

50. Zooming in: A look at the role of Tech's videography staff

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 3

If you’ve ever instinctively glanced up at the videoboard in Lane Stadium to catch a replay of a huge hit, you’re not alone. The videoboard plays a big role in the fan experience, but don’t think that everything magically appears…

51. An in depth look at each player of the women's hoops team

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Profiles :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 3

Lindsay Biggs #20 Class: Senior Position: Guard Height: 5-11 Hometown: Midlothian, Va. Inside the numbers: Started all 30 games a year ago and averaged 12.5 points per game, which ranked second on the team … Nailed 71 3-pointe…

52. Hokies look to right the ship with added scoring punch

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 3

Nikki Davis will be Tech's full-time point guard this season, and her attacking style of play should help the team to some higher-scoring games. If Tech head men’s basketball coach Seth Greenberg is excited about the defensive menta…

53. Volleyball squad off to best start in program history

Soccer (W) :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 2

Felicia Willoughby was named the MVP of the Virginia Tech Tournament on September 5. A total of six games is a small blip on a 31-game radar screen, but when you win all six of those games, it’s a pretty big deal, especially when it…

54. From Blacksburg to the Big Leagues

Baseball :: Wyatt Toregas Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 2

Former Hokie Wyatt Toregas makes good on his goal of playing in the majors Wyatt ToregasPhoto credit Dan Mendlik, Cleveland Indians Wyatt Toregas had the game of his young life on April 21, 2002, a BIG EAST Conference game at Georget…

55. Time heals all for Alex Baden

Soccer (M) :: Men's Soccer Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 2

…

56. Richard Graham - behind the facemask

Football :: Football Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 2

It’s been said before. When an offensive lineman messes up, it’s glaringly obvious. But when he successfully does his job, you never even notice he’s there. That’s why it’s the most unheralded position on the football field. So…

57. An apple a day - Amy Freel talks about her role as the Hokies' sports nutritionist

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 2

Amy FreelThose who wish to be successful Division I student-athletes have a lot to concentrate on: weight lifting, conditioning, practicing, team meetings, watching film – not to mention their class schedules and their studies. But som…

58. Your Attention, Please - With the women's cross country team set for a rebuilding year, the men's team aims to make headlines

Cross Country :: Cross Country Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 1

Senior Devin Cornwall is expected to lead the pack again in 2009.It’s not often that a team can make program history and go largely unnoticed for it, but that’s what happened to the Virginia Tech men’s cross country team last seaso…

59. Under the radar? - Tech volleyball exploded onto the scene early last year before falling back to earth, so what's in store for 2009?

Volleyball :: Volleyball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 1

Felicia Willoughby In mid-July, FOX Sports came to Blacksburg to film “getting-to-know” interviews for ACC All Access, a weekly television series that provides insight into the world of Atlantic Coast Conference sports. Among the …

60. A learning experience like no other - After a summer in Vietnam, Robin Chidester returns to the Hokies aiming to help them build on last year's tremendous season

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 1

Robib Chidester poses with some of the children she helped coach over the summer in Vietnam. It was another blisteringly hot day in rural Vietnam, and Robin Chidester reached down for what she thought, or at least hoped, was a piece o…

61. Gettin' Down to 'Briz'ness - Mike Brizendine talks about his new job as Tech's head men's soccer coach and previews the 2009 season

Soccer (M) :: Men's Soccer Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 2 Iss. 1

Mike Brizendine On June 2, Oliver Weiss abruptly and unexpectedly resigned from his post as the head men’s soccer coach at Virginia Tech. Nine days later, on June 11, longtime assistant Mike Brizendine was promoted to the vacant spo…

62. Marcel Lomnicky is Virginia Tech's Athlete of the Year

General Release :: Athlete of the Year :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 11

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Marcel Lomnicky (men's track and field) Nitra, Slovakia Freshman - Thrower Marcel Lomnicky has recorded a career’s worth of accomplishments in less than six months. The freshman from Slovakia enrolle…

63. Track and field caps Tech's athletics year with seven All-America performances

Track & Field :: Track and Field Recap :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 11

Yavgeniy Olhovsky collected All-America honors in the pole vault for the fourth time in his career at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, aiding in the men’s team’s 16th-place finish. Because the track and field season lasts so long, …

64. Track and field squads highlight 'championship month' for Hokies

Golf (M) :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 10

April was unofficially ‘championship month’ in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with league titles up for grabs in the sports of men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’ tennis, golf and lacrosse. Here’s a look at …

65. There's no catching the "Rhodesrunner"

Softball :: Softball Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 10

Jenna Rhodes The running joke around Virginia Tech softball is that Jenna Rhodes, who grew up on a chicken farm in Broadway Va., got to be so fast because she trained by chasing chickens around like the Italian Stallion did in Rocky II.…

66. Game, set, match - Inga Beermann recently concluded an impressive tennis career at Virginia Tech

Tennis (W) :: Women's Tennis Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 10

Inga BeermannWhen Inga Beermann went up on stage to accept her strength and conditioning athlete of the year award at the Virginia Tech All-Sports Banquet on May 4, she spontaneously and jokingly flexed her biceps as she posed for the ph…

67. Going the distance - Pitcher Rhett Ballard looks back on a career of ups and downs

Baseball :: Baseball Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 10

Rhett Ballard When Rhett Ballard sits down to look back on his young adulthood, he can point out many instances that left him oh-so-close to teetering off his path to baseball stardom. And as the fifth-year senior nears the end of his c…

68. What it's like to work in academic support for the football team

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 10

Colin Howlett With spring football having concluded on April 25 and final exams about to take place, you know what that means – time for many Hokies to make one final push with their academics before the semester ends. So who better t…

69. Olympic Sports Report - Taking a look at some of Tech's other athletics teams

Track & Field :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 9

BASEBALL Steve Domecus ended the month of March on a 19-game hitting streak. The Tech baseball team concluded the month of March by playing a pair of games at completely different ends of the spectrum. A March 29 loss at N.C. …

70. Tech wrestling puts itself on the NCAA map with eight participants at national championships

Wrestling :: NCAA Wrestling :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 9

Heavyweight David Marone and 141-pounder Chris Diaz (not pictured) each won three matches at the NCAA Championships, just missing out on All-America status. When the Virginia Tech wrestling team bowed out of the NCAA Championships a d…

71. With H2Okies at NCAA Championships, one era begins as another ends

Swimming & Diving :: NCAA Swimming :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 9

The last two weekends of March marked the end of the swimming and diving season for Virginia Tech, with the women competing March 19-21 and the men hitting the pool March 26-28, both on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station, Tex…

72. What it's like to be... a strength and conditioning coach

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 9

Jamie MeyerBefore student-athletes ever step foot on the field or court at Virginia Tech, they have already been through countless hours of strength training and conditioning, preparing both their minds and bodies for the grueling season…

73. Yoann Re's unique path to Tech has translated into an attention-grabbing season

Tennis (M) :: Men's Tennis Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 9

In a way, you can credit Canada’s love of hockey for the Virginia Tech men’s tennis team’s success this year. One thing always leads to another, and when you look at it, life is essentially a bunch of seemingly random events tha…

74. Men's swimming and diving places fifth at ACC Championships

Tennis (W) :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 8

SWIMMING AND DIVING We already touched on the women’s team’s success in the piece about Sara Smith, but the H2Okie men fared pretty well at the ACC Championships, taking fifth place in the meet that ended on February 28. Tech b…

75. Guarding the Cassell

General Release :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 8

Kent Sheets If you’ve ever wandered around Cassell Coliseum early in the morning or late at night, chances are you’ve seen Kent Sheets patrolling the premises. As the facilities manager for Cassell, as well as the adjoining Jamers…

76. February kind to baseball squad as Tech gets off to 8-1 start

Baseball :: Baseball Notebook :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 8

Junior catcher Anthony Sosnoskie became the first Hokie to win ACC player of the week honors since 2006 when he was honored after the season’s opening week. Seem a little early for a baseball update? Well it might be, conside…

77. Wrestling's wunderkind

Wrestling :: Wrestling Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 8

Jarrod Garnett Eight pounds. No, it’s not the sequel to Will Smith’s latest movie, Seven Pounds. But it is one of the main themes in Jarrod Garnett’s real-life story, one in which a true freshman at Virginia Tech sweeps the wr…

78. Touching the wall

Swimming & Diving :: Swimming Spotlight :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 8

Sara Smith Have you ever been stricken with mononucleosis? If so, think back to that dreadful time and how terrible you felt. If not, imagine the worst case of strep throat that you can dream of. Imagine your throat and neck gla…

79. That's all she wrote

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Notebook :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 8

Sophomore center Brittany Gordon really came on late in the season, nearly averaging a double-double over the last five regularseason games. Sitting in the media room after the regular-season ending loss to Georgia Tech on Feb. 26, he…

80. Wrestlers capitalize on early fortune by drawing record crowd

Wrestling :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 7

Jarrod Garnett is one of the many young Hokies who have helped the wrestling team to its first national ranking in program history. With the Virginia Tech wrestling team having the best season in its history, why shouldn’t it shoot …

81. Challenges await softball team in encore to last season's success

Softball :: Softball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 7

Senior Charisse Mariconda, who entered the 2009 season having never missed a game, is Tech's top offensive threat after hitting .340 a year ago. The 2008 Virginia Tech softball season was one for the ages, as the Hokies enjoyed a magi…

82. Optimism riding high as lacrosse opens 2009 season

Lacrosse :: Lacrosse Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 7

Senior Rachel Culp tallied 34 goals last season and will look to increase that number in 2009 as Tech’s top offensive threat. Oftentimes when previewing a team’s season, no matter the sport, it is easy to point to a team’s youth…

83. After paying dues in 2008, young Hokies return in 2009 looking to reap the rewards

Baseball :: Baseball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 7

Head coach Pete Hughes and his staff head into the 2009 baseball season a lot more confident in the Hokies’ abilities than at this point a year ago. Whereas last season’s roster possessed boatloads of talent but not much certainty, t…

84. Palmer makes second Baseball Night in Blacksburg a success

Baseball :: Baseball Night In Blacksburg :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 7

Jim Palmer Some might say that Hall of Famer Jim Palmer was born to pitch. But after seeing him in action on Saturday night at Lane Stadium, it’s clear that he was also born to tell a story. The former Baltimore Orioles legend and …

85. What exactly is a DOBO?

Basketball (W) :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 7

Jill Jameson When you watch a basketball game, you’re probably just focused on what goes on between the lines while the clock is ticking and the ball is in play. But how did the teams get to the arena? Where did they sleep? What did…

86. Though not visible in the win column, women's hoops team making progress

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Notebook :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 7

Junior Utahya Drye continued her breakout season when she tallied career highs of 30 points, 16 rebounds and seven steals on Feb. 2 against USC Upstate. As the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team stumbled its way through an overti…

87. New Year's Resolutions

General Release :: New Years Resolution :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 6

My New Year’s Resolution is … To have my best year ever academically and baseball-wise. Also, to win the ACC Championship. - Rhett Ballard, Baseball To learn how to dance. - Martha Blakely, Women’s Tennis To become an a…

88. On your marks... get set... go!

Track & Field :: Track and Field Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 6

Dave Cianelli begins his eighth year at the helm of the track and field program at Virginia Tech, having acheived unprecedented success since arriving in 2001. With a new track season underway, the men’s team aims to become more bal…

89. Juggling act: Haskins successfully balances roles as a starting point guard and an ace student

Basketball (W) :: Women's Basketball Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 6

“I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him if it's in threes. If he has three apples left, I guess I can't have one. I wouldn't want to screw up his practice routine.” -Mitch H…

90. Rookie Harrison developing into contributor for Hokies

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Notebook :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 6

Shanel HarrisonSince last checking in with the women’s hoops team following a nine-point loss at Wisconsin on Dec. 4, the Hokies have played .500 ball by going 3-3 prior to the start of ACC play, a six-game stretch that was book-ended …

91. Young Tech grapplers off to promising start

Wrestling :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 5

Sophomore Chris Diaz is just one of many young Hokies performing well in the wrestling season’s early going. There isn’t a whole lot going on in the Olympic sports realm around the holiday season, but one Tech team that has been p…

92. Fall Harvest: A look at Tech's crop of freshly signed recruits

Wrestling :: Fall Recruiting Recaps :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 5

Many people are aware of the NCAA’s early signing period in November because that is when the best high school basketball players in the country formally commit to the school of their choice by signing a national letter-of-intent. But …

93. One of the best: Tasmin Fanning's impressive month places her among elite company

Cross Country :: Cross Country :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 5

Tasmin Fanning is one of the greatest athletes in Virginia Tech history. If that sounds like a bold statement, then you’re probably not sure who she is. And even if you are, then you’re not giving the Tech runner her due cre…

94. Future looks bright for women's hoops as four standouts commit to Tech

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Recruiting :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 5

Head women’s basketball coach Beth Dunkenberger may have put together her best recruiting class at Tech with the signing of Porshcia Hadley, Alyssa Fenyn, Abby Redick and Aerial Wilson. While the women’s basketball season still ha…

95. (Not) Home for the Holidays: Supportive parents make things easier for the Hokies when on the road

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 5

With her parents in attendance, senior Amber Hall had one of the best games of her career by scoring 14 points and blocking three shots against St. Joe’s in Nashville on Nov. 28. Not many people saw it aside from the few teammates h…

96. Behind the Lens: Hokie sports through the eyes of Virginia Tech's photographer

Football :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 5

Nearly every photo you see in a Virginia Tech game program, on hokiesports.com or in this very magazine comes from Virginia Tech photography coordinator Dave Knachel. Now a 27-year veteran of capturing the excitement of Hokie sports, K…

97. Tech men, Fanning have huge day at ACC Cross Country Championships

Cross Country :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 4

Devin Cornwall placed third individually at the ACC Championships.The Virginia Tech men’s cross country team made a little bit of history on Nov. 1st, and women’s team member Tasmin Fanning was awfully close to doing the same. All …

98. Briefly recapping the baseball and softball teams' fall seasons

Baseball :: Baseball, Softball Fall Recaps :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 4

Fall World Series MVP Steve Bumbry (middle) celebrates one of his three home runs. Three up, three down with the baseball team 1 UP – In the Hokies’ three-game intrasquad Fall World Series, Tech hitters swatted a combined eigh…

99. New NCAA qualifying system puts more on the line for Hokie wrestlers in '08-09

Wrestling :: Wrestling Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 4

Matt EpperlyMatt Epperly was the 2008 most outstanding wrestler at the ACC Championships. It’s just a simple chart, a white sheet of paper with some numbers on it that are highlighted with a marker. But that it is taped to an office…

100. Adversity breeds character

Soccer (M) :: Men's Soccer Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 4

James Gilson What a difference a year makes. The 2007 Virginia Tech men’s soccer team made school history by advancing to the national semifinals, but the 2008 squad has been stuck at the bottom of the ACC for most of the season. Wh…

101. Leaser, freshmen at the center of volleyball's resurgence

Volleyball :: Volleyball Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 4

Setter Erin Leaser is just one of the seven freshmen who have aided in the Hokies’ improvement this year. Even on the day before Halloween, it still remained to be seen. Had the Virginia Tech volleyball team’s success to that poin…

102. What it's like to be... Tech's head equipment manager

Football :: Football Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 4

Lester Karlin In addition to all of the new faces on the football field this season for the Hokies, another new thing has really stood out – what those players have been wearing. First, the team unveiled its new jerseys for the seas…

103. Volleyball the cream of Tech's crop in early going with 14-2 start

Soccer (W) :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 3

One could make the argument that the biggest surprise of Virginia Tech’s fall season thus far has been the play of the volleyball team, which, as of Oct. 5th, found itself atop the ACC standings as the only unbeaten team at 5-0. With a…

104. H2Okies look to capitalize on swimming's popularity with successful '08-09 campaign

Swimming & Diving :: Swimming & Diving Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 3

Mikey McDonald Not too long ago, the 2008 Olympics were fresh in Americans’ minds and the sport of swimming was arguably more popular than ever, mostly thanks to Michael Phelps’ history-making performances and many of the other gr…

105. The First Ladies of Football - Behind the scenes with Tech's right-hand (wo)men

Football :: Administration Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 3

With 10 football coaches, a handful of graduate assistants and over a hundred players, you can imagine that there are a lot of logistical needs to be taken care of around the Virginia Tech football offices. Well, most of those needs are …

106. Recent hurricanes remind soccer star of the one that brought her to Tech

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 3

Emily Jukich Like most people around the country, Emily Jukich watched in despair during late August of 2005 as Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf coast and ravaged areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. She watched as New Orleans, …

107. 2008-09 Women's Hoops Profiles

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Profiles :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 3

21 Brittany Cook Redshirt senior Guard 6-0 Narrows, Va. Inside the numbers: Started all 30 games and led the ACC with 17.9 points per contest … Had great percentages, ranking sixth in the league (and first among guards) with a…

108. Clean slate refreshes women's hoops squad as new season approaches

Basketball (W) :: Women's Hoops Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 3

Brittany Cook The United States is just a few short weeks away from one of the most important presidential elections in its history. As the debate rages on about whether John McCain or Barack Obama is better equipped to handle the blund…

109. Volleyball and soccer ring in new year with wins

Cross Country :: Olympic Sports Beat :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 2

Well, it’s here folks. Another season is upon us. And not just another football season – the entire athletics calendar is back in full swing. We’re talking the men’s soccer team’s challenge to produce an encore to last year’s…

110. Making a Difference for Muscular Dystrophy

Cross Country :: Cross Country Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 2

Brother’s condition has helped shape Tech runner as a person and an athlete Liam Cornwall (left) with brother Devin (right) Liam Cornwall’s wheelchair isn’t just a simple wheelchair. Nope, it’s the Cadillac of wheelchairs,…

111. What it's like to be a certified sports field manager

General Release :: Jason Bowers Feature :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 2

Jason Bowers There aren’t many feelings like walking into a stadium and getting that first view of the beautiful green field on which your favorite team plays. But don’t take it for granted – there are a lot of people hard at wo…

112. Catching up with Tech's Olympic Queen

Track & Field :: Queen Harrison Q&A :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 2

By now, the odds are you’ve read or heard Queen Harrison’s story over the past couple of months. You probably know about how she pulled out of the NCAA Championships with a hamstring injury before improbably placing second in the 400…

113. Well-traveled LaPenna leads the way as cross country teams prepare for a return to the trails

Cross Country :: Cross Country Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 1

Go ahead and look up Estes Park, Colo., on Google Maps. Don’t be alarmed when a large, green blob appears on your screen, though. That’s not an error – that’s the Rocky Mountain National Park. Now click on the ‘satellite…

114. New-look volleyball team gets head start on season with summer full of workouts

Volleyball :: Volleyball Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 1

It was a sticky mid-summer afternoon and Taylor Parrish had just spent about 10 minutes in one of the back gyms of Cassell Coliseum discussing the outlook of the 2008 volleyball season. She spoke about how much she and the team had been …

115. Women's soccer team returns balanced and aiming for an NCAA berth

Soccer (W) :: Women's Soccer Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 1

Anyone questioning the motivation or intent of this year’s women’s soccer team needs to look no further than sixth-year head coach Kelly Cagle. She and her husband, Dan, welcomed their second child, a daughter, Nancy, on July 31st. A…

116. College Cup experience helps revamped men's soccer team prepare for encore

Soccer (M) :: Men's Soccer Preview :: Matt Kovatch :: Vol. 1 Iss. 1

What’s done is done. Live and learn. Don’t rest on your laurels. Each of these sayings is commonly used to describe when it’s time to move on, either from something bad or something good. They’re also sayings that can be u…