INSIDE HOKIE SPORTS February 2009 • Vol. 1, No. 7 JIMMY ROBERTSON * To advertise 5 Hokie Club News Editor with Virginia MATT KOVATCH Tech athletics 10 News & Notes Editorial Assistant or Inside 11 Student Life BILL ROTH Hokie Sports, Tech student-athletes active in local communities Columnist contact Kyle 12 From the Editor’s Desk TIM EAST Winchester or Close games create angst for coaches, great theater for hoops fans Executive Editor Callie Rhodes DAVE KNACHEL at ISP Sports 13 Kroger Roth Report Photographer 540-961-7604 Wilson is more than just another top-rated recruit ALLISON JARNAGIN 16 Men’s Hoops Designer Hokies end struggles with win against N.C. State CONTRIBUTORS 20 A.D Vassallo Feature Brian Thornburg - Hokie Club From Puerto Rico to prominence Callie Rhodes - ISP Sarah Alston - Web developer 24 2009 Recruiting Feature Tech staff optimistic about program’s future inside.hokiesports.com 26 2009 Recruiting Chart 29 2009 Recruiting Class Profiles Published by the Virginia Tech Athletics Department 34 Women’s Hoops Inside Hokie Sports (ISSN 8750-9148, periodical postage Women’s hoops team making progress paid at Roanoke, Va. 24022, and additional mailing offices) covers Virginia Tech athletics and is published 11 36 Administration Feature times annually – monthly from August through June. The What exactly is a DOBO? publisher is the Virginia Tech Athletics Department, 460-E Jamerson Athletic Center, Blacksburg, Va. 24061-0502. A Night of Baseball in Blacksburg SUBSCRIPTION PRICES: $37.95 for one year (11 39 issues) and $69.95 for two years. You can get an online Palmer makes second Baseball Night in subscription for $25 and both the online and the print Blacksburg a success version for $50. Mail all subscription inquiries, renewals, address changes, written inquiries and complaints to Inside 40 Baseball Preview Cheick Diakite Hokie Sports, 460-E Jamerson Athletic Center, Blacksburg, Young Hokies return in 2009 looking to reap the rewards dunks in the Va. 24061-0502 or call (540) 231-3908. Hokies’ win over Inside Hokie Sports assumes no responsibility for Lacrosse Preview the Wolfpack. companies and persons who advertise in this publication. 42 Reproduction of contents in whole or in part without written Optimism riding high as lacrosse opens 2009 season permission is prohibited. Publisher does not guarantee accuracy of information contained in any advertisement. 44 Softball Preview ATTN POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Challenges await softball team in 2009 Inside Hokie Sports, P.O. Box 11101, Blacksburg, Va. 24061-1101. Printed by Color Q L.L.C., Miamisburg, Ohio 46 Olympic Sports Recaps Wrestlers draw record home crowd against Maryland inside.hokiesports.com 3 4 Inside Hokie Sports HOKIE CLUB THE HOKie Club … THE OFFICIAL FUNDRAISING ARM FOR VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS The Hokie Club is more than just a membership. It’s taking a road trip to see the Hokies play. It’s that desire to drive to Blacksburg to see a game just so you can be on campus. It’s the pride you feel when the Hokies succeed. It’s that feeling that overwhelms you and lets you know without a doubt … yeah, I’m a Hokie! The Hokie Club, supporting Tech athletics since 1949. WAYS TO GIVE: QUARTERLY PAYMENTS A gift of cash or a check is the most popular method of payment for annual gifts to the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund. When making this gift, it is important to know that there are several payment options available, including “Hokie Matic,” the Hokie Club’s Supporting monthly electronic transfer from either one’s checking or savings account. In addition to this popular option, many Hokie Club members choose to make their annual donations using quarterly payments. Designating quarterly payments is an option that is easy to set up. For a new member of the Hokie Club, the easiest way to set up your payments for quarterly payment is to make note of this request on your membership application. For an existing Hokie T Club member, someone who previously made payments in a different fashion would need to contact the Hokie Club office to ech Athletics Since 1949 designate this payment method. Once quarterly payments have been designated, the donor will receive reminders during the months of January, April, July and October. For more information or inquiries about setting up quarterly payments, contact the Hokie Club at (540) 231-6618. For more information on how to give to Virginia Tech athletics, contact the Hokie Club at (540) 231-6618 or visit hokieclub.com. 5 HOKIE CLUB The following represents annual giving donors (gifts from $100 to $10,000 annually) who have either joined as new Hokie Club members or have upgraded their Hokie Club membership since August 2008. We want to celebrate these commitments of helping improve Virginia Tech athletics by recognizing them and by saying “Thank You!” Matt Gross Christiansburg, VA James Rice, III Williamsburg, VA New members David Haarz Vienna, VA Jon-Michael Rosch Warrenton, VA Diane Althouse Roanoke, VA Vicky Hale Culpeper, VA Charlotte Ryan Yorktown, VA Donald Armistead Herndon, VA Jeremie Halvorson Virginia Beach, VA Deisher Sarah Radford, VA Atlantic Credit & Finance Inc. Roanoke, VA Michele Hampton-D’Ambrosio Egg Harbor Township, NJ Matthew Sayre Charlotte, NC Charles Austin Independence, VA Jeffrey Harbison Springville, AL John Seago Blacksburg, VA Mark Avignone Mokena, IL Amanda Hardwick Blacksburg, VA John Sheppard Raleigh, NC Morgan Bailey London Joseph Harrington Arlington, VA Robert & Sherri Shupe Salem, VA James Ballangee Columbus, GA Charles Harris, Jr. Lexington Park, MD Beverly Singleton Radford, VA Bailey Barco Virginia Beach, VA Tom Hawksworth, II Deltaville, VA Daniel Smith Standardsville, VA Myra Barger Buchanan, VA Douglas Herakovich Raleigh, NC Ryan Smith Towson, MD Matthew Barnhart Charlotte, NC Charles Herbert, Jr. Chandler, AZ Katrina Sorrell Raleigh, NC Kenneth Basehore Greenwood, SC Bret Herrala Roanoke, VA Clarence & Susan Sowers Riner, VA Jason Bates Charlotte, NC Nicholas Hienz Baltimore, MD Daniel Spracher Blacksburg, VA Stephanie Behling Adamstown, MD David Hobart, Jr. Blacksburg, VA Mike Stank Raleigh, NC Arthur Bell Chesterfield, VA Jeffrey Homan Manassas, VA Robert Steadman Richmond, VA Carl Benson, III Troutville, VA Daniel Horton, Jr. Mount Airy, NC David & Meredith Steinbraker Chester, VA Carissa Biddle Forest, VA Shawn Hoysradt Portsmouth, VA Cody Stepp Blacksburg, VA Mark Blanchard Troutville, VA Stuart Hoyt Springfield, VA Michael Stoakley Richmond, VA James Blasingame Yorktown, VA Pochang Hsu Cerritos, CA Miranda Sullivan Fairfax, VA Thomas Blaszak Blacksburg, VA John Hubble Richmond, VA Deborah Sweeny Durham, NC Chadwick Blythe Richmond, VA William Huber Blacksburg, VA Cassie Templeton Atlanta, GA Allen Booker Roanoke, VA Dwayne Huffman Luray, VA Paul Templeton Atlanta, GA Kenneth Boward Fishersville, VA Kevin & Jennifer Hughes Bristol, VA Eric Terry Magnolia, TX Robert Braig Williamsburg, VA Nelson Hungate, Jr. Hardy, VA Janis Thomas Raleigh, NC Lea Branson Richmond, VA Daniel Hurd Blacksburg, VA Clinton Thomas Fort Mill, SC Patrick Brogan Norfolk, VA Mike & Brooke Jackson Christiansburg, VA Katherine Thomasson Durham, NC David Bromberg Leesburg, VA Jennifer Jones Richmond, VA Brian Thrower Emporia, VA Robert Brose Maumee, OH Stephen Jones Huntersville, NC Jeffrey Tucker, Jr. Forest, VA Mark Bucciero Christiansburg, VA Kenneth Judd Frederick, MD Ronald Van Sise Southport, NC Cindy Bucy Riner, VA Daniel Kim Fairfax, VA James VanGilder, IV Blacksburg, VA Sandra Bullinger Chesapeake, VA Junseong Kim Blacksburg, VA Matthew Vepraskas Chantilly, VA Jo Ellen Butler Huntersville, NC Corey Kite Gore, VA Allison Vetter Alexandria, VA Charles Butler, Jr. Hopewell, VA Michael Klapmeyer Honolulu, HI Darin Wade Hoover, AL Jason Campbell Lynchburg, VA Catherine Kleemann Arlington, VA Vernon Wall Gretna, VA John Cecil Pikeville, KY Wallace Klein, III Salem, VA William Ward, Jr. Doswell, VA James & Susan Chapman Virginia Beach, VA Steve Kolev Colonial Heights, VA Les Watson Charlotte, NC George Cheshire Virginia Beach, VA Stephen Kovalsky Mendham, NJ Kristopher Watts Lynchburg, VA Jason Ciatteo Richmond, VA Mark Lasher High Point, NC Matthew Webb Roanoke, VA Ben Coffman Richmond, VA Evan Lau Sugar Land, TX Thomas Wiles, IV Chatham, VA John Courtney Halifax, VA Thomas Lavinder Marietta, GA Aaron Williams Williamsburg, VA John Cullen Keswick, VA Womack Lee Franklin, VA David Winfield Roanoke, VA Michael Daciek Severna Park, MD Wayne & Dorothy Leininger Blacksburg, VA Michael Woerner Kill Devil Hills, NC William Dalton Hurt, VA David Lewis Washington, NC Gary Wright Chesapeake, VA Brian Davenport Lynchburg, VA Andrew Lewter Odenville, AL Russ & Jennifer Yonce Ashland, VA Candice Davis Blacksburg, VA Clarence Lewter Murfreesboro, TN Xu Zhao Allen, TX Jeremy Davis Blacksburg, VA Marvin Lewter Fayetteville, TN Aroldo De Leon Venice, CA Tammy Lightner Kingsport, TN Upgrading members Linda Demler Washington Crossing, PA Sharyn Littleton Odenville, AL Mike Domecus Novato, CA Steve Litz Abingdon, VA James Agner Roanoke, VA Paul Dooley Roanoke, VA David Lively, Jr. Richmond, VA Randy Albert Bluefield, WV Ashley Dooley Charlotte, NC Steve Maddox Big Stone Gap, VA Jacob Alcauskas Arlington, VA Christopher Dougherty Louisville, OH John Maine Earlysville, VA Thomas Alexander Chantilly, VA Justin Dowell Southport, NC Thomas Marsh Falls Church, VA Richard Alley, Jr. Charlottesville, VA Kay Dunkley Stuart, VA Alison Martin Charlotte, NC Derek Altizer Christiansburg, VA James Dunn Stony Creek, VA Brandon