Hokie ClubBy Reyna Gilbert-Lowry
On Sept. 20, 2017, more than 90 winter and spring sport student-athletes and support area students (managers and trainers) were recognized at the annual Letter Jacket Legacy Ceremony held at Lane Stadium. The Virginia Tech Department of Athletics sponsored the event in conjunction with the Virginia Tech Monogram Club. For those unfamiliar with the Virginia Tech Monogram Club, it is a membership organization that seeks to honor, connect and recognize former and current letterwinners and their commitment to Virginia Tech Athletics.
Since 2015, the Virginia Tech Athletics Department has presented letter jackets to first-time Monogram winners from the winter, spring and fall sports at the department’s bi-annual Letter Jacket Ceremony. This new tradition has allowed first-year letterwinners to see firsthand the value that the department places on their commitment to athletics and also enhances their experience as member of the Virginia Tech Athletics community.
During the ceremony, letterwinners were presented with their letter jackets and acknowledged by their head coaches, with numerous members of the department administration in attendance. Former men's basketball standout and Monogram Club member Bimbo Coles also provided a keynote address for the evening.
After a record-setting career as a Hokie and lengthy career in the NBA, Coles revealed that some of his greatest sports moments were spent wearing maroon and orange.
"When I was in college, I was so focused on what I had to do with basketball," Coles said. He encouraged the group to take their blinders off and enjoy the journey.
As for what it means to become a member of the Monogram Club, Coles responded, "The stitching is made up of your blood, sweat and tears.”
In February, the department once again will sponsor the recognition ceremony for first-time letterwinners from fall sports, as well as cheerleaders, HighTechs and student workers in the department’s HokieVision office. This is just one of the many ways that the Virginia Tech Department of Athletics is committed to providing a first-class student-athlete experience.
The following received letter jackets:
Athletic Trainers
Will Ellson
Elizabeth Snyder
Josie Hyman
Marley Trone
Seyi Olusina
Rachel Harlow
Nikki Turner
Eric Behrmann
Claudia Altman
Margaret Wells
Jill Wise
Baseball
Dylan Hall
Keegan McGinnis
JD Mundy
Jake Rosen
Graham Seitz
Andrew Webb
Marcus White
Connor Yoder
Lacrosse
Sydney Gagnon
Mary Clare McCarthy
Abby Wilson
Kendall Welch
Payton Beach
Taylor Caskey
Kara Reichert
Hannah Kurisky
Isabel Obregon
Marissa Davey
Men’s Basketball
Khadim Sy
Ty Outlaw
Men’s Golf
Sarit Suwannarut
Mark Lawrence Jr.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Hassler Carroll
Chris Outlaw
Men’s Tennis
Henrik Korsgaard
Alex Ribeiro
Feliksas Sakalauskas
Abraham Asaba
Men’s Track and Field
Brandon Thomas
Matthew Baker
Kevin Cianfarini
Greg Chiles
Michael Davenport
Matthew Reinhart
Fitsum Seyoum
Softball
Taylor Barnes
Taylor Clark
Carrie Eberle
Hannah Jones
Alyssa Clarke (manager)
Jordan Nichols (manager)
Women’s Basketball
Kaela Kinder
Kendyl Brooks
Diandra DaRosa
Women’s Golf
Jessica Spicer
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Jenna Beattie
Baillee Cameron
Miranda Eberle
Reka Gyorgy
Chloe Hicks
Grace Kowal
Eleanor Matheson
Leah Rogers
Margarita Ryan
M.J. Ulrich
Women’s Tennis
Fallon Delp
Luisa Uscocovich
Natalie Novotna
Shene Disbergen
McKenzie Collins
Nancy Ghanem
Women’s Track and Field
Laurie Barton
Arlicia Bush
Eszter Bajnok
Emma Thor
Kajsa Wennberg