As we turn the final chapter of the 2022-23 sports year at Virginia Tech, we know we experienced one of the most remarkable years in Hokies' history. From Tech's first-ever national champion in swimming and diving, to the school's first-ever appearance in the basketball Final Four, to unprecedented individual awards, this was a pretty special year for Tech athletes and fans alike. And their success gets us even more excited for what's to come starting this fall.
Personally, a return to the Hokies' football radio booth to reunite with Mike Burnop on our Tech broadcasts was as special and memorable as I could've hoped. The win total in football wasn't what anyone expected or wanted, but we know what's building in this program and we'll see the on-field results soon enough.
In reflecting on this past sports season, every day was personally unique. Whether it was interacting with our many athletes in our Sports Media & Analytics program or on our various podcasts or interviews, it's impossible to not be impressed with their passion and drive. Ya know, these young women and men work so hard to compete in practice in the classroom. They don't really concern themselves with NIL legislation, conference affiliation, television revenues or CFP access. They love their teammates and they love their school. Most of all, they love to compete which is, in essence, why we are all here. So to pick a singular game, or event or moment of this past season that stands-out to me is a futile effort personally. I'm having a blast being around our athletes – and all our Tech students – watching them grow. They're an inspiring group!
But here are a few observations as we wind-down 2022-23.
Moment of the Year I: In Chapel Hill in February, Elizabeth Kitley hit a buzzer-beater as time expired to lead the Hokies to a 61-59 win. There were other big moments for this team during the season, but that moment, and the reaction of Kitley's father in the stands will always be a special moment from this past season.
Moment of the Year II: This is an odd one for many, but in November on a cold, rainy, foggy day, over 62,000 fans jammed into Lane Stadium to see the Hokies (2-6) face Georgia Tech (3-5.) As you recall, the student section was packed an hour before kickoff in a driving rain, and that the atmosphere that day was as if the Hokies were unbeaten. The fact that Virginia Tech fans will pack Lane Stadium to see a pair of struggling teams in miserable weather speaks to the passion of Tech fans.
He is INCREDIBLE! Youssef Ramadan became the first-ever Swimming & Diving national champion for the Hokies after recording the second fastest 100 fly time in NCAA history. Ramadan earned five All-American awards and was named ACC Men's MVP at the conference meet for the second year in a row.
So is Liz! Women's basketball star Elizabeth Kitley repeated as the ACC Player of the Year and Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year Award winner after the 2022-2023 season. Kitley was named first team All-ACC for the third straight year. Kitley is already the program's all-time leader in points, blocks, double-doubles, and field goals made.
The Fun Run: Virginia Tech won the ACC Tournament, beating Miami in the quarterfinal round and defeating Duke in the semifinal and then Louisville in the championship game. The Hokies earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament advancing to the Final Four.
The Big Splash: Tech's Men's Swimming and Diving finished ninth out of 51 teams at the NCAA national Championships. That's the programs highest finish ever.
As we look ahead to 2023-24, we know many of Tech's star athletes are back. Some teams, like Women's Basketball will be strong ACC title contenders again.
As for football, we'll have plenty of team to preview the '24 Hokies and project how they might do before the season begins. As we saw in the spring, this team clearly has more playmaking ability than last year's and vastly more speed on offense. How that translates to wins is up to the players in that locker room, and we'll share their stories with you over the summer on our podcasts and pre-season previews.
Speaking of podcasts, I hope you had the chance to hear Evan Hughes' visit with James Johnson, the Hokies' new Director of High School Relations. JJ's love and affinity towards Virginia Tech is a wonderful story, and I'm so pleased he's officially back in the Hokie's family. In his visit with Evan, JJ recounts his very first day as a Tech employee (April 16, 2007) and how that tragic day on our campus helped forge his love the university. Here's the link: https://hokiesports.com/podcasts/hokie-sports-insider-episode-2-33/201
We're already planning our Virginia Tech programming for the upcoming football season which will include an expanded pre-game show. Our network-wide coverage will now begin a full two-hours prior to kickoff, making it the longest and most complete pre-game show we've ever done at Virginia Tech. Tech's passionate fan base, sponsorship interest, and the myriad of stories we have to share about Tech athletes and coaches on a weekly basis makes this all possible. We are all looking forward to the season opener at Lane Stadium against ODU on September 2.
Until then, have a wonderful summer and I look forward to visiting with you sometime this summer.
Go Hokies!
