Hokie ClubASHLAND, Va. – Honored for their outstanding academic achievement during the scholastic year, six Virginia Tech student-athletes have been recognized on the 2023-24 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Academic All-State Team, as announced by the organization on Thursday.
Lindsey Butler (women’s track & field), Becca DiNunzio (women’s golf), Ryan Fishback (men’s tennis), Elizabeth Kitley (women’s basketball), Emma Ritter (softball) and Ben Watson (baseball) represented the Hokies on the merit of their pairing exceptional athletic performances with GPAs of 3.25 or higher.
Across the Commonwealth of Virginia, VaSID celebrated 216 student-athletes from 36 institutions across all NCAA levels of competition. VaSID all-state teams are voted on, chosen and presented by the state's assembly of sports information directors.
Lindsey Butler | Gr. | Corning, N.Y. | Women’s Track & Field
Lindsey Butler – pursuing her degree in information technology – finished seventh in the 1500m (4:09.85) at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning her fifth career All-American First Team honor. The 2024 ACC 800m indoor champion (2:03.86) also placed seventh nationally in the same event at the 2024 NCAA indoor meet (2:02.39).
Butler set three Virginia Tech records during the 2023-24 athletic year, as highlighted by her times in the indoor 1000m (2:40.00), distance medley relay (10:52.51) and outdoor 1500m (4:07.96). Additionally, she garnered three ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Week awards.
Becca DiNunzio | Gr. | Norfolk, Va. | Women’s Golf
Becca DiNunzio – pursuing her degree in clinical neuroscience – charted eight par-or-better rounds with the Hokies en route to achieving the team’s fourth best scoring average (74.1) spanning 10 events.
DiNunzio tied for 17th at the 2024 Valspar Augusta Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, behind her even-par 216 (74-74-68) - her 4-under 68 there marking her best round of the season.
Ryan Fishback | Sr. | Geneva, N.Y. | Men’s Tennis
Ryan Fishback graduated from Virginia Tech in May with his degree in biochemistry. The four-time ACC Academic Team honoree garnered 2024 All-ACC Third Team recognition after reaching as high as No. 56 in the ITA singles rankings.
To cap his career, Fishback was named this year’s recipient of the Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award – the ITA’s longest-running award honoring the life and legacy of the person many would call the greatest collegiate tennis player of all time.
Elizabeth Kitley | Gr. | Summerfield, N.C. | Women’s Basketball
Elizabeth Kitley – pursuing her degree in curriculum and instruction – guided the Hokies to the program’s first ACC regular season title, leading the conference in scoring and rebounding en route to collecting her third consecutive ACC Player of the Year trophy. In addition, she earned All-ACC First Team honors for the fourth time, All-Defensive Team accolades for the third time and was the Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year for the third time.
Following the 2023-24 season, Virginia Tech Athletics announced Kitley’s jersey would be retired, marking the program’s first such legendary honor to be made during the 21st century. She was also selected during the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces.
Emma Ritter | Sr. | Perryville, Md. | Softball
Emma Ritter – pursuing her degree in agribusiness – earned 2024 NFCA Division I All-American status after leading the Hokies with her .432 batting average and 82 hits. She was one of ACC seven players who hit above .400 during the 2024 campaign, ranking 15th among NCAA Division I batters.
Chosen to the 2024 All-ACC First Team, Ritter knocked 11 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs for a .732 slugging percentage, recording 26 stolen bases on 29 attempts. The Hokies’ leadoff batter and center fielder posted a perfect fielding percentage and was a finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
Ben Watson | Gr. | West Chester, Pa. | Baseball
Ben Watson – pursuing his degree in building construction science and management – won Virginia Tech’s first ACC batting championship (.419), ranking fourth nationally among NCAA Division I players. The 2024 NCBWA All-America Third Team selection set the Hokies’ single-season record for hits (93), achieving distinct hitting streaks of 18 and 15 games.
Watson hailed on the 2024 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Atlantic All-Region Second Team, finishing the season with 21 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 51 runs scored and 48 RBIs. Tech’s outfield sensation also placed onto the 2024 All-ACC Second Team.
ABOUT VaSID
Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) names 44 all-state teams in 23 sports each year as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the state of Virginia.