By Marty Gordon
The Blacksburg ballet dancers were the guest performers at Monday’s Virginia Tech basketball game versus Minnesota. Paige Godwin is their dance director, and standing to the side she directed them as she normally would on a regular basis.
When they finished, she didn’t think twice when the Hokie bird brought her to mid-court and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. But what happened next caught her completely by surprise.
Godwin turned to find her boyfriend, Rob Guynn, down on one knee with a ring in his hand. She said yes in what was surely a first for a Hokie basketball game.
As the 2022 calendar year comes to a close, Virginia Tech Athletics will spend the month of December celebrating the Hokies’ standout achievements from the past 12 months in a campaign called “Moments of Excellence.”
The “Moments of Excellence” campaign will serve as a look back to the historic highlights and memorable accomplishments Virginia Tech Athletics celebrated during 2022. Each varsity sport program will have an outstanding moment featured during December on the official Virginia Tech Athletics website and @HokieSports social media properties.
This campaign ties back into Tech’s “Reach for Excellence” initiative, a $400 million fundraising campaign that impacts every sport and every future student-athlete at Virginia Tech and stands as part of the university’s wider $1.5 billion “Boundless Impact” campaign.
As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia Tech is poised to be a major force in college athletics. With the launch of “Reach for Excellence,” the athletics department is asking for support from all of Hokie Nation to fund scholarships, renovate and build facilities, bring additional assets to all sports, and, most importantly, to help provide the resources to continue making Virginia Tech student-athletes champions in every phase of life.
Victoria Haugen from the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I All-Atlantic second-team Tuesday.
“Dori is very deserving of this honor,” said head coach Chugger Adair. “She is somebody who puts in the work and effort. She had a wonderful year for our team, and I am proud of her effort and commitment to our group. On behalf of the entire program, we are very excited for Dori to have earned this award.”
Haugen earned second-team all-region honors after starting every match in the 2022 season, leading the team with 1,638 minutes of play. She was a vital part of the Hokies 1-0 shutout victory over #22 NC State as she held the Wolfpack to one shot on goal. Haugen also helped the Hokies win 2-0 over Wake Forest, blocking several of the Demon Deacons’ attempts to make it into the box. Haugen played the full 90 minutes in each match.
The Hokies claimed their third straight victory in the ACC after defeating No. 3 North Carolina 2-1. Haugen played 83 minutes in the match and held the Tar Heels to three shots on goal while Tech had four shots on goal. During the season, Haugen was recognized by the Atlantic Coast Conference by being named Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Virginia Tech basketball center Elizabeth Kitley is one of seven All-Americans named to the Wade Trophy Watch List. Kitley is the only player in America to average 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Her five double-doubles rank fourth nationally.
Now in its 46th year, the Wade Trophy is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. First awarded in 1978, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The Wade Watch list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division I All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list at midseason to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2022-23 season.