From Mar. 27-30, Virginia Tech competed in the 2024 NCAA men’s swimming and diving championships. The Hokies placed ninth with 172 points, which tied the highest finish in program history from a year ago. The men are leaving Indianapolis breaking six school records and with multiple All-America honors.
Head Coach Sergio Lopez Miro:
“The Men’s NCAA 2024 Championship has come to an end. We finished in ninth place, five points from eighth. We had five school records in relays and one school record for Youssef in the 50 backstroke. We scored 40 points more than we did last year in a very competitive field so overall I am very happy. The theme for us internally is to be consistent and create sustainable success. Within the last four years, we were 11th in the COVID year with not a lot of teams, 11th with all the teams, ninth last year and ninth this year. So, we are on a very good trajectory. The kids fought until the end and now we got to regroup and next year place higher. Thank you for all your support and go Hokies!”
Hollifield to Appy State
Former Virginia Tech offensive lineman Jack Hollifield has announced plans to where he will play after entering the transfer portal. Hollifield committed to Appalachian State.
McClure breaks ACC record
Virginia Tech’s Conner McClure set an all-time ACC record in the men’s pole vault clearing a height of 18’10.25″ (5.75m) on Saturday, March 30 at the 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
McClure, a native of Green, Ohio, cleared the record-breaking height on his first-attempt in the elite section, meeting the automatic standards for the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials in June. He opens the outdoor season ranked second in the NCAA, and first in the ACC.
Freshman Maddox Hamm won the men’s pole vault on Thursday clearing a personal-best height of 18′ 2.50″ (5.55m). Harrison Rice placed fourth in the event clearing 17’4.50″ (5.30m).
Hamm ranks second in the ACC (fourth in NCAA), followed by Rice in third.
Coal Cats new Appy team
Tri-State Baseball, the Appalachian League’s newest team, unveiled its new team name and logos, announcing that the organization will be known as the Tri-State Coal Cats.
The Coal Cats felt it was essential to appeal to the wide-ranging Tri-State area of Huntington, W.Va., Southern Ohio and Northeast Kentucky. The Coal Cats moniker is derived from the region’s rich and historic coal mines dating back to the 1800s. “Cats” helps create an alliterative wordplay that provides the new ballclub with a one-of-a-kind name that will soon be recognized nationwide.
In addition to unveiling their new name, the Coal Cats released their team logos. The Coal Cats’ primary roundel features the Coal Cat, location and mascot name, and baseball stitches. The Coal Cat mark is comprised of a rigid, rock-like texture to emulate a chunk of coal mined from the earth.
Salem Red Sox
The Salem Red Sox, the Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are excited to announce this season’s promotional schedule along with the launch of single game tickets.
Starting at just $14, Salem Red Sox single-game tickets are now available online or by calling (540) 389-3333. Seniors (65 years or older), military, and children (12 years and under) will receive a $2 discount. Season ticket packages are still available for purchase starting at just $144.
The Salem Red Sox will offer several promotional nights including fireworks, exciting giveaways and much more as the team enters their 16th season as a Boston Red Sox affiliate.
The Salem Red Sox game times are set for 7:05 p.m. Tuesday-Friday (Tuesday, April 16th will be a 6:05 p.m. game), 6:05 p.m. on Saturdays, and 3:05 p.m. on Sundays (Sunday, Sept 8 will .be a 1:05 p.m. game).
Thirsty Thursdays are back all season long and are sponsored by Bud Light and New Realm Brewing Company. Each Friday night contest includes post-game fireworks presented by GloFiber. Sundays will feature “Kids Run the Bases” after each game. Bark in the Park will return this season with 12 designated dates (4/7, 4/20, 5/2, 5/22, 6/4, 6/20, 6/29, 7/20, 7/23, 8/7, 8/22 and 9/7). Every weekend series will feature a player poster giveaway (excluding 4/5-4/7).
Staff Report
