Marty Gordon
Virginia Tech defensive lineman, Antwaun Powell-Ryland has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award as announced by the Walter Camp Football Foundation Wednesday.
Powell-Ryland (6-3, 252) was also named a semifinalist for both the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award in the last week. The redshirt senior currently co-leads the NCAA FBS in sacks with 13 on the season. He has had two games this year and a total of three in his career with four or more sacks, breaking Bruce Smith’s record for most career four-sack games by a Hokie.
APR has 37 total tackles, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, as well as a blocked kick this season.
River Turtles open June 5
A new season of Pulaski River Turtles baseball is slated to begin Thursday, June 5 at Calfee Park against the Kingsport Axmen. The Opening Night date marks the first time since 2022 that the Appalachian League season will begin at home in Pulaski.
Released today, the 2025 Pulaski River Turtles schedule includes 24 home games, with 13 home games in June and 11 home games in July, with the regular season finale scheduled for Wednesday, July 30. In total, the 2025 schedule boasts 48 dates. All home games will begin at 7 p.m. with the exception of Sunday contests, which will feature first pitch at 5:30 p.m.
A collection of promotional nights will accentuate the action-packed schedule, headlined by the return of Agriculture Night, Saddle-Up Sunday and Circus Night.
Duke kickoff set for 8 p.m.
Virginia Tech’s road game against Duke will kick off at 8 p.m. Nov. 23 and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
Both the Hokies (5-5, 3-3 ACC) and Blue Devils (7-3, 3-3) are taking open weeks before the matchup at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Tech is playing Duke for the second time in Brent Pry’s tenure. The Blue Devils claimed a 24-7 home victory on Nov. 12, 2022.
Interim tag removed for Hunter
Emory & Henry University has announced that Quintin Hunter has been named Head Football Coach. Hunter has served as interim head coach since July 30.
Hunter is in his eighth season on staff at Emory & Henry and is in the third year of his second stint with the Wasps. As interim head coach, he has guided Emory & Henry to an 8-2 record with one game yet to be played this season. It is the first winning season for E&H since joining the South Atlantic Conference in 2022 as the Wasps finished second in the SAC Mountain Division with a 6-2 league record, posting marquee wins over No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne and No. 17 Carson-Newman.
Hokies golf adds recruits
Virginia Tech men’s golf head coach Brian Sharp announced the signing of Aiden Patel and Ben Baker to the Hokies’ Class of 2025 Wednesday. Patel and Baker, both Virginia standouts, will enroll at Tech next summer. Their stats include:
Aiden Patel
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Rock Ridge High School … First-team all-state in 2024 … Captain of the golf team (2022-24) … Individual district champion in 2024 … Individual region champion in 2024 … Medalist in all nine matches as a senior … Broke the nine-hole school record (31) and average (32.4) as a senior … Chose Virginia Tech over Maryland, Navy, Colorado State, Rutgers and Notre Dame.
Junior/Amateur: One AJGA top-five finish and two top-10 finishes in 2024 … Two AJGA top-five finishes and one top-10 finish in 2023 … Ranked No. 167 nationally and No. 4 in Virginia for the class of 2025 by the AJGA.
Ben Baker
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Briar Woods High School … Two-time individual Class 5A state champion in 2023 and 2024 … First-team all-state (2022-23) … Averaged 33.6 on nine holes and 68.5 on 18 holes … Chose Virginia Tech over George Mason and Navy.
Junior/Amateur: 2024 TYGA Mid Pines Junior champion … Won two AJGA tournaments in 2024 … Fired rounds of 71-69-69 to win the Nemacolin Junior Championship … Followed that performance one week later with rounds of 72-71-74 to capture the AM Technical Solutions Junior at Southpointe … Two AJGA top-five finishes in 2024 … Five TJGT top-five finishes from November 2023 to June 2024 … Finished third at 2024 VSGA Junior Stroke Play at 1-under 215 (73-70-72) … Ranked No. 35 nationally and No. 3 in Virginia for the class of 2025 by the AJGA.
Top ranked golfer to Tech
Virginia Tech women’s golf head coach Carol Robertson announced Wednesday the signing of Yao Wang to her Class of 2025. Wang, the top-ranked junior golfer in Malaysia, will join the Hokies next summer.
Junior/Amateur: Top-ranked junior in Malaysia for the class of 2025 … Champion of the Perak Amateur Open … Champion of the 2023 Johor Amateur Open … Overall champion of the 2023 Malaysia School Sport Council … Runner-up of the 30th Selangor Amateur Open … Runner-up of the 2023 Seri Selangor International Junior Championship … Runner-up of the Sukan Malaysia XIX … Finished fourth at the 2023 Malaysian Amateur Open … Finished fourth at the 2023 Singha World Thailand Junior Championship … Chose Virginia Tech over Santa Clara and UTEP.