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October 31, 2023
NEWS
PAGE 2 October 31, 2023
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STUDENTS PROTEST MOUNTAIN VALLEY PIPELINE, USE OF FOSSIL FUELS ON CAMPUS JANE PARK | news EDItor
Protesters feel the university hasn’t been entirely faithful to its Climate Action Commitment. On Tuesday, Oct. 24, a group of students held a climate rally in front of Burruss Hall against the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the Appalachian region to pressure the university to stick to its 2020 Climate Action Commitment. The protest was planned by a team of students and was not affiliated with any Virginia Tech organization. According to rally organizer Cameron Baller, a doctoral student in sociology, the students had two main goals. “One (goal) was to educate the campus community about the Mountain Valley Pipeline and plug folks into the fight against that pipeline,” Baller said. “The second goal was that we wanted to hold the university accountable to the climate commitments it has already made.” The Mountain Valley Pipeline is a 303-mile natural gas pipeline that stretches across parts of Virginia and West Virginia, including Montgomery County. It is planned to cross 16 counties, thousands of streams and other bodies of water, the Jefferson National Forest and the Appalachian Trail. It is currently under construction, which is projected by developer Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC to finish in early 2024. Supporters of the pipeline say it will allow people in the region to more easily access natural gas and ensure that it is more affordable. However, the protesters feel that it is an environmental and community hazard. “There are hundreds if not thousands of homes and people living in an area where if there’s a leak or an explosion, which is likely from a leak, we’re going to see lots of people potentially at risk of dying,” Baller said. “(And) the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is a water contamination risk. Beyond the threats to local wildlife and to local people who are in the path of the pipeline, there are also serious
climate risks to this pipeline. It would expand our capacity to transport fracked (natural) gas across the country, and that to me is a major climate risk.” Leanne Woolsey, a third-year environmental science student who joined the protest, feels similarly. She believes that the risks associated with the pipeline make it necessary for people in the community to turn to activism to stop its construction. “It has all these risks, like weathering, and it’s being built on unstable (mountain) topography, and it could degrade water quality and put wildlife at risk,” Woolsey said. “It has all these community impacts like pollution, land quality (degradation) and environmental justice. So there’s a reason that there’s a whole movement against it; people don’t want this pipeline in their backyard.” In order to get the word out to the Virginia Tech community, many of whom are not from the Southwest Virginia area, the protesters passed out pamphlets. “We felt like there were a lot of students on campus who live relatively close to the Mountain Valley Pipeline because it goes through Montgomery County, and they don’t know about it,” Baller said. In the future, Virginia Tech plans to switch from steam plant fuel to natural gas. According to the Climate Action Plan, this should happen by 2025. This natural gas would come from the Mountain Valley Pipeline, connecting the protesters’ two focuses. “That’s something that we don’t support,” Baller said. “We, as a group of students that organize this rally, we’re against the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and we’re also against the university slacking on its obligations. And the university using gas from the Mountain Valley Pipeline is kind of an intersection of those two
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goals.” The group is concerned that the university is behind on its plan, which requires switching from natural gas to “renewable steam-plant fuel” after 2025. Baller believes that the progress over the last three years since the introduction of the action commitment is not enough. “We think that the Climate Action Commitment is pretty ambitious,” Baller said. “We like a lot of what’s in there. But we are worried and concerned that the university is not following through with its Climate Action Commitment, and we’d like to hold it accountable. We’d like the university to know that there are students and faculty and community members who are watching and will not let the university go back on those promises.” Baller and the other protesters do not agree with the university’s decision to prioritize the use of natural gas for energy. “We know that natural gas is not a clean energy (source),” Baller said. “It is not a bridge fuel, and it is not something that we want to play a major role in the university’s energy future.” Woolsey also feels that the university is behind on its goals. While there are still years to go until 2030, the year Virginia Tech is planned
to achieve carbon neutrality under the Climate Action Commitment, non-renewable energy sources still make up most of the university’s consumption. “It can’t be up to one student, or even all the students,” Woolsey said. “The university has to be with us on it, and it doesn’t feel like they are.” She feels that the rally is a way of making sure that the university sticks to its plans and achieves them on schedule. Student activism played a role in prompting the Climate Action Commitment in the first place, as protests in 2019 demanded some of the goals, such as 100% carbon neutrality by 2030, that ended up in the commitment. “The students are the reason why we even have the Climate Action Commitment because they went together and had huge protests in 2019,” Woolsey said. “That’s what made (Virginia Tech establish the commitment). It’s the action of the students that gets the university to listen and make decisions.”
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OPINIONS collegiatetimes.com
October 31, 2023 PAGE 3
To go out or stay in is the question college students find themselves asking every Halloween season. For students looking to have fun without the stress of going out this spooky season, staying in is the perfect opportunity to do whatever your little vampire heart desires from the comfort of your own home. While staying in has its benefits, going out is a fun way to experience the thrills of the most haunting night of the year. Whatever you decide, may you have a Halloween filled with tricks, treats and piles of candy. Happy Halloween, Hokies! -Olivia Nelson and Alyssa Nazigian, opinions editors
HAPPY HAUNTS CAN BE HAD FROM HOME
GOING OUT IS THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT
Watching movies and baking treats make staying in for Halloween a scarily good time.
Going out brings communities together and livens up the ghostly holiday.
Sarah Leberknight | opinions columnist
Halloween is often seen as a “going out” kind of holiday — costumed kids run around their neighborhoods trick-or-treating while teenagers and adults attend spooky parties. A survey conducted by Statista shows 73% of American adults, college students included, are planning to partake in the haunting holiday’s festivities this year. More often than not, Halloween for college students is just a party with a theme and an excuse to wear costumes to go out during the week. However, just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean you have to go out, and we have to recognize that everyone has their own idea of fun. You can have all the frights and delights of Halloween from the comfort of your dorm room or apartment without the hassle of a night out on the town. There is so much eerie entertainment that can be had at home, with friends or alone. Grab some pumpkins and tools and spend the night carving “boo-tiful” designs into — or taking your frustrations out on — pumpkins. If you’re not into that kind of manual labor or simply uninterested in touching pumpkin guts, there’s a plethora of Halloween-inspired recipes on the internet that can be whipped up. Candy apples, creepy cocktails, mummy hotdogs — there’s savory and sweet and everything in between for your Halloween night in. And if you really want to be effortless or don’t have a kitchen accessible to you, buy a couple bags of
candy and have an absolute feast. No one is stopping you. Doing Halloween in the comfort of your own home means celebrating Halloween in whatever way makes you happy. When you go out, you give up the ability to control how your night goes. Having a good time is not guaranteed because there are outside factors in play that might disrupt your perfect Halloween night. By staying in, you maintain full control over your night — ensuring it goes exactly as planned. You can do the activities you want to do without interference, leading to a perfect Halloween night that you simply can’t get when going out. Spencer Kearns, a sophomore majoring in chemistry, sees the value in having a Halloween night in. “There are many benefits to staying in on Halloween as compared to going out. Firstly this can include safety; it can get crazy out there. There is also the point of fun. Many of the classic Halloween activities can only be experienced at home,” Kearns said. “To be completely honest, the cold is another factor. Why brace the cold in your costume when you can have the same fun in the warmth of your own home with friends and family alike?” Visual entertainment is another key continued on page 4
Catherine Cuneo | opinions columnist
In the United States, Halloween has always been extremely popular since its introduction in the 1840s, according to Reuters. Kids and adults alike anticipate the season for all its joys. Unlike other holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, Halloween encourages more people to go out. Even as a kid, staying in on Halloween night was unheard of. It was the one night of the year where you and your friends could get dressed up as your favorite characters and go out collecting candy. For many, this notion does not change. Attending parties, haunted houses and other fun activities are what keeps the undead holiday alive. For years, Halloween has been celebrated in a communal setting. According to the Library of Congress, Halloween originally began as a Celtic tradition to mark the start of the harvest season. People would dress up and gather together at a bonfire in order to scare away spirits. Though the holiday has evolved, the founding sense of community has not changed. The mix of excitement and fear that this spooky time of year brings encourages people to surround themselves with friends and others experiencing all the same feelings. Throughout the entire month of October, there are tons of Halloweenthemed events. These are a great way to get into the spirit of the season and meet new people. Though staying in and watching a
scary movie sounds appealing, having a night in can be done at any time; dancing the night away dressed up in costumes with friends occurs for one night only. In a college town, Halloween parties and events are everywhere. In Blacksburg, there is plenty to do. For those who enjoy the frights of the season, haunted attractions such as St. Albans Sanatorium or the Dark Woods are a great place to do just that. Another great way to experience the scary atmosphere is by going to see a horror movie in theaters. Places like the Lyric and Starlite Drive-In show scary movies all through October. If haunted houses or scary movies aren’t your cup of tea, going to a party or bar with friends will allow you to experience the season just the same. At any of the bars in Blacksburg, people will be sure to be dressed up and dancing. Grab some friends, put on a costume and head downtown for an electrifying night. A huge part of what makes going out for Halloween so memorable is the costumes. Sure, you don’t have to leave the house to wear a costume, but walking around and seeing what everyone is wearing adds another level of entertainment that a normal night would usually lack. Each night is different too; many people who go out will have multiple costumes for different days of the weekend. continued on page 4
PAGE 4 October 31, 2023
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continued from page 3 component of a Halloween night in. There is an enormous amount of Halloween and horror movies to choose from. You can go with cultclassic slashers like “Halloween” and “Scream” or horror movies such as “The Conjuring” or “The Amityville Horror.” Or perhaps scary isn’t your jam — then “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “Hocus Pocus” will make great picks to settle in with on the spookiest night of the year. Plus, tons of TV shows have Halloween specials if that’s more up your alley. Halloween is practically built for a night-in format with all the entertainment options on hand — couple that with some activities or treats, and you’ve got yourself a pumpkin-smashing good time. “Halloween movies are a must for me. A personal favorite of mine is ‘Hocus Pocus,’ a classic, and it never gets old. Scary/horror movies are also a staple, you can’t have Halloween without a little scare factor,” Kearns said. At the end of the day, don’t let people tell you that you’re missing out on all the fun by staying in. Most of the events and traditions that people do when going out can be done at home, too. Take costumes, for example. Costumes are a huge part of Halloween, worn for parties and going out. Just because you aren’t going to a party doesn’t
mean you can’t get decked out in a costume. Want to buy or make a costume and wear it on Halloween? Go right ahead — no one is stopping you from dressing up and doing that photo shoot. After snapping those festive photos, plop down on the couch, grab some snacks and settle in for your stay-in Halloween. Spend the night with friends, put up decorations and play games — the possibilities when staying in are endless. It is possible to have plenty of fun on Halloween without going out, and can save you a whole lot of hassle. After all, Halloween is on a Tuesday this year, meaning there are still classes on Wednesday and probably deadlines to meet. Why bother going out on the town when there is so much to do from the safety and comfort of home? Halloween doesn’t have to be about going out, and you don’t have to fall prey to the peer pressure of going to Halloween parties. Plus, if you’re just having a Halloween night to yourself, you don’t have to share your candy. So, ditch the fuss of going out on the town and settle down with treats, movies, and whatever activities you want for a happy and haunting night in.
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Sydney Thomas, a sophomore studying human development, shared her costumes for this Halloween. “My roommate and I have a duo costume as Serena and Blair from ‘Gossip Girl,’” Thomas said. “I also have a trio with my roommate and my other friend where we’re gonna be Princess Peach, Yoshi and Toad from Mario Kart.” Picking someone or something to dress up as encourages people to be creative and collaborate with friends. Whether it’s a solo or group costume, dressing up is something that people are known to enjoy. Seeing everyone’s costumes is also representative of what was popular during the year. “I feel like Halloween costumes are a great representation of pop-culture, to see what people are loving that year,” Thomas said. It’s interesting to see how many people dress up as a certain person or thing. This year, popular costumes may be Barbie and Ken or even Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Though there are always super creative costumes every year, don’t let a lack of creativity discourage you from going out. There are many timeless costumes that are easy to put together without having to order
or buy anything. No matter what, there is no right or wrong way to dress up; part of what makes the night so fun is seeing everyone’s interpretations of their costume. Halloween reflects what people deem popular and presents it in an interactive way. In its essence, Halloween is centered around the community. There is no better way to experience the Halloween spirit than getting out of the house. As the month comes to an end, make sure not to miss out on all of the thrilling opportunities. Go to that party, see that movie and get scared! No matter what you enjoy, don’t stay locked inside this year. Trick or treat yourself to a fun night out.
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LIFESTYLES
STILL “FALL”ING FOR AUTUMN: SEASONAL ACTIVITIES CONTINUE THOUGH NOVEMBER Emma Duncan | lifestyles contributor
Explore the fun-filled fall events that are happening this season in the New River Valley. While most of spooky season’s special events have come to pass, fall is far from over, with plenty of fun festivities still in store for Hokies hoping to embrace all the season has to offer. Southwest Virginia hosts events and has natural beauty for students to enjoy with family, friends or by themselves. Haunted Houses For those who haven’t already been to a haunted house, or want to relive the thrill for another night, Terror Manor in Roanoke is open until Nov. 4. Tickets are $25 for general admission and can be purchased on their website. Terror Manor also hosts a black-out house walk-through and a Christmas event called “Santa’s Christmas Slaying” for even more fright. Farms, Orchards and Pumpkin Patches Visiting farms, orchards and patches is
another fall tradition many use to celebrate the season, and Southwest Virginia has plenty of options for Hokies to visit with friends or family. For the beloved pumpkin patch experience, Layman Family Farms and Jeter Farm are closer to Roanoke and Bedford, while Williams Farm can be found in Wytheville. For a closer option, Sinkland Farms is located right in Montgomery County. All of these farms host fall festivals with food, activities such as corn mazes and hayrides, opportunities to pet farm animals, and of course, fields full of homegrown pumpkins. Williams Farm also operates as an apple orchard and is still selling apples while most other orchards in the area have already closed for the season. These attractions close on or around Nov. 4, and ticket prices vary.
DAK Lights While light shows are typically associated with Christmas time, DAK Lights in Pulaski County’s Randolph Park lights up the night during Halloween, Christmas and even Valentine’s Day. This free event shines bright all night long for spectators to drive by as they please. The Halloween show runs until Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. but will reopen for Christmas on Nov. 23. While most light displays have a radio station for viewers to tune to during the show, DAK Lights’s display coordinates with whatever song is playing by dimming, glowing brighter or moving in a specific pattern, giving visitors a unique experience to hear their favorite seasonal songs in a new way. The full queue of music for each night can be found on their website.
Explore Southwest Virginia From Floyd, Roanoke and Franklin County to Pearisburg and Christiansburg, Southwest Virginia brings ample opportunity for going outside and witnessing the change of season firsthand, all within an hour and a half from campus. The town of Floyd and downtown Rocky Mount are quaint country towns with aesthetic buildings and plenty of coffee shops, mercantile and decor that’ll let anyone feel like they’re living in Stars Hollow from “Gilmore Girls,” a classic fall show. Even a simple Sunday drive in this region along the Blue Ridge Parkway or to Smith Mountain Lake and the Cascades can bring students joy as the landscape changes from its bright, summery green to comforting autumnal colors. continued on page 5
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October 31, 2023 PAGE 5
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continued from page 4 Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg While it seems a bit cliché to suggest, some students underestimate the beauty of Virginia Tech’s campus during the fall. I visited the Duck Pond a few days ago and have found that fall is when this serene place
truly shines. The ducks spend their time floating and frolicking as the fallen leaves slowly but surely fill the walkways. Walking across the Drillfield, the red, orange and yellow foliage perfectly complement the Hokie Stone of Burruss Hall and surrounding buildings. In the residence halls, many student leaders hold
Halloween-themed events such as trick-ortreating, movie nights and pumpkin painting for their residents to take part in. The town of Blacksburg is also a great way to get outside and enjoy the weather without spending much money, with the farmers market still happening every Wednesday and Saturday.
For more activities and information about attractions and events close to campus, visit the New River Valley’s website.
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SPOOKY HALLOWEEN MOVIES TO WATCH THIS OCTOBER Collegiate Times lifestyles staff
The lifestyles staff share their favorite movies to watch during the holiday season. With Halloween upon us, the lifestyles section staff has come together to give you their favorite movies to watch during the spooky season! Emanda Seifu, lifestyles section editor If you’re looking to enjoy some scares and laughs with friends this weekend, look no further. As someone who generally is not the biggest fan of horror movies, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the classic “Scream” movies during a movie night with some friends. With six movies under its belt and a seventh on the way, the “Scream” franchise has come to be known as an iconic and beloved slasher series with a touch of humor. The murder mystery in each movie will have you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out who Ghostface is. Whether you are watching the movies in a theater or at home, “Scream” is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit. Emelia Delaporte, lifestyles assistant editor Disney’s cult classic “Hocus Pocus” is my favorite Halloween movie. While perhaps not designed exactly for our college-age demographic, this movie has stuck with me and many of my peers since we were kids. This fantasy-comedy is family-friendly and reliable for bringing a laugh. The catchy soundtrack invites silly sing-alongs and an entertaining watch. This year is its 30th anniversary and it will be shown in some theaters. Once you’ve watched the first movie, you can try watching the sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2.” “Hocus Pocus” can be streamed on Disney+ and Hulu, or purchased on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and more.
Michaela Scott, lifestyles assistant editor My favorite movie during this time of year has to be “Halloweentown.” This 90s film is a Disney Channel Original Movie that takes place in another dimension where monsters, skeletons, goblins, and all sorts of creatures can live in peace away from the world that humans know. In the beginning, the main character, Marnie, realizes that she is a witch, recognizes her heritage in the spooky town, and brings her family along for the adventure. One reason why this is such a classic film is because there are four movies in the series to binge-watch. I must admit that I have not watched the fourth movie because Marnie was recast, however, the first three are worth the watch. In the first two movies, Marnie’s family fights evil forces that attempt to destroy the town and the dimension. In the third, Marnie brings the teenagers of Halloween to her high school to try to integrate them into human life. If you are looking for a relaxing way to spend your evening, the Halloweentown series is available on Disney+, Hulu or purchased on YouTube and Vudu. David Vu, lifestyles writer If you are interested in delving into a newer horror franchise, then you should check out Ti West’s newest movies “X” and “Pearl.” Coming from the legendary film studio A24, these two movies came out last year in 2022 after secretly being filmed back-to-back and were a major hit with both the box office and horror fans. Classified as “slasher” films, these movies stand out from the usual blood and gore by having deeper thematic undertones of sexuality and youthfulness in “X” and being more of a character study on the
eponymous villain of “Pearl.” The movies have killer performances from prominent scream queen actresses of the modern era with both Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega starring in them. With a third movie in development now and expected to release in 2024, now would be the perfect time to get into these movies and get into the mood for Halloween. Emma Duncan, lifestyles contributor Although another holiday is mentioned in the title, “ The Nightmare Before Christmas” is my favorite movie to watch around Halloween. I’ve never been able to sit through a horror film, so this dark fantasy musical does just the trick to put me in a spooky spirit. Written by Tim Burton, the 1993 stop-motion film takes place in Halloween Town where Jack Skellington rules as the Pumpkin King. After unexpectedly stumbling across Christmas Town, he decides some changes need to be made to the jolly December holiday. Unlike horror films, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a movie for all ages, and has been with me my entire life. As a young girl, I couldn’t sit through any scene involving Oogie Boogie, but now I sing along to every word of his song. Come Christmas time, I’ll be sure to watch this classic once again on Disney+, as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” makes my dream for a transitional holiday movie come true. Kyle Reeder, lifestyles contributor No matter how old I am, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” will forever hold a special place in my heart as one of the best go-to Halloween classics. The nostalgic 1959 cartoon became an annual October tradition for my family, as we would snack on popcorn, snuggle up
with blankets and giggle as we watched “The Peanuts” take on Halloween. From bobbing for apples at Violet’s Halloween party to trick-or-treating in a bedsheet ghost costume, every aspect of this special feature perfectly reflects the spooky holiday. Despite the modernization of cinema, this family-friendly production remains a vintage throwback that kindles humbleness and brings a flattering sense of humorous spook and joy. This year, Charlie Brown and Snoopy can be streamed through Apple TV+ or YouTube. No matter what your Halloween plans are, these movies are classics that you can enjoy with your friends as we finish up celebrating this chilling holiday season.
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SPORTS
PAGE 6 October 31, 2023
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MARRIAGE OF NEW ADDITIONS AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT LOOM LARGE FOR HOKIES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thomas Bray | sports editor
The Hokies brought in three players from the transfer portal. After a magical run to the Final Four last season, Kenny Brooks will enter his eighth season with potentially nine new players in the rotation. Coach Brooks has lauded the leadership that the returning core of Elizabeth Kitley, Georgia Amoore and Cayla King have provided this offseason. The trio has logged over 10,000 minutes under Brooks during their illustrious careers in Blacksburg. Combine that with the 6,000 points they have accounted for, and you have a core that has and should continue to be among the best in basketball. “They’re like little assistant coaches to me,” Brooks said. “The way that they can go and pull some of the younger, inexperienced players helps me out a lot.” Virginia Tech’s backcour t behind Amoore is where the bulk of the youth lies. The veteran point guard is Virginia Tech’s
all-time assist leader and should serve as an excellent mentor. After redshirting last season, Carleigh Wenzel will look to hit the ground running as one of the first players off the bench. Wenzel was a top 50 player in the 2022 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Samyha Suffren, Mackenzie Nelson and Gabby Brooks round out the guards who haven’t stepped on the court for the Hokies in an official capacity yet. Brooks is the daughter of head coach Kenny Brooks, and she played high school basketball for the Blacksburg Bruins. The Hokies hit the transfer portal over the offseason after the departure of Taylor Soule and Kayana Traylor. Soule’s defensive versatility and Traylor’s scoring were a big part of Virginia Tech’s success last season. Michigan State transfer Matilda Ekh is a sharpshooter who connected on 138
three-pointers in her two seasons in East Lansing. Ekh’s shooting has already made an impression on Amoore. “She is phenomenal,” Amoore said. “She is automatic. It’s insane.” Rose Micheaux’s decision to leave Minnesota for Blacksburg has paid dividends early on. Micheaux averaged just under 15 points per game and eight rebounds last season, and Coach Brooks believes she fills a void. “Micheaux is the missing piece that we needed when we lost Taylor Soule,” Brooks said. “Strong, athletic, understanding our system now, getting better and better and better.” The performance of the Hokies this season will largely depend on how well the new additions mesh with the returning trio of Kitley, Amoore and King. The Hokies’ chemistry will be tested early in their non-conference slate. They
open regular season play with High Point before traveling to Charlotte to play No. 3 Iowa in the Ally Tipoff. “I felt like it would be such a tremendous opportunity for not only our program but for women’s basketball in general,” Brooks said. Iowa’s women’s basketball program recently played an exhibition game in Kinnick Stadium, Iowa’s football stadium. They sold over 52,000 tickets to the event, and the Ally Tipoff will be another opportunity for national exposure in women’s sports. The matchup between two of last year’s final four teams will tip off at 8 p.m. on Nov. 9.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER MISSING NCAA TOURNAMENT Sam Mostow | SPORTS editor
Tech will regain Hunter Cattoor, after he missed much of the 2022–23 season. Although injuries derailed Virginia Tech men’s basketball for much of their 2022-23 season, forcing them to miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016, they enter the 2023–24 season fully healthy. Point guard Hunter Cattoor fractured the radius in his left elbow against Boston College on Dec. 21, 2021. At the time, the Hokies were 11–1, including a win against preseason No. 1 North Carolina. Tech lost against Boston College, 70–65, and then lost six more consecutive games afterward.
Although the Hokies regained Cattoor after missing four games, they ended the season with a 19–15 record, good enough for a National Invitation Tournament berth but nothing else. They lost in the first round of the NIT to Cincinnati, 81–72. Cattoor is returning to Blacksburg for his fifth season, the only player still on the roster from Mike Young’s first season as head coach. “(Cattoor) has had a wonderful career and I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve
enjoyed coaching him,” Young said at the ACC Men’s Basketball Tipoff last week in Charlotte, North Carolina. “He’s the best.” Injuries limited guard Rodney Rice to eight games in his freshman season. An ankle injury in August 2022 kept him off the court until January 2023, when he returned to play in one game against Syracuse. Three days later, he broke his finger. Rice, a top-100 recruit when he entered the program, was poised to take on more responsibility in his sophomore year.
However, Young announced on Oct. 24 that Rice would leave the team. “Rodney Rice recently shared with me his desire to step away from our program,” Young’s statement read. “ While his departure is unfortunate, we wish Rodney and his family all the best in the future.” Due to these injuries, true freshman MJ Collins played in all 34 games, starting 16 and averaging nearly 25 minutes. Collins, who continued on page 7
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continued from page 6 played through injuries of his own, averaged 4.1 points per game. A year into the Virginia Tech system, Young hopes Collins can build on his experience. “(I had) the understanding — out of necessity — that you’re gonna have to play a freshman really and truly as much as he wants to play,” Young said. “… I always knew, in my
collegiatetimes.com private moments, that every rep this kid gets is going to aid him greatly as we continue to move along throughout his career. I thought he handled himself quite, quite well. He is poised to have an even finer sophomore year.” Guard Sean Pedulla started every game in 2022-23, averaging 15 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. As a junior, he has morphed into one of the team’s leaders.
“Pedulla’s aggressiveness … is a blessing and a curse,” Young said. “It’s what makes him really, really good, but (he needs to) temper that aggression into making others better. He did that a year ago — don’t get me wrong — but his shot selection has got to be better. He’s got to be a better defender, especially off the ball, and he’s so capable.” “I’m excited about the group we have in our locker room,” Cattoor said at the ACC
October 31, 2023 PAGE 7
Men’s Basketball Tipoff. “We’ve got fighters, we’ve got hard-working dudes, we’re going to figure it out. We’ll be fine.” Virginia Tech will begin their season with a home game on Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. against Coppin State.
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LAUDED LADIES: THE ACCOLADES FOR VIRGINIA TECH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROLL IN Jonathan Mususa and Alex Frank | sports staff writers
Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore received preseason ACC awards. Last season, Kenny Brooks’s Virginia Tech women’s basketball team ended their 2022–23 campaign as one of the best in the country, as center Elizabeth Kitley, guard Georgia Amoore, and forward Taylor Soule led the Hokies to an ACC tournament title and their first Final Four finish in school history. If preseason assessments by the media are to be believed, the Hokies are poised to run it back. After ending last season ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Women’s Basketball Poll, the Hokies find themselves in the top 10 as they prepare to begin the regular season as the preseason No. 8 team in the country.
The Hokies’ eighth-place ranking tops their preseason rank from last year (No. 13) and becomes the highest preseason ranking the team has ever received. Virginia Tech was also predicted to finish first in the ACC rankings by the conference Blue Ribbon panel. Last season, Kitley received the ACC Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season and made the AP All-American Second Team, All-ACC First Team and All-ACC Defensive Team. “I think this time last year I was, like, 50/50 not knowing what I wanted to do, but the more time that passed in the season
Virginia Tech Hokies guard Georgia Amoore (5) passing the ball, March 19, 2023.
and the more I saw how lucky I was to be in the place that I am, it really became clear that another year here would benefit me and be the best for me,” Kitley said during a press conference on Oct. 24 as part of ACC Media Day in Charlotte. “And just the opportunity to play with Georgia and to be coached by Coach Brooks and play with Cayla and play in front of Hokie Nation every night, it’s so fun and such a great opportunity that I think will benefit me in the long run, basketball and off the court.” This season, the graduate center has been named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year and has made the AP Preseason
HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES
All-America Team and is on the watchlist for the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award for the best center in women’s college basketball. Kitley’s star counterpart Amoore also received high praise in the preseason after a record-setting season that saw her make 118 triples, a new school record. Amoore also received a selection to the preseason all-ACC team, earned an all-American honorable mention, and is also on the Nancy Lieberman Award watchlist. Rounding out the returning trio is Cayla King. King, a graduate student, currently ranks fourth all-time in three-pointers made in program history with 225 and, coming off of a 297-point season, is on pace to be the 31st Virginia Tech women’s basketball player to score 1,000 or more career points. The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team will reveal their ACC champion and Final Four banners and host High Point at Cassell Coliseum to start the season on Monday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. Fans will be able to watch the game on the ACC Network and listen on Hot 100.7 (WVHK) in the New River Valley or online at hokiesports. com and the HokieSports app.
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PAGE 8 October 31, 2023
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FOOTBALL SETS COURSE TOWARD POTENTIAL BOWL GAME, BLOWS OUT SYRACUSE Sam Mostow | sports editor
The Hokies improved their record to 4–4.
HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Wide receiver Da’Quan Felton (9) runs 62 yards after a long pass from quarterback Kyron Drones (1), scoring the Hokies’ second touchdown and expanding their lead to 23-0, Oct. 26, 2023.
Everything clicked for Virginia Tech football against Syracuse on Thursday, outgaining their opponents by 390 yards — 528 to 138 — to solidify a 38–10 blowout. Tech’s annual Thursday night game on ESPN was their largest winning point differential since Nov. 13, 2021, during Justin Fuente’s last game as head coach. “I know you guys get tired of me talking about complementary ball, but that’s the goal, that’s the team we need to be,” said Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry. “I thought we did that tonight again.” During media appearances, Pry is levelheaded. He rarely shows emotion and refuses to get too high or too low. But after obliterating Syracuse, his third win in four games with his program showing some life after nearly two years as head coach, he let himself smile. “Hey, let’s smile a little bit in here,” he said, walking into the press conference. What made the difference was the Hokies’ (4–4, 3–1 ACC) defensive performance, holding the Orange (4– 4, 0– 4 ACC) to zero net rushing yards. Tech sacked Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader eight times, bringing their season
sack total to 30, the most in the country. The Orange didn’t convert a first down on seven of their 12 drives, including five consecutive punts to start the game. “We didn’t give up explosive runs, which is important,” Pry said. “… I thought we did a good job with some discipline things. Zero rushing yards, I’ll take that any time.” Defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland ended the game with four total tackles and two sacks. Through eight games, PowellRyland has nine sacks, including six in the last two weeks. “It feels great, being able to stop the team from rushing,” Powell-Ryland said. “That’s what they want to do, at times, so being able to not let them get anything was great.” Powell-Ryland transferred to Tech from Florida after the 2022 season. Although he is only one player on a field of 22, Pry believes his impact is invaluable. “(The defense was) another area that was a liability for us last year,” Pry said. “We spent a lot of time — a big investment, a big recruiting piece — going out and getting APR and his skill set he brought.” Two minutes into the second half, Powell-Ryland and defensive end Cole
Nelson ran after Shrader in his own end zone, forcing a fumble out of the end zone for a safety. “I was ready to go,” Powell-Ryland said. “As soon as I saw the way the tackle was standing, I felt like it was a pass, so I made sure I got my motor ready.” Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones completed 15 of his 24 pass attempts for 194 passing yards, 56 rushing yards and a passing touchdown. Freshman quarterback William “Pop” Watson III entered the game with a little more than five minutes remaining — rushing once for a yard and mostly handing the ball off to run out the clock — in his collegiate debut. Drones hasn’t thrown an interception since Sept. 16 against Rutgers, a streak of 151 consecutive passes without a pick. In the fourth quarter, he broke Sean Glennon’s Virginia Tech record of 149 passes, which he set in 2007. The Hokies finished the game with 318 rushing yards, averaging six yards per carry. Running back Bhayshul Tuten finished with 118 of those yards and a touchdown. Malachi Thomas, Tuten’s backup, had 87 yards across 13 carries, the most he’s had this season.
“I think we’ve got the best one-two punch in the country,” Pry said. “Bhayshul comes out and Malachi is back to the level that everybody knew Malachi to be. We didn’t see it last year because of injuries, but he’s a talented back as well.” Thomas, previously a high school baseball player, converted his first passing touchdown of his career in the first quarter, taking a handoff from Drones and passing over the line to wide receiver Da’Quan Felton. That play gave Tech a 10–0 lead less than 10 minutes into the first quarter. “(Running backs coach Elijah Brooks) was really excited,” Thomas said. “He was pressing me all week, ‘don’t mess it up because we’re gonna call it.’ I just had to get in there and execute.” The Hokies held the ball for 41:42 of the game, the most since at least 1987. Virginia Tech is 4–4, two wins away from a threshold to make a bowl game with four games remaining. With No. 18 Louisville (6 –1, 3 –1 ACC), Boston College (4–3, 2–2 ACC), N.C. State (4–3, 1–2 ACC) and Virginia (2–5, 1–2 ACC) on their schedule, the game against Louisville is the only one where it is unlikely they would be favored. Although anything can happen in football, the chance for them to finish the season 6–6 after starting 1–3 is plausible, if not likely. “We’ve been able to (improve), even if it didn’t show up in the win-loss column,” Pry said. We were getting better each week with some important things. We’ve got a good culture in our locker room and we’ve got to just keep building on it.” Tech will hit the road for the next two weeks, first against Louisville on Nov. 4 at 3:30 p.m.
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