Cianelli announces 2018 signing class

Eleven prospective student-athletes ink with Virginia Tech

November 24, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech Track and Field and Cross Country director Dave Cianelli announced Friday the 11-member early signing period class for the 2018-19 season.

The Hokies’ staff made up of Andrew Dubs, Ben Thomas, Eric Johannigmeier, Bob Phillips, Tim Vaught and Paul Zalewski, pulled in one of the best recruiting classes in school history. Track and Field News will release its top recruiting classes once the spring signing period has concluded in its annual summer magazine.

The class consists of 11 prospective student-athletes, eight men and three women, hailing from five states, including Arizona (1), Maryland (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (2) and Virginia (5). The class has already combined for 19 state championships before going into their final seasons of high school.

For more information on the class, read below on each individual.

2018 Men Signees

Tyson Jones
Goodyear, Ariz. – Desert Edge HS
Shot Put: 67’6.5”
Discus: 181’8”

“I could not be more excited to add Tyson Jones to our Virginia Tech family,” throws coach Andrew Dubs said. “Having become close with his family over the past year, it is clear to see how he has turned into the young man that he is, having come from such an outstanding support system. We welcomed both Tyson and his mother for an official visit this fall and had an incredible time. There was an immediate connection that I know made them feel comfortable and at home.

“Tyson has already accomplished so much during his high school career, but I believe he has even greater potential on the ACC and NCAA level. I have watched him compete in person, and it is clear to see his passion, dedication, and competitiveness when in the spotlight. Adding the U.S. No. 1 recruit in the country to this year’s signing class, gives us what we believe to be one of the best, if not the best, recruiting class in school history.”

A native of Goodyear, Arizona, Jones comes to Blacksburg as the No. 1 recruit in the nation, according to DyeStat Track and Field. Jones is a two-time AIA state champion in the shot put and is currently the No. 1 returning United States thrower in the event. His personal best mark in the shot put (12 pounds) is 67 feet, 6.5 inches, while his best in the discus is 181 feet, eight inches.

“I chose Virginia Tech because of the wonderful campus and the friendly environment,” Jones said. “While on my official visit, I really enjoyed my time with the team. The coaching staff was really friendly and everyone was very welcoming. I really felt at home at VT and that I could see myself in Hokie Nation.”

Jacory Patterson
Columbia, S.C. – Dreher HS
100m: 10.42
200m: 21.07
400m: 46.98
Long Jump: 24’2.5”

“I’m super excited to have Jacory join the Hokie Family,” sprints coach Tim Vaught said. “I think the sky is the limit for him in this sport and I see him as a future Olympian.”

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Patterson comes to Blacksburg as the reigning SCHSL champion in the 400-meter dash. Patterson is currently ranked No. 8 in the United States in the 400 meters at the high school level, as well as owning the No. 1 ranking for the top times (200, 400) in the Palmetto State.

Patterson's best marks in the 100-meter dash is 10.42 seconds, 200 is 21.07 seconds and the 400 is 46.98, while in the long jump he's jumped 7.38 meters (24 ft., 2.5 in.)

“I chose Virginia Tech because I had a sense of being home,” Patterson said. “I felt comfortable around the coaches and the team. Coach Vaught is a great coach and even better person. I know he will push me because he knows what goals I have. This program is on the rise and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Donovan Louis
Triangle, Va. – Potomac HS
100m: 10.51
200m: 21.79
Long Jump: 24’8”

“I am extremely excited to welcome Donovan to Hokie Nation,” jumps coach Paul Zalewski said. “He brings amazing talent and a range of events where he can help us, being able to contribute right away in the jumps, sprints and relays. Anytime you can sign the top athlete in your home state, it’s going to be a win. I cannot wait to have him here. The sky is truly the limit for this young man.”

A native of Triangle, Virginia, Louis comes to Blacksburg as the reigning VHSL champion in the long jump for both indoor and outdoor, indoor 55-meter dash and outdoor 100-meter dash. The 2017 New Balance indoor champion in the 60-meter dash is currently ranked No. 8 in the United States in the long jump at the high school level, as well as owning the No. 3 spot out of returners in the preseason ranking. Louis' personal best marks are a time of 10.51 seconds in the 100-meter dash, a 21.79 in the 200 meters and a long jump of 24 feet, eight inches.

“I chose Virginia Tech because it is home to me,” Louis said. “Being able to elevate myself as an educated young man and as an athlete is the number one priority to me and my family. Trust is very important to me. To know that everything I do academically and athletically everyday will have purpose to lead me to my goals was key. And I believe the “key” to my success is becoming a Hokie.”

Miles Green
Philadelphia, Pa. – St. Joseph’s Prep
400m: 47.56
400h: 52.81

“When I first saw Miles, I said he is a natural hurdler” sprints coach Tim Vaught said. “There is no limit to his full potential in the 400 hurdles. I can’t wait to start working with him next fall.”

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Green comes to Blacksburg as the PIAA runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles, while being ranked No. 1 in in the state for the 400 meters and 400 hurdles.

Green was tabbed a two-time New Balance Nationals All-American, and is preseason No. 5 in the country across all high school athletes in the 400 hurdles. His personal bests are clocking a time of 47.56 seconds in the 400 and a time of 52:81 in the 400 hurdles.

“I felt like Virginia Tech was the best fit for me,” Green said. “I liked the team, the coaches and their overall program. I felt like I could see myself going there and I’m excited for next fall to begin my training with them.”

Ben Nibbelink
Leesburg, Va. – Tuscarora HS
Mile: 4:22.82
3,200m: 9:10.60
5K: 15:40.10

“I really like Ben’s temperament and competitiveness,” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas. “He has very good potential in cross country and track and will do the work required to be great. I can’t wait to have him join our guys and get to work.”

A native of Leebsurg, Virginia, Nibbelink comes to Blacksburg as the No. 1 3,200-meter runner in the VHSL. His personal bests are clocking a time of 4:22.82 minutes in the mile, a time of 9:10.60 in the 3,200 meters and crossing the finish line in 15:40.10 in the 5K.

“I really liked everything about the school and the program,” Nibbelink said. “I just felt like I could call it home for the next four years.”

Tyler Leeser
Milton, Pa. – Milton Area HS
800m: 1:55.11
1,600m: 4:16.53

“Tyler has steadily improved over the last two year of high school,” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas said. “He seems hungry to get better and fits the mold of what we are looking for in terms of physical and mental talent. He’ll do well with us and I see him contributing in both track and cross country.”

A native of Milton, Pennsylvania, Leeser comes to Blacksburg following a runner-up finish at the PIAA State Championships in the 800 meters and fourth place in the 1,600-meter race. His personal bests are clocking a time of 1:55.11 minutes in the 800 and a 4:16.53 in the 1,600.

“I'm really excited about being a Hokie,” Leeser said. “Virginia Tech has amazing programs, both academically and athletically. The team felt like a family and I knew I wanted to be a part of it."

Clint Gault
Poquoson, Va. – Poquoson HS
800m: 1:56.64
1,600m: 4:14.64
Mile: 4:16.14

“Clint has won quite a few races at Poquoson,” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas said. “I like how he races, and he has shown good range from 400m to 5k XC. I am really excited to see how fast he can go in our program and am looking forward to working with him.”

A native of Poquoson, Virginia, Gault comes to Blacksburg as a three-time state champion in the VHSL’s outdoor 800 meters and indoor and outdoor 1,600 meters. His personal bests are a time of 1:56.64 minutes in the 800, 4:14.64 in the 1,600 and 4:16.14 in the mile.

“I chose Virginia Tech because I wanted to be part of a great school, academically and athletically,” Gault said. “Also, I wanted to be a part of a championship winning team and I think I got that with Virginia Tech."

Matthias Cannon
Glen Allen, Va. – Deep Run HS
800m: 1:55.68
1,600m: 4:18.32
5,000m: 15:40

“Happy to have Matthias join our team,” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas said. “He has good range and comes from a program at Deep Run that is used to winning. He’ll do well in our program, and we look forward to helping him develop his talent. He fits right in with our team and will help us get better.”

A native of Glen Allen, Virginia, Cannon comes to Blacksburg as a two-time state champion in the VHSL’s indoor and outdoor 4x800 meters. Additionally, Cannon was the runner-up in the outdoor 1,600 meters at the VHSL meet, as well as guiding Deep Run High School to a title in cross country in 2016. His personal bests are a time of 1:55.68 minutes in the 800 meters, 4:18.32 in the 1,600 and 15:40 in the 5,000.

“The reason I chose Virginia Tech is because I feel that it is a great fit for me,” Cannon said.

2018 Women Signees

Imagine Patterson
Summerville, S.C. – Summerville HS
100m: 11.70
100h: 14.30
400h: 59.16

“It’s a pleasure to have Imagine join Hokie Nation,” sprints coach Tim Vaught said. “She will be a great asset to the team by being one of the top 400 hurdlers in the country out of high school. I’m so excited to see her reach her full potential with us.”

A native of Summerville, South Carolina, Patterson comes to Blacksburg as the reigning SCHSL champion in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles, while owning the state of South Carolina’s high school record in the 400 hurdles.

Patterson also was a New Balance Outdoor All-American this past season and won the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in the 400 hurdles. Her personal bests are clocking a time of 11.70 seconds in the 100-meter dash, a 14.30 in the 100-meter hurdles and a time of 59.16 in the 400-meter hurdles.

“It just felt like home honestly,” Patterson said. “Like this was the place where I could fit in and grow the most.”

Allie Zolkiewicz
Sykesville, Md. – South Carroll HS
400m: 57.33
500m: 1:17.25
800m: 2:16.99

“I am looking forward to working with Allie,” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas said. “She has very good 400 meters speed and I believe she will turn into an excellent 800 runner in our program. As she gets aerobically stronger, she will be very competitive in the ACC in the middle distances.”

A native of Sykesville, Maryland, Zolkiewicz comes to Blacksburg as the reigning MPSSAA champion in the 500 meters and 4x800 meters, while finishing runner up in the 400 and 800 this past spring.

Zolkiewicz was tabbed the Carroll County Times Female Athlete of the Year in the summer. Her personal bests are clocking a time of 57.33 seconds in the 400 meters, a 1:17.25 in the 500 and a time of 2:16.99 in the 800.

“I chose Virginia Tech because when I visited, it felt like home,” Zolkiewicz said. “It has a reputation for developing runners to their fullest potential, and it’s been my dream to run for Hokies since I started high school!”

Olivia Duston
Herndon, Va. – Herndon HS
800m: 2:14.27
1,000m: 2:59.52

“Olivia really got along well with our girls,” head cross country and distance coach Ben Thomas said. “She has the potential to do really well and is willing to do the work required to be competitive on the ACC level. She will focus on the middle distances on the track and continue to develop in cross country.”

A native of Herndon, Virginia, Duston comes to Blacksburg after placing third and fourth in the 1,000 meters at the VHSL Championships. Her personal bests are clocking a time of 2:14.27 minutes in the 800-meter run and a time of 2:59.52 in the 1,000 meters.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Virginia Tech community,” Duston said. “It is welcoming and there is a place for everyone. I am excited to experience Virginia Tech’s world class educational opportunities and learning environment, and look forward to the challenge and opportunity to contribute to the winning tradition of the Virginia Tech track and field program.”

The Hokies will open their 2018 indoor season at the Nittany Lion Challenge from Jan. 12-13, held at Penn State’s campus in State College.