Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Current President or Coach	President: Alia Wilson (2019–present) Advisor: Mike Hundley (2012–present)
National championships	none
NAQT Page	link

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public land-grant university located in Blacksburg, Virginia. Its quizbowl team, known as the Academic Competition Organization at Virginia Tech (VT-ACO), has been active for many years.

History

VT-ACO was established during fall semester 1995 by undergraduate students Jeff Ford, Dennis Loo, and Jason Thweatt. In the words of the club's constitution, its founding mission was to "promote greater campus participation in College Bowl and other academic invitational tournaments by overseeing the administration of the intramural College Bowl tournaments, sponsoring other campus activities, and selecting teams for intercollegiate play."

Despite being newcomers on Virginia's collegiate quizbowl circuit, VT-ACO thrived during its early years. In only its second year of operation, the organization made it to the 1997 NAQT ICT. In 1998, Tech sent teams to that year's ICT as well as the College Bowl NCT, where they would make a second appearance the following year.

One of the greatest successes in the recent history of the team was during the 2007 ICT at the University of Minnesota. They finished 14th out of the 32 schools in Division II. Their top three players were Sarah Mahood, Martin Davis, and Michael Hundley, with respective PPTHs of 2.41, 0.69, and 0.65. Mahood was the fourth highest scorer in the division. They returned to ICT the next year, this time less successful, placing 24th with a 3-10 record.

In 2010, former Maryland player Dan Goff transferred to Tech from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Elected VT-ACO's president the following year, he – along with Mike Hundley, now the team's advisor – helped to bring the team back after a period of relative inactivity. Founding member Jason Thweatt, who returned to Tech in 2002 as a professor and advisor/coach for VT-ACO, left the team in 2012.

In 2014, the team hosted SCT and competed at ICT finishing 18th. The team comprised of freshmen Matt Fleischer, president Michael Chuber, junior Max Chewning, and senior Omar Abu-Realh.

In 2018, the Hokies returned to ICT, winning the 2018 Carolinas Sectional. The team comprised of president Eric Chang, sophomore Jack Huguenin, graduate student Sarita Hough, and sophomore Nick Luca. They finished 23rd overall.

Team members

VT-ACO yearbook photo, 1996

VT-ACO yearbook photo, 2007

2019-20 roster

• Tahreem Alam, '21
• Mahdi Alkafawi, '21
• Zach Beckley, '20
• Kevin Chen, '21
• Sarita Hough
• Andrew Kayota, '21
• Nolan McGrady, '20
• Ethan Obenrader, '21
• Emma Sparks, '19
• Spencer Thorpe, '20
• Alia Wilson, '21
• Christopher Payne, '22
• Christa Potter, '23
• Dan Asif, '22
• Hailey Page, '22
• Jarrett Holmes, '23
• Liah Strouth, '22
• Mario Martinez, '23
• Sam Basham, '22

Former players

• Omar Abu Realh, '14
• Hank Alexander, '16
• Alex Apollonio, '16
• Landis Atkinson, '11
• Jeff Bocock, '99
• Eliot Brenner, '99
• Eric Chang, '19 (President, 2016–2019)
• Max Chewning, '17
• Adam Chin, '08
• Michael Chuber, '16 (President, 2013–2016)
• Martin Davis, '07
• Matt Fleischer, '16
• Jeff Ford
• Dan Goff, '13 (President, 2011–2013)
• Ryan Gunderson (President, 1999–2000)
• Michael Hundley
• Waldon Jue, '01 (President, 2000–2001)
• Dennis Loo, '99
• Nick Luca, '20
• Sarah Mahood, '07 (President, 2004–2007)
• Brian Mongilio, '16
• Bryan Murphy, '16
• Emily Neal, '10 (President, 2007–2011)
• Jody Neel, '99
• Joseph Sanderson, '04 (President, 2001–2002)
• Nola Savage, '13
• Jason Thweatt, '97 (President, 1995–1997)
• Doug Turnbull, '04 (President, 2002–2003)
• Harry White, '13
• Tim Work, '04 (President, 2003–2004)

Hosted Tournaments

Date Name Level Champion Runner-up Stats Question Set 09/21/2014 ICCS Mirror Collegiate North Carolina Virginia Tech Stats 2014 ICCS 04/12/2014 Virginia Tech Spring Invitational High School George Washington Blacksburg A Stats Prison Bowl 2014 03/08/2014 Dan Goff Memorial Tournament High School Cave Spring A Blacksburg A Stats NAQT IS-133A 02/08/2014 NAQT SCT Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Virginia A Maryland A Stats NAQT SCT-14 11/17/2013 DRAGOON Mid-Atlantic Mirror Collegiate Virginia A Maryland A Stats 2013 DRAGOON 09/28/2013 Collegiate Novice IV Mirror Collegiate Virginia A Thomas Nelson Stats 2013 Collegiate Novice 07/06/2013 Missouri Open East Coast Mirror Open Evan Adams Nate Bougher Venu Katta Cody Voight Matt Weiner Stats Missouri Open 04/13/2013 Virginia Tech Spring Invitational High School Guilford A Guilford B Stats Prison Bowl 2013 09/29/2012 Collegiate Novice III Mirror Collegiate Washington & Lee Virginia B Stats 2012 Collegiate Novice 04/21/2012 Virginia Tech Spring Invitational High School Christiansburg Cave Spring A Stats NAQT IS-112A 02/04/2012 NAQT SCT Region 5 Collegiate Virginia A Georgia Tech A Stats NAQT SCT-12 10/15/2011 Fall Novice Tournament III Mirror High School Cave Spring A Christiansburg B Stats 2011 Fall Novice 02/22/2008 College Bowl RCT Region 5 Collegiate Georgetown Davidson Stats CBI RCT-08 02/09/2008 NAQT SCT Mid-Atlantic Collegiate North Carolina VCU Stats NAQT SCT-08 10/07/2006 Tech Triumph HS Tournament High School Northside NAQT IS-54 02/19/2005 College Bowl RCT Region 5 Collegiate Wofford Davidson Stats CBI RCT-05 07/08/2000 Mad City Masters 2000 Mirror Open 11/19/1999 NAQT CCT Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Virginia Tech Rhodes Stats NAQT CCT-1999 10/30/1999 NAQT IS-16 02/20/1999 College Bowl RCT Region 5 Collegiate Georgetown Davidson CBI RCT-99 External links Official Website VT-ACO on Facebook Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at College Bowl Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at NAQT