Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech's director of swimming and diving Sergio Lopez Miro announced the signing of five women and four men to national letters of intent on Wednesday, November 15. They are set to join the Hokies in the fall of 2024.
Women
Amanda Barnard
Patrick Henry High School
Rockville, Va.
Honors: Patrick Henry swim captain sophomore and junior year … State champion in 200 IM and 500 free freshman, sophomore and junior year … Holds the state record in the 200 IM … Best time in 1650 free 16:16.73 … Best time in 400 IM … Best time in 500 free 4:46.12.
Personal: Amanda Barnard … Daughter of Jessica and Glen Barnard … Sister to William Barnard … Plans to major in business … Awarded with the West Point Society of Richmond Award for Academics and Leadership.
Christine Datovech
Maggie L. Walker Governor's for Government and International Studies
Richmond, Va.
Honors: Three-time NISCA All-America Swimming 2022-2023 (50 free, 100 back, 100 butterfly) … Three-time qualifier at 2022 USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals – East in 50 free, 100 butterfly and 100 free … Participated in the USA Swimming Summer Junior Nationals in Irvine, Calif. In August 2023 … Virginia Swimming All-Star Team 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023 … Two time individual class three VHSL state champion in 100 butterfly and 50 free … Six time VHSL class 3A region Champion … Richmond Times-Dispatch first team All-Metro junior year in 50 free … Richmond Times-Dispatch second team All-Metro in the freshman and sophomore year in 50 free … Richmond Times-Dispatch second team All-Metro junior year in 100 butterfly, 100 back and 100 free … VHSL Class 3 All-State Honors freshman, sophomore and junior year … Member of 2022 and 2023 VHSL Class 3 State Championship girl's swim team … Member of 2022 VHSL State Champion 400 free relay team.
Personal: Christine Datovech … Daughter of Sarah and John Datovech … Sister to Andrew and Paul Datovech … Plans to major in marketing management … Career goal is to own a business or work with major tech companies in their marketing department.
Julia Murphy
The Bolles School
Burlington, Vt.
Honors: State champion in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 … 2023 100 fly state champion (53.96) … 100 fly team record … 400 free relay team record … 200 medley team and state record … 200 free relay team and state record … 200 free LCM state record.
Personal: Julia Murphy … Daughter of Phuong and Todd Murphy … Sister to Finn Murphy … Plans to major in biology … plans to become a dentist.
Sofia Salvato
Liceo Scientifico Valeriani
Imola, Italy
Honors: Participated at the 2023 European Junior Swimming Championships … Won medals these past two years at Junior Nationals … Joined final B at Nationals these past two years … 50 Back 27.66 (SC) 28.83 (LC) … 100 Back 58.97 (SC) 1:01.89 (LC) … 200 Back 2:11.23 (SC) … 50 Butterfly 27.33 (SC) 28.19 (LC) … 100 Butterfly 1:00.71 (SC).
Personal: Sofia Salvato … Daughter of Riccardo Salvato and Federica Noferini … Sister to Asia and Rachele … Plans to major in either psychology or communications/journalism … Future goals are to try to always improve from other people and give the best of her to people she works with.
Emily Santos
Montverde Academy
Panama City, Panama
Honors: Swim team captain for three years … During senior year placed first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.44 at the State Championship and placed third int the mixed relay ... During junior year, place third in the 100 breaststroke at the State Championship … Received All-American recognition for 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:02.14 … Placed second in the 200 breaststroke and broke national record with a time of 2:30.93 at the 2023 Juegos
Centroamericanos San Salvador for Panama … Participated for for Panama at the 2023 Panamerican Games and won both B finals and broke national record for 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:09.43.
Men
JC Gordon
Liberty Christian Academy
Lynchburg, Va.
Honors: Three time YMCA National Champion … Three time State Champion.
Personal: JC Gordon … Son of Ryan & Lisa Gordon and Bob & Dorthea Plunkett … Brother to John Michel, Carlen and Sophia Gordon … Plans to major in business … Plans to purse a career in commercial real estate.
Danny Bishop
Vandegrift
Austin, Texas
Honors: Four year varsity letterman … Team Captain 2022-2023 … Texas 6A state runner up 2023 in 200 free … Texas 6A state bronze medalist 2023 in the 200 Medley Relay … Texas 6A state finalist 2023 in 500 free and 400 free relay … School record holder in 200 free, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay … First Team All-State.
Personal: Danny Bishop … Son of Sandy and Derek Bishop … Brother to Kristi Bishop … Plans to major in marketing … Plans to pursue an MBA.
Jakub Poliačik
Gymnázium Grösslingová 18
Slovakia
Honors: Holds multiple national junior titles … National record in short course 200 free with a time of 1:45.76 … Attended 2021 long course European Championship … Attend long course European Junior Championship finals in the 4x200 free … Member of national team at World Junior and European Junior Championships … 11th in 200 free at Otopeni … Placed 18th in 800 free short course at the World Championship … Participated in U23 European Championship long course.
Personal: Jakub Poliačik … Son of Vladimír Poliačik and Patrícia Poliačiková … Brother to Kristína Poliačiková … Plans to major in Business … Future goals are to finish college, make Olympic team and win some college titles for Virginia Tech while studying here.
Levente Balogh
Vörösmarty Mihály Gimnázium
Budapest, Hungary
Honors: 2023 European Junior Swimming Championship: Fourth in 200 butterfly, fourth in 400 medley relay and seventh in 800 free relay … 2023 Hungarian Junior National Swimming Championship: First in 200 butterfly, second in 100 butterfly, third in 50 butterfly, first in 100 back, second in 200 back and third in 50 back … 2023 Hungarian Short Course National Swimming Championships: Second in the 800 free relay, third in 200 fly, third in 400 medley relay and third in 400 free relay.
Personal: Levente Balogh … Son of Ágnes Luy and Attila Balogh … Brother to Olivér Balogh and Laura Ansari … Plans to major in finance/economics … Future goals are to earn his degree and find a job where he loves what he does.