Engineering the game

Our Hokies are competing on the field, court, and track while tackling one of the university’s most demanding academic arenas – engineering. If balancing Division I athletics and an engineering major seems impossible, well, dozens of Hokies from the College of Engineering are proving otherwise.

Meet six athletes who are innovating robotics between games, solving equations between sprints, and proving that discipline, focus, and resilience translate just as well to final exams as they do to a scoreboard. 

Harrison Krieg

Senior, soccer, industrial and systems engineering. Harrison Krieg's biography page. 

I’d been playing soccer at a high level since I was young, and my dream was to play in college. COVID made the recruiting process really difficult, so I decided to put academics first and came to Virginia Tech for engineering with the thought that I could find a way to play soccer in some capacity later.

That first semester, I played club soccer and really enjoyed it. I made a lot of friends, but I knew I wanted to push myself harder and further, so I got in contact with the coaches and decided to try out for the varsity team. Six of us trialed that year, and after spring and preseason, I was the only walk-on that made the final cut. It was surreal. The last walk-on before me was in 2017, so I knew it was a rare opportunity, and I’ve been so grateful for it.

I see a lot of crossover between my engineering courses and soccer. Industrial and systems engineering is about process-oriented systems thinking and looking at efficiency, optimization, and how to improve things on a larger scale. On the field, it’s the details that matter — making the right run, hitting the line, putting in the extra reps. That attention to detail translates directly into engineering. In addition, engineering has made me a better thinker on the field. Soccer is such a mental, problem-solving game, and systems thinking helps me approach it strategically.

When my schedule gets overwhelming, I remind myself that discipline matters more than motivation. There are plenty of days when I’m not motivated to study on the bus or finish a project after a long trip. But discipline is about sticking to your plan anyway and doing the work because you’ve committed to it, not because you feel like it. My walk-on experience taught me how rewarding it is to work for something instead of having it handed to you. That lesson carries into everything I do.

Sarah Malinowski

Senior, volleyball, aerospace engineering. Sarah Malinowski's bio page.

I’ve had inspiration come from all directions in my life. My dad studied electrical engineering at UVA, and my grandfather was also an engineer — he actually worked on the SR-71 Blackbird. I’ve always been fascinated with airplanes and spacecraft, so when it came time to choose a major, aerospace was an easy choice. The field combines cutting-edge technology, creativity, and collaboration. These are insane vehicles that take unbelievable thought and precision to build. Everyone I’ve met in the industry loves what they do. That excitement actually begins in the classroom, which is what I love about my classes here at Virginia Tech.

I committed here as a sophomore in high school because I wanted competitive volleyball, a top-10 aerospace program, and a big-school environment. All of that held true, but the best part about Virginia Tech has been teammates who’ve become my family and the opportunities I’ve had that will shape my future career. I connected with Boeing recruiters on campus and secured internships during the summers of my sophomore and junior years. I received a full-time offer to work in their Seattle hub after graduation.

What keeps me motivated is remembering my “why.” As student-athletes, we’re constantly exhausted. Our bodies are sore, the practices and lifts are hard, and sometimes you question why you’re doing it. I tell my teammates to find their purpose, their reason, and their “why.” I do the same for myself in academics. When I’m staring at a problem set at 3 a.m. and can’t get anywhere, I remind myself that I’m passionate about aerospace and confident in my future. I am playing volleyball for my younger self who dreamed of being here, and for my teammates who have become my sisters. These are the things that ground me.

Tommy Ricard

Sophomore, football, industrial and systems engineering. Tommy Ricard's bio page.

When I decided I wanted to play football in college, my parents and I made a list of what mattered most to me. I knew I wanted to go somewhere that I would’ve chosen even if I wasn’t playing football. Virginia Tech checked all the boxes – a big school, a great campus, a strong engineering program, and a football culture I really liked. On my visit, I met the guys and immediately felt at home. The decision was easy.

As a student athlete, time management is key. The reality is, we don’t have a lot of free time. So when you do get a block of time, you don’t really have a choice — you just have to get your work done. Our student-athlete academic supervisors are a huge help too. As a freshman, we had mandatory study hall every day, which helped me build good habits. Now as a sophomore, I still go to study hall for tutoring or just a quiet place to work. That really helps me stay on track. When we travel, my goal is always to finish assignments before we leave so I can focus on the game.

When the workload and fatigue start piling up, I try to stay grounded in gratitude. I make time to go to the Catholic chapel at the Newman House when I can, and that’s really important to me. I remind myself that there are so many people who would love to play Virginia Tech football. It’s not that I have to do this — I get to do this. That perspective keeps me positive, even when things are tough.

Maxime St. Hilaire

Senior, tennis, mechanical engineering. Maxime St. Hilaire's bio page.

Growing up in Canada, my parents would send me to summer camps for different sports, and one week I tried tennis. I immediately fell in love with it. I started playing tournaments, worked my way up to being one of the top players in Canada, and even played internationally. At that point, Division I tennis became the next goal. For me, being able to pursue engineering and play tennis at a high level at the same time has been a dream come true. 

What keeps me motivated is knowing what’s at the finish line. With engineering, it’s earning my degree. Every year, I am one step closer. With tennis, it’s the feeling of winning a big match, knowing how much work and sacrifice went into it. On the days when I’m tired and don’t feel like practicing, remembering those moments makes it easier to push through.

After competing in high-pressure matches, taking an exam just doesn’t feel like a big deal anymore. I’m confident under pressure because I’ve faced it so many times on the court. And tennis and studying engineering both require discipline, whether it’s putting in hours to understand a tough concept or grinding through practice to get better.

Declan Rymer

Graduate student, cross country, electrical and computer engineering. Declan Rymer's bio page.

What hooked me about running was the progression. In running, if you put in the work, you’re almost guaranteed to get better. Unlike other sports, it wasn’t about coach favoritism or playing time, it’s about the effort you put in. That was something I didn’t find in other sports, and I stuck with it.

Balancing running and engineering has definitely been a challenge. You have to make sacrifices that a normal college student might not. For me, that means I only hang out with friends socially on Friday or Saturday nights. Every other night I’m studying. And sleep is nonnegotiable. Some people will sacrifice sleep to get work done, but if I do that, I’ll be terrible at running. So I make sure I get eight hours, which means I can’t procrastinate and I have to stay on top of things.

I’d like to work as a software or radio-frequency engineer in the future, and I think my experience as a student-athlete will help me navigate whatever life throws at me. A lot of people get overwhelmed when they’re trying to balance their careers with family or other responsibilities. But I’ve had to balance a demanding academic program with the commitment of athletics for four years. I’ve learned how to manage stressors outside of school, and I think that will make me better prepared for whatever comes next.

Avery Legault

Junior, cross country and track, chemical engineering. Avery Legault's bio page.

I never thought I’d end up on a cross-country team. Growing up, I really didn’t enjoy running for the sake of it — in fact, I thought it was a little boring. Later, I realized I loved the satisfaction I get at the end of a good run. But, what’s really kept me going was the cross-country and track community. Every girl I’ve ever run with has been super supportive, which wasn’t always the case with other sports I’ve played. The running community just felt different, and I knew I wanted to be part of it.

Athlete portraits by Peter Means