German native signs a National Letter of Intent with Hokies

Two-time junior national champion Stefanie Aeschlimann signs with Tech on Wednesday

November 16, 2016

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech track and field and cross country director Dave Cianelli announced Wednesday that Stefanie Aeschlimann (Ingolstat, Germany) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Hokies for the 2017-18 season.

“I am so excited to welcome Stefanie to Hokie Nation,” said technical director and men’s and women’s jumps coach Paul Zalewski. “As a two-time junior national champion and one of the best jumpers in Germany for her age, she certainly comes to us with a great deal of experience. I believe there is still so much untapped potential for her. I cannot wait to get her here and get to work.”

Aeschlimann comes to Blacksburg from Ingolstat, Germany, where she earned two junior national championship titles, proving to be one of the best jumpers in the country. She was crowned the U-20 German Indoor Champion in 2015, jumping a total of 12.93 meters (42 feet, 5.25 inches). Aeschlimann improved her mark by .08 meters (3 inches) at the 2016 U-20 German Championships, recording a personal-best 13.01 (42 feet, 8.25 inches) to claim her second junior national title in just two years.

“I never thought I would be able to study in the United States,” Aeschlimann said. “It always seemed like a dream until coach Zalewski contacted me one day and told me everything about Virginia Tech.

“The great opportunities for studying and training along with the unique Hokie community and the overall feeling of being welcomed and supported made the decision very easy. Virginia Tech feels like a great place to make new friends and let my dreams come true.”

The Hokies will open their 2017 indoor season at home with the Virginia Tech Invitational from Jan. 13-14, held at the Rector Fieldhouse, in Blacksburg.

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