Collegiate Times

Hokies' utility player Austin Wates swings for the fences in Tech's game against North Carolina last season on March 15, 2009.

Few teenagers can handle a move across the country. Junior first baseman Austin Wates dealt with that right in the middle of his high school career.

Not only did Wates have to create new friendships, but he also had to continue his success in sports in a completely different environment.

Wates, who moved from Seattle, Wash., to Richmond, Va., before his junior year in high school, has become a force on the baseball diamond. Last season, Wates was fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in batting average, hitting .397. He also amassed 20 doubles, hit five home runs, batted in 42 runs and stole 16 bases.

Amazingly, that wasn’t enough to earn him All-ACC honors, but it did help him garner a preseason All-America third-team selection this year.

Before all the success, Wates lived in Seattle and played three sports in high school: baseball, soccer and basketball.

“I didn’t want to tire myself out of baseball,” Wates said. “It is something that you did need a break from. It takes a lot of repetition. I think that’s something I was afraid of. I was decent at basketball and pretty good at soccer. I did enjoy it at the time, but looking back, I’m glad I chose the sport I did, which was baseball, because it’s something I truly do love.”

Wates even received an offer to play at soccer powerhouse UCLA, but he didn’t have the passion for soccer that he had for baseball.

“I had a couple offers to play soccer,” Wates said. “It’s hard to do something every day that you don’t love to do. I’m very thankful for being able to play baseball because it’s something I love to do. Getting up at five in the morning to go kick a soccer ball around when I didn’t really want to and didn’t love it is something I would have really struggled with.”

Undoubtedly, the big move from Seattle to Richmond put a damper on any other college considerations. A move like that is tough for anyone, and Wates was no different. He still misses his hometown.

“I still have a lot of friends out there who go to the University of Washington,” Wates said. “There’s a part of me that still wishes I lived there. I did go visit over Christmas break, but I’m glad I’m at where I am. But I would like to go back.”

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A version of this article appeared in the Feb 18 issue of the Collegiate Times.