Hello from Southwest Virginia

[cyclonehokiece]

Hello all, I have been lurking for awhile and have been making a few posts and thought I would introduce myself. I am a graduate student in civil engineering-transportation and umpire for the love of the game mainly, although I enjoy having the extra money to supplement my graduate school stipend. I have been umpiring for about 10 calendar years, starting at age 14 in Southeast Wisconsin doing rec games behind the pitcher (we had to do it because of the school district's insurance requirements), then at 17 (took a year off when I was 16) moved up to my own city's rec league (got to get behind the plate), in which i was one of the better umpires and my supervisor, who was involved with a select league, told me to go to formal training to make the next step. I went to training and it was great, and started doing subvarsity and the select league. I did this for about three summers, then moved to Central Iowa (where I was going to school) full time in 2008 and this is when I really jumped up. I was doing high school JV/Varsity doubleheaders mainly there (wonderful summer HS ball in Iowa) with a little Little League and USSSA thrown in, and did that for 3 years, after which I moved to Southwest Virginia and am doing high school (hopefully some varsity next year) and USSSA. I am always open to learning. While I will probably never go to pro school (my life goals do dot allow for it) I hope to continually improve on my umpiring skills.

[mstaylor]

Welcome Cyclone. I would tell you to jump in but you already have. :)

[JaxRolo]

Welcome to the board!!!

[hckyosgood30]

Welcome to one of the greatest resources that you can find on the web, if your not afraid to ask.

[Umpire in Chief]

Even after Saturday I'll welcome another Hokie to the site.