Learn what Virginia Tech's NCAA champions need to be the best

They are also NCAA champions.

As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Lewis became the first NCAA wrestling champion in Tech history. The Polytechnic graduate is currently in his final college season. He will play his final game Saturday at home against George Mason.

At the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Butler became the first Hokie athlete to win an NCAA title in the 800 meters. She is a fifth-year student and is currently in her final year at the Polytechnic University.

Last year, Ramadan won the 100-yard butterfly, becoming Tech's first NCAA swimming champion. The senior from Egypt plans to remain at Tech next year to qualify.

Fixen won the women's pole vault at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming the 20th NCAA title winner in Tech track and field program history. Fixen, a fifth-year student who is redshirting for the current indoor track season, plans to remain at Tech next year to earn her another year of eligibility.

The Roanoke Times spoke to the four about what it takes to become an NCAA champion and the pressure of competing for one again.

Mr. Lewis, Mr. Butler and Mr. Fixen held a group videoconference with the Roanoke Times, while Mr. Ramadan was interviewed afterwards.

And will the four meet at Tech University's NCAA Champions Club meeting?

“If I did, I wouldn't tell you,” Butler interjected. “You're not in the club.”

question: After winning the NCAA title, did all the pressure take away from your tech career?

Lewis: I felt more, the pressure added. I did it my freshman year, so I felt like I had to do it over and over again. But as the years went on, I started to realize that the pressure I was putting on myself was just me, not people on the outside. It made me realize that I needed to get out of my own head. ”

Butler: It was my junior year, so I competed in that tournament, and later found out that I had done pretty well to end the season. [foot] Injury. This was the best thing that could have happened since I was out for a few months and couldn't run. When I came back, there was even more pressure. It probably took me my entire senior year of college to realize that no one else was making me think that I would be disappointed if we didn't win a national title. I was the only one who said that.

Fixen: I feel pressure, but it's mainly because I'm putting pressure on myself. I know it's possible and I know I can win, so that motivates me and inspires me to keep going.

Ramadan: You must always aim higher. My goal this season is to win the NCAA championship and become the fastest in history.

question: Did you aim to become an NCAA champion during your career?

Butler: That season, I set a goal of running 800 seconds under 2 minutes, which is a very rare barrier to break.That was definitely my bigger goal this year, and in trying to achieve that goal, I achieved another really great goal [the title]. I feel like the biggest thing I want to accomplish is not accomplished yet.

Fixen: That last year Virginia Tech’s NCAA champs on what it takes to be the best That was my first goal. That's the only thing I focused on in every practice. I was thinking about the national tournament. Now my goals have shifted to achieving it again and/or breaking both the college record and the Virginia Tech record.

Lewis: I remember sitting with my coach. [Tony] Robbie was very confident in himself before that season started and I told him I was going to win. That was literally all I focused on that year.now [it’s about] I'd like to win another national title, but I'm getting better and better, so I want to be even more dominant in my sport and go internationally in the future. [championships] Teams, Olympic teams, etc.

Ramadan: I'll be proud if I win [at this year’s] NCAA, but I don't think it's ever going to be the same as it was the first time. My first year, I was the fastest in the NCAA, but on race day I flinched at the start, so I lost. The second year I was also the fastest, but I had a cramp during the race. I thank God that I was able to win the championship in my third year. [But] Even if I could go back in time and change anything, I don't think I would.

question: If your teammates asked you, “How can I become an NCAA champion?” what would you say?

Lewis: You have to trust your teammates, coaches, family, and friends. There will be days when you don't have the best day, but knowing you have a foundation of community supporting you will help you get through each day until you reach your goals.

Butler: My dad, who ran in college and had quite a career, said to me, “My biggest goal is to make the team; There is a difference between those who say [meet], those whose goal is simply to move up the standings, and those whose goal is to win the ACC, become an All-American, and become a national champion. If your goal is to maybe make the team or go to a conference, the way you train and carry yourself will be very different from people who have higher goals. In any sport, there's a lot of talk, but not a lot of action to follow it. That's why not everyone can become a national champion.

Fixen: There's a lot going on in my competitions and in athletics in general. [It’s about] Stay focused, keep things simple, and train your mind to focus on one thing instead of the many things going on outside of you.

Ramadan: You can't win in the NCAA if you don't have confidence in yourself. It's all a matter of headspace. It's possible if you believe in yourself and believe you can get there. But you won't get there if you're afraid and don't believe in yourself.

question: How often do you look back on the moment you won the title?

Lewis: I watch the game again, especially when I need motivation. I'm going to watch it again, watch the interview again, remember the emotions I felt at that moment, be grateful for them, and push myself to get those good feelings back. Seeing yourself win a national title is pretty cool, I’m not going to lie. I sometimes find myself just doing it to convince myself that I actually did something pretty big for the school.

Butler: I think I watched that clip several times over and over again right after it happened.Once you get it [advanced stress reaction] When I was diagnosed about two weeks later, I hated watching videos. It made me so sad that we had achieved everything and now it was closed for the time being. So for probably a few months to maybe a year, I didn't watch any videos. I love watching it these days. As Mekhi said, this is a very fond memory. What motivates me before a race is just remembering that I've done it, and it's something no one else in this field has ever done, so why would I be nervous?

Fixen: The national championship was really special, but I know I can keep having moments like that. When I look back, I think, “Oh, that was really fun.'' I want to do it again. 'But I don't necessarily like to think of that moment as the best moment of my life. Because we know what lies ahead.

ramadan: I think about that all the time, that day when we won the NCAA championship, one of the best days of my life. Sometimes when I'm frustrated, I open a clip and watch it. Sometimes, when I don't feel like going to practice, I open it up and see how I feel. That's why I'm swimming in a cold pool at 5am.

question: Mekhi and Lindsey, you two returned to the NCAAs, but you didn't win another title. Was that discouraging or was it okay since they already had the NCAA title?

Lewis: after losing [in the final in 2022], it was pretty hard to watch it again and live through that moment. But when I got to my hotel room, I realized there was nothing to be upset about. I fought with all my might, and even though I didn't win, I was grateful to be able to return to that moment.

Butler: indoors [last year]There was so much buzz all year long that I ended up choosing to do a different event and run the mile. [about], “Would I do it again?” So I decided to run a mile to get myself out of my mind. I was disappointed that I couldn't win. But for me, it's about remembering that winning is great, winning feels great, that's what we all strive for, but beyond that there's so much to be proud of. I think it was important to leave it there.

question: Are you leaving Tech feeling great about winning the title?

Lewis: [The goal is] If I have kids and they come to Tech, I think it would be pretty cool to have them come here and maybe they win a national championship and their father wins a national championship. This is a family legacy. But there is no pressure on them. I'm not going to force my kids into sports.

Butler: My kid should be an All-American, then he'll be the fourth generation! I think the guys that came in as a freshman would be very proud of the guys that are leaving, even if it didn't result in them winning another national championship. Hopefully it will.

fixen: After I finish pole vaulting, I feel very satisfied. It was a lot of fun, I got to do what I really like, and I made a lot of friends.

Ramadan: I become ~ [satisfied], but there's always more I can do. And that's what I'm aiming for.