Photos courtesy of Craig O'Brien

In October, the Virginia Tech skydiving team represented the youngest team at the United States Parachute Association National Championship — where the quad took gold in the four-way-intermediate contest — and was one of the few collegiate teams present.

The members of Virginia Tech's skydiving team are (standing from left): Benjamin Worrall, Joseph Coffineau, Doug Barron and Andrew Happick. Also pictured is the jump videographer.

| Katie Mawyer

katie.mawyer@roanoke.com, 381-1671

A short 10 months ago, four men united through a sport that would soar them to new heights.

In October, they put their skills to the test. Virginia Tech's skydiving team -- made up of Benjamin Worrall, Joseph Coffineau, Doug Barron and Andrew Happick -- attended the U.S. Parachute Association National Championship in Texas, where the four took gold in the four-way-intermediate contest.

"Winning the competition was a somewhat far-fetched dream at the start of our training," said Happick, 21. "As the competition came closer, we realized that the dream was in reach."

The competition featured 33 diving teams from around the country. The Tech skydiving quad represented the youngest team at the competition and was one of the few collegiate teams present.

"After winning it was like, 'Wow, we have this unique opportunity and we're going to take advantage of it,' " said Barron, 22.

Then in December, the team fulfilled its original goal of winning gold at the USPA Collegiate Nationals. The team did more than accomplish the dream: It set a record for the highest score in a single round of diving, at 34 points.

According to Ed Scott, executive director of the USPA, the Tech team broke the Air Force Academy's 13-year winning streak to become the new national champions.

"Winning gold medals at two different national championship events in the same year is no small feat -- especially for full-time students," Scott said. "Their dedication and obvious love of the sport of skydiving really paid off."

The team's original intent was to compete for one year and then part ways. However, the success in the competitions prompted the jumpers' decision to continue together in the sport. The team plans to compete in the advanced class in September at the 2010 USPA Nationals in Chicago.

"It was an incredible experience to be out there and do as well as we did," said team captain Worrall, 24. Worrall said the experience had been indescribable.

Witnessing their accomplishments allowed the jumpers to ponder possibilities in the sport. But the four also recall the days where their love for the sport originated.

Happick completed his first jump fall semester of his freshmen year at Tech. As a member of the skydiving club, he quickly began training the following spring.

Coffineau, 20, took his first jump in May 2008.

"I had fallen in love with the sport right from the first jump, and being able to stand on a podium so soon after that first jump was almost unreal," Coffineau said.

Worrall jumped his senior year of high school, which led to two years of jumping with the Air Force. In 2005 he started jumping routinely.

While Harrick, Coffineau and Worrall began as adults, Barron recalls much older memories. As a child, he watched his father jump and felt an immediate connection with the sport.

"I used to look up to the athletes and the competition of the sport," Barron said. "I was around it every week of my life."

The team members' diverse exposure to the sport gives them great appreciation for its art and aesthetics.

"The most intriguing thing to me about skydiving is being able to see things that not many people get to see," Coffineau said. "The visuals range from things as beautiful as watching the sunset as you hang under canopy at 13,000 feet or being in freefall toward the earth and seeing an airplane flying past you.

"There isn't a sport in the world that can open your eyes to these incredible visuals."

Worrall agreed.

"It's really like no other sport out there," he said. "It's almost like you are floating and flying."

Success has given the team a deep appreciation for one another and the competition.

"Each one of us knows that none of this could have happened without each other's heart deeply buried into this team," Coffineau said.

The men noted the comradeship of their team as a distinguishing factor from others.

"It is kind of like a big family," Barron said. "We can look out for each other and critique each other. We can have a good time while staying focused."

The family, as team members define themselves, is quite close indeed. Aside from sharing a fascination of blue skies, all four divers are pursuing engineering degrees.

Barron and Happick look forward to receiving their instructor licenses. They said they want to encourage younger people to participate.

Barron and Coffineau have a similar philosophy.

"As long as I can physically do it, I will never stop skydiving," Barron said.

In Coffineau's words, that simply means: "As long as I have enough time and money to skydive and eat well, I'll be happy."