Pole vaulter tries to be 'all he can be'

White juggles being a college student and pole vaulter with being a U.S. Army Reserve

Bob Shaughnessy/Staff Reporter

Eastern track and field pole vaulter Dorrian White was a state champion in high school and was Ohio Valley Conference champion in the indoor last season. White also serves as a U.S. Army Reserve. (Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News)

Submitted Photo

Dorrian White was the state pole vault champion in high school.

But when he was choosing a college, the Eastern junior pole vaulter wanted to serve his country.

After completing one year of college, White decided to follow his lifelong dream and follow in the paths of his parents, so he decided to enroll in the U.S. Army.

"Ever since I was really little I have been a big G.I Joe fan and both of my parents were in the military," White said. "My mother was in the Navy, and my father was in the Marines, and I needed money to go to college and at the same time it could get me some (college) credits."

In August 2005, White signed an eight-year contract with the U.S. Army Reserves and shortly after headed off to Fort Knox, Ky.

This is where he began his training.

He was then stationed in Virginia, and this summer, he will leave for California.

"My first year at college was kind of rough, but when I came back from the military I felt I went through a maturing phase," White said. "When I got back I was really focused on what I wanted to do and what I wanted to get out of college."

White is the top pole vaulter in the conference right now.

He won the pole vault competition at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in the outdoor last season and was second in the pole vault at the indoor conference championships last season. During his freshman season, he won the indoor title and was third in the event in the outdoor season.

When he is not vaulting through the air, White is interrogating the enemy.

White said being a Human Intelligence Interrogator has really helped him succeed in college and will help him succeed in life.

After leaving Eastern, White said he would like to get into political psychology.

He said that it goes along with his job description and is something the military has prepared him for.

"I haven't decided yet, but I think I might try to go to graduate school here and if not I might go to active duty," White said.

Despite the fact that White is one of the best pole vaulters in the OVC, he has not always been interested in the sport.

"In high school the track coach saw me tumbling, he came down and asked me if I had ever thought of pole vaulting," White said. "I was like I don't even know what a pole vault is.

He said I would be a good candidate because I have a lot of speed and upper body strength."

White will try to focus his mind on winning his pole vault competition at the Friday Night Special in Lantz Fieldhouse on Friday and not on interrogating the enemy.

The time of his event is still to be announced as the competition is an all day event.

Bob Shaughnessy can be reached at 581-7944 or at rrshaughnessy@eiu.edu.