Grantham, PA - The Messiah men's indoor track and field season kicked off this weekend when the Falcons competed in the River Hawk Open hosted by Susquehanna University. Among returners for the Falcons is senior Dane Cornelius who competes in the pole vault and multi events such as the heptathlon. Last year Cornelius had an impressive indoor season capping it off with a strong performance at MAC Indoor Championships. He finished first in the heptathlon, second in pole vault, and fifth in the 60-meter hurdles all of which earned him First and Second Team All-MAC honors. This past weekend he took second place in pole vault and looks to build off that performance leading up to MAC Indoor Championships which will take place Feb. 24-25 in Bethlehem, Pa.

We decided to learn more about Dane's experience in this week's edition of #WhyMessiah

What are the names of the rest of your family and where do you fall among siblings?
My parents are Tracy and Karla. I am the third of four children. Brennan and Tyler are my older brothers, and Karis is my little sister
 
Is there anything unique about your family or members of your family that you want to share?
Ever since we all graduated high school, gotten jobs, and started moving away, there is a lot of physical space between my siblings and me.  Despite that, we all have an awesome bond and strong communication. I love them a lot.
 
Why did you come to Messiah and/or why do you love being at Messiah?
Messiah was not initially a school that I was interested in. My brother Tyler went to Messiah 2 years before I got here, and so naturally, like any other little brother, I didn't want to have to fill his shoes by following suit. After spending some time on the campus and experiencing Messiah's environment I fell in love with the community here. I love being here now for the same reasons. Everyone I meet is friendly and that makes it so easy to be involved and engage with the campus.
 
If you could have dinner with one person in history, who would it be and why?
It would be cool to have dinner with Cornelius Warmerdam. I don't know much about him, but he held the pole vault world record for about 17 years, and was the first man to pole vault over 15 feet (and with a bamboo pole). It might be interesting to hear his philosophy of pole vault technique and compare how things have changed over the years as the sport has progressed. Also, his first name is my last name, so that's neat.
 
How do you balance your academic work and your commitment to your sport?
Being an athlete means that there will be times where it may be necessary to make sacrifices. Sometimes that means skipping lifting one day now and then, and other times it means going to bed an hour later than you wanted. I try my best to be efficient during the day and am usually able to make time so that I can do my best to succeed academically and athletically.
 
Who has most influenced your life and why?
I have different life experiences from each member of my family that are each as valuable as the next. My parents are amazing and have helped me to become a self-driven, Christ-seeking adult. My siblings are the first ones I go to when I need advice, or if I want to tell the story of when an 8th grader farted while I was teaching that day.
 
When did you start pole vaulting? How did you become interested in it?
I started pole-vaulting some time between 8^th and 9^th grade. I got an early start because my brother was a pole-vaulter and I wanted to be "cool" like him.
 
When you first started pole vaulting, what was that process like? Did you ever get scared or nervous?
I will never forget the first day that I pole-vaulted.  I first learned all of the basics, how to hold the pole, how to plant, what to do with my legs, and so on.  It was a little boring at first, but the drills are necessary for safety, and ultimately success.  After an hour or so of doing drills, my coach let me try to take a jump.  I was so bad, but it was so much fun.  I jumped once, hooked my feet over an 8-foot high bungee, and haven't looked back since.  

When you first learn how to pole vault, it is not very scary.  You are not going high enough to have a chance of injuring yourself.  In the beginning stages, a vaulter will "stick-vault", where there pole stays straight.  The scary part is when you first bend the pole.  The fiberglass feels like it is going to snap, and the mechanics of the vault suddenly change.  I have never seriously hurt myself by landing on the ground, but I have come close a few times when I was first learning how to bend the pole.  You have to be careful and go far enough forward to always land safely on the mat.

If you can describe it, what does it feel like when you are in the action of pole vaulting or clearing the bar?
When I pole vault, it feels like jumping off of the ground with extreme moon-bonce shoes. I leave the ground but then the momentum just keeps taking me up. The most satisfying thing about the sport is when you clear a bar; it just feels right, kind of like when you bowl a strike. The best thing is when you barely clear a new high bar with only a few inches to spare without touching it. The first thing I do after that happens is look up and think to myself, "Did I really just clear that?"
 
What is one thing about Coach Foegelsanger that those outside your team may not know?
Coach Foge can slip on his crocs any day of the week and still probably beat you in a 100-meter dash. He also knows about 20 words in the Spanish language now after our spring break trip to Peru.
 
What is special about your coaching staff and teammates, and how would you explain that to a recruit or someone outside of the program?
My coaching staff exemplifies a mixture of the compassion necessary to work with student-athletes and the knowledge and expertise to help me succeed on the track. Their willingness to work with each athlete is remarkable. I have learned a lot from each of my coaches, and it is easy to learn from them when they are so eager to help you.
 
What is one of your favorite team traditions and why?
I love doing the "Springer Mile" at the end of the season. We gather at the track at the end of the season and watch one of our own athletes try to break 5 minutes in a mile run. The whole team is there and cheers them on for fun, and it's a great time to spend with your teammates in a more laid-back environment.
 
What advice would you give to younger student-athletes looking to play a sport in college?
I always encourage younger athletes who are serious about their sport to play at the collegiate level. Being involved in sports helps me to manage my time between academics, athletics and my social life. It is also a great way to make some friends who already have a common interest as you. I love the friends who I have made through running!
 
What is your favorite Messiah memory?
During my freshman year, some guys decided to ride kick scooter to Sheetz late one night. This was the beginning of a journey that ended with us breaking a world record by collectively riding kick scooters for over 344 miles in 24 hours. I'll never forget that one.
 
If you had to answer the question #WhyMessiah what would you say?
If you're willing to work hard, there's a lot that you can accomplish. Messiah gives you more than just the tools that you need to survive. Here you will find opportunities to thrive in more ways than you ever expected.
 
 
 
 

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