Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 5 | May 2019

An All-American in his event, Virginia Tech pole vaulter Deakin Volz is always aiming higher no matter the risk— a mentality he came to inherit from his father and two older brothers who also own success in the event by Jimmy Robertson The barn sits just behind the family’s house on a 23-acre piece of property just a 20-minute drive from the sights and sounds of downtown Bloomington, Indiana. The property allows for farming, hunting and fishing opportunities. In general, this pastoral setting hardly seems like the location for any sort of excitement, but the barn serves as spot where a family of daredevils enjoys their fun. The barn features a homemade pole vaulting pit, and for those not well versed in track and field’s pole vault event, it involves running down a runway with a 10- to 14-foot pole in one’s hand and then using the pole to catapult oneself upside down momentarily and then up and over a bar set at a predetermined height. The higher, of course, the better. For sure, it seems like an odd hobby. After all, wholesome Midwestern families are known for playing cornhole, sledding, or hardcore Monopoly games at the evening dinner table. But for the family of Virginia Tech pole vaulter Deakin Volz, they prefer more thrill-seeking stuff. “It’s definitely a dangerous thing,” Volz admitted. “It’s tough, especially considering that you’re flinging yourself 18 feet into the air.” This barn and this homemade pit are where Volz got his start in this unique event, and it remains the location where he and his two older brothers gather regularly to determine the family champion. Deakin currently holds the crown after the latest brother battle. “Not by much,” he said. “I’ve got the middle brother [Drew] beat by four centimeters or something like that, so it’s pretty close.” Not that any of that really matters. Virginia Tech never has needed Volz to be the best in his family. The Hokies’ director of track and field and cross country, Dave Cianelli, and pole vault coach Bob Phillips only needed him to be the best in the ACC and one of the best in the country – something he has been able to do routinely during each of his four years in Blacksburg. This past February, Volz won the gold medal in the pole vault at the ACC Indoor Championships, becoming a back-to-back winner in the event at the league’s indoor meet and adding to his collection of ACC medals. He has won a combined five medals at the ACC’s indoor and outdoor meets (two golds, a silver and two bronzes) during his career. inside.hokiesports.com 41 Continued on page 42 track & field spotlight deakin volz