Dutch Perryman (AZ) signs with U. of Arizona

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.ahwatukee.com/afn/sports/art ... 5525e.html

Perryman's destination takes him to UofA campus




By Jim Powers
Sports Editor




For the past year, Dutch Perryman has known exactly where his destiny lay.




His decision to quit basketball after his junior year and devote himself completely to the pole vault laid the groundwork for the next four years.




Starting in the fall, the Desert Vista High School senior will attend the University of Arizona on a scholarship for both his athletic and academic prowess.




"I wanted to pole vault in college, and I worked hard to give myself the best opportunity possible," Perryman said.




The Wildcats expressed interest in Perryman before the track season began, but Perryman also looked at Arizona State University, New Mexico, Kansas and Texas Christian.




"When I went on my visit to Arizona, I liked the campus and I got along well with the other vaulters," Perryman said. "So I started off feeling comfortable with them, and as time went along, I became more impressed with the school."




Perryman, who achieved the best vault in the state this spring when he cleared 16 feet, 1 inch at the Central Region meet on May 6, said he would have had no qualms about attending school out of state.




"I wanted to look at it from every side, and I was open to whatever opportunity was best for me," he said. "If I had ended up going out of state, I would have made it work. It's nice to be close and be able to come home whenever I want."




Perryman joins two other pole vaulters at U of A with East Valley ties in Mountain Pointe grad Adam Ziminsky and Tempe Corona del Sol product Sam Jacobson. Desert Vista pole vault coach Jeff Guy has coached five vaulters who wound up at the Tucson campus, and believes it will be a good fit for Perryman as well.




"The overall package they presented was very attractive," Guy said. "I think there is only an upside to Dutch's potential. If I was a college coach, I would have been after him."




Guy was part of the equation when Perryman made the decision to drop basketball and focus entirely on pole vault as a senior. The results were visible not only by Perryman's marks in meets, but by his work ethic.




"He has become a student of the sport," Guy said. "He studies the bio-mechanics of the sport, and he studies himself. He can definitely be competitive next year in the Pac-10 (Conference) and NCAA regional meet. He could be close to clearing 18 feet by the time he is a junior."




Perryman knows there will be days when 18 feet seems like trying to clear a skyscraper. At the Meet of Champions on May 21 in Tempe, Perryman was only able to clear his opening height of 14-6.




"The whole sport has its ups and downs," Perryman said. "I think there will be a lot more ups, but on those down days you have to look past and know better days are ahead. At the same time, you look at the bad days for what you can improve on and what you did wrong."




Guy said it's not uncommon for pole vaulters to peak much later than most athletes, citing the average age of male pole vault medallists at the 2004 Summer Olympics was 32.




"It's not like you're over the hill at 26 like some other sports," Guy said. "The sport is really about refining the technique."




Perryman's late entry into a full-time commitment to the sport fits that "late bloomer" profile. "He's hasn't really grown into his body yet," Guy said.




And time is definitely on his side.




"It's a relief to finally know where I'm going," Perryman said. "You don't have to worry as much."

[opalkak]

Welcome to the wildcat family. I hope you have at least as much fun as I did.