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Inge signs scholarship to vault at Clemson

Ted Allen / Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: February 28, 2008

Two days after winning his third consecutive Northwest Region crown, on the eve of the Group AAA state meet, E.C. Glass senior pole vaulter Daniel Inge committed to Clemson University Thursday on a partial scholarship.

"I'll be jumping for a Division I school next year so I'm very excited," said Inge, who will be in the same recruiting class as Brookville's Ethan Nixon. "It was one of my top three choices and it has really strong athletics and academics (so) I'm really happy.

"Now I know where I'm going, I can relax and focus on getting better," he added. "It takes some of the pressure off my shoulders."

Inge, who won the Northwest Region title by clearing a meet-record 15 feet, 6 inches, will attempt to defend his indoor state championship tonight at George Mason University's Fieldhouse, where the pole vault is located right in the middle of the arena.

"My goal is to jump 16-1-, which would put me second all-time in the Virginia indoor season," said Inge, who won last year's event by clearing 14 feet. "It's going to take a lot more this year to win it."

Next year at Clemson, he will have even higher standards to strive for, replacing Mitch Greeley, a senior who is currently one of the top vaulters in the nation having cleared 18-1.

"That's definitely something to shoot for," Inge said. "It'll be tough, but that's why I'm going to Clemson, to achieve greater heights. Hopefully, I'll at least get an attempt at that height.

"They have a sophomore who has jumped 16-9, so their program is really strong in the vault," he added. "Hopefully, I can add something to it next year."

Inge and his older brother Paul, who competed at LU for one year, were coached by their father, David, all through high school. Next fall, he will receive instruction by Josh Langley, who has coached Greeley for four years.

Competing in the ACC, his family and friends will have the opportunity to see him at meets in North Carolina and Virginia over the next four years.

"Clemson's athletics has been just phenomenal over the past few years," Inge said, noting it just built an indoor facility that is one of the best in the nation. "Their track program has had so much success - they're up there with Florida State, battling for (the ACC title) every year."