Oct. 9, 2008
From Lehigh Athletic Media Relations
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Mark Dangleis was just another fearless fifth grader when his club soccer coach decided to try something new. The coach had seen another athlete execute a flipping throw in during a soccer game, and he wanted to know if any of his players could do a front handspring.
"I had a trampoline my entire life, so I said `yeah i'll try it,'" Dangleis said. "I was the only one on the team that could it."
So Dangleis' coach gave him a ball and asked him to try the flipping throw in. He couldn't get the timing down the first few tries, struggling to plant his feet and time the throw so it soared threw the air. But Dangleis kept trying.
He went back to his trampoline and worked on his form and timing. He continued to grow stronger and more coordinated, and eventually the skill became a part of his game. As Dangleis got a little older, his club soccer coaches asked him to stop the acrobatic stunt because they feared he would injure himself and risk his career.
For the rest of the article on Lehigh's Mark Dangleis, click here.
