Long-time Grinnell College track and field coach Will Freeman will be inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame next spring. Freeman was a pole vaulter for the Gators in the 1970s and during his time captured five Southeastern Conference titles. He says it was a great time to be a part of the track program as they won the schools first SEC title.
Freeman made two bids to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team before joining the coaching ranks at Grinnell. He says the Olympic trials were in Eugene, Oregon both times that he competed in 1976 and 1980 and he did make the finals, but said it wasn’t to be and he didn’t make the team. Freeman says he had a wonderful run the whole time he was down there.
By John Martinson KGRN Grinnell