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'Gentle giant' trains hard, wins big in track
By TERRY JONES LUTZ -- Doug Pokorny attended 11 schools in 12 years. The son of a naval officer believes being a military brat helped him develop character. But he owes his success to more than that. Pokorny's focus on academics and an outstanding grade point average helped him make a place for himself in each new community. He also has made a place for himself on the athletic fields. Now the 6-foot-7 Sickles High senior is one of the top discus and shot put throwers in Hillsborough County. And he played a successful season as an offensive lineman for the Gryphons football team. "Traveling and going to new schools was very uncomfortable for me at first," Pokorny said. "I even attended three different schools one year. But it forced me to develop my social skills, because basically I am very shy. But I look at it like this: I have been able to see more things and meet more people than most anyone I know. That is a good thing." So far, Pokorny is 8-1 in his two field events in individual competition and one of the top throwers in the county. His best shot distance so far is 48 feet 8 inches, and for the discus it is 140 feet. "In our field events, Doug is our top scorer in every meet," said Sickles track coach John Diehl. "He is a very hard worker and is reliably consistent in every event. We have come to count on the team points he provides for us in his events." Training is very important to the gentle giant who lives in Villa Rosa. In addition to the time spent training each day with his team, he lifts weights twice a week and jogs 3 miles on his own several days a week. "In elementary school I was always too big to play youth football, but my size turned to my advantage in high school," he said. "My grandfather threw the shot and the discus, so when I was unable to play football in grammar school I started track." He practices his footwork in the family driveway several days a week. "I really never had the help of a throwing coach," he said. "All my track coaches specialized in other events, so they basically taught me how to hold the put and discus. Everything else I picked up from the better athletes I competed against. I watched their moves and practiced them on my own." Pokorny's activities are not limited to athletics and academics. In June 2000, he became an Eagle Scout while his dad was stationed in California. For his achievement project, he reconstructed a library and a children's playroom in a women's abuse center in California. He also raised funds to place more than 500 books in the library and $400 worth of toys in the playroom. As part of his Scouting activities, he now helps tutor children with learning disabilities. He plans to attend his father's alma mater, the University of Florida, where his brother is a sophomore. After completing pre-med studies, he hopes to join the U.S. Navy and earn his medical degree. If time allows, he will try to be a walk-on with the football team, the track team or both.
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