In 2014, Illinois Wesleyan senior Joey Pacione (Itasca, Ill., Lake Park HS) was the winner of the triple jump in both the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin indoor and outdoor championship meets.
Pacione was the triple jump outdoor champion in 2013 and 2012 and was second in the indoor triple jump in 2013 and 2012. As a freshman he was fifth in the outdoor and fourth in the indoor triple jump in the CCIW meet.
He was named CCIW Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week once as a senior.
A psychology major at Illinois Wesleyan, he is the son of Vito and Deanne Pacione.
Why you chose Illinois Wesleyan: It was much better academically than North Central. Plus Coach Shoe is the man
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: Psychology Statistics, I think I’m the only student who ever enjoyed that class
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Sharing the weight room with a bunch of old people from the community
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? I failed Anatomy here my sophomore year but I retook it and conquered it this year.
I’m deathly afraid of ... : Heights
Worst habit: Cracking my knuckles
Most expensive traffic ticket: I missed the court date so it wound up being pretty rough
Language I’d like to learn: Italian, then I’d be able to know the secrets that my grandpa tells my family members.
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: A few hours. Maybe.
One word your mother or father would use to describe you: Amazing
Favorite sports figure: Muhammad Ali. I just dig the extreme confidence that he had. He knew he was the greatest and let you know it too.
My greatest moment in sports was: Honestly my whole senior year has been a dream. Winning indoor and outdoor conference in triple jump, setting huge personal bests, and qualifying for nationals.
The best player I ever faced was: Patrick Zeunik from Augustana. He was second in the nation in D3 triple jump.
Worst dresser on my team: Don’t want to step on any toes. But a certain teammate tucks his shirt in no matter what the occasion.
Thing that’s been in my fridge the longest: Banana bread from Easter. It’s kind of banana rock now.
Person I’m dying to have dinner with: Tom Thibodeau
Favorite food: Pulled pork sandwiches from Sweet Baby Ray’s restaurant
Vegetable I won’t eat: Eggplant still weirds me out
Pepsi or Coke? Water
Favorite TV show: "Friday Night Lights". Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.
Favorite musical group: Probably still Van Halen after all these years
Favorite movie: "The Dark Knight". I saw it 5 times opening weekend
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: James Franco, I’ve been told that when my hair is long I look slightly like him. But I’m talking "Spiderman" James Franco
If my life were on TV as a reality show, I’d call it: I am not nearly creative enough to answer this question
The person in history I would most like to meet is: My great grandfather, I have heard so many amazing things about him and how much I would like him.
My dream job would be: Coaching track for the rest of my life
Place I’d most like to live: My hometown of Itasca, IL
Two things that are tops on my “bucket list”: Being an All-American and visiting Italy. I’ve got three weeks to get the first one, and a lot longer to take care of the second.
My possession that would fetch the most on eBay: Some shirts and posters that a few bands have autographed.
Who is the luckiest person in the world? Whoever drafts Johnny Manziel this summer.
What I miss most about being in the third grade: We got a candy bar every time we got an A on a test
