Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/180321
Taking the Plunge By Matt Weitzel B onding with teammates during the offseason pays dividends during the season and provides unforgettable memories. Take University of Iowa football student-athletes Kevonte Martin-Manley and Jacob Hillyer. This summer, the duo experimented with something new and exciting. They went skydiving. Both decided on a sunny Saturday afternoon in June to take a plunge for the first time in Brooklyn, Iowa. "Skydiving is something I've wanted to do ever since I was little, so I was like 'Yeah, why not?'" Martin-Manley said. Both were nervous while the airplane climbed to the jump-point elevation of 9,000 feet. "My hands were sweaty," said Martin-Manley. "I looked down and thought, "Am I really about to jump out of this plane?" "I was nervous before I jumped, but once I was in the air, the butterflies were gone; I felt free," said Hillyer, a sophomore from Somerset, Texas. "It was an awesome experience. I'm glad I got the opportunity to experience something like that." Once leaving the plane, they dropped at a rate of 120 miles per hour for about a mile before the parachute deployed. Martin-Manley, who currently leads Hawkeye receivers in catches (20) and receiving yards (169), went through a wide range of feelings once he left the plane. "My favorite part was when I jumped," said MartinManley. "Once you're in the air, the first 20 feet or so feels like a roller coaster feeling -- your belly gets tight. Then after that, you are free-falling and you feel free floating in the air coming down looking down at everything. It was a cool feeling." Senior teammate Jordan Cotton wasn't surprised to hear that his fellow receivers went skydiving. "They both like going up high and doing adventurous stuff," said Cotton. Cotton said the duo tried to get him to go as well, but it "wasn't his thing." "I'm afraid of heights," explained Cotton. "I would never do that." Sophomore receiver Tevaun Smith was invited to go as well, but admitted he was too nervous. "They asked me to go, but I was too afraid," said Smith. "If they decide to go again in the future, I'll probably give it a try." Martin-Manley enjoyed the experience and would do it again. "It was a lot of fun," said the native of Pontiac, Mich. "It was one of the best things I've ever done in my life." Hillyer, who has five receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns this year, echoed Martin-Manley's feelings. "It was a good moment in my life," Hillyer said. "I think I will do it again." 19