Cornell Freeney's German Wheel

Cornell Freeney has performed in several circus troupes.  Locally he is part of the Illinois State University Gamma Phi Circus.  The Circus performs in mid-April, but a couple of times a year if you attend ISU sporting events you can get a sneak peek.  Usually during a football game, they get a small group together to "kick" a field goal with a human being.  It's not as punishing as it sounds, they use a swinging platform to propel a young man over the horizontal bar of the goal post.  He lands on a very think mat on the other side.  It's pretty fun to watch, but we always wish the Redbirds would get extra points for it.  The official scorer never sees it that way.

During basketball season, there is usually a halftime show around an act from the circus.  The last couple of years, it has been the German Wheel.  A wheel that must be 7 or 8 feet across and a couple of feet think, it is two rims with some cross members and some places to anchor your feet and hold onto with your hands.  The performer - in this years case - Cornell Freeney, gets in and on it while it is spinning or turning, or both.  It's a pretty fun thing to watch.

Photo Gallery of Cornell Freeney at Redbird's half time is by Alan Look Photography - the Best Look in Sports Action Photography.  Alan Look Photography publishes Best Look Magazine and also contributes to the Normalite newspapers.

-chimper-