Junior, John Kasey on teammate, and best friend, Trayton White (Junior)

- By Kyle Dunaway

KD: When you think of Trayton, what are some of the things that come to mind?

JK: Jesus Christ, Jimmy Hoffa, Handicap Parking, Honk if you’re deaf!, Jokes that are not funny, and Albert Einstein.

KD: Ok, lets pick these off one by one… Jimmy Hoffa ??

JK: Trayton’s Dad is a Transportation Engineer, Trayton has been known to wear teamster gear and to make not so idol threats that he knows where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. He has no problem helping you join him (Hoffa).

KD: Why don’t you believe him?

JK: Umm, because the only thing Trayton knows are verses out of the Bible and Chemistry equations. He is about as harmless as a little girl.

KD: Enough said.

KD: Now, for that, “Honk if you’re deaf!” statement.

JK: My first memory of Trayton was when we were pledge brothers, and I hadn’t really even met him yet. I remember walking into the cold dorm and a group of people was standing around starring at one end of the cold dorm where Trayton’s bed happened to be.

KD: Ok…

JK: Above his bed was a bumper sticker on the wall that said “Honk if you’re deaf!,” and all I knew about Trayton at the time was that he was hearing impaired. We were all worried that whomever had put the sticker there had gone too far. Next thing you know, Trayton walks into the room and everyone was silent. He walked up to his bunk, and began laughing in his ridiculous, obnoxious laugh (that he maintains he only laughs that way because he cannot hear himself). Since then, I have made it a college quest of mine to see how much I can insult Trayton until I piss him off.

KD: So, have you been close to being successful in your quest?

JK: On quite a few occasions…I don’t want to brag.

KD: Albert Einstein… explain that one.

JK: Trayton is the academic poster-boy for the college. He is really very smart and totally insane.

KD: How so?

JK: At one time, he was a Bio/Chem double major and still had great grades.

KD: Have you ever taken advantage of his intelligence or learned any valuable academic lessons from Trayton?

JK: Trayton pretty much single-handedly got me through Calculus, so yes. That, and he is good to have around at dinner when you are figuring out a tip.

KD: What has made your friendship so great over these past few years?

JK: I would like to think that what keeps us close is Trayton borrowing my dress clothes. He doesn’t know how to tie a tie yet, so I guess he still needs me. Up until this year, we were the only two swimmers in the Fiji house and I guess we kind of got to know each other through the sport.

KD: Does having your best friend on the team help you fight through any adversity you might face throughout the season?

JK: Uh, I guess it could help. We mostly wake each other up in the morning and make jabs at each other’s character on a regular basis. When it comes to swimming though, Trayton and I both know the only reason we are still around is because we can both tell stories about how it used to be. These freshmen are way too fast!

Stay tuned for Trayton White on John Kasey next week!!

(Top Photo: From Left to Right: John Kasey and Trayton White relax during "Swimming Ranger Day")