It has been said that one way to achieve victory is to defeat the opponent mentally, before the actual competition even begins. There have been many fabled techniques such as the silent death stare or a ferocious growl, but nothing is more intimidating than a man with a mustache.

Red-shirt freshman pole-vaulter Mick Viken has been the most recent athlete to sport his own fear-striking facial features.

“I started growing my facial hair, for the most part out of laziness, but as it got thicker, I thought about what I could do with it, and three weeks later I went with the handle bar mustache,” Viken said.

Viken is one of the best athletes on Eastern’s track team this season, having already tied the university’s indoor record in his first season as a Panther, and currently being ranked in NCAA’s top 25 best.

If you look back through the history of sports from the past to the present day, you’ll find athletes who have achieved amazing sport success. Walter Payton was one of the NFL’s most celebrated running backs, while also leading the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl.

Patrick Ewing and David Robinson are two of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball and are both Hall of Famers. Randy Johnson could pitch a baseball 100 mph.

What do all these amazing athletes have in common? They all sported a mustache at one point in their careers.

Is current mustache wearer Mick Viken on his way to being in the same conversation as these guys? If Viken keeps performing the way he has been lately, he definitely will be. Though still early in his career as a Panther, I think Viken can go down as one of the best pole vaulters Eastern has ever had when it is all said and done.

With still a few meets left in the indoor season, Viken still has a chance to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. To qualify, he needs to clear 18 feet. So far this season, he hass only been able to clear 17-feet, 1-inch, but that was before the mustache.

Viken said he is going to keep the mustache for this Friday’s meet, and if he performs well with it, he will keep it for the OVC Indoor Championship.

“My competition will ‘fear the mustache’, rather than the more common, ‘fear the beard,'” Viken said.

Viken also said his mustache gives him confidence and also gives him a more stress-free attitude.

“It (has) gotten quite a few funny looks, but I do like it and think it’s pretty funny,” Viken said.

I’m very confident that Mick Viken, his mustache, and the rest of the Eastern track and field team will be very successful at this weekend’s meet, just as they’ve been at every competition.

The Panthers compete this Friday at Lantz Arena. I urge you, Panther Nation, to come take a look at one of the most impressive pole vaulters and mustache holders in the country. You will not be disappointed.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu