At Franklin & Marshall College, squash is always in season.
And no one can crush the ball off a wall like John White.
"They call him 'The Great White,'" said Joe McManus, the Commissioner and Chief Executive of US Pro Squash, Inc. "Because he's such a big player; he's a larger than life personality and he's done things on the squash court that no one in history's been able to do."
What's so special about this guy from Australia?
Other than a great nickname and being a former world number-one?
White is the heaviest hitter this planet has ever seen.
John is 6'3" with long arms and quick, powerful wrists. He also has a special swing that helps him rip tiny rockets off his racquet. "It's more of letting the wrist and the arm come through and flowing with it," said White, a native of Queensland, Australia, and a Scottish national, of his swing. "Its something I've had since a junior age."
White once had a squash shot that was clocked at 172 miles per hour. It's still a world record. It happened in 2005. Does he still have that kind of power?
Sports Director Jason Bristol brought a radar gun to F&M and let White have it.
"I got you at 140 (MPH)," said Bristol.
"Are you disappointed by that? Is that about right, or...?" asked Bristol.
"Its been awhile," replied White. "I'm happy with 140 today."
Its been awhile because "The Great White" is now focused on becoming a great coach.
That's John's title now - the college named him Director of Squash and Head Men's and Women's Squash Coach in September 2007 - and he's been attracting players to F&M from countries like India and Brazil.
"Everyone knows his name and everyone knows how important he is to the squash community," said Guilherme de Melo, a freshman at Franklin & Marshall and a native of Brazil.
"I remember when I was 14 and I used to play with his racquet; a racquet with his name on it," said Gabriel de Melo, Guilherme's brother and a sophomore at Franklin & Marshall.
And White can still handle one, obviously, even though he's semi-retired.
He'll compete in a world class squash event called the Franklin and Marshall Invitational Pro Squash Tournament on April 8-11. Among the other players involved: David Palmer, 2-time World Champion and Australian National Champion; Wael El Hindi, 2008 Egyptian National Champion and World Top 10 player; Chris Gordon, the United States' #3 ranked player and Japan Pro Squash Yokohama Champion; Jens Schoor, the German #2 ranked player and Paulaner Squash Open Champion
John's world record, however, appears to be safe.
White's players at Franklin & Marshall can't top it and recently some players overseas tried to beat it - and couldn't come close.
"I sent them a little email telling not to try (topping the record), they just can't beat 'The Great White,'" laughed John.
"It's great to have (the record); its something I've had for so long and for people to try and beat your record - from all around the world - it's brilliant."
