Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 12, 1993                   TAG: 9306140323
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium

HELL LOOKS LIKE A MIND GAME TO FLOYD GRAD

He's thinking about hell.

That's what Goorskey says West Point cadets call the first year of study - "plebe year" - at the 190-year-old U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

Goorskey, a reserved 18-year-old honor student from Check, was accepted to West Point in January, fulfilling a goal he set for himself when he was a freshman.

"I've wanted to go in the Army ever since I was a little kid," he said. "I started looking into West Point about three years ago. The more I found out about it, the more I liked it."

Goorskey said the academy solved his indecision between college and the military. Once he realized he could do both at West Point, he began doing what he had to do to be accepted.

It wasn't easy.

West Point requires a congressional recommendation and has stringent physical, medical and academic prerequisites for the 1,400 cadets accepted each year.

But Goorskey doesn't like to talk about the high school accomplishments that got him into West Point. Ask him about his 3.78 grade-point average, his recommendation from Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, or all the clubs, athletics and other after-school endeavors and his face turns as red as the hair on his head.

"I did OK, I guess," he said.

Goorskey will begin his career at West Point on June 28, the first day of a six-week training period for new students.

Once boot camp is over and the academic year begins, there will be physical training, inspections, mental harassment from upperclassmen, and a few classes here and there.

Goorskey said a plebe's day starts about 5 a.m. After cleaning brass and shining shoes, plebes must memorize the front page of the paper, the sports page, the day's menus and other miscellaneous information so they can repeat it on command.

And that's before breakfast.

Plebes get 5 minutes of harassment at every formation, distribute laundry, set and clear tables at the mess hall, and usually are so busy during the day that they have to do their homework with a flashlight under the covers after lights out, Goorskey said.

Is it really hell, then?

"Nahhh," Goorskey said with a grin. "I think It's just a game, and you have to play the way they want you to. It all depends on whether you can mentally take it or not."

After four years at West Point, graduates must enlist in the Army for six years. Goorskey said he probably will stay in for life. He said he wants to study engineering or law.

\ FLOYD COUNTY HIGH CLASS OF '93\ \ NUMBER OF GRADUATES: 141

NUMBER OF HONOR GRADUATES: 25

VALEDICTORIAN: Donna Renee Boyd

SALUTATORIAN: Amara Franko

NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS: 36

VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS: $354,000

COMMENCEMENT TIME & LOCATION: June 12, 8 p.m. at the Floyd County High School football field. Commencement will be moved into the auditorium in the event of rain.

COLLEGE-BOUND GRADUATES: 75

MILITARY-BOUND GRADUATES: 9