Coaches, Hammer sisters make "Dream Team" by Phil Trombley (11/25/05)
Elk Rapids Cross Country coaches Chris Adams and Ed Hammer have been named the area's top coaches as part of this year's Traverse City Record-Eagle All-Region Dream Team, following a season that saw the Elks girls team earn a fourth place finsih at the state final meet in Brooklyn earlier this month.
This season the Lady Elks captured a third-straight Lake Michigan Conference title, as well as a fifth-straight Division 3 regional championship. In the last three seasons the team has placed fourth, fifth and fourth in the state.
The Elks also sent two individual runners to the boys final meet, sophomore Thomas Lucas and junior Erik Sundberg. Hammer and Adams have shared the boys and girls cross country coaching duties for the past five years, and together they credit their teams' success to the high caliber athletes that come into the program year after year.
"We have been working hard for the past five years rasing the standards and getting our athletes to understand our concept of team and leadership. There is great value in hard work, and there is no shortcut to excellence," said Adams.
"We are pleased to be able to coach a great group of talented athletes and we've appreciated having the opportunity to be part of their lives," Hammer added.
Two other members of the Hammer household were also recognized-daughter Bethany earned a spot on the All-Region Dream Team, while her sister Amanda was selected for the All-Region First Team.
A three-year all-state honoree, junior Bethany placed eighth in Brooklyn this year. She was second in the conference, third at the regionals, and currently holds the school record with a time of 18:56.
Amanda posted the fastest freshman time in school history this year, clocking a 19:05 in her final race. She placed third in the conference, fourth at regionals and 16th in the state. Amanda has now become the second fastest runner in Elk Rapids Cross Country history behind her sister Bethany.