Matthew Hampton
Hampton hugs relay mate Mitch Pelroy after the Wolves tore up the track. Watching are Larry Hurlburt (left) and Sam Landau. (Shelli Trumbull photos)
Hampton drops back on defense for the Wolves.
Matthew Hampton is NOT your friend when he steps on the track oval or football field.
The Coupeville High School sophomore gets along well with his teammates, but he is a firm believer that an athlete doesn’t need to go around hugging their opponents. While he’s not exactly prone to shred people with his spikes, he takes the competition side of sports seriously.
“Many of my friends have taught me small things; the main one I take to heart is when you’re on the field, court or track with another team, is that you don’t give any respect to them unless they earned it,” Hampton said. “Bring good sportsmanship, but don’t talk to them or smile at them.
“You bring 100% every time until it’s all over,” he added. “Then you walk away as a winner.”
It’s an attitude that has paid off nicely for Hampton. He went as far as tri-districts as a freshman, running in the 800 meters and as a leg on a speedy 4 x 400 relay squad with Mitch Pelroy, Sam Landau and Larry Hurlburt. While his taste of the big-time was nice, he’s looking for more this year.
“I would like to go to state, to win as many races as I can, or at least place in them,” Hampton said. “And I would like to achieve a 4:45 mile time by the end of the season.”
Hampton, who first took up track in 7th grade (“I started because I wanted to do every sport that year”), soon fell hard for the sport. While he has trouble deciding between football and track as his favorite sport, the Zen-like qualities of running appeal to him.
“I love track because it’s calm, quiet, it’s simple, not as complex,” Hampton said. “It’s not as stressful. I don’t have to rely on someone to cover my back. It would be all on me.
“When it comes to competition, I don’t give up easy,” he added. “I work well with others and I always try my hardest. I’d like to work on being more aggressive, and also need to work on running harder while keeping a pace.”
Hampton is also a rising star on the gridiron for the Wolves (“I love the speed and intensity on the field”), lettering this past season while seeing time on both sides of the ball.
When he’s not wearing the red and black, he balances time in the weight room, driver’s ed, his girlfriend and video games, all played out to a constant soundtrack.
“I love listening to music,” he said. “I love all kinds of music.”
And, through it all, he always has a rock to lean on in the woman who brought him into this world.
“My mother makes the biggest impact in my life,” Hampton said. “She gives me the support that everything is gonna be OK, no matter what.”
Read Full Post »
Coupeville Sports 