The many faces (and smiles) of Hailey Hammer.
At first, it seemed like Hailey Hammer would be living in a large shadow.
Not only was older brother Hunter six-foot-seven, but he combined basketball and track excellence with a camera-lovin’ personality few could hope to match.
But it was never quite as it seemed.
Because, when we look back at the last four years, it becomes very clear.
Hailey has projected a pretty dang big shadow of her own.
The female Wolf athletes who follow in her footsteps — many of whom she has taken a personal hand in mentoring — have an ideal to live up to now.
In Hailey Hammer they have that rarity, an athlete who was not merely a varsity player in three sports (volleyball, basketball and softball) from the first moments of her freshman year, but a player who was at the heart and core of every one of those teams.
The very definition of rock solid, Hammer has earned her keep every step of the way.
She is where she is today, and has been there for the past four years, not because of nepotism or favoritism, but because she works as hard as anyone who reps the red and black.
Whether she loves the sport (softball) or plays it to help her friends (basketball), Hailey puts a capitol E in effort. She sells out on every play but never sells out on her teammates.
She reminds me so much at times of Bessie Walstad, which is natural since the duo played two years together and have always been close friends.
Hailey, like Bessie, is so solid, so reliable, so matter-of-fact about how she goes about her work, that she may never fully be appreciated until she’s gone.
Others soar high for a second. Hammer flies along at the top day in, day out.
And, through it all, she has come to be almost as much of a natural ham as her brother.
While she has always been quieter than Hunter was, Hailey comes alive in front of the cameras these days. It’s so nice to see her allow her sunny personality to reach out not just to her close friends but also to everyone in the cheap seats.
In 24 years of covering high school sports, I have seen talented athletes waste their potential. I have seen marginal athletes play above their pay grade, achieving on pure grit and guts.
When you stumble across one like Hailey, who has talent and doesn’t shy away from embracing it, it’s a beautiful thing.
As she celebrates her birthday Wednesday, I just want to say “Thank you, Miss Hammer.”
Thank you for being yourself, a talented athlete and better person. Thank you for allowing us to go on this ride with you as you grew from a shy 9th grader into a confident senior.
There is more out there for you. I have no doubt we will see you play college softball.
But wherever you go, whatever you end up doing in the years ahead, in sports or life, thank you from a nation of your fans for these years.
Keep making that shadow bigger and bigger, Hailey.
We will always be behind you, cheering you on. Always.
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