Peter Hammer’s state championship victory for Liberty Christian School was a great accomplishment, but the Argyle wrestler already had his sights set on bigger goals.
Hammer headed to Lehigh University in late February to compete in nationals, seeded eighth in a field of the top 64 wrestlers in the country in the 130-pound weight class.
A senior at Liberty Christian School, Hammer’s is an interesting story; from an orphan in Costa Rica, to a member of the school’s cross-country team, to an elite wrestler, Hammer said his life has been an amazing journey.
“It was tough when we first got here,” Hammer said. “We were put in elementary school in Plano, and it was a bi-lingual school, but the teachers told our parents that the Spanish we were speaking was really slang.
“They told us we should probably just stop speaking Spanish, learn English, and then start back in Spanish. We decided to be home schooled for five years, and then fortunately, I ended up at Liberty.”
Hammer said winning a state championship in wrestling took some effort for him, but was ultimately quite rewarding.
“For me, it was hard work, mental toughness and having fun,” Hammer said. “I won the TAPPS last year, and I wanted to win the Preps state tournament this year. It was a great feeling.”
The Argyle teen won the TAPPS and Preps state championship this school year.
Hammer is also a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor’s Society, and Cross-Country team and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average at Liberty Christian School.
Hammer said there are a number of things he will remember about his time at Liberty, but said most important were the relationships he developed.
“I think it’s the fun times I had in the classroom and with my best friends and in the wrestling room,”
Hammer said. “Just getting to know people over the years, and becoming really good friends.”
Hammer has been offered a wrestling scholarship to Oklahoma State University, but has not yet decided where he will go to college.
Know of an Outstanding Student that you would like us to recognize? Let us know!
.jpg)
