Sports Briefs

The conversation got him thinking. After college, Hammer joined the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field Team, where he was able to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the 1,500-meters and the marathon. In 2013, he decided to try out a new sport: triathlon. Despite not having a training background in swimming or biking, two of the three elements of a triathlon race, he felt his longdistance running success would translate. Since then, he has no regrets in his decision to branch out into triathlon. Competing on the USA Paratriathlon National Team, Hammer was a bronze medalist at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in 2014, 2017 and 2019. He also competed as a Paralympian in the last two Olympics, held in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, and has 21 ITU Paratriathlon international event podium finishes in 29 total races (including nine first-place finishes). “I have met amazing people and developed life-long friendships,” Hammer explained. “It has granted me knowledge and experiences that make me a better coach.”

Hammer guided the Senators to an excellent 2019 season, which saw Natalia Hidalgo Martinez capture the individual Division II crown at the National Championships and finish third overall among all competitors, on his way to the USA Triathlon NCAA DII Coach of the Year award.

This year, Hammer trained for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a feat he would have never considered 15 years ago, especially while holding a full-time coaching job. “There is just never enough time in the day to get to everything I want done,” Hammer said. “It’s important to me that my family and my D&E athletes always come first. I get in the training that I can, but I always feel like I should be doing more. “I think being a coach is very helpful in my preparation for Tokyo … it is so refreshing and motivating to be around young student-athletes daily,” Hammer said. “They keep me grounded and make me smile on a daily basis.” Outside of his family and student-athletes, Hammer’s personal coach, Wes Johnson, is his biggest influence in the sport of triathlon. “He is one of the most dedicated coaches I have ever met. He is also a friend and a mentor,” Hammer explained. “His coaching of me has a direct impact on my coaching of the D&E triathletes, as major parts of his coaching philosophy and training periodization preferences have become my own.” Davis & Elkins competed in an abbreviated 2021 season this spring, heading to Florida for a pair of races before wrapping up the year in North Carolina.

Volleyball Shows Steady Progress in Willis’ First Season

David & Elkins had an exciting 2020-21 season under first-year head coach Jordan Willis, going 9-3 overall in a condensed campaign with an undefeated home record. Davis & Elkins, which ended the season one game shy of the conference championship game, received two First Team All-MEC selections and added another to the Second Team. Juniors Macie Magallon and Brilane Manchego were named First Team AllMEC selections and sophomore Molly Jandris landed on the Second Team for the Senators. Six of the Senators nine wins came via sweep, including the regular season finale and MEC Quarterfinal round against nearby West Virginia Wesleyan. Magallon ranked ninth nationally in kills/set (4.52) and points/set (5.06) while Manchego was 26th in DII with 10.24 assists/set.

Chris Hammer competes in the 2012 Paralympics in Rio.

Sports Briefs

Arnaud Earns National Runner of the Week Twice for D&E Cross Country

Davis & Elkins sophomore Emeric Arnaud earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Runner of the Week honors twice this season. Arnaud captured the individual crown the Mountain East Conference (MEC) XC Championships in Wheeling, cruising through the 8K course in 25:51.87 while helping the Davis & Elkins men’s team to a runner-up finish. Arnaud, who was named the National Runner of the Week following the season opener, became the first men’s cross country conference champion since 1993. The native of Annecy Le Vieux, France, picked up MEC Runner of the Year accolades and capped the brief spring cross country season with first-place showings in both races on March 5 and March 20.

Blood Named NCATA Specialist of the Week

Davis & Elkins senior Deanna Blood was named the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association’s specialist of the week following the season-opening competition against Glenville

State College. Blood, a native of Sarasota, Fla., helped D&E to an 8.55 out of a possible 9.10 in the duo tumbling pass, before returning later in the event to score a 9.65 out of a possible 9.85 in her individual tumbling pass, the aerial pass. Blood returned the following week to score another impressive 9.55 out of 9.85 at the competition against West Liberty University. Blood currently is a part of a program high in the open pyramid (9.9/10) and has helped break 12 program records in this 2021 season. MEC Recognizes Rolle, Walton

Davis & Elkins men’s basketball had two players receive recognition from the Mountain East Conference (MEC). Sam Rolle IV was named the league’s Freshman of the Year and junior Breland Walton picked up Second Team all-conference laurels.

Rolle, a native of Riviera Beach, Florida, earned the honor after ranking among the conference leaders in several categories this season. He led the MEC in assists this season with 7.23, and his 18.9 points per game ranked 13th in the conference and first among freshmen in the league. He also managed 1.92 steals per game – tops among freshmen and fourth in the MEC. The precocious guard ranks second in the nation in assists/game and finished the year with 10 or more assists three times.

Walton was also among the top newcomers in the league as a junior, averaging a doubledouble to end the season with 21.5 points/game and 10.8 rebounds/game. The Beckley, W.Va., native posted nine doubledoubles and poured in a career-high 33 points against West Virginia Wesleyan College. Walton was fifth in the MEC in scoring average and second in rebounding average. He played and started in all 15 games for the Senators, while Rolle saw action in 14 contests with 13 starts.

Wojtaszek Makes D&E Wrestling History

Davis & Elkins junior Kyle Wojtaszek made history for Senator wrestling, becoming the first individual to win a bout at the NCAA National Championships with his upset 8-1 decision in the opening round. Davis & Elkins competed at the NCAA National Tournament for the first time in program history after last year’s event was halted suddenly. Additionally, sophomore Craig Cook and senior Noah Tarr competed at the national tournament at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively.

Men’s Soccer: New Look Senators Raise the Bar in 2021

With a long history of tradition and excellence, Davis & Elkins men’s soccer set a high standard in their eventual return to competition during the spring of 2021. The Senators, under the direction of first year head coach Dean Johnson, came within one game of the MEC Championship before finishing with a 7-2 record. Capping the regular season with five consecutive wins, the Senators elevated up to ninth in the US Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll. Eight Senators earned all-conference recognition, which included three First Team honorees. Gianluca Fiorini, Martin Lago and David Jara earned All-MEC First Team accolades for the spring 2021 season as Fiorini and Lago earned an additional spot on the league’s All-Freshman team. Jeremy Coste, Kenshiro Yamaguchi, Daniel Cerezo and Anderson Marroquin picked up Second Team All-MEC honors for the Senators, which capped the spring season with a 7-2 mark and an appearance in the conference semifinals. Davide Materazzi rounded out the all-conference laurels for D&E, landing on the Honorable Mention team following his first season.

Outdoor Track & Field: Record Number of All-Region Honors Provide Successful Bookend for Senators

Davis & Elkins outdoor track & field posted strong showings at the 2021 MEC Outdoor Championships, ending the year with a programrecord 10 all-region awards from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Nokia Masengu, named the MEC Freshman of the Year, nabbed all-region awards in the 100, 200, 400 and 4x400 relay. Masengu earned the conference title in the 200-meter dash in his first full season competing in track. Benjamin Banda, Tijmen Bouw, Matthew Chapman and Sterling StCyr also notched all-region awards for the Senators. For the women, senior standout Samantha Kirk received all-region status in the 400m hurdles after ending her career with the conference crown in the event, extending her unbeaten streak against DII competition that dated back to the 2018 campaign.