Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, Aaron Hacker: Name recognition
Barry Faulkner
When Blake Hacker trades his Corona del Mar High football helmet
for wrestling headgear, he literally takes on a new identity.
It’s Aaron Hacker, you see, who represents the Sea Kings in the 160-pound
class for wrestling coach Gary Almquist.
“My family calls me Blake and the roll sheet at school lists me as Aaron,
with Blake as my middle name,” Hacker explained. “I just never bothered
to correct the teachers and the coaches usually just call me Hacker.”
By any name, the junior standout has become a marquee performer. His 21-3
record includes an estimated 12 pins, three of which he recorded Saturday
to claim the first tournament title of his three-year varsity career.
Hacker earned a spot atop the medal platform at the eight-team Woodbridge
Tournament, where he was also named the top wrestler in the heavier
weight classes.
Toss in a victory in the Sea Kings’ Dec. 13 Pacific Coast League
dual-meet loss to Estancia and Hacker is also a clear choice as Daily
Pilot Athlete of the Week.
Stocky and strong, Hacker knew he had the build to give wrestling a go.
He was, however, slightly overwhelmed by his introduction to the sport.
“I figured wrestling would help me for football, make me tougher and keep
me in shape,” he said. “That first practice was ridiculously hard and I
actually came home and threw up in my front yard. Some juniors and
seniors kind of went to work on me, too, but I didn’t get discouraged.
I’ve always been pretty competitive and that competitiveness kicked in.
It made me determined to get better, so I’d be able to beat those guys
someday.”
After a tough freshman season, then a fourth-place finish at last year’s
Sea View League Finals, Hacker’s day has finally dawned.
“He’s not afraid of anything,” said Almquist, who considers Hacker the
quiet leader of his program. “He doesn’t say much, but he’s the hardest
worker. Just the other day at practice, I told our kids ‘My shirt is
sweaty and Aaron’s shirt is sweaty. How come no one else’s is?’ ”
Hacker, a 5-foot-6 first-team outside linebacker on the Daily Pilot’s
All-Pacific Coast League selections, set a school record for his weight
class with a 250-pound power clean last fall.
His strength and aggressiveness, as well as rapidly improving technique,
allow him to manhandle most opponents.
“He wears guys down and has really become good at getting them on their
backs,” Almquist said. “And once he gets them on their backs, it’s
usually over.”
Hacker, a consistent 160 pounds, which enables him to continue lifting
and avoid the energy loss that accompanies “cutting” to make weight, said
experience has helped him alter his approach.
“I used to have the old football philosophy that the best offense is a
good defense,” Hacker said. “Now, my wrestling philosophy is, the best
defense is a good offense.”
Hacker finished fifth in the 36-school Estancia Tournament earlier this
season, losing narrowly to the eventual champion.
“I remember feeling pretty good standing on the fifth-place platform, but
I looked up the champion,” Hacker said. “I was thinking, ‘Man, I only
lost, 6-4, to that guy and with a little hard work, I could be there.’ To
actually get there (at Woodbridge) really felt great. And then to be one
of the MVPs of the tournament ... I was ecstatic.”
Hacker said his continued success has forced him to raise the goals he
set coming into this season.
“Originally, I thought I could be league champ, place in CIF (Southern
Section Division IV) and possibly go to the Masters Meet. But now, I’m
saying maybe I can win CIF and hopefully do well enough at the Masters
Meet to qualify for the state championships. The state meet would be a
great place to end up.”
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