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.”