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Brad Hamer

Class of 2016
Port Byron Panthers, Jordan-Elbrdige
Brad Hamer graduated from G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton where he participated in wrestling, soccer, track and baseball. Brad continued his wrestling career as a member of the SUNY Cortland Red Dragon wrestling team under Coach Vince Gonino. Upon earning his BS in Physical Education, Brad became a graduate assistant wrestling coach for Joe Garcia at The University at Albany.

Brad coached wrestling at Copenhagen and Liverpool before resurrecting the wrestling program at Port Byron High School where he taught and coached for 13 years. The teams won two league championships and had many place finishers in the Section 3 tournament when it was one division. In 1992 the team was awarded the John Arcaro Sportsmanship Award by the Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association. He also got a taste of administration while he served as Athletic Director for two years. Brad moved on to become Vice Principal and Athletic Director at Onondaga Central for two years before he became the Assistant Principal and Director of HPEA at Jordan-Elbridge High School for 14 years.

For the past 15 years, Brad has had the opportunity to be the Section 3 Wrestling Coordinator and member of the NYS Wrestling Committee. During this time, NYS has expanded the wrestling tournament to include two divisions as well as fill the byes with the wild cards. From 2012-14, Brad was President of Section 3 Athletics and still serves as member of the Executive Committee.

Brad is especially proud of the formation of the Friends of Section 3 Wrestling in 2008. The end of season banquet held to honor our wrestlers and coaches is very well attended and one of the highlights of the season. The Section 3 Wrestling Hall of Fame banquet, also sponsored by the FOW, is a great improvement over the induction ceremony formerly held at the sectional finals. Section 3 wrestling has benefited greatly from the donations made by the FOW including the eight score clocks used for the sectional tournament and medals for place finishers.

Brad volunteers his time in his community as a member of the JE Dollars for Scholars, Jordan Fall Festival Committee and Jordan Community Council in addition to being a member of the Jordan United Methodist Church where he sings in the choir and acts as Lay Leader.

Brad and his wife of 35 years, Shannon, are proud parents of two children, Daniel and Kelly (and son-in-law Bill) and also very happy to be grandparents of Taylor Ann.