HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: Living room battles pay dividends on mat

LAKE STATION

If anyone can sympathize with what parents Doug and Paula Hammons go through by having three teenage boys of similar age, it's Lake Station coach Dan Mora.

The Hammons' house at times may look as if a hurricane went through it; it wasn't a hurricane.

Instead, it is three Eagles varsity wrestlers -- Aaron, Jack and Chris Hammons -- who have made their living room carpet a wrestling mat. No telling how much blood has been lost into the fibers, but there is still plenty left to stain this carpet as the oldest is only a junior.

"Paula Hammons tells me all the time that they can't have anything nice 'cause they always wrestle," Mora said of the often-used living room. "Even today I saw them get dropped off, and it wasn't only them who got out -- at any time there are other (Eagles wrestlers) at their home."

Mora explained that as these three improve, so will the young Eagles' program. "I have never had three brothers, but I have had three sets of twins," Mora said with a grin.

Aaron, a junior, is the eldest and wrestles in the 145-pound weight class. Then comes the 135-pound sophomore Jack. Last is freshman Chris, who has found a place on the roster at 140 pounds.

"Our (living) room is where we go and teach each other," Jack said. "If we have something we are struggling with, I ask Aaron or I ask Chris."

Jack is 12-5 on the season, and says helping each other gives the brothers a leg up on other wrestlers.

The Hammons boys wake up every morning and see each other. Go to school together. And after school is over -- that's right -- they hit the mats together, only to start the cycle over again as they head for home for some rest.

"Yeah, we fight a lot," Aaron said with a laugh in reference to their sibling rivalry. "I just try to teach them the things where I made my mistakes, and let them know that this isn't an easy sport."

Aaron worked his record to 13-6 following Crown Point's Carl W. Carnahan Memorial tournament on Saturday. His expectations are high not only for himself, but also for both of his brothers.

"I want them to do their best, and I want to make a trip downstate," he said.

Aaron and Jack have been down this road before; they have seen all the bumps and bruises that come with a long wrestling year. Chris, on the other hand, had not been put through the grinding schedule until he finally pulled on the black Lake Station singlet.

"They give me all the help I could need," Chris said of his older brothers.

Chris has struggled so far with a 5-8 record, but it likely won't be long before he rights the ship.

"Chris will get there, just right now he has had troubles," Mora said.

Mora knows that the Hammons boys will make their impact on his program. They would be happy to make names for themselves on the mat around the region.

No matter if they all bring home trophies or no one does, that may not matter to them because the living room bragging rights might be more important.