I accepted a job at Hamlin in 1985 to teach high school computer science in the morning at Hayti, and middle school computers in the afternoon at Bryant. I used the driving time to listen to the Bible on cassette tapes, and to hunt pheasants. (during the season )  Besides teaching, I was the tech coordinator, and head track, and volleyball coach at Hamlin High School. Hamlin never had a girls volleyball program, and I had the privilege of starting that program. The Hamlin days were definitely some of my best memories. I taught, and coached, some great athletes, and some great young men and women. I always enjoy hearing news about Hamlin --> it brings a smile to my face.   Anyway, Here's a neat high school track story from the good old days at Hamlin.
	The track team was headed to the Conference Track Championship at Sioux Valley High School. Having never won the trophy in the past, our chances again to win looked bleak. I got the boys together and told them, "Let's all participate in 4 events (max number) this meet, and see if can come close to that trophy this year! Believe it or not, I got the boys to buy-in, and I signed up most tracksters to 4 events. For example, Stacey Hageman, the best long, and triple jumper in the state, agreed to do the 440 yard dash. Everyone was willing to take on added events, and go for "The Gold". The meet starts and Hamlin jumped out quickly. Hamlin's Dave Leiseth, the best discuss, and shot put thrower in the state, easily won all his throwing events, as well as Stacey who won the long jump, and triple jump with ease. Now here's one of the exciting moments of the meet!! Stacey lines up for the 440 yard dash (now the 400 meter dash), and takes off like a rocket. Stacey, and the State Champion from the previous year, are neck and neck. The race comes down to the wire, and The state champion nudges out Stacey in the last 10 yards by inches. Stacey, who had never run the 440 yard dash almost beat the best in the state. Now things got real exciting--> towards the end of the meet, our team was in the top two on the leader board. The end came, and the results are tabulated. Sioux Valley beats Hamlin by 1/2 point!! We were so close, and so bummed!!! As Sioux Valley was taking their victory lap, Rob Erstad and Bryon Noem looked over the final results, and noticed that Bryon's 6th place was not recorded in the final scoring. 6th place in a track event gets one point! Instead of losing by 1/2 point, Hamlin won by 1/2 point, and we were the Conference Champions. The team ran out on the track, and took the trophy from Sioux Valley. We proceeded to do our own victory lap!! God was just starting to show me that if you put your trust in him, he surprises you from time to time. I'm not saying that we won because we had more faith than Sioux Valley. I'm saying that, as a follower of Christ, certain events, and situations do happen in life that are so amazing that you just look to the heavens, and say, "Thank You!!"