File these two under poise and humility, but don’t let the calm demeanors of student athletes Greta Hammer and Aidan Williams fool you. Hammer is Needham High School’s cross-country phenom, and Williams is the Rockets’ star running back and linebacker. Both are fierce competitors and will soon face perhaps the biggest sports challenges of their lives. Hammer will run the Nike Cross Nationals Saturday in Portland, Oregon, and Williams will play in the state’s D1 football championship game Thursday at Gillette Stadium.
Needham has had its share of outstanding athletes, but these Rockets are remarkable, unique and just about perfect, according to their coaches. Cross-country coach Sue McNatt said Hammer’s talent, drive and commitment always shine through. And Doug Kopcso, in his seventh year as head football coach, said he’s never met anyone like Williams, whom he described as “perfect in every way … and I MEAN it!”
Both teens were influenced by their athletic families. Hammer’s parents were both elite marathoners. “My parents were runners so I grew up enjoying the sport,” said Hammer. “We used to run all the 5K races in Needham. I’d run with my dad and just liked racing.”
Williams’ parents were both college Division 1 athletes. His dad played football at UMass Amherst and is athletic director at Bentley University. “I was around the game all the time and started getting a feel for it in second grade,” said the younger Williams. He said his mother, a former college basketball player, was a bit hesitant about letting Aidan play football at first but eventually gave in.
What distinguishes Hammer and Williams, according to their coaches, is much more than their athleticism. McNatt said Hammer may be humble, quiet and mellow, “but when the gun goes off, she has an inner drive to win.” Equally important, McNatt added, is that Hammer cheers for her teammates, waits for them to cross the finish line and gives them all high fives. Hammer wants to win but not just for herself. “Racing is individual but in the end it all goes toward the team score,” she said.
According to Kopcso, Williams is diligent, mature and a leader. “He works hard to make sure no one is left out on the team. And he’s not just going to give in to whatever the culture is. He’s going to BUILD the culture. That’s pretty special.” And although Williams is a standout player with 1,640 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, what impresses Kopcso most is how Williams treats other people. “As a team, we talk a lot about our values: respect, family, accountability, toughness and effort. Williams lives those (principles) every single day. It’s immediately apparent he’s going places.”
Both athletes have elevated their sports. Hammer is proud of how popular cross-country has become. She said it’s no longer considered something kids do just to keep in shape for their other sports. “They do it to compete and improve and be good,” she said. “I think the success our team has had this season with winning the Division 1 state title and fifth in All States — that will bring more people and attract people who want to be on a good, successful team with a great culture.” At the state meet, Hammer’s 5k time of 18:19:31 was more than 30 seconds better than any other girl’s time, regardless of division. The numbers prove that success breeds success as a record 63 girls came out for Needham’s team this year.
For Williams, football is the ultimate team sport — a combination of physical and mental toughness. He credits his teammates for their leadership and is proud that the team has eight captains. “We knew that if we stuck together and kept getting better and committed ourselves to the program and to the team we would be special, and that’s what ended up happening.”
No matter the outcome of Thursday’s game or Saturday’s race, both Hammer and Williams have written proud new chapters in Needham’s sports history. And their personal journeys will continue. A junior, Hammer has begun the college recruiting process. Williams will play football at Lehigh University next year.
Save as PDF