The time was right for Metea Valley's Fehrmann
Like an athlete, Matt Fehrmann put himself in position, then executed.
Serving three years as an assistant athlete director at Metea Valley, he'd learned the intricacies of each sports season. People liked his work and told him so. He gained confidence in himself.
"I knew I could do more for our school," he said.
When in the spring then-athletic director Jason Ward accepted an assistant principal job at East Aurora, opening the Metea position for the second time in two years, Fehrmann couldn't let the opportunity pass. He consulted his wife, Jennifer, a health teacher at Still Middle School. With her endorsement he went for it.
"I was like, 'I can do this,'" he said.
Fehrmann is a 1993 graduate of Breese Mater Dei, but with 20 years combined at Waubonsie Valley, Still, Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley he's a District 204 "lifer," as Metea Valley principal Darrell Echols put it after naming the Mustangs' new athletic director on July 1.
A father of three athletic children, Fehrmann, 43, brings a parental perspective to the position as well.
He's a fan of the multisport athlete and aims to translate his passion into a supportive "climate" where involvement is the norm. By athletes, the student body, parents, by Mustangs coaches in it for the long haul.
Two specific early goals are improving the aesthetics of the grounds and getting students to contests, Fehrmann said. He likes what he's seen.
"I'm truly enjoying it," he said. "The staff, the students, everybody's been super-supportive. Honestly, it's been an absolute blast, everything's been going well."
Klaas operation
Retired College of DuPage men's basketball coach Don Klaas received a nice honor over the summer.
The National Junior College Athletic Association, Region IV, announced in June that its annual men's basketball coach of the year award will be named after him.
The NJCAA Division III leader in men's basketball victories with 743 over 35 years, Klaas is a member of four halls of fame. College of DuPage's basketball court is named in his honor.
Letting it fly
People outside the track and field realm may not be aware, but there's a 5.5-acre facility in Aurora that offers instruction and a league for young athletes throwing hammer, shot put, discus and javelin.
Open to boys and girls mainly from 9 to 18, competitors this summer included Shane Anderson of St. Francis, Josh Friedland of Wheaton Academy, Ryan Maloney of Wheaton North and Waubonsie Valley graduate Mantaj Singh.
Saturday is the last meet of the Throwers League Series at Hammerman USA, opened in the spring of 2018. Jim Coxworth, a St. Charles native and former University of Illinois hammer thrower, initially intended to give disadvantaged children the chance to enjoy throwing and "learn lessons in life." He's since included all throws, training and competition and has added another coach, Jeff Kajtsa.
"It's probably one of the nicest throwing facilities in the Midwest, including colleges," Coxworth said.
Registration closed at midnight Wednesday for Saturday's meet, but open is a 9 a.m. clinic held by Olympic hammer throwers Kibwe Johnson and Gwen Berry. Later this month, Berry is headed to Qatar for her third World Championship appearance.
"I have these two Olympians coming into town, which I hope will attract more interest, because it's not something you see all the time," Coxworth said.
In the running
The Illinois Cross Country Coaches preseason poll is in. DuPage County teams load the rankings as usual.
Three-time defending Class 3A champion Naperville North heads the girls picks, narrowly over Downers Grove South. No. 5 Wheaton Warrenville South, Hinsdale Central, Glenbard West and York are in the top 14.
York's boys make a welcome return to the No. 1 slot, right ahead of defending Class 3A champ WW South. Usual suspects Neuqua Valley, Downers Grove North, Downers South, Hinsdale Central and Naperville North all are in the top 15.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com
Follow Dave on Twitter @doberhelman1