Home

Steamboat Springs — Max Hamil's journey to Hastings College in Nebraska began with an 8.5-hour road trip with his childhood soccer coach.

It just so happened that the coach is also his dad, who wasn't surprised when his son signed a letter of intent to play at the school last month.

"It was the perfect father-and-son trip. We ate out, stayed in a motel room and just had a great time," Bill Hamil said. "I had a feeling that was where he was going to go to college on the way back. But I didn't want to say anything because I knew he was still looking at a couple of other places."

The journey was a chance for Max to try out for the Broncos men's soccer team. But the weekend also gave Max a chance to explore the campus, get a feel for college life and meet Hastings coach Chris Kranjc.

Max was impressed with the coaches' attention, but it was the impression he left that would get him on the soccer field for the next four years.

"I think the passion Max has for the game, his work ethic and his dedication makes him a very appealing prospect for any college coach," Steamboat Springs coach Rob Bohlmann said. "He's got all the tangible skills he needs to be a great player."

The Steamboat coach, who played college soccer, said it's still going to take hard work for Max to make it at Hastings. But he thinks his former player will be successful.

Max said he can't pinpoint a specific memory as a Sailor. But he said he was happy he got the chance to play with David Comeau and Nick Labor. He said he will always remember hiking back into the Zirkels with his teammates, and last year's mud fest in Glenwood Springs when the Sailors came away with a 1-0 overtime win that helped get them into the playoffs.

"A big part of this is that I get to keep playing," Max said. "But the other big part in that I get a good education and this is the right place to do it."

Max said he also looked at playing at Mesa State College and at a couple of schools in Arizona. In the end, the tradition at Hastings helped him make his decision.

"They have a great program and a proud tradition of soccer there," Max said. "That was important to me. "

Max was a member of the Steamboat Springs boys soccer program for four seasons. He lettered all four years and was named to the all-conference team his senior year.

Hastings College is a private school about an hour and a half west of Lincoln, Neb. The school has 1,200 to 1,400 students. The men's soccer program is a part of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and plays in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

-To reach John F. Russell, call 871-4209

or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com