By Andy Loigu

A pair of Hackettstown High School alums are now involved with college athletics professionally at nearby programs.

Peter Huryk (class of 1994) has been named assistant men’s soccer coach at Drew University in Madison, while Hali Aussems (class of 2007) is in her second year as assistant athletic trainer at Division I Patriot League member Lafayette College, in Easton, Pa.

Huryk’s prior soccer coaching experience includes service as a Hackettstown boys assistant in 2001, when the Tigers roared to the state championship in Group III. He also has coached girls and boys soccer at Belvidere High School, where he also has been a teacher. He is a graduate of Salisbury University, where he played soccer and ran track. Huryk has also coached soccer at the collegiate level in Maryland.

A published author, Huryk wrote Fill Your Boots in January of 2014, a book to help high school soccer players through the issues and challenges they face both on and off the field, as athletes and students. “I was put on this planet for one reason,” he said, “to help people.” A speaker who makes presentations to large and small groups, he said, “my passionate talks are filled with stories and strategies to help young people move past fear.” This columnist has heard him speak and has read the book, and gives him positive reviews.

For more words of wisdom from coach Huryk, you can hear him expand on topics of interest on his blog at www.hurykunlimited.com on the worldwide web.

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Before arriving at College Hill, Aussems had athletic training internships at several area high schools, namely Belvidere, Phillipsburg, and Warren Hills, while earning a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s from East Stroudsburg University in athletic training, exercise science, and sport studies. She has earned multiple certifications, including lifeguarding and CPR/First Aid.

Her duties at Lafayette include coverage and care of all 23 varsity sports, with direct travel coverage of men’s soccer, women’s basketball, cross country, and track and field.

She’s involved in evaluations of athletic injuries, treatment and rehab, creating pads and orthotics, and chart documentation plus all the follow up paperwork.

As a Tiger athlete, she was a state qualifier in the discus throw.

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.