East Aurora school librarian makes her mark as Highland Games champion

Chronicle Media
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Elissa Hapner, a librarian at Aurora’s Gates Elementary School, competing t the Highland Games

Elissa Hapner, a librarian at Aurora’s Gates Elementary School, returns to school after spring break this week as a world champion.

After participating in nine events in two days, Hapner won the Highland Games Women’s World Championship by two points earlier this month

“I’m exhausted today. Every muscle is tired,” Hapner said last week. “But to be able to go up against these incredible ladies was worth the exhaustion. It was great to have the encouragement of family and friends.”

Hapner, 27, of Aurora, entered the 52nd Annual Glenmorangie Arizona Scottish Gathering & Highland Games as one of the favorites. The competitions are often referred to as the “heavy events” because they involve throwing large objects — stones, poles, hay bales — for distance or height.

On the first day, Hapner had won three events, finished second in another and fourth in the final event.

“We knew very well where we are in the standings,” Hapner said. “I was in first by three points. Second was just a little too close. That meant I had to do great the next day.”

Hapner competed in track and field in high school, and then in college, where a coach introduced her to the Highland Games competition. For the last three years, she has practiced for two hours every day before school, and another hour after school.

Hapner is in her fifth year as Library Resource Assistant at Gates, where she coaches soccer, basketball, and softball. She also volunteers with the throwers on the East Aurora High School track and field team.

She earned an invite to Phoenix by breaking into the top 10 rankings. It was her first time competing at the World Championships and one day in, the 90-degree weather was taking its toll.

“I couldn’t keep my eyes open at dinner that night,” Hapner said. “Coming back the next day was a challenge.”

The second day started with a stone throw (similar to shot put) that Hapner was not happy with.

She won the next two events and had a slim, four-point lead going into the last event: the sheaf toss. This event requires competitors to stick a pitchfork into a hay bale, then toss the 12-pound bale for height.

Both Hapner and her closest competitor had suffered injuries during the day. It was not Hapner’s best event, although she can hold her own. Hapner’s rival was a record holder in the sheaf toss. In the end, Hapner edged her by two points.

Hapner earned prize money and an engraved keg that she won’t be bringing to the library when school resumes on March 28, after spring break.

Hapner will hold the title for the next year, and will be introduced at all Highland Games events as women’s world champion. Her next competition is a local one: the Backyard Games in Rockford on April 23, a low-pressure competition and coaching clinic that is open to the public.

In May, she will be going international at a competition in Canada. She hopes to compete in California and Oregon this summer.

Hapner likes competing, not celebrating her accomplishments. But she hopes that her championship will grow the sport.

“Hopefully, the fans will be able to get more excited and it will push the other competitors even more,” she said. “That’s the joy. You get to separate from the other things and compete against the best.”

 

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— East Aurora school librarian makes her mark as Highland Games champion —