By Bill Bray
FREMONT – The Little Giant community will say goodbye to numerous unforgettable senior athletes in just a few short weeks. One of those unforgettables is Adam Hrynciw who will be heading to the Air Force Academy.
Hrynciw has had sports as a part of his life way back to his formative years. “I’ve played football and baseball for as long as I can remember,” the 
graduating senior said. “I believe football started in the first grade with flag, then tackle started in fifth grade.” Hrynciw played junior varsity football as a freshman and was part of the varsity for the following three years.
Baseball started a little later in his young life. “It started with Kiwanis, and I played travel ball since 10u or 11u. Hrynciw, along with the rest of the senior class, lost their freshmen spring seasons due to COVID. But Hrynciw has been a member of the varsity baseball team ever since.
Lastly Basketball became an interest of Hrynciw in fifth grade. He has played junior varsity and was a varsity player the last two seasons.
Eight varsity letters later Hrynciw gives most of the credit for his maturity as an athlete to his football coach, Chad Long. “There are so many people that helped me along the way,” Hrynciw explained. “But if I had to pick one person it would be coach Long. I trust him without a doubt.”
There is a mutual admiration society between this special player and the three coaches his life as touched. “He’s a great role model for young kids,” coach Long said.“My son Gunnar loves to follow “Chewy”(the nickname given to Adam) around because he said he’s awesome! Hard work pays off and that’s what “Chewy” is about. In the classroom and on the field. I can tell you there wasn’t a single person who worked as hard as “Chewy”, Long continued. “He is always doing extra route running, ball drills, and lifting. I will truly,from the bottom of my heart, miss him putting on the purple jersey. I’m very excited that “Chewy” will be playing football at Air Force. We have been working on getting him in there for about a year and a half.”
Three words come to baseball coach Jared King’s mind when asked about this special athlete, “leadership, integrity, and dedication. “I’ve never had an athlete in baseball with as much natural, God given leadership than Adam,” King raved. Adam just has a natural charisma about him that draws others in, and he can motivate and speak from the heart. When he speaks, others listen.” King also praised Hrynciw’s work in the classroom that led to
being accepted into the Air Force academy. “As hard as he works on the field, he works even harder in the classroom,” King said. “Adam has always been a stellar student while taking higher level courses throughout high school. We often joke how he is always the smartest kid on the field even above us coaches. While we joke about it, I’m not so quite sure it isn’t true.”
Adam’s basketball coach, John Cahill also praised Hrynciw. “He is one of the hardest workers I’ve been around,” Cahill, concurring with what the other two coaches said. A truly special young man who will do great things in life.”
It was a twist of fate to how the college experience became reality according to Hrynciw. “I was going to pick a different school, Hrynciw said. “I reached out to every coach I knew, and Air Force reached back out and within two days they offered. I went from not having any contact with them in a long time to getting offered within two days and having a visit planned within three days.”
Adam’s father, Mike served in the Air Force as well. “While he helped me learn more about the Air Force and the whole military side of it, I wouldn’t say I chose Air Force because of him,” Adam said. “My dad helped a lot along the way, but I don’t want others thinking I’m doing this because of him being in the Air Force. I chose Air Force for me, and I want this to be my journey and my path.”
If Adam’s path is anything close to the one, he has followed during his days at Fremont Ross, we will be hearing big things out of Air Force Academy, Colorado as time goes on. Off we go into the wild blue yonder. God’s speed Adam!