Gemmer signs with Air Force Academy

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

Jill Gemmer made it official on Friday.

The Van Wert High School senior signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and track and field careers at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“I looked at a lot of schools and I looked at Air Force ROTC at other schools but at the end of the day, the cadets are there to serve their country and participate in the sport they excel in, so it was just the best fit for me,” Gemmer said. “They are one of the most prestigious schools in the country and it’s just an honor to go there. With all of the opportunities that come with it, it was just too hard to pass up.”

Gemmer, the daughter of Jean Gemmer and David Weating and the late Thomas Gemmer, was the Division II OHSAA state runner-up in the shot put in 2019 and went to track camp at the Air Force Academy last summer. She’ll start with the discus and shot put, but will also throw the javelin for the Falcons, who compete in the Division I Mountain West Conference.

“The coach (Dana Lyon) there was the No. 2 javelin thrower in the world in 2005 and she was the first one to ever coach me in the javelin, so that’s pretty cool to have such amazing people coaching you there,” Gemmer explained. “She was an Air Force Academy graduate herself and she just really understands the whole program.”

In the classroom, Gemmer plans on tackling a challenging course of study – either behavioral analysis or military strategic studies.

“I don’t know for sure yet but I want to do something with the Office of Special Investigations and do undercover operations,” Gemmer said.

Like all other spring sports student-athletes, Gemmer is waiting to see if the season will get underway next month. If school is open on May 4, practices will resume that day and a shortened 2020 season will begin a few days later.

“I have not let up on any training,” Gemmer said. “I’m doing a lot of distance running – I’m not a distance runner, I’m a thrower and it’s very strange for a thrower to just pick up and run three miles, but I’m working on it and I’m still working on my strength.”

“I hope that we get to compete this season, but at this point I have my doubts,” Gemmer added. “There’s so much more to my life and my ultimate goal is to serve my country, so I’m really excited for that.”