RIT - NTID - News - Hundreds See "The Hammer" on Screen and in Person

February 1, 2012

Hall of Fame Wrestler Matt Hamill adresses the audience in Clark Gym at RIT. Photo by A. Sue Weisler

Story Highlights:

Hamill says the film was about 65 percent accurate, but he is pleased with the outcome. In reality, he usually pinned his opponents quickly.
He retired last year from the Ultimate Fighting Championship due to a shoulder injury, but said there could be an accouncement soon of "something big."
The film was shown in the Clark Gym, where Hamill competed while at RIT and where many of the movie's scenes were shot.
Hamill lives in Utica, N.Y., where he recently opened a sports bar and training facility.
He plans to conduct a wrestling camp this summer there for young deaf wrestlers.
He graduated in 1999 from RIT/NTID with a degree in electro mechanical technology - he keeps that "in my back pocket" as a possible future career.

More than 400 people on Monday attended the RIT premiere of “The Hammer,” a film based on the life of Matt Hamill, a Rochester Institute of Technology Hall of Fame wrestler and three-time NCAA Wrestling Division III national champion.

The film, which was made two years ago in and around Rochester, was shown in the Clark Gym, the same venue where Hamill competed as a student and where several scenes from the movie were shot.

Hamill, also the first deaf wrestler to become an NCAA champion, said he was impressed with the turnout. At his request, proceeds from the screening are being sent to a scholarship fund at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and the RIT Athletics program.

Hamill answered several questions and signed posters for hundreds of people after the screening. Many of the questions were about his life, and about his more recent career as a contestant on the Ultimate Fighter Championship. RIT Student Government President Greg Pollock and NTID Student Congress President Gerilee Cristina were emcees.

Hamill retired from the UFC last year due to a shoulder injury, but teased the crowd, telling them that “something big” might be announced soon.

Hamill, 35, now lives in Utica, N.Y., where he opened The Cage, a sports bar and training facility. He said he plans to hold a summer camp in Utica this year for deaf individuals who want to pursue wrestling.

Copies of “The Hammer” are now for sale on DVD in Wal-Mart and Best Buy stores nationwide.

View news coverage from WUHF-TV and WHEC-TV.

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