At just ten years old, Emery Hartman is already chasing dreams that stretch far beyond the playing fields and classrooms of Mercer County. A fifth-grader at Apollo Elementary School, he’s an athlete, a scholar, and, if all goes according to plan, a future pilot.

Emery’s days are packed. Between basketball, baseball, football, cross country, and now track, he barely has time to catch his breath. But ask him what his favorite sport is, and his answer is immediate: cross country. "I just keep pushing myself to the end," he says. "Whenever people are in front of me, I just try to go past them." That mindset—always pushing forward, always striving for better—defines everything Emery does.

Cross country isn’t just another sport for Emery—it’s a mental and physical challenge that he thrives on. He runs two-mile races, and no matter the conditions, he’s determined to improve his time and outpace the competition. He credits his coaches, Mr. Whan and Angie, for keeping him motivated. "They yell encouragement and help me keep going hard," he says with a grin. He knows that cross country runners often hear the joke that their sport is “your sport’s punishment”, but to him, the challenge is what makes it fun.

While cross country might be his top pick, baseball is a close second. He plays pitcher, catcher, first base, and shortstop, but his favorite spot is on the mound. He’s already competing at an advanced level, playing for a travel team called the Archangels, which practices in Keithsburg. Despite being just ten years old, he often plays up with older athletes, challenging himself against stronger competition. When it comes to hitting, he’s got a favorite bat—the 2025 Easton Hype Fire. "It’s got a lot of pop," he says. "It’s a really good bat."

For all his love of sports, Emery has his sights set on a different kind of competition—one that takes place thousands of feet in the air. "I want to be a pilot," he says. The dream took hold when he attended an air show as a young child. He had the chance to go up in a small plane, and from that moment, he was hooked. "I always liked flying on commercial planes, but that air show—that really made me want to fly," he says. Whether he follows the traditional flight school path or even considers military aviation, he knows one thing: he wants to be in the cockpit. "I love the idea of helping people get where they need to go," he says. "Flying saves people so much time. Instead of a 15-hour drive, you can be there in just two."

Emery’s love of learning comes naturally—his mom, Charlotte Hartman, is a fourth-grade teacher at his school. For a full year, she was one of his teachers, handling his science and social studies lessons. "At first, it felt weird," he admits. "But then I realized how good she is at her job." He was also inspired by his third-grade teacher, Mrs. Fearman, who left a lasting impression on him. "She was really nice," he says. "I didn’t want to leave her class."

Now, as a fifth-grader, he’s embracing the challenge of more advanced subjects—especially math and science, two areas that will serve him well in aviation. "You need to know a lot of math to be a pilot," he acknowledges. "But I like math, so that’s good." Though flying is his main career goal, Emery is already thinking about other skills he’d like to pick up. "When I went to Dollywood in Tennessee, I got to try blacksmithing," he says. "I really enjoyed it. Maybe one day, I could do that as a hobby."

He’s also got plenty of energy for life outside of school and sports. He enjoys drawing, playing outside, and spending time with his two Labrador Retrievers, Tinsley and Hazel. His home life is filled with family, including cousins who live nearby, and he loves that sense of closeness. "My grandparents live just across the road from us," he says.

In every aspect of his life, Emery is curious, driven, and always looking for the next challenge. Whether he’s pushing through the final stretch of a cross-country race, taking the mound in baseball, or dreaming about his future in the skies, he’s a kid who refuses to stay still for long. One thing is certain: whether it’s on the field, in the classroom, or up in the air, Emery Hartman is always moving forward.