Cramer fulfills dream of firefighting

SAUNEMIN – Peyton Cramer is living his dreams, playing for the Illinois State University football team and serving as a volunteer firefighter in Saunemin.
The horticulture and landscaping major has carried on his family’s tradition of firefighting and his dad’s tradition of horticulture work. Cramer’s father, Craig, took over as an assistant chief for the Saunemin Fire Department and asked if Cramer wanted to provide an extra set of hands when he was home from college.
“My grandpas on both sides of the family were firefighters – one in Pontiac and one in Saunemin,” Cramer recalled.
Cramer noted it means a lot to his family that he is carrying on the firefighting tradition. A call he responded to on Christmas Eve helped him gain experience with what happens during an actual fire. Cramer even has a hand in farming as he helps out neighbors in the spring and fall when he is available.
Eighth grade is when Cramer’s football career began as he started snapping at the Rec Center in Pontiac, traveling to Chicago for weekly lessons by high school.
“I played in the spring my first year (at ISU) and got to experience my first spring season,” Cramer explained. “This past year, I got one snap against Butler.”
Cramer praised his college coaches who try to push players when they need it. ISU’s starting long snapper, Joey Malinowski, has been a good mentor along with Cramer’s teammates.
Should Cramer decide to become a full-time firefighter after college, he feels horticulture work would be fun to do on his days off from firefighting. One thing he has learned about his two passions is that you cannot have a bad day.
“You have to be perfect on a call and you have to be perfect when you are backed up on the third yard line having a big-time snap.”
The all-volunteer Saunemin Fire Department has under 20 members while the Illinois State University football team has over 100 members. No matter the size of the team he is serving on, it is apparent Cramer realizes the value of teamwork.
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