Austin Funk has a ball and chain.

No, no, not that kind. The Post Falls senior has fallen in love with the hammer.

A former college hammer thrower and high school coach watched Funk throw the discus at the Idaho state meet two years ago. Funk placed sixth, a respectable finish, with hopes of improving the next two years. But he was surprised when the coach told him he wouldn’t improve much more in the discus. He challenged Funk to try the hammer...