71°
Joe Hauser missed the 2011 Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference Championships because of an injury, so the Oneonta State junior wanted to make up for lost time.
The 2009 Lakeland graduate had an excellent regular season, wrestling in the 149-pound weight class. Hauser was hoping to qualify for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. He earned the second seed for the tournament and went on to finish second, as top-seeded Jeremy Stierly of Ithaca, a 2011 D-III National champion, overcame Hauser in overtime, 3-1.
Even though he was the runner-up, Hauser earned a wild card to the National Championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on March 9 and 10 based on his body of work -- a 25-7 record.
My coach told me before the final that I was probably going to get a wild card, said Hauser, who is majoring in criminal justice. I was still pretty nervous when I had to wait to find out. When my coach told me I was pretty excited about it.
Hauser went into the conference tournament figuring on a fourth or fifth seed.
There were so many good wrestlers in the weight class who had placed in the conferences the past few years, said Hauser, a 2009 Section 1 Division I champion. I felt that if I got a high seed and good draw, I could do what I have to do and I was able to do so.
Hauser opened with a 13-3 major decision of Adam Hugunine from Rochester Institute of Technology. He followed with a 5-3 decision over Brockports Robert Troy. Hauser led 2-1 after one as a result of a takedown. Troy escaped from bottom to open the second period, but Hauser added another takedown. His final point was an escape in the third period.
Next week, I hope to keep doing what I have been doing all season, Hauser said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Cortlandt and receive free news updates.
