Austin Hoppenjans '22 Recruiting Profile

My name is Austin Hoppenjans, now I can simply just say I like wrestling, dogs, and long walks on the beach, but I feel there is so much more I need to say. I've been wrestling since the 7th grade and I didn’t win that much but I fell in love with the sport. In 7th grade I wasn't the most athletic, I had only been a lineman in Jr High football and thought there was a reason for me not to be fast or be built. I just had to be big. Wrestling is what changed that, I wanted to get stronger. I strive to be better every day. In 7th grade I was wrestling at 170, by 8th grade I was wrestling at 150. I lost my weight and started to get faster. I watched videos and went to camps to improve myself in the sport.

Over the summer going into my freshmen year. I knew I would have to be ready for high school wrestling. I trained even harder that summer. I would go on 2 mile long runs every other day, I would lift my heart out training every muscle I had. I thought strength would win my matches but I was wrong. It isn’t just brute strength that will win matches, for some it did but there was other matches where the junior or senior was just as strong as me. I focused on my technique from the start of the season to the end. I would stay after practice and do drill shots and escapes. If there was one thing I can say about me is I have been dedicated ever since that 7th grade season. I've wanted to get better, stronger, and faster. That's why I want to wrestle at the college level. I want to face off strong opponents.

I want to wrestle with the best competition out there. I want to beat them and be better. If I get beat, I figure out what was wrong and fix it. I have a great mental attitude can take criticism and I'm focus driven. I absolutely love that feeling when you beat someone and the referee raises your hand to the crowd. Throughout the rest of my highschool career im hoping it will prepare me to get into a good wrestling program and team. I'm really looking for a team with members I can actually practice with in season and off season. Team members that will support me throughout the season. I want coaches who will push me, make me find my limit and keep increasing it. I am a very dedicated wrestler. I hope I able to show that to everyone someday. I am also working hard at my academics. I want to be a well balanced athlete. I am most interested in Engineering with Automotive being my top choice. In conclusion by the time I graduate I will do everything to be ready for college competition and academically focused. I will be top athlete for any coach and hope to wrestle where I am a known name in the wrestling community.