BRODHEAD - After Brodhead-Juda junior Jackson Hauri rolled up on another wrestler in practice and fell on his left leg, he thought his season was over.
"That went through my mind that it was over," Hauri said.
Hauri (17-0), ranked No. 4 at 152 pounds in the Division 2 Wrestling Online state poll, dodged a bullet when he was diagnosed with a sprained knee.
"I was a little bit nervous," Hauri said. "I didn't want to find out what was wrong with it. I knew something wasn't right."
There has been a lot going right for Hauri since he started wrestling. As a freshman at Parkview, he was a state qualifier at 106 pounds. He transferred to Brodhead High School last year and was a state qualifier again at 132. Hauri is closing in on 100 career wins. He's currently at 99 and is expected to make a comeback next week in a double dual match against Sugar River and Lake Mills Tuesday in Belleville. If not, then he's aiming for the Deerfield Invitational Jan. 27.
"I'm not 100 percent," he said. "I feel like I'm getting close to being back on the mat."
Yet Hauri is keeping a long-range vision in mind before he returns to wrestling.
"I just have to make sure I'm ready for the end of the season," Hauri said. "I'm not going to stress it and get back for Sugar River."
Hauri has been undergoing physical therapy for two weeks in a push to get back on the mat. He travels to the YMCA in Beloit every day for physical therapy in the pool. Hauri works on bending his knee in different rotations, running in the pool and kicking in the pool, and he works on his fitness riding a bike.
Hauri is seeking a third straight trip to the state tournament at the Kohl Center. He was one win away from having a chance to wrestle for a top six medal at state last year. Being so close to a medal was a driving force for Hauri in the summer and offseason.
"It definitely was a big motivating factor," Hauri said. "My goal last year was to get on the podium. This year, that is all I could think about. I was ready to get back on the mat and prove a point."
He participated in the Advanced Wrestling program. Hauri has 26 takedowns this season. He knew he would have to become a better wrestler on the bottom in matches since he was going to wrestle stronger and bigger opponents.
"I feel like the last two years I have been really strong on my feet," he said. "My main focus was to get out from the bottom and not get turned. That was the bigger goal in the upper weights."
Brodhead-Juda coach Bill Davis has seen a transformation in Hauri as he has become bigger and built more strength.
"He has a very good work ethic," Davis said. "He pushes himself a lot extra in order to become great."
Davis said Hauri has always excelled as a wrestler on his feet.
"He's excellent on takedowns," Davis said. "His biggest improvement this year has been on the bottom. He's really become a solid wrestler in all three areas."
Hauri, whose other hobbies include hunting and fishing, set goals this fall before the season started.
"My goal is to end up on top of the podium," he said. "That has always been my dream."
Davis knows that getting Hauri back on the mat soon would be a positive step before the postseason begins.
"He has to get some matches under his belt before conference," Davis said. "He hasn't practiced yet. It's a lot different than practice."
"That went through my mind that it was over," Hauri said.
Hauri (17-0), ranked No. 4 at 152 pounds in the Division 2 Wrestling Online state poll, dodged a bullet when he was diagnosed with a sprained knee.
"I was a little bit nervous," Hauri said. "I didn't want to find out what was wrong with it. I knew something wasn't right."
There has been a lot going right for Hauri since he started wrestling. As a freshman at Parkview, he was a state qualifier at 106 pounds. He transferred to Brodhead High School last year and was a state qualifier again at 132. Hauri is closing in on 100 career wins. He's currently at 99 and is expected to make a comeback next week in a double dual match against Sugar River and Lake Mills Tuesday in Belleville. If not, then he's aiming for the Deerfield Invitational Jan. 27.
"I'm not 100 percent," he said. "I feel like I'm getting close to being back on the mat."
Yet Hauri is keeping a long-range vision in mind before he returns to wrestling.
"I just have to make sure I'm ready for the end of the season," Hauri said. "I'm not going to stress it and get back for Sugar River."
Hauri has been undergoing physical therapy for two weeks in a push to get back on the mat. He travels to the YMCA in Beloit every day for physical therapy in the pool. Hauri works on bending his knee in different rotations, running in the pool and kicking in the pool, and he works on his fitness riding a bike.
Hauri is seeking a third straight trip to the state tournament at the Kohl Center. He was one win away from having a chance to wrestle for a top six medal at state last year. Being so close to a medal was a driving force for Hauri in the summer and offseason.
"It definitely was a big motivating factor," Hauri said. "My goal last year was to get on the podium. This year, that is all I could think about. I was ready to get back on the mat and prove a point."
He participated in the Advanced Wrestling program. Hauri has 26 takedowns this season. He knew he would have to become a better wrestler on the bottom in matches since he was going to wrestle stronger and bigger opponents.
"I feel like the last two years I have been really strong on my feet," he said. "My main focus was to get out from the bottom and not get turned. That was the bigger goal in the upper weights."
Brodhead-Juda coach Bill Davis has seen a transformation in Hauri as he has become bigger and built more strength.
"He has a very good work ethic," Davis said. "He pushes himself a lot extra in order to become great."
Davis said Hauri has always excelled as a wrestler on his feet.
"He's excellent on takedowns," Davis said. "His biggest improvement this year has been on the bottom. He's really become a solid wrestler in all three areas."
Hauri, whose other hobbies include hunting and fishing, set goals this fall before the season started.
"My goal is to end up on top of the podium," he said. "That has always been my dream."
Davis knows that getting Hauri back on the mat soon would be a positive step before the postseason begins.
"He has to get some matches under his belt before conference," Davis said. "He hasn't practiced yet. It's a lot different than practice."
