Rob Deweese: Missing Hauser in the spring of COVID-19

I. Miss. Hauser.

I did not attend Hauser. I have never had a child attend Hauser. I have never even lived in your “Surprising Little Town.” But. I. Miss. Hauser.

I had the privilege of spending a lot of time around Jets Nation. I am a freelance sports writer, or "stringer." A stringer is a writer who covers events. In my case, a number those events were Hauser sporting events. As a stringer for The Republic, Hauser was kind of my “beat.” To be exact, 21 times I had the honor to watch a Hauser team in action and write about that event. And 21 times, I thoroughly enjoyed writing the story.

I miss the teams and individuals associated with Hauser. I have had the pleasure of meeting some great people. As a whole, everyone associated with the school has been incredibly kind and welcoming! From meeting coaches such as Coach Case, Coach Hamilton, Coach Evans, Coach Cangney, and Coach Brunner to catching up with Coach Johnson, who I played softball with when we were both much, much younger.

I miss the camaraderie in the press box during baseball games with Mike Asher. I miss all of the visitors that would come up during the games to say hi.

I miss seeing how invested the Hauser faithful are during all of the games, as well as the never wavering support for their beloved Jets. I especially love that anyone who takes the time to read this more than likely knows each person I mentioned because of the tight-knit community that Hope really is.

I miss the athletes. Every single one that I spoke to was so kind and respectful. Each was willing to take the time to answer questions, even if the outcome of the game or match was not what in the Jets’ favor.

If I broke it down even farther, I have covered eight boys or girls basketball games, seven baseball games, three volleyball matches, and three softball games. And they all have provided memorable moments, whether good or bad. 

I was in the press box when the Hauser baseball team defeated Shelbyville, a much larger school. I specifically remember this game because the Jets were down to their last out in the bottom of the seventh with no runners on. Yet, they refused to give up. After tying the game in seventh, Sean Miller hit a walk-off homerun to win it in the eighth. It was an amazing effort by Hauser!

I also covered the Jets’ 10-0 first round victory over Oldenburg Academy, in which Sam Meek was dominant on the mound, on their way to a sectional championship in 2018.

I was lucky enough to witness the Jets win their tenth consecutive volleyball sectional championship. TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS in a row. That is phenomenal! On the other hand, I also covered the heartbreaking loss the Jets suffered to Bloomfield after being up two games to none in the regional championship game. Yet, Coach Case took the time to speak to me after the game and praised his team for their growth and effort.

I was there during the 2019 sectional game at Southwestern Shelby when, with Hauser’s season on the line, Jackson Paradise nailed a clutch, go-ahead three-pointer with three seconds left in the game against Oldenburg Academy to propel his team to the championship game.

I was also there when the Jets’ season ended the next night against Morristown, unfortunately. That is sports. Whether a team wins or loses, memories are created. Lessons are learned, not just in competition but also in life. Judging by the way the Hauser athletes carry themselves, they have taken these lessons to heart. This is why I enjoy writing about Hauser athletics so much!

There is no doubt that I miss writing. I miss being at these games this spring. However, more than this, my heart is broken for the athletes, especially the seniors. No words are sufficient to describe the hurt that they must feel. I know it is not the same as making new memories, but hold onto the old ones. I know that I do, and it has at least eased my withdrawal from Hauser sports.

I miss the people. I miss the kids. I miss the community as a whole.

I. Miss. Hauser.