Few Hoosier Hills Conference distance runners have ever accomplished what Seymour’s Daniel Hauersperger did in 2015.
Hauersperger completed the distance trifecta this school year: winning the 1,600 and 3,200 at the HHC meet in the spring while also capturing the cross-country title this past fall.
In the sectional, Hauersperger claimed the 1,600, 3,200 and 4×800 relay titles.
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“Everything just came together,” Hauersperger said.
The senior finished as the highest point scorer for the Owls in 2015.
“Mentally, he’s very strong and tough, which helps him in his day-to-day training. He doesn’t have days where he relaxes and takes it easy,” said Owls coach Randy Fife. “When you’re consistently working hard and training it pays off in the meets. He’s a competitor; he has a lot of confidence that the training pays off when he competes.”
Every meet, opposing coaches knew they faced a tough test when coming up against Hauersperger in the distance events.
A relatively quiet individual, Hauersperger let his running do the talking.
He has put hundreds of miles on his legs, which have translated to a slew of accolades.
“There’s no way you can’t be competitive if you take time off,” Hauersperger said. “I think I get my competitiveness from my dad. It’s built into me. I really want to be the best I can be and not waste the time I’ve been given. I want to bring glory to God and not waste any talents.”
With his accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named Hauersperger the 2015 boys track and field athlete of the year.
“I would say his biggest achievement this year was at the conference meet when he was a double winner,” Fife said. “In our conference, it doesn’t happen very often that someone wins both of those. It kind of capped off a good year, as he was the cross-country champion in the fall all well. To get that trifecta is pretty rare.”
In his senior season, Hauersperger put together the best string of performances of his track career.
At the HHC, Hauersperger stole the show.
“I hadn’t won any HHC title before, so to get all three was really special,” Hauersperger said. “I had gotten a lot of second places in track. To get them was amazing.”
His best time in the 3,200 this season was 9:37 and 4:25 in the 1,600, both personal records.
Following a dominating regular season, Hauersperger shined under the bright lights at the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional taking three titles.
At the Bloomington North Regional, Hauersperger competed in the 3,200 and 4×800 relay but fell short of state as he battled illness.
Last season, Hauersperger didn’t live up to his own expectations with an ankle injury, but he put that all behind him in 2015.
Hauersperger said that working with Fife has helped him grow on and off the track.
“Coach Fife has helped me in several ways,” Hauersperger said. “He was a role model. He wanted us to be as good as we could be and have fun. He had a balance that made us work even harder.”
This upcoming year, Hauersperger will run with IUPUI’s cross-country and track and field teams.
“It was my last chance to win some races,” Hauersperger said. “My last chance to make the IUPUI team. I will get to be surrounded by very talented and strong runners. They’re going to push me to get better.”
While he plans on running the one and two miles when given the chance, Hauersperger also will try a new event: the steeplechase.
“On the track, I will probably do the 3K steeplechase,” Hauersperger said. “Indoors, I will probably do the 1,500. I’ve never done the steeplechase before. I will have to practice with the hurdles and form.”
Fife said he believes that Hauersperger will serve well on IUPUI’s teams.
“I think his work ethic and determination will help him (at IUPUI),” Fife said. “Sometimes, it’s hard to know which runners will make that transition. Often times it takes a couple of years to be competitive after making the transition. He’s going to go in as a freshman and train with older runners with higher mileage. If he stays with it, he will help them down the road.”
With his academics, Hauersperger was the salutatorian for the class of 2015 at Seymour High School with a grade-point average of better than 4.0. He plans on studying applied mathematics.
At the start of his running career, Hauersperger was an undersized freshman with a drive.
Since, Hauersperger has served as one of the top runners in the area.
“I think his legacy is that you can come in as a freshman and not dominate, but still dominate by the time you leave,” Fife said. “Some kids right now look at his times (each year) and measure those. They want to beat Daniel’s times each year. They want to be on pace to be where he finished. Daniel was just one of those that came in and made steady progress throughout four years.
“I think the other thing he leaves behind is his demeanor. He shows that you can be a dominant runner without a dominating personality. His senior year he didn’t force leadership. He showed you can be a leader with respect without demanding it.”
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Matthew Conrad//Brownstown Central//Senior
Honors: 2015 Braves MVP (led team in points), Bloomington North Regional qualifier (800, 3,200 relay), second-place finish at Bedford North Lawrence Sectional (800, 2:05.80),
Jacob Wilson//Brownstown Central//Senior
Honors: Bloomington North Regional qualifier (high jump), 2015 Mid-Southern Conference long-jump champion (19-9 1/4).
Jacob Bollinger//Brownstown Central//Sophomore
Honors: 2015 Braves Outstanding Field Events Award, set personal record at Bloomington North Regional qualifier (pole vault, 12-4), third place finish at Bedford North Lawrence Sectoinal (pole vault, 11-10).
Ryan Benter//Brownstown Central//Junior
Honors: Bloomington North Regional qualifier, 2015 Mid-Southern Conference pole vault co-champion (11-6).
Rob Fox//Brownstown Central//Senior
Honors: 2015 Mid-Southern Conference 300 hurdles champion (41.99)
Noah Hoskins//Crothersville//Freshman
Honors: 2015 Tigers Most Valuable Athlete.
Dave Goss//Medora//Senior
Honors: 2015 Hornets Most Outstanding Field Events award.
Seth Ragon//Seymour//Sophomore
Honors: State qualifier in the high jump (23rd, 6-2), fourth-place finish at Bloomington North Regional (6-2), second-place finish at Bedford North Lawrence Sectional (6-2).
Austin Hatfield//Seymour//Junior
Honors: Bloomington North regional qualifier (long jump and 400 relay).
Cameron Deppen//Seymour//Junior
Honors: Bloomington North regional qualifier in 4×800, Bedford North Lawrence sectional champion (4×800, 8:36.34)
Tommy Davis//Trinity Lutheran//Senior
Honors: 2015 Co-Cougars MVP, set school records in shot put (41-4) and discus (117-8), Cougars senior award.
Luke Onken//Trinity Lutheran//Junior
Honors: 2015 co-Cougars MVP, set school record in 1,600 (4:48).
Seth Patterson//Trinity Lutheran//Senior
Honors: 2015 boys Cougar award, holds school record in long jump, Cougars senior award.
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Jake McCullough//Brownstown Central//Junior
Ian Anderson//Brownstown Central//Senior
Rob Fox//Brownstown Central//Senior
Andrew Jackson//Crothersville//Junior
Codi McDonald//Crothersville//Junior
Matt Jones//Medora//Junior
Bailey Pfeiffer//Medora//Senior
Brayden Engleking//Seymour//Senior
Jake Vance//Seymour//Sophomore
Keegan Rebber//Trinity Lutheran//Junior
Nikolai Haak//Trinity Lutheran//Junior
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2015 All-County boys track Athlete of the year
Daniel Hauersperger//Seymour//Senior
Hoosier Hills Conference champion (All-HHC) in the 1,600 and 3,200
Bedford North Lawrence Sectional champion 1,600, 3,200 and 3,200 relay
Bloomington North Regional qualifier (competed in two of three possible events, 3,200 and 3,200 relay)
Leading point scorer for the Owls
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“I get my competitiveness from my dad. It’s built into me. I really want to be the best I can be, and not waste the time I’ve been given. I want to bring glory to God and not waste any talents.” — Daniel Hauersperger
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