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'Proudest moment of my life' - Cancer survivor Rocky Hauge relishes son’s state wrestling berth
Mount Vernon/Plakinton's Corsica-Stickney's Austin Hauge wrestling Parkston's Kaden Holzbauer in the finals of the Region 3B wresting tournament.
Photo courtesy of Hague family.

'Proudest moment of my life' - Cancer survivor Rocky Hauge relishes son’s state wrestling berth

Feb 22, 2023
  

By Rich Winter

605 Sports


WHITE LAKE — Rocky Hauge was a state wrestling qualifier for White Lake, but watching his son accomplish the same feat was much more fulfilling. 

Rocky Hauge, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2021, watched his son earn an unlikely state tournament berth at the Region 3B tournament on Feb. 18 in Miller. 

Senior Austin Hague entered the Region 3B tournament unseeded with a 19-13 record. In the first round, he lost to Winner Area’s Karson Keiser and in the first-round wrestlebacks he defeated Bon Homme/Avon’s Brock Kotalik. 

In order to qualify for the state tournament Hauge needed to beat Parkston’s Kaden Holzbauer, the No. 4 ranked Class B wrestler at 126 pounds.

Hauge wrestled well taking the match to a sudden victory period. Hauge attacked in that period and was able to hit a lateral drop to earn a takedown, pick up the win and qualify for the state tournament. 

What happened next drew tears from many in the stands that day. An elated Hague got off the mat and flashed the ‘W’ sign to his father in the stands. 


“That was the proudest moment of my life,” Rocky Hauge said. “There was a lot of emotion going through me. I never thought I’d be able to see my son wrestle in a state tournament.”

Rocky Hauge rushed down to the floor to spend a moment with his son. 

“I came down and gave him a hug,” Rocky Hague said. “I told him I’ve never been so proud of anybody and said ‘I love you son. I love you son.’ ”

MVPCS's Austin Hague wrestling in the Region 3B tournament - Photo courtesy of Hague family.

The last few years have not been easy for Rocky and his wife Marsha, along with their children Austin, Alexis and Arrick. Rocky noticed his mood wasn’t quite right in 2021 so he went to the doctor for a checkup and came out being diagnosed with brain cancer. 

“I had surgery in 2021 and they removed about eight ounces of the tumor,” Rocky said. “After surgery the doctor told me that he was surprised I never had headaches or lost my vision.”

Hauge uses an oxygen device now that helps with his health problems. 

“The tumor hasn’t gotten any bigger,” he said. “I wake up and every day is a good day and I take care of myself and hopefully the oxygen does what it is supposed to do.” 

Rocky said he’s thankful for the support from his family and friends, while he’s taking it one step at a time. 

“I’ve been a fixer my whole life so I had to switch roles and be the fixee,” he said. “I’ve got the greatest friends anybody could ask for and that has helped tremendously. I keep a good attitude because you have to keep telling yourself that you are going to beat this and it is one day at a time.”