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Syd Hauger wears a lot of hats at Gustavus Adolphus. Student-athlete, SAAC advisor, All-American shooting guard, collegiate fellow, social media manager, homecoming queen, digital well-being mentor, all-conference sprinter, and most recently, registered nurse.
Hauger is one of three fifth-year student-athletes on the women's basketball team; all granted an additional year of NCAA eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As a nursing major, I really thought that a fifth year wasn't a possibility," Hauger said. "You have a set path in your education, but after my teammates Emma [Kniefel] and Izzy [Quick] decided to come back, I did my best to think of all the ways I could make this work, so I added a Public Health major. I wanted to further my academics and do something meaningful to my career in nursing, and this allows me to do that and continue my basketball career."
But for Hauger, returning for her fifth and final year looks a little different than the traditional student-athlete experience, as she is currently working as a registered nurse to help offset the costs of her final year at Gustavus.
A day in Hauger's life starts with an early morning wake-up call and an 8 a.m. class. From there, she'll get a much-needed nap, put in a shift at the Lund Center information desk, go back to class, and work an open shift at the New ULM Medical Center on the med-surg floor. After her shift, Hauger hits the court, joining her teammates and coaches for practice. Some days may require Hauger to work an overnight shift after practice, go straight to her morning class, and then sleep until her next session on the court.
How does she manage it all?
"I love my Google Calendar," Hauger said jokingly. "But I really have to make sure I'm taking care of myself. My academics come first, then basketball, and everything else falls behind that."
Off the court, her self-care routine involves sleep, journaling, and attending Delight, a student-run ministry for women on campus.
On the court, Hauger compiled one of the most successful seasons in Gustavus women's basketball program history last year, earning Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Honorable Mention All-America honors while leading the team to its third consecutive MIAC Playoff Championship.
Last season, Hauger averaged 11.4 points and four rebounds per game, collecting 59 steals and 51 assists. Her 64.2 field goal percentage and 51.1 accuracy from behind the arc rank second in all-time program history. She was a MIAC All-Playoff selection and one of the historical five from Gustavus to earn All-Conference honors, marking the first time in league history that all five starters from a team have earned the distinction.
Despite her success, Hauger is focused on team goals heading into the 2024-25 season, as the Gusties ended last year with a double-overtime upset loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"Our goal this year is to make it to the 'Sweet Sixteen' and go as far as we can into the national tournament. There are some goals that don't need to be said – they're just expected. We want to win the MIAC, we want to make it to the tournament, but just taking everything a step further this year and really pushing ourselves toward that national championship is our goal."
Head Coach Laurie Kelly recognized Hauger's infectious energy over a decade ago when the Springfield native began attending Gustie summer camps as a fifth-grader.
"I don't know if I could've told you her name, but I always knew that curly-haired little girl, who played super hard, and always had a smile from ear to ear. And when she got older and we recruited her, all these years that I've known this joyful kid, I was just so happy that she decided to come to Gustavus."
For Kelly, Hauger's impact can be felt far beyond the court and her team, as she's become a fixture in the Gustavus community.
"She has not only met my expectations, but exceeded everything I thought she was going to be. I always knew she was a Gustie through and through. The type of person she is really stands apart. When you're around her, she makes everyone feel welcome, she's fun, and just very caring. The kind of person she is stands out before I talk about her as a student, as an athlete, and anything else.
"She's gotten involved in so many things and impacted so many people outside of the basketball team and the athletic department. When she decided to come back for a fifth year, I really thought I hit the lottery. I don't know if I ever thought she would become the impact player she has become for our program, but I'm not surprised by it based on her work ethic and the type of athlete she is. She exemplifies what it means to be a Gustie in everything she does, and I feel really blessed to have her be a part of my life forever." ;
Hauger's fifth year of schooling won't be her last, as she eventually wants to return to her academics to become a nurse practitioner. Until then, she's focused on leading her team as one of seven upperclassmen.
"I really want to leave my mark on the Gustavus women's basketball team. I want to make sure that our team feels like a cohesive unit, and that I'm leading them the best way that I can. Our team is a special group of girls who are really working hard together to meet our goals. We're fun, energetic, and passionate, and you will not find a community like this anywhere else."
