The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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14 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ❱ Student-Athlete Of The Month Football Linebacker Ernest Hausmann U-M senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann is one of the team's most experienced players heading into the 2025 season, but his leadership and perspective took a big step forward this offseason with a trip to his native Uganda. Hausmann left the country at 5 years old and was adopted by Robert and Teresa Hausmann. After almost two decades away, he went back on a mission trip during spring break as part of an initiative with nonprofit One Million Wells, which uses drills to reach water sources in some of the poorest areas on the planet. His godfather, Mike Owens, helped put the trip together as a member of the group's board of directors. "God is great! After 16 years away, I returned home to Uganda and discovered my true purpose," Hausmann said on social media, along with posting photos of the trip. "I was blessed with the opportu- nity to help train 4 African teams while also providing an impoverished community with life-sustaining, clean drinking water. The joy on their faces was indescribable — a moment I will never forget. "I am honored to announce that I have accepted an invitation to become a partner with One Million Wells, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) Non-Profit. Through this incredible organization, we empower teams to drill wells with a Patents of Humanity award-winning technology. This ensures communities no longer have to walk miles just to collect dirty water. Now, clean drinking water is available right in their village, transforming lives for generations to come. "Thank you for considering joining us in creating a more sustainable future for the most impoverished communities in the world." Upon his return came the start of U-M's spring football practices, where he spoke to the media about the experience and what he learned on the trip. "It was a trip that changes your perspective on a lot of different things," Hausmann said. "From being an American for 16 years, [there are] a lot of little things you might take for granted." Clean drinking water is something that Americans may take for granted compared to other areas of the world. On the flip side, people in areas like Uganda spend their days in search of water. "Here in America, you might have a lot of unfinished bottles you might throw away," Hausmann said. "I think about it myself. In Africa, where I was, and in [other] impoverished communities, there's noth- ing like it because it was such a scarce resource." The digs were strenuous, with Hausmann saying some of the work involved going down as far as 25 feet, not knowing whether they would find anything. When water began to flow, it was a humbling and emotional experience. "It changed a lot of views and perspectives right then and there," Hausmann said. "Seeing little kids, children, seeing water like that. Because you're driving and you see a lot of walking, trying to find water for their family, themselves. It's a resource for them, for families, and communities. It's just very special. Words can't really explain what you see." The life perspective the trip provided helped Hausmann grow as a man. And as a result, it helped Michigan gain another veteran leader in its locker room. — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Wrestling graduate student Jacob Cardenas: The Cornell transfer earned All-America hon- ors for the third time in his career by taking fourth place at the NCAA Championships March 20-22 in Philadelphia. The 197-pounder split his final two matches, de- feating Little Rock's Stephen Little, 5-2, in the consolation semifinals after losing to Cal State Bakersfield's A.J. Ferrari, 2-0, in the third-place match. Women's gymnastics graduate student Carly Bauman: The West Des Moines, Iowa, native — who is a two- time first-team All-Big Ten selection (2024 and 2025) — was named Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association Northeast Regional Gymnast of the Year, becoming the 10th Wolverine to earn that honor. Bauman was the top-ranked gymnast in the Northeast region in all three of her events — bars, beam and floor exercise. Men's basketball junior Roddy Gayle Jr.: The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Ohio State trans- fer made just 1 three- pointer from Jan. 4 to March 14, but knocked down 6 in the postsea- son, including 4 in the team's 91-79 victory over Texas A&M March 22 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Gayle posted a game-high 26 points, shooting 7 of 14 from the field and 8 of 8 from the foul line, while adding 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 30 minutes off the bench. Ice hockey freshman Michael Hage: The Mississauga, Ontario, native was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. A first-round NHL Draft pick of the Mon- treal Canadiens, Hage tallied 34 points in 33 games this year, finishing with 13 goals and 21 as- sists. The forward ranked fourth among all rookies in the NCAA with a scoring average of 1.03 points per game. He finished second on the U-M team in points, goals and assists. Hausmann returned to his native Uganda, spending his spring break on a mission trip with One Million Wells, a nonprofit organization that drills wells to provide clean water to some of the poorest parts of the world. PHOTO COURTESY ERNEST HAUSMANN