Penn State Wrestling: Inside the Singlet – Wrestler Profiles for 197 and 285
By Chris Snyder
Austin Hoopes
Year: Senior
Weight: 285
Major: Kinesiology
Hometown: Afton, Wyo.
Penn State Career
In Hoopes’ first year on campus for the 2018-2019 season, he took part in 10 matches for the Nittany Lions which spanned the Clarion Open, Shorty Hitchcock Open, and Mat Town Open.
Then in his redshirt freshman campaign, Austin was busy on the mat as he competed in 17 total matches and got his first dual meet start against Penn. In Penn State’s dual meet against Maryland, Hoopes cracked the starting lineup and he picked up his first dual meet victory of his career. Austin also saw action in the Black Knight Invitational, Wilkes Open, and Shorty Hitchcock Classic.
During the shorten 2020-2021 season, Hoopes did not suit up for the Nittany Lions, however he did take part in six matches the following season in the Journeyman Classic and Mat Town Open.
Prior to Penn State
Before landing in Happy Valley, Austin wrestled for Star Valley High School in Wyoming. There he was a four year letterman and a the team captain for two years.
Hoopes posted a 47-17 record his sophomore year and finished third in the state championships. Then he followed that up with a 44-5 record the following season to win his first ever state title. Austin’s impressive run in high school was capped with a perfect senior season and his second straight Wyoming state title.
Coming from a family of wrestlers, Austin became the first one to compete in college athletics. His younger brother Harrison trained at M2 Training Center following high school and he is currently a redshirt freshman at Arizona State. Additionally, another one of Hoopes’ brothers, Brigg, wrestled for Utah Valley the past three seasons.
Away from wrestling, Austin was a talented football player and he played through high school. Hoopes is also and all-star in the classroom as he’s a four time Academic All-Big Ten recipient from 2019-2022.
Hoopes’s wife, Cami, is a nurse and he spent a month during the summer shadowing pediatricians at a clinic as Austin is considering a career in pediatrics.
