There isn’t much time to think when you are facing off against an opponent in a gladiator like scenario in front of thousands of fans. One false move can be the difference between being immortalized  forever, and being forgotten about the next day. No one remembers second place.

In times like this, one can only react. And react Clay Broze did during last year’s state wrestling championship at the Excel Energy Center. Broze, now a senior at Cannon Falls High school, won the state title as a junior while trailing 8-6 with 13 seconds left in the match after he conquered JD Struxness of Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle by throwing him into a headlock takedown to take the lead and seal the victory.

Winning state, along with defeating nationally ranked Broc Berge of Kasson-Mantorville earlier in that year, put Broze on the map in the eyes of many college scouts last year. After many letters and phone calls from these scouts, a few of which represented D1 schools, Broze decided to commit to Augustana College, a Division II school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

“The coaches showed a lot of care towards me,” explained Broze on his decision to become a Viking. “It just seemed like the place for me.”

Last year, Augustana finished 4th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for wrestling and has been ranked as a top ten team in the nation three of the last four years.Of course, wrestling won’t be Broze’s only focus as he heads off to college. Augustana not only bolsters an impressive resume regarding athletics, but the college is also ranked third in Regional Colleges of the Midwest by U.S. News.  While attending, Broze plans on looking into the business program offered at Augustana.

Broze hopes to accomplish his goal of learning from the coaching staff and fellow wrestlers as well as working toward earning a starting spot his sophomore year.When asked if he thinks he will have any difficulty juggling a college curriculum with a collegiate sport, Broze responded, “Yes, but I will overcome it.”

It’s been quite a roller-coaster ride for Broze the past few years, but all his hard work and dedication is paying dividends as he eagerly anticipates his arrival at Augustana where he will trade in his red and black singlet for a blue and yellow one.