AUSTIN – It couldn’t have been a sweeter ending to a historic four-year career than what Bryce Braden had during the UIL Class 2A state track and field meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin on Friday.
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Participating in his final high school event as a prideful Stratford Elk, Braden went out on the highest of notes by making the blue and white proud by not only winning two gold medals in the shot-put and discus but also leaving his name in the history books breaking the Class 2A record with an eye-popping toss in the discus event.
“I’m thankful to come down here in front of my family and compete the way I did,” Braden said. “It’s been an honor being a Stratford Elk. These past four years have been amazing. I just wanted to go out in a great way and I’m so thankful I did.”
The highly decorated Braden heads to the Air Force Academy as one of the best to ever wear a Stratford uniform. On the football field, Braden was four-year varsity starter helping the Elks to the 2021 state football championship as a freshman and was named the defensive MVP during that 39-27 win against Falls City.
Braden went on to capture many accolades on the gridiron ending his run with 623 career tackles. On the track, he made his name in the throwing events. As a sophomore Braden won the discus state championship but couldn’t overcome a hamstring injury last year leaving Austin without medaling.
However, Braden was on a mission this senior season and it showed Friday. Braden set the tone in the discus to open the meet. He let loose a throw of 180-feet-7 inches setting the tone on his third throw. On his fourth throw, Braden put the entire field on notice uncorking a new 2A meet record launch and school record throw of 193-feet-8 inches.
With rain in the forecast, Braden went from winning the discus immediately to the shot put. On his first throw in the shot he took the lead and never looked back with a 54-feet-9 inches. He then hit his personal-best and set another school record on his fourth attempt that won him his second gold of the day with a 57-feet-5 1/2 inches.
“I was very motivated coming down here,” Braden said. “I knew this was my last high school event and I wanted to leave everything I had. The record throw in the discus felt awesome when it left my hand. Not many people outside myself and my coach knew I could do that. It was just awesome to PR and set this record on the biggest stage.”
Braden’s throwing coach and Stratford head football coach Jonathan Murphy soaked up every minute of Braden’s final day as an Elk. Watching Braden leave and head off to play college football is a bitter-sweet feeling but what he watch Braden do Friday is more than Murphy could ask for.
“It’s hard to wrap your head around what Bryce has done for this school and the athletic program,” Murphy said. “Bryce is gifted in so many ways and he’s an incredible young man with an incredible character. I’ve never seen anyone that competes the way he does. It’s been such a pleasure coaching him. He went through a lot last year with a hamstring injury. It lasted all spring into the summer and through the fall. He’s had difficult moments this year, but he was motivated to come out and leave it all here at state. What he did in the shot and disc was special.”