Tupy receives Burlsworth Character Award

Press photo by John Burbridge
Charles City senior Brody Tupy, right, was the recipient of the Burlsworth Character Award. Pictured with Brody is his football coach Darren Bohlen.

By John Burbridge, sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The ultimate end of Brody Tupy’s high school athletic career came by way of ultimate tie-breaker.

Charles City senior Tupy battled Quinten Miller of Williamsburg for more than eight gruelling minutes in the first round of consolations in the Class 2A heavyweight bracket at the Iowa State High School Wrestling Championships, held Feb. 18-20.

It was the final session of the tourney’s opening day. Most of the near-capacity crowd at Wells Fargo Arena had departed for the night leaving Tupy and Miller virtually alone except for their coaches and a smattering of fans and teammates.

As it turned out, one of the longest wrestling bouts of Tupy’s high school career shortened his season a few days earlier than he would have liked. Williams got the escape he needed and won, 4-3.

“It didn’t hit me until a little later that I just wrestled my final high school match,” said Tupy, who was eliminated for a chance to attain Award Stand and Grand March status granted to the top eight wrestlers in each bracket

For every glorious victory, there is a tough loss. Tupy’s elimination loss was among the tougher. But instead of acting out his disappointment in a demonstrative manner — something that was too common at the tournament — Tupy simply shook Miller’s hand and acknowledged the supporters who stuck around while the Wells Fargo cleaning crew was getting a head start on Day Two.

“When I’m out there, I represent my school, my family and the people of Charles City,” Tupy said. “I’m also out there in the eyes of God. I pray before every match and game. I’m thankful for the opportunity He gave me, I and want my actions to be respectful toward Him.”

Tupy’s high school wrestling career ended a little shorter than he liked, and his senior football season was shelved shortly after it began when he suffered a fractured bone in his shoulder.

“The year before (as a junior), I set five goals for myself and the team,” Tupy said. “I wanted to make varsity, I wanted to start, I wanted to make all-conference, I wanted us to have a winning record, and I wanted us to make the playoffs.”

Check, check, check, check, check.

As a second-team All-Northeast Iowa Conference offensive lineman, Tupy helped the Comets to a winning record and a playoff berth.

One of Tupy’s goals for this past season was to make All-State before the shoulder injury wrecked those plans.

“But he remained one of the leaders on the team,” said Comet football coach Darren Bohlen, who nominated Tupy for the Brandon Burlsworth Character Award.

Earlier this week, Tupy was honored as one of the recipients.

“It’s a testament to what Brody has achieved despite all the adversity he has gone through,” said Bohlen, who mentioned that Tupy came back from a broken leg his freshman season.

“He’s a goal-oriented person, and he’s a great role model for the younger players,” Bohlen said.

The character award is named after Burlsworth, an unheralded walk-on at Arkansas who eventually became an All-American lineman and 1999 Indianapolis Colts draft pick. Eleven days after he was drafted and was projected to start as a rookie, Burlsworth died in an automobile accident.

“They’ve been giving out these awards for some time,” Bohlen said of the Character Award, which has been given to exemplary Arkansas high school football players for more than a decade.

“They just started awarding them nationally last year,” Bohlen said. “So Brody is the first winner from Charles City.

“He’s made his mom (Annette) and dad (Jim) proud.”

Tupy will likely not play football in college, so any chance at the Burlsworth Trophy — given to college football’s most outstanding walk-on — is likely not in the mix.

But Tupy does plan to wrestle.

“I still haven’t decided on a college, yet,” said Tupy, who plans to study engineering.