Interception

Gunderson puts faith before football

Life after high school is full of surprises, and it is unpredictable in a way. For senior Brock Gunderson, it brought big decisions. He has chosen to play football in college and has already committed to Brigham Young University. The only thing that came before football is his faith, which is why he has decided to go on a mission trip.

Considering the fact that he is a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ the Latter Day Saints, he has chosen to serve as a missionary right out of high school for two years. He will stop playing collegiate football in order to go on his mission trip.

“I plan on redshirting my freshman year,” Gunderson said. “After that, I will play for five years.”

Gunderson has played football since second grade and has worn BYU gear since he was little.

“My dad and two of my older siblings went to BYU,” Gunderson said. “I had a distinct impression that I wanted to be a Cougar.”

It has been a lifelong dream for him to play collegiate football, and being accepted into Brigham Young University is what he has always dreamed of. He is waiting to revive his mission call, but he has already decided to put a stop to his football career to go.

“I will serve a two-year mission with no training for football for those 104 weeks, and when I get back, I will begin football and get back in shape,” Gunderson said.

For his mission, he hopes to serve in Asia, but he hasn’t been assigned to a place yet. Even though he is taking a break from college for a while, he wants to serve on the mission and preach his faith to people.

“Yes, I’ll be slower and out of shape,” Gunderson said. “At the end, it will all be worth it.”