Football has been a part of Joseph Boguslawski’s life for a long time, but his dedication and hard work has led him to a path to play at the collegiate level at Winona State. Boguslawski interest started as a way to hang out with his friends, but this fun soon turned into an intense passion for the game.

In high school, his motivation was fueled by the competitiveness of the sport. “I wanted to be the best one on the field,” he said. This mindset led him towards pushing through many hardships, especially injuries. One severe injury that occurred was during the playoffs his senior year, when he tore the tendon in his thumb, requiring surgery. He was still able to play through the injury with a monster wrap on it, but when the season was over, the operation took place, keeping him out of the offseason training. 

Taking on Burnsville, Joseph Boguslawski runs out of the tunnel for the first game of the season.

Preparation before the game is crucial for any athlete, and Joseph Boguslawski takes it very seriously. Before games he focuses on mental and physical readiness by “watching film, taking practice seriously, lifting, stretching, and hydrating.” This preparation has led to many memories, one of them being against Lakeville South. From the beginning of the game the energy was high at Lakeville due to the thrill of their homecoming. The score was close the whole game: Lakeville would score, then Mayo would score. There were only a few seconds left in the fourth quarter when Lakeville called a Hail Mary play, which they caught and were down inside the two yard line. After calling a timeout, they scored with two seconds left in the game, and Mayo lost. Despite losing in the dying moments of the game, the energy and intensity left him with one of his favorite memories.

At Eagan High School, Joseph Boguslawski gets ready for the play to start.

Coaches have played a great role in his growth, giving him a strong work ethic and teaching him the importance of attitude and effort. The coaches were like friends to Joseph Boguslawski, yet they still had business to get done, and that was his favorite part about them. The balance between support and discipline helped him develop into the player and person he is today.

The decision to play football at Winona State for Joseph Boguslawski was easy. He explained, “The coaching staff was very welcoming, unlike some [from] the other schools I visited.” He also knows a lot of people who go there now, so he knew it was the right choice for himself. The desire he had to improve and leave a better impression on his football career pushed him to pursue his college career.

Facing Lakeville North, Joseph Boguslawski looks to the sideline for the play call.

Through hard work and consistency, Joseph Boguslawski has not only grown as a player but as a person. His journey has taught him responsibility, dedication, attitude, effort, and the value of giving it his best. As his future develops on and off the field the future is bright for Joseph Boguslawski.

Photos courtesy of flick_six/Eli Enke