BLOOMING PRAIRIE – Blooming Prairie senior John Rumpza had a rare opportunity for a high school athlete. He had his choice of whether or not he wanted to take a football scholarship or a basketball scholarship.

For Rumpza, it was a no-brainer and he made his choice known recently when he made his verbal commitment to play football at Division II Winona State University next season with a partial athletic scholarship. Rumpza also had a scholarship offer from Division II Bemidji State University to play college basketball.

By committing to WSU, Rumpza hopes he can be the heir apparent to Jack Nelson, a Byron grad who threw for 2,843 yards and 27 TDs this past Fall for the Warriors. Nelson will be a junior next season and Rumpza plans to red-shirt that year, with the hopes of starting after Nelson graduates.

“Their quarterback coach Cam Keller told told me that I resemble Jack,” Rumpza said. “[Cam] is from a small school and so is Jack and it worked out for him.”

Rumpza also had interest from Southwest State University in Marshall, Minn. and Division I University of Northern Iowa, but UNI already had another quarterback commit to them.

Rumpza visited WSU in early December and he liked what he saw of the school, the campus and the team.

“They’re coaching stafff seems really inviting and it seems like a family environment,” he said. “It seems like a really good place.”

Rumpza put up big numbers running the spread offense at Blooming Prairie. This season he was a Mr. Football candidate and he racked up 3,153 yards and 44 TDs with just three interceptions as he led BP to the Class A state tournament. Rumpza finishes his BP career with the second most career TD passes (112) in Minnesota history and the second most career passing yards (8,991) in state history.

At WSU, he will run more of a power rushing offense with a lot of plays under center. Rumpza doesn’t mind the switch and he’s looking forward to learning a new offense. He’s also looking forward to getting to campus and showing that he belongs at the Division II level.

“It’s nice to know where you’re going to be playing,” Rumpza said. ” =I’m pumped for it and I’ve already been in the weight room. I’m trying to prove myself and try to take myself to the next level.”

The Warriors went 4-7 overall this past season.

Southland grad Alan May will be a senior wide receiver at WSU this Fall and Austin grad Nate Justice is the wide receivers coach at WSU.