Austin senior Pat Hagan sealed his college choice and his track and field future when he signed his national letter-of-intent to compete for the University of Sioux Falls, S.D. at Austin High School Friday.

Hagan has thrown the discus as far as 150 feet, 8 inches and the shot put as far as 47 feet, 10 inches while throwing for the Packers. He’s hoping to get every stronger as he prepares for his last season this coming spring.

“I can kind of focus on finishing high school now. I just have to keep lifting and working to get ready for track season,” Hagan said. “[Competing in the Big 9] has kind of motivated me. Felipe Ramirez of Faribault is a really good thrower and competing with him always motivates me to do my best. I’m excited for my senior season.”

Hagan will receive a partial athletic scholarship from USF, where Austin grads Tom Aase and Zach Wessels play basketball. He said he liked the atmosphere of the school and the city.

“It’s just a wonderful town,” Hagan said. “The coaches are friendly and the team treated me like family. It’s a really nice community and everyone knows each other there.”

USF also offers indoor weight throwing, the javelin and the hammer throw. But for now Hagan is focused on just the shot put and discus.

Hagan also competed for the Packer football team and he’s on the Packer basketball team, but he said throwing for the track and field team has always been his favorite sport.

“It’s the sport I kind of succeed in the most, and I have great teammates and a great coach that makes for a fun, nice season,” Hagan said. “Basketball and football mean a lot to me too. We had a great finish to football and basketball should be a lot of fun.”