Record feat for Red Oak’s Carter Bruce

Like many high school quarterbacks, Red Oak’s Carter Bruce dreamed of setting a school record for yards, passes, or touchdowns. Never once did he dream of setting a state punting record.
“Being a back-up punter, I never dreamed of having a punting record at all,” Bruce said. “But you never know.”
The paperwork has not been fully processed for it to be an official state record, but the current punting record in the state of Iowa belongs to Kelly Goodburn from 1978 with an 86-yard punt.
The national record belongs to Gary Bolin of McCamey, Texas, from 1969 with a 97-yard punt.
Carter Bruce punted 95 yards on Oct. 20 in the Red Oak game against Underwood, an amazing feat for a junior starting quarterback.
“When I kicked it, I really didn’t know at all,” Bruce said. “I was just running down the field. Even after the game I didn’t really realize it until we got back at the high school and Coach Crouse pulled me in and said he had been contacted and told it may be a record.”
Even though Bruce had been notified that he may have just broken a state record, the humble young man didn’t let it sink in.
“Punting is fun, but I’ve always wanted to play baseball in college,” Bruce said. “I never thought about playing football in college.”
Carter has grown up in Red Oak, the son of Scott and Jen Bruce. He has an older brother, Colin, and a younger sister, Cloie.
“I have a very supportive family. They are always at everything.”
Jen re-posted the accomplishment on social media, and read some comments to her son.
“The coolest thing about it, is Matt Davis left a comment on my mom’s facebook page that said, ‘every Iowa high school punter will be trying to kick farther than me. Everyone in Iowa will be chasing my punt.’ I hadn’t thought of that.  He went on to say, ‘you now have the single best sports moment in Red Oak history.’ That really got me thinking,”
Carter’s parents suggested that he begin working on his punting in the yard, and thinking about the possibility of punting in college.
“Mom and dad told me I’d better get out in the yard and start punting, because if someone from a college comes for me, I’ve got to prove it.”
Bruce has the rest of this year and his entire senior year of high school to work on his punting and to develop the leg muscles.
“You’ve got to work at everything because you never know when the opportunity will come,” Bruce said. “It’s not the record I was looking for as a quarterback, but it is a big deal. To any punter, it would be really cool, but I didn’t see myself as a punter until Matt Davis’ comment.”
Bruce is a four-sport athlete as well as an honor student. He enjoys working with young children and helping them develop athletic skills.
“I always looked up to the big kids, the high school kids, when I was little,” Bruce said. “I know what it feels like to grow up and want to be those players and be like them in the future.
“If kids grow up and still remember me, that would be a big honor. It’s special to have older kids as your role model.”
For now, he will continue to develop his athletic skills, maintain his academic standard, and focus on his family.
“I’m hoping to figure out what I want to study first, then see where the athletic scholarships fit in.”
Wise words from a young man, who isn’t letting his amazing feat go to his head.