Brothers
Kyle Kopplin and
Clay Kopplin share apparent immunity to fatigue.
They punched in early every day at Sturgis (SD) Brown High School following a 14-mile drive from their home in Piedmont. Their athletic endeavors included golf, wrestling, and track and field. Clay added cross country his senior year.
Brotherly pursuit of the arts included the band – Kyle played the alto sax and Clay the trumpet. Both sang in the choir.
Academically, the Kopplins were members of the National Honor Society for three years each. Clay served a term as president.
Post high school plans for Scott and Holly Kopplin's sons included playing collegiate golf and studying economics and business. For Kyle, the elder by two years, Augustana was not in the mix until the summer before his final year in high school.
“I visited campus, but it was not an official tour,” Kyle said. “I returned for an official visit in November and after meeting the professors I knew this is where I wanted to go.”
Golfing in warmer venues crossed Clay's mind, but he was drawn to Augustana for obvious reasons. “I didn't visit anywhere else. Kyle is here and I'm glad I'm here,” he said.
Last fall, competing together for the first time since high school, the Kopplins played in all five of Augustana's matches. Clay was second on the team in average strokes per round (76.42) and Kyle third (77.25). Kyle shot a 69 for the low competitive round of the season. Clay shot a 66 at Bakker Crossing during a team qualifying round for a spot on the team.
“The fall went really well,” Clay said. “I was playing well when I got here and the 66 was my best round ever. But I won't lie; the transition included some major nerves. Kyle was a huge help in settling me down and showing me how things worked.”
Augustana hosted the Luxury Auto Mall Classic to open the 2012 fall season. The Kopplins paced the Vikings to the team title by shooting identical 148s to share second place in the individual standings.
“For me, being a college golfer is living the dream,” said Kyle. “I just love the game.” He also appreciates the presence of his younger brother. “We friendly compete, but Clay has always made me better whether he knows it or not.”
Now in his second year as the Vikings' coach,
Steve Klock is in the process of building a strong program.
“He (Klock) brings youth to the program and we can relate to him,” Kyle said. “He is all about growth, progress, and recruiting. And he pushes us to be better.”
The Kopplins were introduced to golf early. Their grandmother sewed each a bag from the pant legs of discarded blue jeans and off they went. Wrestling came soon after and many weekends were spent traveling to youth tournaments in both sports. “It was a family thing,” said Kyle.
At Sturgis Brown High School they each earned four letters in wrestling and six in golf. Both were place winners at the state wrestling tournament – Clay finishing sixth in 2011 and third in 2012 at 160 pounds. Kyle was seventh at 145 pounds in 2008, and was the runner-up at 152 pounds in 2010.
Kyle reached the title showdown at the Rapid City Civic Center despite a season interrupted by injury.
“I came back from the injury with a reenergized competitiveness and I really wanted to succeed. My opponent in the finals had won two state titles. Naturally, I would have liked to win, but I didn't feel too bad because of who he was. I'll always remember the atmosphere in the Civic Center and seeing my name on the jumbotron; it was electric.”
Competing with the Scoopers' golf team, Kyle placed fifth in the 2008 state tournament, while Clay staged a memorable rally to win the crown in 2011. He became the first Sturgis golfer to claim the top prize since 1973.
“If there's any kid out here that deserves it, he's the one,” Sturgis coach Joe Shetler said after the tournament. “He's in eight million different things and he excels at them all. The way he won it, he just never gives up.”
Rapid City Journal reporter Padraic Duffy wrote: “
Clay Kopplin did what he's done throughout his golfing career. He just kept plugging away.”
“I shot a 76 the first day and the guy leading the tournament put up a 70,' Clay said. “At that point I was thinking a top ten finish would be good. Coach said to just enjoy the last round, so I went out and had a good first nine holes.”
Clay was playing in the second foursome and said he felt no pressure. The media and most of the spectators were following the lead group.
“I kept throwing down pars on the final nine,” he said. “Then I made a 20-foot putt for birdie on the second-to-last hole and a 25-footer for bird on the last hole.”
Clay then learned he was in a playoff for the championship. The showdown began on a par 3 hole.
“He hit the green and I'm in the bunker,” Clay said. “I hit my best bunker shot ever with the ball settling above the pin and close to the hole. My opponent missed his par putt and I made mine. It was the best day ever. I got around 300 text messages and was way too excited to eat.”
The South Dakota Golf Association named Clay its 16-18 Junior Golfer of the Year.
Both Kopplins are Augustana Trustee Scholars. Kyle is the recipient of an Augustana Pro Musica Scholarship and is a tenor in the choir. Earlier this year he ventured outside the country for the first time as the ensemble toured five Eastern Europe countries.
How did the experience compare to seeing his name on a jumbotron? “I couldn't even begin to describe it,” he said.
