The air was sucked out of normally raucous Xcel Energy Center, as if someone had thrown all the doors open at once, when Brady Berge went down.
It was the semifinals of the 160-pound bracket in the Class 2A wrestling tournament last March and Berge, the hands-down favorite, was well on his way to the final when the unthinkable happened.
"It was the second period and I chose [to be] down," the Kasson-Mantorville senior recalled. "I had to stand up, we kind of turned awkwardly and my leg just snapped. I broke my fibula in half and tore the ligament right off the bone. It was just a freak thing."
This sort of thing wasn't supposed to happen to Berge. He is wrestling elite by those in the know, held up often as a shining example of everything the wrestling community holds dear: work ethic, dedication, humility and talent. Especially talent.
While wrestling is a family passion — with six total individual state titles among Brady, older brother Broc and cousin Aaron — Brady is the star. Before last season's injury, he had a 234-4 high school career record with three state championships.
His combination of speed, strength, balance and agility makes wrestling coaches' eyes light up.
Ever the warrior, Berge tried to finish the match, but that clearly was not possible. As he was carried from the mat, the stunned crowd stood en masse for a standing ovation.
"That was a special feeling, to see the appreciation people have for wrestlers and the sport of wrestling, especially in Minnesota," Berge said.