Spring Grove junior Elijah Solum was tabbed as the top basketball junior, “The Junior of the Year” in Section 1A by Ryan James, the leading resource for basketball recruiting in Minnesota. James also named a “Junior All-State Team,” honoring 25 Minnesota juniors from all classes (including three from southeast Minnesota). Solum was a Fifth Team selection.
Photo by Lee Epps
For the fifth time, head coach Wade Grinde was chosen by his peers as the Section 1A Boys Coach of the Year.
Those tributes are among the numerous postseason basketball honors, which have continued for the Spring Grove boys following their state-tournament appearance. After First Team All-Southeast Conference acclaim for Solum and junior Jaxon Strinmoen along with senior Tysen Grinde, that trio was also honored on the All-Area Team (all classes) with Solum a Third Team selection while Grinde and Strinmoen received Honorable Mention All-Area. Senior Caleb Griffin received Honorable Mention on the All-SEC Team.
Grinde achieved the highly prestigious distinction of Academic All-State, recognizing senior starters, who have a 3.5 cumulative GPA, including their sophomore, junior and first semester of their senior year.
Prior to the state tournament, the Scorebook Live web site highlighted Solum as one of four “Class A players to watch”, and that proved to be an astute evaluation. After three games at state, the MSHSL named both Strinmoen and Solum to the All-Tournament Team for Class A. Following the tournament, Grinde was the KAAL-TV Prep of the Week.
The Fillmore County Journal, which covers 11 area schools, selected Grinde and Solum as the Boys Basketball Players of the Year. The previous edition honored the entire Spring Grove boys basketball Team as the Athletes of the Week.”
Spring Grove’s own team awards have yet to be announced.