Following a state runner-up football season, Spring Grove gridders received numerous postseason honors from both coaches and the media. Senior Tysen Grinde and junior Elijah Solum were named by coaches to the 9-man All-Stateteam and were joined by senior Caleb Griffin on the Post Bulletin All-Area Second Team. Solum was the sub-district Offensive Player of the Year and along with Grinde, second season All-District selections – this year joined by Griffin, senior Hunter Holland and junior Ethan Crouch. Crouch was also presented with Spring Grove’s Teammate Award at the state tournament.
Photos by Lee Epps
Juniors Jaxon Strinmoen and Jacob Olerud received Honorable Mention on both the All-District and All-Area teams.Other Lions receiving Honorable Mention All-Area were Holland, Crouch, Ty Cleven, Logan Brumm and Noah Blackburn.
Selected by position, Grinde was All-State as a defender and All-Area offense. Just the opposite for Solum who was All-State offense and All-Area defense.
Solum – (All-State; All-Area Second Team; Sub-District Offensive Player of the Year; All-District, 2nd year) – The 6-foot-1, 180 junior quarterback/linebacker – well deserved the Sub-District Offensive Player of the Year honor, leading the nine-team league in total offense (rushing plus passing yardage) while breaking three Spring Grove single-season, passing records: yards (2,736), touchdowns (36) and completions (174). The double-threat junior also led the Lions in rushing yardage (1,289), rushing touchdowns (22), scoring (138 points) and tackles (138) and shared the team lead in fumbles forced (3). He ranked second in solo tackles (60), tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (5.5).
Grinde – (All-State; All-Area Second Team; All-District, 2nd year) -The 6-3, 180 wide receiver/safety has been All-District for the past two years after receiving Honorable Mention as a sophomore. He led the sub-district in receptions, ranked second in both receiving touchdowns and yardage. For the season, he had 62 catches for 933 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those dozen TDs were the second-most in the Lion record book.
He punted and was critical to the return game, leading the Lions in all-purpose running (rushing receiving, returning) with 1,795 yards. On defense, he shared the team lead in passes broken up (6) and fumbles forced (3).
Grinde graduates third in career receiving touchdowns (19) and fourth in all-time receptions (106) – one of only four Lions to surpass 100 catches. He ranks fifth in career receiving yards (1,698).
Griffin – (All-Area Second Team Defense, All-District) – The 5-11, 160 senior receiver/cornerback/kicker – led the sub-district in kick scoring with 35 extra-points in eight regular-season games. For the season, he booted 51 extra points on the way to being the Lions’ second leading scorer with 115 points. Griffin led the Spring Grove defense in interceptions (5) and was the second leading receiver in receptions (47), yards (788) and touchdown grabs (10). He also threw a touchdown pass from his receiver position. He kicked off and on the other end of kickoffs, averaged 21.2 yards per return
Holland (All-District, Honorable Mention All-Area) The 5-9 senior running back was First Team All-District after receiving Honorable Mention the previous two seasons. He scored 14 touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per carry while rushing for 1,286 yards – just three fewer yards than Solum and the 13th best single season in the record book. Holland also averaged 16 yards while catching six passes for 96 yards. Rushing for 2,115 yards during his career, he is one of only 10 Lions to run for as many as 2,000 yards. Holland ranks eighth all-time with 24 rushing touchdowns.
Crouch (All-District, Honorable Mention All-Area) The versatile 6-4, 220 junior was a valuable blocker and receiver at tight end and was a defensive mainstay as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker. He caught 23 passes for 270 yards and six touchdowns. It was a breakout season for Crouch, who broke up three passes, recovered two fumbles and had 13 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks.
Strinmoen (Honorable Mention All-Area, Honorable Mention All-District) During the regular season, the 6-5, 170 junior wide receiver/cornerback led the sub-district in touchdown receptions (7) and finished the season with nine. He led Spring Grove in yards per catch (20.8) while catching 31 passes for 645 yards. On defense, he shared the team lead in passes broken up (6) and ranked second in interceptions (4).
Olerud (Honorable Mention All-Area, Honorable Mention All-District) The 6-0, 170 linebacker had a stellar season, leading the Lions in fumble recoveries (5) and solo tackles (62) while sharing the lead in fumbles forced (3). He ranked second in total tackles (130) and was the deep snapper for punts and extra-point kicks.
Brumm (Honorable Mention All-Area) The 6-0, 200 senior tight end/defensive end started on both the offensive and defensive line. He led the team in tackles for loss (25.5) and sacks (7.5) and was the third leading tackler overall with 93 stops. On offense, Brumm was responsible for blocking, but he did have two receptions, one for a 34-yard touchdown.
Blackburn (Honorable Mention All-Area) The 6-2, 275 senior nose guard, for a second straight season, anchored the defensive line, which dominated most games. He was second on the team in fumble recoveries (3), was fifth in tackles for loss (7.5) and was in on 67 total tackles.
Cleven (Honorable Mention All-Area) The 6-0, 230 lineman was the offensive center in a shotgun offense that averaged 8.0 yards per play and 41.8 points per game on the way to the Prep Bowl.
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