Some veteran performers and a newcomer to track and field competition had stellar starts for Caledonia/Spring Grove at the first meets of 2023. Junior Josh Beardmore won the 100-meter dash at both Stewartville on April 11 (11.48 seconds) and at the Winged Foot Invite at Plainview-Elgin-Millville on April 14 (11.07). The Warriors dominated the 100M event with sophomores Fischer … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Performances, Bible verses, a lot of singing and ice cream
By Lee Epps Part two of a series Throughout the first century of settlement by those of European heritage in southeast Minnesota, the church was a site for community activity, both religious and secular. This was certainly true for rural residents, some distance from villages where there might be larger buildings, such as hotels. Area historian David Beckman reflects on … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Church memories: Love Boat, bad-language basketball and a wedding mouse
Part one of a series The youth played table tennis without incident, but basketball was once curtailed because of cursing. It was the 1940s at the South Ridge Evangelical United Brethren Church (E. U. B.). Since 1968, when that denomination merged with the Methodist Church, the Houston County congregation has been known as South Ridge United Methodist Church. In those early … [Read more...]
Record-breaking Spring Grove season merits state tournament trophy
It was a record-setting basketball season for the Spring Grove boys, but the records will likely not be the most lingering memory for these Lions who experienced the never-to-be-forgotten thrill of winning the Section 1A Tournament in Rochester before playing in the 2023 Class A State tournament at such venues as venerable Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota and then … [Read more...]
Veteran Lion lineup takes on challenging baseball schedule
Spring Grove is a highly experienced 2023 baseball team, which brings back almost all of the pitching staff and six of eight position starters. That includes all three all-conference selections and another receiving honorable mention from last year’s team which went 11-8, the third-most wins in program history. The Lions went 10-4 in Southeast Conference contests, a third-place … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Up the river to Rushford on steamboats built in Houston
Part five of a series In the autumn of 1857, the steamboat “Key City” ran into and sank the freight boat “Ben Coursin’” on the Mississippi River near Dresbach. One account says 12 to 15 people were killed or drowned. David Watson mortgaged his farm and secured $300 in gold to purchase the wreckage and worked all winter to pull the “Ben Coursin’” out of the river in order to … [Read more...]
Lions’ Grinde, Solum, Strinmoen named All-SEC; Griffin received honorable mention
Three guards from Spring Grove, the league’s dominant boys basketball team in 2023, were honored by the Southeast Conference coaches on the All-SEC Team. Senior Tysen Grinde and junior Elijah Solum are two-time honorees, joined this season by junior Jaxon Strinmoen - all First Team selections while senior Caleb Griffin received Honorable Mention. The Lions (31-2) extended their … [Read more...]
Spring Grove embarks on new era of softball
After 38 years of a shared softball program, Spring Grove and Caledonia will both field a team in this spring of 2023. It is almost starting from scratch for the Lions, none of whom played softball a year ago. Only junior infielder Katelyn Kraus has any school-team experience, two seasons ago as a freshman. There are some quality athletes who have proven themselves on the … [Read more...]
Solum voted football MVP among five honored by Spring Grove teammates
Junior Elijah Solum was voted Most Valuable Player by his 2022 state 9-man runner-up Spring Grove football teammates. Senior Ty Cleven was the choice for both Lineman of the Year and Outstanding Leader Award. Senior Noah Blackburn was voted Defensive Player of the Year while Jacob Olerud received the most votes for Rookie of the Year. Junior Braedon Solie was the Scout Team … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Boys Close With Class A Third-Place Trophy, 31 Wins
The Spring Grove boys closed their 2022-2023 campaign with the third place trophy from the Class A State Basketball Tournament and a school-record 31 wins (31-2). The seeds held throughout the event with No. 3 seed Spring Grove slipping past unseeded Mankato Loyola, 39-38, in the quarterfinals and then falling to No. 2 seed New Life Academy, 51-35, in the semi-finals before the … [Read more...]