Waukon sped away early in the second half, and what was a close 22-20 game at halftime became a 57-33 runaway at Spring Grove on Dec. 19. The Lions went 13 possessions without scoring while the Indians added 19 unanswered points. Ball-handling also went south for Spring Grove in the second half when there were nearly twice as many Lion turnovers (13) as in the first half (7). … [Read more...]
All-State Solum, Grinde among 10 Spring Grove gridiron honorees
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 … [Read more...]
The will, the work, the Lions back where they belong
Spring Grove, according to head football coach Kody Moore, “kept the state tournament tradition alive.” The 13-1, state runner-up season was surprising to some casual observers, considering the 2022 Lions were coming off a 3-5 record in 2021. But those close to the program, especially the coaching staff with state tournament experience, realized that potential was present. And … [Read more...]
Lion girls take control of Kee quickly
The Spring Grove girls never trailed during their 50-21 clubbing of Kee High on Dec. 10 at the annual Iowa-Minnesota Border Battle at Luther College. Lion ball-handling was exemplary with 15 assists and only 9 turnovers during 57 possessions. Meanwhile, the KeeHawks lost possession 29 times, 13 of which were forced by Spring Grove’s full-court pressure. The Lions (2-2) … [Read more...]
Strong second half propels Spring Grove girls past Schaeffer
Freshman point guard Siri Konkel passed out 8 assists, and sophomore Kendal VanMinsel collected a career-high 15 rebounds as the Spring Grove girls broke into the win column with a 60-45 win over visiting Schaeffer Academy on Dec. 8. Three Spring Grove girls scored in double figures, led by sophomore guard Emerson Ingvalson with 14 points, senior Addyson McHugh with 12 and … [Read more...]
Free throws not enough for Lion girls at Kingsland
Outcomes are often determined by free throws missed and made, and the Spring Grove girls put on a free throw shooting exhibition at Spring Valley on Dec. 6. But the game belonged to Kingsland, which never trailed during a 70-51 decision versus the Lions. Unlike the previous game in which Spring Grove rarely made it to the foul line, the Lions cashed in on 25 of 29 free throws. … [Read more...]
Lion boys basketball features accomplished, veteran lineup
The Spring Grove basketball boys are ready for a repeat, returning all but one player from last year’s 24-5 success. Four of the five losses came against state-ranked teams, including two state champions (Minnesota and Iowa.) Wade Grinde’s guys defeated all five larger-enrollment opponents, won the SEC East Division for the 11th time in 12 years and reached the section … [Read more...]
Lion boys wallop Wolverines, 75-27
The Spring Grove boys lifted 26 steals during a runaway 75-27 road win at Glenville-Emmons on Dec. 20. Jaxon Strinmoen was the chief thief with a career-high 8 steals; on offense, he scored 11 points and passed out 3 assists with no turnovers. Tysen Grinde had a game-high 19 points along with team-highs 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 thefts. Elijah Solum tossed in 18 points along … [Read more...]
Solum sinks 30 as Spring Grove secures season opener
Elijah Solum matched a career high with 30 points as the Spring Grove boys opened the 2023 basketball season with a 71-52 road win at Lanesboro on Dec. 19. Fast breaks and free throws were critical in the critical contest between rivals who finished as the top two teams in the SEC East Division last winter. It was the Lions’ 17th consecutive conference victory and their 19th … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Icy and fiery, a Christmas like no other
It was a Christmas never to be forgotten by those who experienced it or heard about it from older family members. The temperature was teens below zero, but stationed on every nearby roof to the southeast, people guarded against airborne embers. It was about 10:30 Friday night, December 19, 1924, when on his way home, Owen Onsgard smelled smoke. Several hours after the start of … [Read more...]