The Spring Grove boys opened the basketball season with a 45-51 win against New Hampton (Iowa Class 2A out of four classes). With a Dec. 4, Saturday morning tip-off, it was the first game at the annual Iowa-Minnesota Border Battle at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The Lions opened the second half with a 17-to-4-point run for a seven-point lead. After New Hampton (0-3) … [Read more...]
Spring Grove’s Lile, McHugh repeat, joined by Gerard for All-SEC volleyball honors
Spring Grove’s Addyson McHugh and Maggie Lile were repeat all-conference volleyball honorees and were joined by Kenadee Gerard on the coaches’ 2021 All-Southeast Conference Team. Lydia Solum received Honorable Mention. It was the third All-SEC season for McHugh, and Lile was a First Team selection for a second year after receiving Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2019. All … [Read more...]
B-boys’ season ends with deflating second-half versus Lanesboro
While it rained during the B-team football finale in Spring Grove, there was no lightning from the sky. But there were four lightning-quick touchdowns that brought Lanesboro from behind to stun Spring Grove, 30-6. Both B-teams had four turnovers, but Lanesboro converted two interceptions into touchdowns. The Lions led 6-0 at halftime before the Burros dominated the second … [Read more...]
B-team Spring Grove gridders dominate Grand Meadow again, 32-6
Both the Spring Grove and Grand Meadow B-team boys had a balanced attack, but the Lions had more than twice as much yardage both on the ground (130 to 55) and in the air (142 to 68) in a convincing 32-6 Spring Grove road win on Oct. 4. The Lions improved to 2-0 with a third straight B-team triumph over the Superlarks by a combined score of 90-12. Opening holes in the … [Read more...]
Last-minute completion, interception lift Lion B-team past Houston
With 47 seconds remaining and the score tied, the Spring Grove B-team faced a fourth down at the Houston 39 yard-line. But instead of opting for a short pass for the first down, freshman Caleb Eiken threw deep to freshman Gavin Ostern who then raced down the sideline into the end zone. After a two-points pass to Bryce Berns, the Lions led 20-12. But that lead was still in doubt … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Wolf scalps worth more than a bushel of wheat
Part two Houston County and Fillmore County were established, broken off from Wabasha County by the territorial legislature, in 1854. An 1882 history of Houston County reviewed some news-worthy events in the county during its first three decades. The following is quoted with the original spelling, capitalization and punctuation from that large volume. These entries are most, … [Read more...]
Lion girls build with experience, seek improvement
The 2022 Spring Grove girls, more experienced but still young, will be an improved basketball team this winter for fourth-year head coach Kody Moore. All the key contributors are back from last year – all five starters and the two most active reserves. A few promising young players may make the Lions a deeper team than last year. Summer league basketball returned after a … [Read more...]
Spring Grove boys are experienced but still young
The Spring Grove boys embark on the 2022 basketball season as an experienced but still young squad with aspirations of winning another regular-season championship and winning a postseason playoff game. “Last year we were "very young", this year we are just "young," said veteran coach Wade Grinde. “We will play only one senior again this season with all (others) sophomores and … [Read more...]
Spring Grove gridders remain in the middle
There were plenty of eye-popping big plays and a couple of dramatic late rallies during Spring Grove’s 2021 football campaign that ended with a 3-5 record after facing a few of the state’s best teams, including the runaway state champion. It was often highly entertaining to witness and with only three seniors, a young Lion lineup proved to be very resilient. However, the … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Imported sheep, a fiery death and fine trout fishing
Part one of a short series. An 1882 history of Houston County included a collection of occurrences that would reflect life in the county during its first three decades. One typographical error has been corrected for clarity, but the rest of the following text is quoted with the original spelling, capitalization and punctuation from that large hardbound volume. These entries … [Read more...]