The South-East sub-district in 9-Man featured state runner-up and district champ Kingsland (7-0, 13-1), LeRoy-Ostrander (6-1, 8-2), Spring Grove (5-2, 8-3), Mabel-Canton (4-4, 4-5), Houston (3-4, 5-5), Southland (3-4, 4-5), Alden-Conger/G-E (2-5, 4-6), Grand Meadow (1-6, 1-8), and Lanesboro (1-6, 1-8). The Knights and Cardinals each gets a league-high five All-District picks. … [Read more...]
Again, Much Expected from Spring Grove Boys
Much is expected from the 2023-24 Spring Grove basketball boys, greatly due to last year’s success and the players returning for five-time Section 1A Coach of the Year Wade Grinde and his veteran coaching staff, including Al Lochner and Tom Vix. The Lions won a school-record 31 games (20-0 SEC, 31-2) while hoisting the third-place trophy at the Class A state tournament. While … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Girls Drop Close Contest at Waukon,66-63
Spring Grove had 18 fewer turnovers and 22 more shot attempts. But it was not enough to overcome 23 fewer rebounds, being outshot, 46% to 34%, from the field and a five-point deficit at the free throw line. Waukon (now 2-1), with a much larger enrollment, held on for a 66-63 home win, its sixth straight victory versus Spring Grove. While the Lions depended greatly on 3-point … [Read more...]
Lion Girls Open with Runaway Road win at Lanesboro
The Spring Grove girls opened the 2023-04 basketball season with an impressive 67-34 road win at Lanesboro. With graduation losses after two straight SEC East Division championships, the Burros (1-2) trailed throughout their third game of this season. Three Lions scored in double figures, led by Kinley Soiney with 21 points along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Kylie Hammel … [Read more...]
Lion Football Fights through Misfortune, Returns to Section Finals
Spring Grove football extended winning ways with an 8-3 record (5-2 sub-district) and second straight appearance in the 9-player section championship game. It was at the 13th winning record in the last 14 seasons. But it was not easy with nearly half (five of 11) of the games decided by single-digit margins. The Lions earned a winning record by prevailing in four of those five … [Read more...]
Young Lions Depend on Depth, Defense
The 2023-’24 Spring Grove basketball girls, with depth and pressure defense, seek to improve on their dozen wins last winter, their most in six years. But, at 12-15, it was still a sixth straight season below .500. However, Grove was 12-12 versus other Class A-size schools. The Lions were 10-8 in league play, finishing third among five teams in the SEC East for a second … [Read more...]
2023 Girls Basketball Preview
The girls basketball season starts with some changes. This year is the first year of the shot clock. Mabel-Canton does not have enough for a squad, nor does Glenville-Emmons, so the SEC has just nine teams. It will be one big league (no divisions). M-C is sharing with Spring Grove. Section re-alignment took place. Notably, defending 1AA champion Goodhue is back in Section … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project: The Biden Administration’s Struggle in the Middle East: A Growing Crisis Unfolds
By Isaac Vick The Biden administration finds itself entangled in a complex web of diplomacy and crisis management in the Middle East, as it grapples with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The president and his top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, face a daunting challenge in persuading the Israeli government to temporarily halt its offensive against … [Read more...]
Halverson is Lion MVP, among four All-SEC selections
Joelle Halverson was voted Spring Grove’s top volleyball honor as 2023 Impact Player of the Year (MVP) and was one of four Lions named by the coaches to the All-Southeast Conference Team. Kendal VanMinsel is a repeat All-SEC honoree while Sydney Holland moves up to First Team All-SEC this year after receiving Honorable Mention last year. Jordis Neeley completes the all-league … [Read more...]
Excellence Consistent for Spring Grove Volleyball
Spring Grove extended a string of highly-successful volleyball seasons in 2023 with a 22-7 record, the Lions’ third consecutive 20-plus win season under the tutelage of former Spring Grove standout Kelsey (Anderson) Morken. Not counting the shortened COVID season of 2020, the wins over the most recent seasons have been 22, 28, 20, 19, 26 and 22. Going 12-2 in Southeast … [Read more...]