Seniors Addyson McHugh and Tysen Grinde were the 2022-23 Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, as selected by the Spring Grove High School coaches. For the first time in the 49 years since girls athletics began in 1974, both recipients have repeated in the same school year. McHugh is the first girl to merit the acclaim three times. Grinde is the first Lion to compete in a state tournament three times in the same school year and the first individual state champion in track and field. Both were All-State, McHugh in volleyball and Grinde in both football and track.
Grinde achieved the highly prestigious distinction of Academic All-State in basketball, recognizing senior starters, who have a 3.5 cumulative GPA, including their sophomore, junior and first semester of their senior year.
Grinde earned nine varsity letters in four sports: basketball 4, football 3, baseball 1 and track & field 1. McHugh earned 10 varsity letters in three sports – volleyball 5, basketball 4 and softball 1.
Both will continue their athletic pursuits in Madison, but not the same Madison. Grinde will play college football and high jump at Dakota State University in Madison, S. D. McHugh will play collegiate volleyball at Madison College in Madison, Wis.
McHugh, a 5-foot-10 senior middle blocker in volleyball, was named by coaches First Team All-State Class A, was Second Team All-Area (all classes) and was All Conference volleyball for a fourth season while sharing the Lions’ top team honor, Impact/Most Valuable Player.
In basketball, McHugh was Second Team All-Conference, received Honorable Mention All-Area, again shared the top Spring Grove team award, Impact/Most Valuable Player and was a team captain.
In volleyball, she led the Lions in kills (325), solo blocks (33), total blocks (54) and hitting efficiency (33%). McHugh could do it all, ranking second in serving accuracy (95%), service aces (53) and digs (206). With 1,023 career kills, she scored with her 1,000th career kill on the big stage at Rochester during the section tournament.
She led the basketball Lions in statistical efficiency points and also came away with a team-high 71 steals (2.6 per game). She was the second leading scorer with 9.2-point average and ranked third with 4.9 rebounds per contest. McHugh graduated highly ranked in four career categories: tied for fifth all-time in 3-point field goals (108 treys), eighth in blocked shots (66), 11th in career steals (218) and ninth in career scoring (727 points).
In softball, McHugh was a major contributor as Spring Grove fielded a stand-alone softball program for the first time in 39 years. “Addyson’s natural athletic ability allowed her to step in as an important part of our newly formed team,” said coach Kelsey Morken. “She started at second base and batted fourth for us this season. She continually wanted to learn and get better. Would have loved to see what she could have done in more than just one year.”
Grinde, was the Class A state high jump champion after playing key roles on the state runner-up 9-man football team and the state third-place Class A basketball team.
As a football wide receiver/defensive back, Grinde was All-State 9-man on defense, All-Area Second Team on offense, All-District for a second season and Academic All-District. In basketball, The Fillmore County Journal, which covers 11 area schools, selected Grinde and Lion teammate Elijah Solum as the Boys Basketball Players of the Year. Grinde was All-Conference for a second season and received Honorable Mention All-Area.
The 6-foot-3 senior basketball guard, was the conference steals leader for the second straight season, averaging 4.0 thefts per SEC game this winter. He also averaged 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in conference action. Grinde averaged 3.1 assists, placing him among the league’s top eight. Grinde shot 48% from the field and 72% from the free throw line. He graduated with 1,106 career points and 292 steals.
He led the football sub-district in receptions and 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 graduated 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).
———————-
The outstanding athlete award was first split between boys and girls in 1974. Beginning in 1993, the award was limited to seniors. Since 2003, underclassmen have also been eligible again.
ATHLETES of the YEAR
’22-’23 Tysen Grinde & Addyson McHugh
’21-’22 Tysen Grinde & Addyson McHugh
’20-’21 Caden Grinde & Addyson McHugh
’19-’20 Kyle Hagen & Amelia Solum
’18-’19 Alex Folz & Mariah Edgington
’17-’18 Sam Sanness & Lauryn Bohr
’16-’17 Chase Grinde & Kelsey Hermanson
’15-’16 Brady Schuttemeier & Jordan Anderson
’14-’15 Dustin Vickerman & Samantha Bratland
’13-’14 Caleb Happel, Dustin Vickerman & Aly Folz, Nicki Ellingson
’12-’13 Blaine Storlie & Randi Mehus
’11-’12 Aric Elton & Richell Mehus, Taylor Elton
’10-’11 Aric Elton & Jordan Olerud, Katelyn Bjerke
’09-’10 Dakotah Rostad & Jacey Anderson
’08-’09 Garrett Cross & Jacey Anderson
’07-’08 Kevin Lochner & Karla Wiste
’06-’07 Andy Folz & Karla Tweeten
’05-’06 Chase Stoltz & Kaysie Otterness
‘04-‘05 Sam Morken & Danielle Dehning
‘03-’04 Tim Morken & Danielle Dehning
‘02-’03 Sam Morken & Kelsey Anderson
SENIOR ATHLETES of the YEAR
‘01-’02 Nathan Sherburne & Laura Storlie
‘00-’01 Mike Rud & Angie Arrington
`99-`00 Jason Busta & Gina Morken
`98-`99 Ryan Kumpf & Elissa Rud
`97-`98 Mark Johnsrud & Kirsten Solie
`96-`97 Jeremy Gleason & Cassie Glasrud
`95-`96 Chris Strinmoen & Liz Durham
`94-`95 Chad Busta
`93-`94 Jake Durham & Shana Brevig
`92-`93 Patrick Eiken & Amy Johnson
ATHLETES of the YEAR
`91-`92 Wayne Patterson & Keely Glasrud
`90-`91 Matt Klug & Lia Omoth
`89-`90 Derek Myhre & Tracy Otterness
`88-`89 Aaron Solum Kerry Sanness
`87-`88 Steve Storlie, Dan Vesterse & Darla Skadsem
`86-`87 Todd Myhre & Tammy Ike
`85-`86 Shawn Wennes & Amy Rademacher
`84-`85 Kevin Fruechte & Kim Sanness
`83-`84 Reid Stone & Angie Ike
`82-`83 Collin Bender & Karin Hegge
`81-`82 Dave Hagen & Stacy Eiler
`80-`81 Ken Sawle & Lisa Myhre
`79-`80 Tom Bjerke & Kathy Bunge
`78-`79 Todd Oakes & Kathy Bunge, Jane Myrah
`77-`78 Bob Askelson, Todd Oakes & Diane Otterness
`76-`77 Bob Askelson, Todd Oakes & Rose Laine
`75-`76 Dave Bjerke, Curt Schroeder & Lola Rostad
`74-`75 Kim Sherburne & Karen Rosendahl
`73-`74 Russell Morken & Karen Rosendahl
ATHLETE of the YEAR (prior to girls varsity sports)
`72-`73 Paul Frydenlund
`71-`72 Mike Sherburne
`70-`71 Greg Wirth
`69-`70 Kurt Onstad
`68-`69 John Scheevel
`67-`68 Bob Hillman
`66-`67 Larry Overhaug
`65-`66 Don Solberg
Leave a Reply