ALEXANDRIA — Grayson Grove took another sip of water from his Styrofoam cup, then set it next to the other cup.
he was coughing.
He was rarely given an hour's worth of reporters asking questions about his past, present and future. His voice would be forgiven even if he struggled for 10 minutes.
Some of the memories made him laugh out loud. Maybe there was something that made me flinch inwardly. It's been hard looking back on those 18 years, trying to put into words all the things that make him the person he is today, and remembering all the little moments that could have changed his life. Trying to do so was also difficult.
Over the past few months, family and friends have been sharing stories about a young man who is an expert in youth terminology such as “Liz,” “Drip,” and “Farnum Tax.” The story is about a boy who was thrown into a ditch because he didn't put away his baseball equipment. The story of a boy who hated the beet casserole his mother made.
Contributed by Grayson Grove
But what was consistent in all the interviews and storytelling was the image of a young man who meant the world to them.
A young man who has worked so hard to achieve it all, a young man who has left an indelible mark on coaches, teammates and fans whose gratitude and respect are too numerous to count.
When Grayson Grove graduates from Alexandria Regional High School on May 31, he will officially close the chapter on his time as a Cardinal, but he will always be a Cardinal.
From there, he went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where he earned a degree in business while competing on the Golden Gophers basketball team and embracing whatever comes next.
And countless people can't wait to see how it all happens.
Sam Steube/Alexandria Echo Press
A highly regarded son, a cheerful friend, a humble human being, and a precious division that I have adopted – this is the gilding of Grayson Grove.
“Man, [a gentle giant]among boys.”
For as long as Pete Grove can remember, his son Grayson just loved to play, have fun and laugh.
In the early days, Pete himself would be out in the front yard throwing baseballs and shooting hoops. However, it wasn't long before he was joined by cousins and neighborhood children who took over his home. To this day, Pete isn't surprised when he hears the front door close or sees Grayson's friends come into the house. The Grove family learned to keep a few extra pizzas in the oven just in case.
“People gravitate toward him,” Pete said. “He's a fun kid. He's responsible.”
Part of the reason is that Grayson has literally always stood out from the crowd since he was young.
Contributed by Grayson Grove
By the time he was in third grade, he was already taller than his teacher and family friend, Julie Roble.
“Other kids love big, tall kids,” Wobble said.
She laughed as she recalled playing “balloon volleyball” with her class on Fridays.
“It was like competing in a section final,” Roble said. “And I wasn't going to let the boys beat up little girls in third grade, but, well, Grayson made it tough.”
By the time he was in fourth and fifth grade, he was already making his mark on the basketball court. Not just because of his size, but because of the way he carries himself on the court and the way he plays the game.
“He was a boy's man,” said his fifth-grade coach, Jenny Steffensmeyer. “You could already see his ability, but what I really admired was his character, character and leadership. When a player of that caliber can be positive, it affects the whole team. ”
She noted that at Grayson's age, he could have completely dominated the game by stealing the ball on every possession and going straight to the basket. He may get frustrated when his young, uncoordinated hands give him a wrong entry pass or knock an air ball away, but he's always quick to provide reassurance and quickly give him a second chance. provided. He was distributing the ball in the middle of the attack so that everyone had a chance to get involved.
Contributed by Grayson Grove
“And he respected me, not just as a coach, but as a female coach,” Steffensmeier said. “When they're in that age group, sometimes you roll your eyes, but he never did that. And that really rubbed off on the whole group, and he started at the top. He led by example. I've always admired him. In my personal opinion, his personality will always outweigh his athletic ability. He will always have a special place in my heart. It will continue to be.”
Grayson continued to excel on the court, becoming the first and only eighth grader to play on Alexandria's “B Team/Junior Varsity 2 Team” under the current coaching staff. He joined coach Tom Miller's junior varsity team as a freshman and logged minutes during the varsity's state playoff appearance that year. As a sophomore, he became a solid varsity player.
Coaches, fans, and teammates were looking forward to seeing what kind of high school player he would become.
Steffensmeyer vividly remembers when Grayson was a sophomore and was chasing his son Carter's fast break. Carter threw a lob off the backboard, and Grayson jumped up to it, securing it and rocking the rim with a powerful two-handed dunk.
“I remember thinking he was trying to get his freedom,” Steffensmeyer said. “'Okay, guys, sit back and enjoy, because we're going to have many years of great basketball with Grayson Grove.' Alexandria was very fortunate to have him.”
Grayson's stock continued to rise, but he remained humble and hardworking. He remained a fun-loving and well-mannered kid, but could “act hard” when coaches challenged him or when the team needed him to make a play.
Contributed by Grayson Grove
However, both he and his father were actually shocked when it was revealed that Grayson would become a Division I athlete. Pete was talking to some coaches at South Dakota State's basketball camp, and one of the coaches suggested that the Jackrabbits would not be able to acquire Grayson. Because he's too good.
“That was the first time I saw how high he was aiming,” Pete said. I think he should have dreamed higher. ”
Grayson committed to the University of Minnesota on May 13, 2023.
It felt like an easy decision to choose a school close to home with a staff that had meaningful relationships with him and a clear plan for his development.
Although he entered his senior year without the pressure of an impending decision, his swan song did not go as planned.
A lingering ankle injury sustained in the 2023 Section 8AAA finals forced Grayson to undergo surgery that summer. He missed most of the summer basketball season, but that didn't prevent him from going to the gym. He took it upon himself to take his game to the next level. That summer he gained about 30 pounds.
Contributed by Grayson Grove
Expectations were high for the Cardinals by the time the 2023-24 school basketball season began, but a rash of injuries left the core of the team reeling. Grayson himself suffered a recurrence of his ankle, which sidelined him for several weeks.
Despite the physical pain and the frustration of being kicked off the court, Grayson remained in high spirits thanks to the encouragement he received from both coaches at the University of Minnesota and countless supporters in Alexandria, people like Steffensmeyer and Roble. He said he was able to maintain it. , and Miller.
Similarly, Grayson wanted to be there for his teammates even if he couldn't be on the court.
“He was attending practices and doing everything he could behind the scenes to stay in shape. During games, he was sitting on the bench cheering on the team,” Miller said. “He handled it as gracefully as anyone else could.”
Fortunately, Grayson returned late in the season and led the Cardinals to the Section 8AAA title and a state tournament appearance, leading the team to a fourth place finish.
Contributed by Grayson Grove
“I know everyone wishes they could have played a little bit better,” Grayson said. “We know we could have won it all. It just didn't happen. We lost because the other team was just a little bit better than us that day. But… I'm grateful that I was able to participate in the prefectural tournament twice during my high school days.''
As Grayson's career in Alexandria draws to a close, he looks back on their friendship and is amazed at how they have changed and grown.
He credits the upperclassmen his freshman and sophomore seasons for helping mold him into both the player and leader he is today.
“Every time I see Grayson, I feel like he's even better than the last time I saw him,” Eric Hedstrom said.
Hedstrom was a senior during Grayson's first year on varsity. The two quickly became close friends during summer training. Grayson was humbled by how much effort Hedstrom and the other players put into getting him on the team and involved in offseason activities.
Contributed by Grayson Grove
Hedstrom played at St. John's University before transferring to Concordia, but as he watched Grayson grow over the past few years, he noticed how Grayson took on leadership roles, not just his own. He was impressed by how seriously he was working on the project. Not just with the team, but with the community, especially the future Cardinals youth.
“I think he sees himself as a normal Alexandria kid who enjoys playing basketball and hanging out with his friends,” Hedstrom said. “And he just happened to be very good at basketball. I don't think he thinks he's special or different from any of his friends. But he understands the opportunity he's been given. I think I've worked hard for that.”
“He had every reason to put himself on a pedestal at times, and he didn't do it,” Miller added.
Grayson was quick to show why he is the way he is, citing his parents, siblings, friends, and mentors. They have sacrificed countless hours for him and supported him through good times and bad. They taught him what it meant to care for those around him. he is very grateful.
“You never know what people are going through,” Grayson said. “People deserve to be treated kindly and with respect. You could be the person who changes someone's day.”
Next month, he'll keep that attitude going as he heads to the Twin Cities for his next chapter. He is ready to take on new challenges and new relationships, but will never forget what made him who he is.
