The Grundy Center girls basketball team recently ended its season in the Class 2A state tournament, its first appearance since 2021. The team accomplished the feat with a veteran senior class.
Four of the five seniors appeared in the starting lineup, including scoring and rebounding leader Carlie Willis, block, assist and steal leader Ellery Luhring, Lucy Lebo and Laney Dole. Head Coach Matt Lindeman on the senior class.
“I want to keep coaching them, because it’s been so fun,” Lindeman says. “Games, practices, have just been so fun because of how they compete, how tight they are together, how unselfish they play. You never knew who was going to be the one to step up. If it wasn’t their night, you wouldn’t know the difference because we got the win, that was the most important piece to them. Those intangibles are really neat, and I feel very fortunate to have been around. Those things will be remembered forever. Our job is to carry forward what these guys have done.”
Willis and Luhring were unanimous NICL-West first team all-conference selections, and Luhring was a second team all-state selection. Lebo and Dole were NICL-West second team selections.
Lindeman says it was a memorable season for the program and community.
“I just love the fight we had. Really proud of what we were able to do this year, the joy they brought to our school, our community, our fans, parents, and temselves, are memories to last a lifetime.”
The Spartans went 21-3 and fell to Class 2A runner-up Panorama in the 2A quarterfinals.
