Patriot News MN

Dreams.

It’s what most teenagers have floating around in their heads as they brave the anxious final quarter of their high school life.

Dreams are heavenly when they are achieved and hellish if those dreams get squashed. Just like they did last weekend throughout the MSHSL.

Dozens of seniors from 60 Minnesota girls basketball teams had their dreams of playing for a state title pulled out from under them like a ragged rug. After playing two games in the quarterfinals and semis, the MSHSL decided to cancel the championship games scheduled for Saturday amidst the coronavirus scare.

Becker was one of those 60 teams. And Jenna Mittelstaedt and Aly Gruenes were two of those seniors.

“Finding out the team wasn’t going to play in the championship game was heartbreaking at first but this team has a really strong bond,” said Jenna’s mom, Kelly. “They are a group of exceptional young ladies and I’m so thankful and grateful Jenna was a part of this journey. The experiences they have had together on and off the court will last forever.”

Jenna said the initial disappointment quickly subsided after the girls and coaches gathered after receiving the news, comforting each other and focusing on the positives from a sensational season where the Bulldogs lost just two games.

“I was obviously pretty bummed having my last high school game taken away but any sadness I had was short lived,” said Jenna. “As a team we got together right away and just started hugging and praying. After that we were able to share all the fun memories we’ve had throughout the years and what it meant to us to be apart of this team.”

Jenna said the team went bowling after and just hung out as a team where they shared laughter and enjoyed each other’s company.

“This team is uncommon,” she said. “Having 13 girls that are all best friends and encouraging each other through everything in life is pretty special. I’m grateful to have been a part of this team and the community.”

Jenna’s dad concurred.

“We were disappointed with the decision of the MSHSL,” said Todd Mittelstaedt. “To see the girls work so hard for this and then to get shut down. I was very proud of the way the girls handled it. They supported each other and helped lift each other up. They are a group of young, talented ladies who do things for the right reasons.”

Aly Gruenes said it was hard to come to the realization that she had just played her final high school game of her career without knowing it, expecting to cherish that final walk-through on the court.

“I was frustrated and heartbroken,” she said. “I played my final game as a Bulldog on Thursday and didn’t even know it.”

She and the other players were grateful the coaches pulled them together and let everyone grieve, then share their thoughts.

“When we first found out, my whole team and coaches met in the coaches room,” Aly said. “We cried a lot as we reminisced about events throughout the season. We tried to highlight the positives; the goals we had met, the laughter we shared, and the growth of our team. Our team left school and went bowling, out to eat, and had a sleepover. This team bonding was exactly what we needed. I don’t know what I would have done if I wasn’t with my team.”

The bond the Lady Bulldogs created was evident in the last two championship runs for a state title. There is no selfishness nor any grandstanding — just a group of girls playing for themselves, their coaches and their school.

“I love these girls more than anything and I am proud to have been a part of this team,” Aly said. “There’s no other team I would have wanted to go through this journey with. I will forever cherish the memories made with this team.”

“Although I am heartbroken we didn’t get to play our championship game, I’m so incredibly thankful we experienced what we did.”

Aly’s parents, Joe and Stephanie Gruenes, couldn’t be more pleased with how the team and their daughter handled the letdown.

“We were proud of the team and how the girls handled the disappointment of not being able to compete in the class 3A championship game,” said Joe. “Like every other parent with kids in sports, it was heartbreaking to know the last game of the season was played before anyone ever expected it to be the last game.”

Coach Dan Baird realizes he has a special group of athletes who care about their team and each other. He couldn’t be more delighted in who his girls are and what they represent.

“I am proud of our team,” he said. “Our girls worked extremely hard in the offseason on their skills and just being involved and around the team. Some even worked out and trained some of the middle school players.”

Baird references the old saying that “hard work pays off” and he clearly sees that with his group.

“You can’t help but cheer for our girls and it makes it very easy to do so,” he said. “Our girls are great in the classroom as we had the highest GPA in our conference with roughly a 3.9 GPA combined.”

Despite not getting as much playing time as the starters, Baird couldn’t help but heap praise on his senior leaders.

“Our seniors did a really nice job this year being great teammates and working hard at practice. Not to mention they are fan favorites and really liked by our student body. It was tough to see it all end so abruptly for them. I think the initial sadness of not getting to play in the championship game by our team will be replaced in time by a sense of accomplishment by all.”

The loss of losing the opportunity to play for a championship and realizing the team will have to move on from their passionate seniors in Mittelstaedt and Gruenes is disheartening, but there is a silver lining. The dream can go on as this squad has six juniors, one sophomore and four freshman left on its roster ready to ignite new dreams for 2021.

“Throughout the season, our team motto has been ‘On a Mission’,” said Aly. “It hurts to say that our mission was left unfinished, but I have no doubt that they will go out and finish it next year.”

Final Honors

All State: Adeline Kent and Julia Bengtson;

Honorable Mention All State: Megan Gamble;

Academic All State: Aly Gruenes;

M8 Conference Player of the Year (MVP): Bengtson;

M8 All Conference (voted on by the eight head coaches): Kent, Bengtson, Gamble, Courtney Nuest, and Maren Westin;

M8 All Conference Honorable Mention: Alayna Lindquist and Ayla Brown;

Co-MVP’s: Kent and Bengtson;

Hardest Worker: Courtney Nuest;

Best Teammate (voted on by 13 varsity girls): Bengtson.

Becker ended the season with a record of 28-2. The JV squad was 24-1 on the season under Coaches Dominic Squires and Scott Gudmundson.

Team Stats