Published: Feb. 4, 2016
West’s Grintjes still growing
At 6-10, lineman continues his progression
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News
West Bend West’s David Grintjes is starting to realize his
potential.
Minnesota State University- Moorhead wants to take advantage
of it.
Grintjes, a 6-foot-10, 330-pound right tackle for the
Spartans, signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play football at
Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
“It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders,” Grintjes said.
Grintjes also had an offer from Southwest Minnesota State.
“On my visit to Moorhead, I really liked the family
atmosphere,” Grintjes said. “Everyone was buying into what the coaches were
saying.
“It was kind of similar to our team last year, where people
put their egos aside and just played.”
Grintjes didn’t get any postseason accolades, but West coach
Jeff Richardson said to not be fooled.
“He’s a great teammate, first and foremost,” Richardson said.
“But he’s also put in a lot of work and he’s just realizing and tapping into
the potential he has. He’s willing to work for it.
“He’s 6-10, full of potential. He’s just starting to realize
it.”
Richardson believes once Grintjes gets into a collegiate
workout plan, the “sky is the limit.”
“You can’t teach size, you can’t coach it,” Richardson said.
“He’s got a heck of a frame.
“He’s got long arms and decent feet.”
It isn’t hard for Grintjes to stand out with his size. When
he tried to assess Grintjes when he met him, Richardson was overwhelmed by his
size.
“It’s hard to get past the 610 part,” Richardson joked. “But
he was just starting to refine. He wasn’t a finished product.
“You see the potential and what he could be. He’s got
gigantic hands and wingspan. He’s got all the measurables. It was just ... big
kids, sometimes being the big kid, you’re kind of put off to the side. Seeing
and trying to help him and come into his own, seeing what he could be, was the
big thing.”
Grintjes knew it, too. He admitted he was timid and lacked
confidence.
That changed this year. Grintjes knew it. So did Richardson.
“We saw a little bit more aggressiveness,” Richardson said.
Grintjes said he believed he also got stronger and faster.
“I wasn’t as confident in my ability as I was this year,”
Grintjes said. “I realized that I was a starter and I had to play like it.”
He also wanted to be proud of his senior year, no matter the
wins or losses.
Grintjes is also on the Spartans’ basketball team. He scored
17 points in West’s game Tuesday against Watertown.
Grintjes wants to study construction management.
“I’m proud of David and being able to go on to play at the
next level and do it at a school he enjoyed being at during his visits and a
good place for him next fall for the next four to five years,” Richardson said.
“I’m proud of him.”
Grintjes was a two-year starter on the offensive line for
the Spartans.
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