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Rising up, Grant Heldorfer watched in amazement on the success of St. Edmond athletics, hoping sooner or later to observe within the footsteps of those that got here earlier than him.

Heldorfer did simply that, competing on the state stage as a Gael earlier than being honored because the winner of the 2021 Terry Griffey Award, which fits to the highest senior athlete within the faculty.

A state cross nation and monitor participant, Heldorfer has additionally been concerned in basketball and baseball. He was named a workforce captain and earned educational all-state honors this previous fall.

“When beginning highschool sports activities, I actually seemed as much as the Flattery household,” Heldorfer mentioned. “Seeing all the nice athletes in that household, and seeing how laborious they labored and the success that they had.”

Heldorfer additionally had a robust bond with Sean Flattery, who he competed alongside all through his 4 years at St. Edmond.

“Having Sean as one among my greatest mates helped me to push myself to turn into a greater individual,” he mentioned. “Seeing the success all the Flattery’s had simply inspired me to get out and run after I wanted to and to get within the weight room every time attainable.”

Like so many others, Heldorfer went via the troublesome 2020 athletic season that was reduce brief as a result of COVID-19. He missed out on what would have been a memorable monitor marketing campaign with lots of his fellow teammates.

“The pandemic actually pushed me to work more durable,” he mentioned. “Lacking the 2020 spring season actually taught me to take nothing with no consideration and to get pleasure from sports activities whereas we nonetheless had them.”

Within the fall, Heldorfer helped the Gaels return to the state cross nation meet, ending twelfth total in Class 1A. He was 87th total within the race.

At state monitor, Heldorfer was on a pair of fourth place ending relays in each the 4×200 and 4×400. He ran with Flattery on each of these, and in addition was the lone senior on the twelfth place 4×800 relay.

“A few of the greatest reminiscences I’ve had via sports activities at St. Edmond have been qualifying for state in cross nation after the workforce had not made it for the final 4 years,” he mentioned. “It was an ideal feeling and it felt as if all our laborious work lastly paid off.

“Additionally, witnessing the monitor workforce win the 4×100 and 4×400 relays in a matter of minutes in 2019 was an superior expertise.”

In his ultimate season as a Gael, Heldorfer earned all-North Central Convention honors in baseball, hitting .442 with 29 runs, 13 extra-base hits, 15 RBI and 19 steals. He additionally had a .933 fielding proportion and earned a win on the mound.

As for graduating and transferring on, Heldorfer will “miss simply hanging out with all of my teammates and mates earlier than apply and at video games and meets.

“Additionally, simply the overall feeling of competing with a few of your closest mates is superior in itself.”

Heldorfer will likely be attending Iowa State College within the fall as he pursues a Grasp’s diploma in accounting.

Named for Lt. Terrence Griffey, a 1958 graduate of St. Edmond, the award was first handed out in 1968. Griffey was killed in motion over Vietnam in 1966.

Different finalists for the award included Flattery, Drew Schaeffer, Cael Kolacia and Brock Stanek.

Trip: Backpacking in Europe.

Have dinner with: Pat McAfee.

It might shock people who: I’m left-handed.

Sports activities position mannequin: Nick Symmonds.

On a regular basis position mannequin: my mother.

Can’t go a day with out: my cellphone and water bottle.

Nickname: Spoon.

Superstition: carrying a headscarf for monitor and cross nation.

Most heated rival: Manson NW.

Favourite street journey: Door County, Wisconsin.

Listening to proper now: Justin Bieber.

Favorites

Staff: Inexperienced Bay Packers.

Class: Public Talking.

Film: Inception.

App: Spotify.