WEST SALEM — Luke Grube’s first intuition when he reached West Salem High School was to concentrate on baseball.
That’s the sport he thought he could turn into a collegiate athletic career.
The shift started when he was given the chance to be a start on the football team’s offensive line as a sophomore.
“I remember a conversation with his dad after his freshman season, and the question was whether or not he could play at the next level,” said West Salem football coach Justin Jehn, who stepped away from coaching to concentrate on his job as principal at the high school before returning with the departure of Ryan Olson as coach and athletic director after the school year. “You don’t see that (potential) as much as a freshman, but the excitement to play was certainly something that really stood out at that point.”
Grube spent the next two seasons attracting the attention of college scouts as the Panthers piled up victories.
After discussions with all of the Division II schools in the NSIC and a handful of FCS programs, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound tackle made the decision this summer to accept an offer from the University of North Dakota.
“I was kind of curious about North Dakota and was really interested when the coaches started reaching out to me this past winter,” Grube said. “Then I went out there, did a visit, did a camp, and it felt like it was a good fit.”
Grube won’t be there without seeing some familiar faces.
Aquinas graduate Will Flottmeyer — also a lineman — is in Grand Forks to prepare for his freshman season now, and Aquinas senior and defensive back Brady Lee committed to the Fighting Hawks in the spring.
The Panthers and Blugolds should have a spirited battle over the Coulee Conference championship again this fall, and their regular-season matchup will include a great battle in the trenches with a couple of very experienced and talented lines.
Grube, who will play left tackle, anchors a group that also includes returning all-conference performers Will Clements and Isaac Arentz.
“I’m pretty excited because we have a pretty big offensive line this year,” Grube said. “We have returning starters and a couple new guys that are gonna do really well.
“We have a big O-line, and we’re gonna run the ball and get down the field quick.”
Grube helped the Panthers 36 points per game during a second-place finish in the Coulee Conference last season. Olson experimented with Grube at guard for one game, but he made a quick return to tackle.
“I feel fine playing guard, but I like playing against the more athletic guys (defensive ends),” Grube said. “I didn’t mind going back to tackle.”
Jehn is probably happy to keep him there for an offense filled with experienced playmakers like quarterback Drew McConkey, running backs Lucas Fry, Kaden Langrehr and Rory O’Neill and receivers Jameson Skifton and Josiah Wolbrink.
Clements and Arentz will ease some of the pressure from the shoulders of Grube, but he is equipped to be a workhorse up front.
“The physicality that he brings is something I saw from the sideline last year or on film a little bit,” Jehn said. “That’s very impressive and speaks to the physical drive he has to be the best he can be.”
Jehn also praised Grube’s leadership and interest in and commitment to the progress of younger players on the team.
