Grove signs to play two sports at Iowa college

Weiser High School’s Kaleb Grove signed a dual sport college letter of intent last week in a lunchtime ceremony surrounded by well-wishing family, coaches, and a bevy of friends.

 Inviting the Signal American to the ceremony, Grove’s dad, Mike Jones, said when Kaleb, a standout Weiser wrestler, had visited Iowa’s Northwestern College, the school’s football coaching staff had invited him to sit down with them while they watched some film.

 “They said ‘you can play football, too,’” Jones said. And from there Grove’s athletic scholarship offer expanded to include both wrestling and football.

 Weiser baseball fans have enjoyed watching the well-liked Weiser senior on the baseball field over the past four seasons, as well.

 After the ceremony, Grove told the Signal American his plans for the next steps moving forward.

 “I have been super blessed, super lucky with this opportunity that I can not only continue my academics, but also continue two different athletic sports that I’ve really grown to enjoy,” he said. “I think that I’m going to learn a lot more about myself as a person there, and I think it’s a school that really fits me.”

 Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, “a town similar to Weiser, which is what I think I really like about it,” Grove said. “It’s not a super huge school, but great programs, great schooling, and I’m going to study agriculture business, and hopefully do something with that later in life.”

 A Christian college established in 1882, Northwestern College offers more than 135 academic programs and enrolls over 1,700 students in undergraduate, graduate and online programs.

 Best of luck, Kaleb, and to all of Weiser’s graduating seniors who are wrapping up their high school careers this week. They have a couple of official ceremonies just ahead of them, the first one an awards assembly on May 9, and then graduation, scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m.