Showcase Q&A: West Hancock’s Grothaus discusses passion for outdoors, good steaks and getting ready for college
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10.
WARSAW, Ill. — The serenity of sitting in a boat on a lake waiting for the bass to bite is a stark contrast to having the ball in your hands in a filled-to-the-rafters gym with the game on the line.
Yet, Gavin Grothaus handles each setting in similar fashion.
He just takes a deep breath.
“I know everybody says this, but I think taking a deep breath when you’re in your own head on the court really helps,” said Grothaus, the recent Warsaw High School graduate who starred on both the West Hancock boys basketball and bass fishing teams. “It calms you down.
“Taking a second to catch your breath is crucial. Everybody gets there where you miss three or four shots in a row and you can’t find a rhythm. You calm down and catch your breath and go after it again.”
Does the same thing apply when he loses a big fish in tournament action?
“Same thing,” Grothaus said. “You only have a couple more hours to fish so you can’t waste any time.”
Grothaus didn’t waste a second. As a senior, he helped the West Hancock basketball team to a 28-5 record last winter, earning a scholarship offer to Cael Sandburg College along the way. This spring, he teamed with Jess Scott to win a sectional bass fishing title and qualify for the state tournament.
He’ll get one more chance to represent the Titans before becoming a Charger when he plays in the fourth annual Muddy River Showcase on June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center.
Grothaus chatted with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman about his love for the outdoors, his favorite meal and his biggest influences for this Muddy River Showcase Q&A.
Q: What are you looking forward to about playing in the Showcase?
A: I haven’t played with some of the guys in the Showcase, like the guys from Quincy. I’ve seen them on the news stations, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they’re like in person playing with them.
Q: Is it fun to be able to play alongside someone you’d played with for so long in Lewis Siegfried?
A: Every time we play together it’s a good time. We’re good with each other’s playing style and everything we do on the court.
Q: Are you two going to room together in college?
A: Yes, that’s the plan.
Q: What are you looking forward to about college basketball?
A: I think it’s the change. Everybody always talks about it’s the next step. I want to see what it’s like, so I’m looking forward to it.
Q: What made you decide to attend Carl Sandburg College?
A: I went and watched a couple guys and it looked like everyone was having fun. Throughout the game, it looked like they were having fun on the bench, fun on the court. They enjoyed it. It looked like a good time that I want to be a part of.
Q: Do you know what you want to study?
A: I’m going to take two years of business first to keep my options open.
Q: Outside of basketball, what has you excited about going to Carl Sandburg?
A: Meeting some new friends hopefully. I’ve followed the guys I’m going to be playing with on Instagram, but I’ve never really met them in person or talked to them. I think I’ll enjoy that.
Q: What is it about basketball that you love?
A: It’s the camaraderie. You go to battle with your friends and your teammates. It’s just fun playing with them.
Q: What was your favorite part about playing for West Hancock?
A: Playing with the guys I knew for so long and guys I went to school with and hung out with over the summer. It was fun.
Q: Fans see what happens on the court. What’s it like being in the locker room with the guys you played with?
A: Sometimes tensions are high and sometimes everybody is having a good time. It just depends on how the game went and how the situation is going with the season. Looking back on it, I wish I hadn’t taken anything for granted because it flew by.
Q: When tensions are high, who is the person that breaks the tension?
A: I would say for sure our assistant coaches. Coach Dahl would obviously get into us and let us know what we needed to do. Our assistant coaches brought us back together and got us settled down and ready to play again.
Q: Outside of basketball, what do you like to do?
A: I love to fish. I like to golf. Just doing anything outdoors really.
Q: How much do you enjoy being on the water?
A: I love being on the water. I love being on the court, but I love being on the water, too.
Q: Is it safe to assume you grew up fishing?
A: Yep, I’ve always fished.
Q: Has it always been bass fishing?
A: It’s mainly bass fishing. I do other types of fishing, but it’s mainly bass fishing.
Q: Was being outdoors something that was part of growing up with your family?
A: Yes, it was just like get outdoors and get away from the stress.
Q: What’s your favorite time of the year to be outdoors?
A: Early spring or fall. The cool temperatures. I don’t mind the heat, but I’d rather it be 60 or 70 degrees with leaves falling or leaves budding.
Q: Have you given any thought to doing something in the outdoors as a profession?
A: Yes, I’ve given some thought to it. Every time I think I’ve found something I want to do, something changes and I want to try something else or it just doesn’t work out in my head.
Q: Do you eat what you catch and hunt?
A: Sometimes. I don’t eat the bass, but when we go fly fishing, I eat the trout we catch. And I like catfish. That’s pretty good. We eat a lot of deer and turkey, too.
Q: So do you have a favorite meal?
A: A ribeye steak or sirloin steak or any beef steak. I really enjoy steak.
Q: How do you want it cooked?
A: It has to be medium rare and I’ll eat it medium. The key is it can’t be too rare. If it’s well done, I’ll eat it because it’s better than not eating at all, but it’s not as good.
Q: What do you like to put on your steak?
A: If it’s seasoned well, I don’t really need to put anything on it. But I like A1 sauce on it sometimes.
Q: Do you grill it yourself?
A: My dad usually does it, but I’ll do it sometimes if he’s not home. It’s good practice for next year.
Q: What’s it like growing up in a small town?
A: I love it. We live in (Dallas City) and not in the country, so just know everybody. You can wave at everybody.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence on you?
A: My dad and the seniors on the West Hancock basketball team my sophomore year. That would have been Alec Hymes, Luke Jacquot and Brian Gehrhardt. They really turned the program around. I was the sixth man that year and I didn’t have any varsity experience. They took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. They pushed me and helped me out.
Q: What kind of impact has your dad had on you?
A: He always pushed sports on me. He’d always take me to the gym. My mom, too. They never questioned me. They’d take me to the gym or take me to lift when I wanted to work out.
Check out more of the Muddy River Showcase Q&As at the links below:
Payson Seymour’s Blake Schwartz
South Shelby’s Callie McWilliams
West Hancock’s Lewis Siegfried
Quincy Notre Dame’s Alex Dance
Central-Southeastern’s Lauren Miller
Miss Clipping Out Stories to Save for Later?
Click the Purchase Story button below to order a print of this story. We will print it for you on matte photo paper to keep forever.