Spring Forward

Spring Forward: Coach Grundahl’s Vision for a New Era of RAHS Soccer 

By, Philip Turner

After years of leadership under Mrs. Erica Gronley, the Reedsburg Area High School girls' soccer program is entering a fresh chapter. Taking the helm is Mr. Jeremy Grundahl, a familiar face in the local soccer community and a lead second-grade teacher at Pineview Elementary School. While the spring season is still months away, Coach Grundahl has already hit the ground running, transforming the gym into a training ground on Monday nights and Thursday mornings.

For Grundahl, the transition to Head Coach is a homecoming of sorts. He grew up on the soccer pitch, playing for sixteen years before what he called a "lightbulb moment" during a college gap year. “I actually started coaching when I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life,” Grundahl said. “Surprisingly, that experience is what led me to pursue my teaching degree.” That dual passion for teaching and coaching has taken him from Madison to Reedsburg, working with athletes at nearly every grade level.

The Majestic "Build-Up"

Grundahl views soccer—often called "the beautiful game"—as an exercise in patience. In a sport where matches often end with a slim 1-0 scoreline, he said he finds beauty in the struggle to score and to keep from being scored on. “You play 80 minutes of intense soccer just to find one glorious 20-second sequence that results in a goal,” he said. “To me, soccer is a perfect analogy for life—it isn't always flashy, but you have to appreciate the buildup to truly celebrate those big crescendos.”

This philosophy is currently being put to the test as he has implemented a rigorous schedule of challenging off-season workouts. Grundahl said the team focuses on "stretch-strength" exercises to increase mobility and then play pick-up matches in the gym only after the athletes are already tired. Grundahl explained that this is intentional: He believes most matches are won or lost in the final ten minutes, and he wants his players to learn how to push past mental barriers and fatigue.

A Culture of Connection

While the "X’s and O’s" of strategy are important, Grundahl’s primary goal for his first year at RAHS is building a close-knit, supportive culture. He described the process of building the program like building a snowman—starting small and pushing consistently to see it take shape.

That effort to build a positive environment is already being felt by the players. Sydney Olson, a sophomore striker on the team, has found the early sessions to be a highlight of her week. “I am excited to see how he can help us improve with our pace and style of play,” Olson said.

Lydia Eastman, a senior midfielder, is equally enthusiastic about the new leadership. "I’m excited to see his different views," Eastman said.

For the players, the appeal of the program goes beyond the physical training; it is about the camaraderie. Eastman said that the best part of the upcoming season will be "the new relationships that will be built and watching everyone do what they enjoy." She described the squad as having a "family-like feeling," where the team ensures that "no one is left out."

Olson agreed. “It's overall a really friendly group with people from all sorts of other clubs and activities, and we never have to worry about drama off the field.”

An Invitation to the Pitch

As the spring season approaches, both Grundahl and his players are eager to grow their ranks. The momentum is already building. Senior attacker Gracie Wilkie noted that the early morning and evening practices have had "a much better turnout than last year with many girls showing up."

"I’m excited to see the route that our new coaches take us and see the difference it makes," Wilke added.

Despite the intense training, the team remains a welcoming space for those who have never laced up a pair of cleats. Wilke, who joined the program during her sophomore year, is living proof that it is never too late to start.

"For girls that are thinking about joining but aren’t sure, I would say go for it," Wilke said. "New things are scary, but we have the most welcoming team ever. It’s exciting to see where soccer could take you... and I’m so glad I decided to!"

Coach Grundahl echoed that sentiment, inviting any interested students to stop by the gym during their Monday and Thursday sessions. Whether it’s through the new Google Classroom training videos he has set up or the face-to-face sessions in the gym, the goal for the enthusiastic new coach is simple: To create a program that other students see and immediately want to join.

“I’m having a great time, and I think the girls are too,” Grundahl said. “I’d love to meet some new athletes and try to sway them into soccer.”