Warsaw Standout Groninger Picks IWU
WARSAW – The Indiana Wesleyan University women’s basketball program has been a consistent winner under coach Steve Brooks.
The Wildcats have added a consistent winner to their outstanding program in Dayton Groninger.
The WCHS senior announced via Twitter Monday that she plans to play for the IWU starting next year.
Groninger becomes the second outstanding student-athlete from WCHS who excels on the hardwood to make a verbal commitment to the Marion-based college in the last week. Senior star Kyle Mangas picked the Wildcats a week ago.
Groninger, a smooth 5-10 guard, has been the model of consistency the past two seasons for the Tigers. She averaged a team-high 13 points and eight rebounds per game her junior season, while leading her squad in basically every statistical category. Groninger tossed in a career-high 28 points in a 50-26 home win over Wabash last season.
Groninger was key as coach Michelle Harter’s team recovered from an 0-9 start last season versus a brutal schedule to finish at 11-14. The Tigers also went 6-1 in Northern Lakes Conference play to finish as league runner-up to champion Northridge. Warsaw lost to Penn in the title game of the Class 4-A Goshen Sectional. The Kingsmen went on to win the Class 4-A state championship.
Groninger, who can score inside and out, is a two-time first-team pick to the IFN All-Area team. She has also earned All-Northern Lakes Conference first-team honors each of the past two seasons.
“IWU is a great fit for Dayton with her style of play both on the defensive and offensive end, she will be a great asset for them not only on the playing floor but as an individual as well,” said Warsaw girls basketball coach Michelle Harter. “Dayton will get a great education while playing for a top notch program.”
Groninger also led the Tigers in scoring as a sophomore when she put up 11 points-per-game. She also averaged five rebounds per outing and was second in assists, steals and 3-pointers as Warsaw went 15-11 overall and won the Class 4-A Goshen Sectional championship.
Groninger, who is the daughter of Jason and Erika Groninger, has also been a member of the highly-successful girls track program at WCHS.
The Wildcats have been a perennial power under coach Brooks the past 17 seasons. Brooks is 468-132 overall and 209-60 in conference play at IWU. The Wildcats went 27-8 overall and 12-6 in the Crossroads League during the 2015-16 campaign and won the conference tournament championship. IWU was eliminated in the round of 16 in the NAIA Division II National Championship.
The IWU women’s program won NAIA Division II National Championship in both 2007 and 2013.
Warsaw basketball fans will have plenty of chances to see Groninger play in college as the Crossroads League also includes Grace College, Goshen College, Huntington University and St. Francis.