Tollefson completes senior season at Gustavus-Adolphus
EYES ON THE FUTURE — NRHEG graduate Spencer Tollefson recently completed his senior season of college basketball. (Submitted photo)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
The NRHEG High School boys’ basketball team has enjoyed great success in recent years, including a state consolation championship just two seasons ago.
But it wasn’t always that way.
Ups and downs, inevitable in life as well as basketball, caught up with the Panthers, and they sometimes struggled to win games prior to their glory seasons.
Spencer Tollefson remembers it well. He joined the varsity as a freshman and, as a sophomore, the Panthers won six games. They won 23 his senior year.
Now poised to graduate after four years of college basketball, Tollefson reflected on his seasons with the Panthers and his post-high school playing days.
“Some of my best memories relating to basketball come from high school,” said Tollefson. “I was fortunate enough to play for a great coach and play with great teammates. I like to think my grade had a huge impact in turning around the program. We had a lot of guys who put in a lot of work over the years. There is nothing like high school sports, playing with your best friends in front of people who truly want you to be successful. It’s a euphoric feeling.”
The euphoria quickly turned to reality when Tollefson enrolled at Rochester Community and Technical College.
“I learned a lot about what it takes to play college basketball,” he said. “I thought I worked hard before I went to college, but I quickly learned how good you have to be to play basketball at the next level.”
After making some adjustments, Tollefson worked his way into the rotation at RCTC and finished the season playing about 15 minutes a game while averaging four points. RCTC finished second in the nation for Division III junior college basketball.
“That experience was a ton of fun,” said Tollefson. “I got to play a ton of guys who graduated to four-year schools on full scholarship.”
Tollefson transferred to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, where he recently wrapped up his senior season helping the team to its first playoff berth in five years. He started every game while averaging about eight points.
Making the playoffs, according to Tollefson, was big.
“It meant everything,” he said. “We were so close last year so that is where we set our goal for this year and to reach that goal felt amazing.”
The Gusties started the season slowly, claiming the sixth and final playoff spot in the MIAC. They finished 8-12 in the MIAC and 11-15 overall.
Basketball, Tollefson said, has taught him a lot.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself, and how to deal with adversity,” he said. “I think playing college basketball was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life because of all of the life lessons that I have learned while playing.”
Tollefson worked his way into the starting lineup at Gustavus, playing about 20 minutes a game and averaging seven points as a sophomore. He battled a hip injury his junior year and never reached peak playing condition. He worked extremely hard last summer to prepare for his senior season.
How difficult is the adjustment from high school to college?
“I think that for most people who go off to college the first year is always the hardest,” said Tollefson. “During that first year I worked hard at developing my studying skills and time management habits. Once I got into a routine it became pretty easy. I like to plan my week out ahead of time so that I know what I need to do every day so I can practice effectively and manage my schoolwork. Athletic-wise, the biggest adjustment is how you can’t take a day off at practice. Every day someone is battling for more playing time, so you have to make sure you are always in a good state of mind so you play well.”
Tollefson said playing college sports is a big commitment, regardless of which level. There are many factors to consider.
“You could be the best player from your high school, but most of the time the other players on your team were the best players on their teams as well,” he said. “You will be challenged every day in practice by guys that are just as talented as you. It’s the guys who do the right things and work the hardest who are the most successful. Playing in college is also different in a lot of ways because you are playing for a coach whose full-time job is to coach the sport you play, so you won’t always agree with what the coach is doing. It is hard to accept that at first because you can’t really do anything about it but work harder and have a positive attitude about it.”
Tollefson said his biggest influence has been his parents, Mark and Sandy.
“My dad instilled a hard working mentality into me at a young age,” said Tollefson. “He taught me to be my own person and to stand up for what I think is right even when others won’t. My mom is the nicest person I know. I try to emulate her kindness and humbleness that she carries every day.”
Tollefson will graduate from Gustavus this spring with a major in management and a minor in coaching. He’s already accepted a job offer from TEK Systems in Bloomington as an IT recruiter. His plan is to live with his brother, Carter, and his fiancé Anna.
“I see myself living in the metro for the immediate future, but I wouldn’t be opposed to moving around while I’m young,” said Tollefson. “As I get older my goal is to get back to the New Richland area.”
Tollefson laughed when asked where he sees himself in 10 years.
“We’ll see,” he said. “Ten years from now I could see myself working and living around the New Richland area with my family, maybe coaching basketball at the local high school.”
Tollefson wants to thank his brother, Carter, for letting him tag along to the gym when he was little and teaching him how to play.
“That means more to me than he will ever know,” he said.
He thanked his sister, Emma, “For showing me how to be strong in the hardest of times.”
Lastly, Tollefson offered thanks to his high school coach, Pat Churchill, “For believing in me.”
Somewhere along the line, we all became believers.