Springs Valley stars Kannon Chase, Conner Grimes headed to Wabash College together

Kannon Chase and Conner Grimes have been teammates for quite some time. The Springs Valley seniors have competed together in hundreds of contests at this point, whether they were on the football field, the basketball court or on the track.

Recently, they’ve been tied together athletically as a big reason for Springs Valley’s success. Chase and Grimes shared a backfield as the Blackhawks’ quarterback and running back through most of their senior football season. They were also members of Springs Valley’s starting five as it won a sectional championship in basketball.

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And even though they’re set to graduate in the coming weeks, they’ll still be teammates moving forward.

After spending much of their childhoods on the field together for Springs Valley, they’re making the leap to college together at Wabash, where they’ll each be a two-sport athlete. Chase will play football and basketball while Grimes will play football and run track.

It will be a challenge, but they’ll have each other to lean on throughout the process.

“Wabash is going to be tough. Academically we’re going to be expected to do a lot, so to have a guy who you grew up with, that you’re friends with there is going to be nice,” Chase said. “Just being able to ask simple questions like ‘hey, what are you doing,’ or, ‘where’s this, where’s that,’ should make it a lot easier for me. Just having him around is going to mean a lot.”

Family ties help lead Kannon Chase to Wabash

Chase’s introduction to Wabash College — a private university in Crawfordsville, Ind. that competes at the Division III level — came at an early age. His uncle, Kip, was a two-time letterman for the Little Giants basketball team, and because of that, Chase ended up at some games up there. The impression the school made on him at a young age and continued to make on him through his recruitment was ultimately one of the things that led him to commit.

“I was able to go to a couple of games and I loved it from the first time I went up there,” Chase said. “The football field is amazing, they’ve got a really nice stadium up there, and it just kind of felt right.”

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Toward the end of 2021, it was Kip who presented him with his acceptance letter from Wabash at a family holiday function. While he did his best to avoid pressing Kannon into a decision, he ultimately did have an impact in a positive way.

“He’s been huge for me and my decision. He tried not to pressure me too much but I could tell that he really wanted me to commit to Wabash. He’s been able to show me around the campus, show me so many things,” Chase said. “It’s really been special. I’m super blessed to have him as an uncle and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now if he wouldn’t have shown me and guided me on the path.”

In-house recruitment or not, Grimes ends up at Wabash

The Chase family ties not only end up bringing Kannon up north, they also helped Grimes get acquainted with the school. He took some trips up to Wabash with the Chases.

Kannon wasn’t really one to try to push his friend one way or another, his father Kyle had no qualms about it. After all, he knew exactly what kind of athlete Grimes is after watching him play for all these years.

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Ultimately, when Grimes announced that he would be heading to Wabash as well, it was smiles all around.

“He’s been up there a couple of times with us and I didn’t want to pressure him too hard because he’s got his own mind and I didn’t want to push anything upon him, but I definitely wanted him to come. I definitely didn’t want to play against him,” Chase said. “When he made that decision, it made me pretty happy.”

Blackhawks excited to continue football careers

For Grimes and Chase, getting the opportunity to play football at the next level was a huge deal. For Grimes especially, it was something he didn’t just want — it was something he needed.

His high school football career ended on the sidelines, watching as his team fell short of winning a sectional championship because of a leg injury he suffered in the Blackhawks’ sixth game of the season.

“It was huge, especially considering that I didn’t get to finish my senior season of football,” Grimes said. “I don’t think I could’ve gone to college and not played football.”

Flashback: Springs Valley defeats West Washington for first sectional title game berth in 15 years

It was big for Chase as well because, while he was able to play every game in 2021, he didn’t get the ending he’d hoped for — a sectional title.

“When football season ended, losing the sectional championship, I knew that couldn’t have been the last time I put on pads,” Chase said. “I planned on just going there for football, but then we had the basketball season that we had and I just realized my senior year the love of basketball that I had. Being able to go play basketball as well means a lot to me.”

Getting ready for a new chapter

Grimes and Chase each have a few things left to do before they head off to Crawfordsville. They’ve got county and sectional track meets to compete in, at least, and Chase will try to help Springs Valley claim a sectional title on the diamond and then there’s everything that goes into graduation, but that hasn’t stopped them from looking ahead.

There’s plenty for them to get ready for, whether it’s summer workouts or college classes. They’ll have all sorts of new opportunities to explore and new relationships to build.

“I’m beyond excited. I just can’t wait to be in the college atmosphere and be working with guys I’ve never met before and making new friends,” Chase said. “It’s a completely new group of people that you’re going to spend every day with. I can’t wait.”

More: Superb seniors headline 2021 Times-Mail All-Area Football Team

At the same time, there’s also the nervousness that comes for pretty much everybody when they make the jump to college. Just like many other people, they’ll be a ways away from home and facing all sorts of new challenges.

Luckily, though, they won’t be doing that alone.

“I’m still pretty nervous, but I’m really excited,” Grimes said. “It makes it a little bit easier knowing that I’ll know someone that I’m there with.”

Contact Times-Mail sports reporter Auston Matricardi via e-mail at amatricardi@tmnews.com or on Twitter at @amatricardiTM.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Springs Valley's Kannon Chase, Conner Grimes headed to Wabash together