Grosulak on a different stage

Dickinson High senior Morgan Grosulak has sang in front of more than 2,000 people at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.

So running in the Class A North Dakota state track and field meet this Friday and Saturday at the Bismarck Community Bowl should be less stressful. Right?

"I get more nervous to sing definitely," Grosulak said. "Track is more just me getting into the mindset that I have to do it.

"I guess running in front of a bunch of people isn't going to as big of a deal as singing," she added with a laugh.

Grosulak chose to pursue a singing opportunity on America's Got Talent during her junior year. A decision she doesn't regret.

"It was just being able to do it with Luke Van Ells, because it was his senior year," Grosulak said. "It was something fun to do and in the moment I felt it was the right thing."

Though her and Van Ells didn't make it past the second round, her singing talents didn't go by the wayside. She regularly sings the Star Spangled Banner at sporting events.

"I really admire her," Dickinson co-head coach Dave Michaelson said. "Not only her talent, but she doesn't just sit back on talent. She wanted to proceed and take it to another level. You have to admire students who do that."

Because Grosulak was a year removed from track and field, she didn't know what to do expect. She ran hurdles during her freshman and sophomore seasons.

She didn't start this season running hurdles, not until a helpful nudge from co-head coach Jay Schobinger.

The nudge paid off as Grosulak qualified in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 48.53 seconds during the Dickinson Trinity Last Chance meet on May 15. She's also the starting leg of the Midgets' 400 and 1,600 relays.

"Right away this year, she was a little hesitant about hurdling," Schobinger said. "About halfway through the season, we kind of talked her into it. It's paid off and she's getting the chance to compete in that event."

Grosulak laughed about not running hurdles from the start, but is happy she took Schobinger's advice.

"It felt really good to qualify in the hurdles, knowing that my hard work paid off," Grosulak said. "I didn't plan on hurdles at all this year, but coach Schobinger encouraged me to and I'm glad he did that."

Grosulak needed to get back into track and field season form and she said the biggest support was from the Acceleration Program sponsored by Dickinson State University.

In the program, she was joined by teammates Cienna Levorsen, Dallas Zastoupil, Mason Frank, Joseph Sickler and Vlad Kutka, who coincidentally all are also qualified for the state meet.

"That helped me a lot," Grosulak said. "It gave me a little confidence knowing that I hadn't slowed down a lot."

Though the Acceleration Program is over, Michaelson said Grosulak has a tendency to work out three times a day. He compared her work ethic to current University of Minnesota and former Dickinson track and field standout Jess Herauf.

"Numerous times throughout the season, I would see her at the (West River) Community Center after a track practice," Michaelson said. "She does those things. That's Jess Herauf-like."

Dickinson senior Leslie Beaudoin has been teammates with Grosulak during the track and field and volleyball seasons. The words she used to sum up Grosulak: "she's a crazy athlete."

"She just has a great attitude," Beaudoin said. "She goes into everything with a mindset that we are going to get better."

Though being an athlete is one thing, Michaelson said the first trait that comes to his mind is Grosulak's leadership.

"First, she's a leader in our school and she's a leader on our track team," Michaelson said. "Second, she sets a good example in the classroom."

The expectations Grosulak has going into the state meet are simple -- perform well.

"I'm definitely doing better than what I thought I was going to do," Grosulak said. "I definitely didn't have high expectations of myself, because I hadn't gone out that last year. All I could do is go out and try my hardest."