Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Cabell Midland kicker Cameron Grobe (36) sends through a field goal against Spring Valley during the semifinals of the West Virginia Class AAA football playoffs on Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at Cabell Midland High School in Ona.
Cabell Midland goalie Cameron Grobe made a save on a penalty kick that help seal Cabell MidlandƵs victory over University on Friday during AAA state tournament action in Beckley, Ƶ.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Cabell Midland kicker Cameron Grobe (36) sends through a field goal against Spring Valley during the semifinals of the West Virginia Class AAA football playoffs on Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at Cabell Midland High School in Ona.
Cabell Midland goalie Cameron Grobe made a save on a penalty kick that help seal Cabell MidlandƵs victory over University on Friday during AAA state tournament action in Beckley, Ƶ.
ONA Ƶ Cabell Midland High School basketball coach J.J. Martin, track coach Chris Parsons and baseball coach Tracy Brumfield might want to sign up Cameron Grobe.
The kicker on the KnightsƵ undefeated football team will play for his second state championship in less than one month when No. 2 Cabell Midland (13-0) takes on top-seeded Martinsburg (13-0) at noon Saturday at Wheeling Island Stadium.
Grobe was the goal keeper for the KnightsƵ boys soccer team, which finished second to George Washington in the Class AAA state championship game on Nov. 9 in Beckley.
ƵMy freshman year, if youƵd told me IƵd play for a state championship in soccer and in football, IƵd have laughed,Ƶ Grobe said.
Let the guffaws begin. Grobe has been an integral component of Cabell MidlandƵs drive to title-game appearances. His defense in goal was stellar all season, as he made 47 saves. Off the tee, Grobe has been just as good, booting kickoffs deep, often into the end zone, and making 66 of 69 extra points and two field goals.
ƵHeƵs done really well,Ƶ Knights coach Luke Salmons said of Grobe. ƵHeƵs kicking really well for us. HeƵs a good player.Ƶ
That Grobe played soccer or football at Cabell Midland is the culmination of an unlikely story. The grandson of former Ohio University, Wake Forest and Baylor head football coach Jim Grobe, a Marshall University assistant from 1979 through 1983, Cameron Grobe suffered a seizure at the Huntington Mall while visiting family when he was 5. Doctors diagnosed him with epilepsy, which prevented him from playing football because head-to-head contact was dangerous.
ƵThe doctors tried something like 50 combinations of medications and some made it worse,Ƶ Grobe said. ƵFinally, they found something that worked.Ƶ
Undeterred, Grobe turned to soccer, but couldnƵt play the field because of the risk of his head making contact with the ball or another player. The young athlete became a goal keeper.
ƵMy family was supportive,Ƶ Grobe said. ƵNone of them knew anything about soccer, but they wanted me to be happy and to play something I could play.Ƶ
When CameronƵs dad and JimƵs son Matt Grobe was hired as MarshallƵs menƵs golf coach, they relocated from the Las Vegas area to eastern Cabell County. Ƶ a freshman, Cameron Grobe walked into the Cabell Midland gym, found Salmons and told him he wanted to kick for the football team.
ƵHe walked in wearing a Baylor shirt and with a Baylor backpack and I asked him if he was any good,Ƶ Salmons said. ƵI asked him if he could kick and he told me he could. Then I asked him why he was wearing all that Baylor stuff and he told me his granddad was the football coach there. I said, ƵweƵll take you.Ƶ Ƶ
Salmons laughed at that memory and said he knew then he had found a kicker to replace all-stater Matthew Molina.
Saturday will mark GrobeƵs final high school football game. He said he hopes to continue playing football, soccer or both in college where he plans to major in sportscasting. His top choice is familiar to his family.
ƵFootball or soccer, IƵd love to play at Marshall,Ƶ Grobe said. ƵThat would be a dream come true. IƵd absolutely love to play both.Ƶ
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