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SPORTS WRAP

Excitement builds for new athletic facilities
By
Roy Koenig, Sports Analyst
sports wrap, roy koenig, owatonna, sports

“It’s going to be absolutely fantastic,” Activities Director Marc Achterkirch says about the athletic facilities at the new Owatonna High School. The main stadium will have an artificial surface with a nine-lane track and a 3,500-seat stadium. There will be two turf practice fields with lights in addition to a pair of grass fields without lights.

He made special mention of the big donors, the businesses, the taxpayers, and voters. Achterkirch said, “Don’t know if you can express it enough, the appreciation and gratitude toward our community…Super facility for our kids, and our coaches, and our community to come and watch games. And the school itself is going to be state-of-the-art with classrooms and work labs. It’s amazing.”

Two baseball fields “look super, but they’ll be our JV and ninth grade,” says Huskies coach Tate Cummins. Varsity games will stay at Dartt’s Park. “That was something we talked about from the get-go… That overall environment down at the park. It’s really hard to beat. You’ve got the stream. You’ve got parking. We love playing down at Dartt’s Park. I think it’s one of the best in the Big Nine.”

The diamonds at the new high school will have turf at home plate and a portable mound. Grass will be in the baselines from home to first and third. Cummins said that should allow for a quicker return to play after rain, “If a game gets postponed it’s usually because of water in the baselines or the mound or home plate.” The fields will have a traditional dirt infield from first around to third.

Owatonna will be on the leading edge by installing a turf field for the varsity softball program. Huskies fast pitch coach Jeremy Moran is looking forward to its debut in the spring of 2024. “Very excited as this will allow us to be outdoors for practices and games earlier and more often,” he said. There is a turf field in Janesville and Albert Lea has an artificial infield. Moran says Mankato East is installing a turf field.

He says overall game play doesn’t change, but there are some adjustments. “It becomes a faster playing surface. Ground balls will get through the infield faster and will also reach the gaps in the outfield faster.” Adjustments will include “sliding and pitching as that is a different ‘feel’” and “no more sunflower seeds!”

Moran will miss Morehouse for all its memories. “It is hard to find a field with such a scenic view with the pond and the Straight River in the background. We will not miss the trains going by in the middle of games,” he said.

Eight tennis courts with lights are part of the complex. The courts at the current OHS will continue to be used for junior varsity.

Achterkirch hasn’t had contact with the high school league yet about hosting playoff games, but said, “I would venture to guess, that probably will happen. We will [likely] host some section finals or some state quarters in football, soccer.”

He said it’s bittersweet after his 28 years teaching and coaching at the current site. “I’ve coached a lot of football games on that field. A lot of memories, but the new high school is going to be fantastic.” At the time we spoke, he indicated there weren’t any concrete plans for ceremonial “last games” at the present venues.

Huskies Tackle Cancer

Owatonna hosted Tackle Cancer during Homecoming. Nancy Williams reports that $3,570 was donated to the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund. “We have found that many people are familiar with Tackle Cancer and the positive things that this foundation does for Minnesota families battling cancer and so we didn’t see any drop off in the years we didn’t donate it locally,” she said. “It seems everyone has been touched by cancer and are willing to help in any way.”

She added that the Owatonna football coaches “were coaching that night in memory of longtime activities director Gary Ridge who recently lost his 15-year battle with cancer. All the senior football players shared who in their lives they were playing ‘In Honor’ or ‘In Memory’ of.”

Money was raised through t-shirt sales, donations at the gate and through a raffle basket provided by Owatonna Football and the captains’ parents. A ‘Thank You’ letter from Shaver indicates, “Your contribution will help us in our mission to enhance the lives of Minnesota’s Cancer Community by providing research, educational programs and advanced technology.”

Benny breaks the record

With four goals in the regular season finale, senior Benny Bangs became the all-time leader in goals scored in OHS boys’ soccer history. He collected a hat trick in a span of 3:44 early in the first half of a 5-0 victory over Red Wing on Oct. 6. He added another 10 minutes into the second half.

In an interview on the Owatonna Live Coaches Show, Bangs reacted to his ability to score. “It’s a lot of in-tight spaces and getting shots off like that. And then just being fast I guess… But it’s also been a lot of work to get where I am now.”

Ashton Kraus scored on a penalty kick midway through the second half. The Huskies dominated play even while moving players into different positions. Defenders Rolando Maya and Drew Henson had close scoring opportunities. The Huskies’ 10 seniors all saw extended minutes. It was the fourth shutout of the season for Owatonna. OHS finishes the regular season at 12-3-1, tied for the second-best record in school history.

Close, but not enough

The OHS volleyball squad went the distance with No. 8-AAA Byron on Oct. 3, dropping a 3-2 decision. Owatonna jumped out 6-0 in the first set, but the Bears came back for a 25-20 win. Samantha Bogen served three aces for OHS. The second set was even early with Byron pulling away late for a 25-17 win.

The Huskies took the third game 25-22. Kendra Bogen and Mehsa Krause combined for 10 kills. Lainey Smith had a diving dig to save a point and served three aces. The momentum carried over to the fourth game. Kendra Bogen, Krause and Lauren Bangs all contributed to a 25-21 victory.

Byron captured the fifth set 15-10 after grabbing the early lead. Krause led the Huskies with 15 kills. Kendra Bogen added 10. Smith had seven aces. Byron’s Sophia Gartner had 11 kills and four aces. Gabrielle Gartner had 11 kills.

Owatonna 3, Faribault 2: The next night OHS captured a back-and-forth win over Faribault. The Falcons took the opening set 25-23. The Huskies squared it up 25-22 behind a strong front row performance by Bangs, Brooke Miles, Krause, and Samantha Bogen. OHS won the next set 25-19 to go up 2-1.

Faribault came from behind in the fourth 25-20. The deciding game featured several ties. Krause and Bangs combined on eight kills in the 15-10 clincher. Krause earned Player of the Game honors with a 23-kill night. Bangs added 16. The Falcons were led by Jocelyn Herda’s 12 kills. Emily Soukup had nine.

(Reports from Owatonna Live’s Brad Betterman)

Shutout streak survives

Owatonna senior Ezra Oien had a point-blank shot that would have tied the Huskies’ soccer match with Mankato East on Oct. 4. Cougar keeper Izzy Schott went to the ground to make the save and popped back up to deny the rebound chance for Kennedy Schammel. That’s the closest OHS would get to breaking East’s eight-game shutout streak. The Cougars clinched their second straight Big Nine title with the 4-0 win. In their regular season wrap-up, the Huskies won at Red Wing 3-0 behind an Ava Stanchina hat trick.

Blades win home opener

Steele County Blades junior hockey opened their home schedule with a 5-1 win over Isanti on Oct. 7 at Four Seasons Centre. Noah LaFleur (West Salem, Wis.) scored the first two goals and added two assists. Arturas Laurynavichus had a goal and two assists.

First-year junior player Elliot Bauer (Colorado Springs) had two assists. He’s enjoying his time in Owatonna while learning about worldwide culture, “It’s awesome. You’ve got some guys speaking Russian, and others speaking Czech. I actually billet with one of the Czech Republic kids.”

Anders Thorager (Stillwater) added two assists. The Blades host Wisconsin Rapids on Friday and Saturday.

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