Skip to main content

Steele County teams back in action

Lead Summary

Now that the annual holiday vacation is complete for another year, the area high school sports teams are ready to dive back into action.  With the winter season now almost half over, some exciting contests remain on the schedule for four area schools.
At Blooming Prairie High School the basketball girls finished the pre-holiday schedule with a better than anticipated outcome.  The team compiled a 7-2 record, including a big win in the last game before Christmas over big rival New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG). Among some of the bigger games still on the schedule, home games against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (WEM), Kenyon-Wanamingo, United South Central and Byron are on tap.
Games still to be played in enemy territory include contests at WEM and state-ranked Lyle-Pacelli.  The team has received some balanced play from a mix of seniors and underclassmen, and it will be interesting to follow the team to see how they fare after the holidays.  Blossom fans are hoping for a successful run the rest of the season. 
After three straight losses to end the pre-vacation part of the schedule, the 4-7 Blossom boys will be striving for better results now that play has continued.  Anthony Nelson has been the unquestioned leader and scorer, but he has received some good support from a sophomore class. 
Marten Morem and Jake Ressler give the team better height and scoring, and three sophomores have been in the starting lineup almost every game. The team has home games coming up with WEM and NRHEG, have to travel to Maple River and Kenyon-Wanamingo, and struggle with Maple River and Hayfeld later on the home court. Maybe the experience gained in the first part of the season will help the team thrive the rest of the way.  They are improving, and that is all that fans can ask.
The BPHS wrestling team has already matched its win total of last year with a second win before Christmas. Except for the numerous forfeits forced on the team each match, the record may even be better.  Several Blossoms are having banner years individually with Ethan Arett leading the way (currently Arett is ranked seventh in the state). The team record is 2-8.
Colton Krell, Jon Hansen, Dylan Nirk, Mitchell Oswald and Seth Peterson all have winning dual records for the season The team will get back into action Thursday, Jan. 7, at Maple River in a triangular meet with Tri-City United and Maple River.
Medford back in play
Both basketball teams at Medford have struggled some in the early season play.  The boys have a 1-7 record, with some tough losses thus far.  In three of the games played, the team has either been ahead or just slightly behind at the half, only to give up too many points in the second half.  Tyler Stenzel and Wyatt Volkman have been two of the scoring leaders, but the team is looking for better play now after vacation. 
The girls have played several tough teams, losing by fewer than a dozen points, but they have been hurt by a lack of rebounding, poor shooting percentages and too many turnovers.
The team has games yet with Schaffer Academy and Bethehem Academy, both of which they will make a concentrated effort to win.  The team still has a good attitude, and it will be a plus when and if another victory is theirs.
 The wrestling team is in a rebuilding mode, but a couple of Coach Dennis Whitman’s squad are compiling very good dual records.  The team competed at a tournament at Pipestone Saturday, Jan. 2, and gets back into action again after vacation in a triangular meet on the home mat Thursday, Jan. 7.
NRHEG teams find success
At New Richland, the  New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG) girls won their first five games to open the season, but then lost back-to-back games to St. Peter and Blooming Prairie. One more win during the holidays has left them with a 6-2 record, as they begin play after the school vacation.   
 A couple of quality wins are included in their season-opening streak. Junior twins Maddie and Marnie Wagner lead the Panthers, but they have gotten good help from Gretchen Ramaker and Kayley Camerer as well, and the girls are eager to continue the winning season.
The Panther boys get back into action with a 7-4 record so far.  Junior Oakley Baker recently joined the 1,000-point career club and leads the scoring, but he has gotten help from several sources.  John Cole, Tyler Raimann and Chad Agrimson have all taken turns in backup roles.  It will be an interesting second half of the season.
The wrestling team has competed in some tough matches so far and wrestled last weekend at the Pipestone invitational tournament.  Heavyweight Wyatt Fitterer is a state ranked wrestler and leads a contingent of strong competitors.  The team will be in contention for a conference title, for sure.
Owatonna in action
Three of the Owatonna teams saw action over the holidays, with the basketball boys winning two games, and the hockey teams both losing games last week. Getting back to action after vacation, the basketball boys will entertain Albert Lea, while the girls travel to the home of the Tigers.  The boys’ hockey team travels to Northfield and the girls play Austin on home ice. The wrestling team travels to Winona on Thursday, Jan.7. All of the other contests are on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Sign up for News Alerts

Subscribe to news updates