BP breaks out new gym
Larger. Brighter. Louder.
There are many reasons Blooming Prairie (BP) athletes are excited about their new gymnasium. The volleyball team debuted the facility on Oct. 16 with a sweep of Medford. One week later, the Awesome Blossoms won a section match there.
“It’s absolutely amazing. The kids have been just waiting to get into the gym. Volleyball got pushed back a little bit. We got in later than we wanted, but to be able to open that up for their last regular season home game was just a really fun atmosphere. Our fans were incredible, and the kids were so excited,” said BP Activities Director Ali Mach.
“Our other gym just did not have this space. We have the ability to have two full courts for basketball and three volleyball courts in here. We’re really excited about the color combination and being able to highlight the blossom in the middle. Also, with the gray and the black in the key out there on the basketball court, it’s a really nice open space,” said Mach.
Players have told her the floor has a little better spring to it.
Hoop it up
Senior Ty Forystek is looking forward to playing basketball in the new gym.
“I’m excited about that. It’ll be nice. It’s just a lot more exciting because it’s a lot louder in there. It doesn’t really feel as much of a dungeon as the old one. The old one’s really dark and quiet. So, this one will be nice. It has some better energy in it,” said Forystek.
Forystek was on the Owatonna Live Coaches Show after BP captured the Gopher Conference boys’ cross-country title, their first since 1999.
“I didn’t know it was that long because we’ve had good state runners in recent years. I figured they would have got it sometime. I just didn’t really know it was that big of a deal, but that just made it that much more exciting,” he said.
Back in the gym
Longtime BP basketball coach John Bruns retired after last season – his 24th on the job. However, his time in a rocking chair was short lived.
“I just accepted a spot as a seventh- and eighth-grade boys’ basketball coach. So, I’ll still be in the gym, still be around. I just can’t get away from it, I guess. But I wouldn’t want to,” he said.
“That’s one of my passions too, along with cross-country and then softball in the spring. It’s just a lot of fun to deal with. To coach and see that improvement and see those kids succeed and work to reach their goals,” said Bruns.
New diamonds
Spring sports also have additions going on.
“We have two new fields across the street from where the softball field currently is. The end goal, long term, would be that they become varsity fields. It’s going to take a while for that,” said Mach.
Awesome Blossom baseball will be back home next spring after playing games in Austin last spring.
“Now that construction on the backside of the school is finished and the fence is back up…It’s all seeded and sodded. It’ll be ready to go this spring,” said Mach.