SPORTS WRAP
Football and family seem synonymous at times at the high school level.
Take the Owatonna Huskies.
Head coach Jeff Williams’ son, Matt, is a third-year assistant. Brothers Matt and Nate Skala have a combined 38 years’ experience on the staff.
Marc Wiese – the longest-tenured assistant at 31 years – stepped aside from the varsity to work with the freshmen offensive linemen for a few years to free him up to watch his son, Zach, play hockey for the Gophers. He was called back up to the varsity this fall as O-line coach Kyle Melcher was expecting the birth of his child during two-a-days.
And speaking of family, the battle for starting quarterback might include a few fun conversations around the dining room table for senior Aedan Tackmann – the returning starter – and junior Arik Tackmann, his younger brother.
That feeling of family could also explain why so many OHS alumni come back to help on the sidelines. Brayden Truelson (Class of 2021) and Josh Burns (2017) started coaching last year. Fourteen of the 20 coaches listed in the 2025 program played at Owatonna High School.
Wiese believes, “Guys come back that played here. They know the family. They know what it’s about.”
Helping his decision to rejoin the varsity staff, “I got a call from coach (Jeff) Williams. He’s like, ‘I don’t know how many years I have left. You’ve been on my staff since day one.’ He said, ‘Let’s go out together. Let’s make a run at this thing.’”
“I’m ready to be coaching in November,” states Wiese.
The current seniors were the first freshmen he coached. “I’m really pumped on what I’ve seen last week. They’ve retained a lot of the stuff. Because I was teaching them varsity-level stuff.”
Josh Woodrich – another OHS graduate – coaches the freshman offensive and defensive line.
Burns played center for the Huskies, so he knows a thing or two about dealing with defensive linemen, and that’s who he’s coaching. “We’ve got some guys coming back which is helpful. Sam Dulas and Ben Sackett, they’re both captains.
“We’ve got a lot of talent in our junior class and some seniors who didn’t play much last year. I think they can really contribute and help us out.”
Burns learned coaching can be a grind too. “It’s a lot of time. It’s a big commitment, especially with a wife and two kids at home and a full-time job; it’s a lot. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love it. It’s one of the highlights of my day every day going to practice.”
He remembers it from the other side. “Obviously, I love football. That was the first year we had gone to U.S. Bank (Stadium, in 2016). We had that crazy Apple Valley game (the double Hail Mary game in the quarterfinals) and then it was an Elk River game that we lost. High school here was great.”
Truelson was a sophomore quarterback on the team that won the second of back-to-back titles in 2018. “Football was definitely my favorite memories from high school. That’s probably why I’m back helping out.”
He also hopes to have found the fountain of youth. “Love the game of football. Figured, I’m young. It would be a good way to keep me young, working with these high school kids,” says the recent college grad.
Truelson works with the 10th through 12th grade quarterbacks. “We’ve got two really good varsity quarterbacks, Aedan Tackmann will be a senior. Arik Tackmann will be a junior.
“Super impressed with the development from last year to this year. Thought they both had really good summers and had a good first week of camp.”
“They’re pretty similar types of quarterbacks. Good pocket passers. Good athletes. Very intelligent kids. They understand what we’re trying to do from the schematical side of the game. Big arms. I think we’re going to put up a lot of points with them this year,” Truelson predicts.
The regular season opens Friday, Sept. 4 at Mankato East. The home opener is Friday, Sept. 11 versus Mankato West and is Hall of Fame Night. Games can be viewed for free on OwatonnaHuskies.com and simulcast on The FAN-Owatonna, 1170AM/106.3 FM.
The Eagles Club will again host The FAN’s Mic’d Up Misfits radio show each Friday of the season at 12 p.m.
Running into the hall
Dave Chatelaine is entering the Osseo High School Hall of Fame this month where he excelled in cross-country and track before running for the University of Minnesota, and later spending 35 years coaching in Owatonna.
He placed sixth at state cross-country as a senior for the second place Orioles team. He finished 16th his junior year, also good for all-state. His team was seventh that year and 12th his sophomore season.
He was conference champion in cross-country his senior year, plus won the two-mile and 4x800 during the track season.
“I was surprised when I got the phone call. I had such a great experience at Osseo High School. A lot of great teachers and coaches. That laid the foundation for what I was able to do here. I appreciate that…I feel really honored.”
Chatelaine was a swimmer during eighth grade. His teammates went out for track and he followed them. “Some of my friends on the track team were going out for cross-country. So, I thought I’ll try cross-country.
“Did some running the summer before my freshman year. Started having some success. Wasn’t anything super my freshman or sophomore year but just kept working at it and kept improving and just got hooked on the sport and the rest is history.”
He enjoyed the time with his teammates, including public radio storyteller Kevin Kling. Chatelaine was inspired to get into coaching by his high school coach Jim Deane, Gophers coach Roy Griak, and even rival high school coach Dave Bauer from Park Center.
The OHS cross-country program hosts the annual Chatty 5K during Steele County Fair week to recognize his dedication to the sport. This year’s souvenir shirt features his first-place finish at the 1981 City of Lakes Marathon. The graphic is from a picture that appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune of him crossing the finish line.
Chatelaine is looking forward to the Sept. 25 ceremony and the chance to see the changes made over the years to Osseo High School.
Another run
The annual Daikin Dash 5K to support the Relay for Life of South Central Minnesota is Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 a.m. The start and finish line is Mineral Springs Brewery in downtown Owatonna. Packets can be picked up on Friday, Sept. 18 from 4-7 p.m. at the Beer Garden at the fairgrounds.
Sign up at relayforlife5k.org.
OwatonnaHuskies.com play-by-play schedule:
Friday, Sept. 4:
OHS football at Mankato East, 7 p.m., simulcast on The FAN-Owatonna, 1170 AM/106.3 FM
(Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m.)
Take note of the new streaming address for Owatonna High School sports, www.OwatonnaHuskies.com.