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SPORTS WRAP

Owatonna healing up ahead of playoffs
By
Roy Koenig, Sports Analyst
sports wrap, roy koenig, owatonna, sports

Time to rest and heal. Owatonna football had a bye for the first round of the playoffs, affording them a few days away from practice. Their first game is on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Federated Field.

Coach Jeff Williams said the squad is nursing some injuries.

“We’ve got that accumulation of nicks and bruises that occur throughout the course of the season… To get that extended break will be really good,” said Williams.

Players returned to practice on Monday.

“They’ll get a good five days of relaxation and getting away from the game a little bit,” said Williams.

The Huskies drew the top seed for Section 1AAAAA playoffs by going 4-0 against their section opponents. By agreement, the coaches vote to seed the section based on those results.

 

First-time seeding

The Minnesota State High School League football tournament will be seeded for the first time this fall. The eight section champs in each class except for Class AAAAAA will be separated into north and south with No. 1 through No. 4 seeding on each side. The semifinals will be the higher remaining south seed playing the lower remaining north seed and vice versa.

Williams, as past president of the football coaches’ association, penned the proposal to create a seeding process for state football.

“At least let’s get the four best teams into U.S. Bank Stadium and see what happens… I think it’s good for football. I think it’ll add to the interest. It’ll make sure that we get the right matchups first round,” said Williams.

In a bit of irony, Section 1 would have drawn Section 4 in the state quarterfinals this year. That section does not have a team with a winning regular season record.

 

Record breaking

Every time senior Nolan Ginskey gains yards by catching a pass, he extends the school’s career receiving record. He is the first player in Owatonna history to reach 2,000 receiving yards and is at 2,198 entering the postseason. The previous record was 1,929 by Noah Budach.

With his 14 catches at Rochester John Marshall, Ginskey tied Drew Lundberg’s single-game record from a playoff game against Eastview in 2005.

Junior running back Carter Flatland set a school record against Northfield by carrying the ball 16 consecutive times, eclipsing the 14 straight carries for John Buxton against Faribault in 1970.

 

Next-level success

They briefly shared time together on the roster at Owatonna High School. Now Mehsa Krause and Emily Hagen are at opposite ends of their collegiate volleyball careers and met on the court in Northfield last week.

Krause is a freshman at St. Olaf College and one of their top hitters.

“It was a surprise to play as a freshman let alone start as one. I think that was another thing that boosted my confidence and made me see that I can be here and can play with these girls,” said Krause.

She appreciates the level of commitment at this level.

“You know they want to play. So, they’re going to put in that 100-percent effort and that will make you better. That makes them better. That makes your teammates better. And I think that’s what helped me transition to play at this level. Everything is volleyball. No outside problems. Volleyball all the time,” she said. Plus, some homework too.

She quickly learned the significance of the crosstown rivalry with Carleton and the traveling trophy.

“Everyone was making it such a big deal… Battle of The Bell… I don’t know what’s going on. To me this is just like another game,” she said.

After winning the match, she’s all in.

“We will be winning The Bell the next three years, knock on wood.”

Hagen is a senior at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and has enjoyed her time.

“I’ve loved it. It’s been an incredible four years. I’ve made some of my best friends. It’s crazy that it’s already really close to ending. I can’t imagine not having this competitive piece in my life,” said Hagen.

The college game is quicker than high school.

“I had to get used to the mental toughness of all of it. Once I got used to it, I loved it. It’s a good extra level of competition,” said Hagen.

One of Krause’s 11 kills in the Oles’ win over Luther knocked over Hagen.

“That’s such a good shot. But then I saw it was her and was like, ‘Oh my God, I hope she’s OK.’” Hagen has encountered other former Husky teammates Haylee Mullenbach and Elizabeth Prostrollo in college.

She remembers Krause coming up on junior varsity while she was on varsity.

“I thought she was such a good player. I’ve followed along after, and she was incredible,” said Hagen on Krause.

Krause is majoring in kinesiology with plans to pursue physical therapy or athletic training. Hagen is majoring in environmental sciences, will study abroad in Norway this spring, and plans to go on to grad school.

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