SPORTS WRAP
The journey to U.S. Bank Stadium for Owatonna football began long before their 22-21 overtime win over Cretin-Derham Hall. It goes back to off-season lifting, two-a-days in August and contingency plans.
While injuries haven’t affected the Huskies’ lineup much this fall, three-year starter at center Jack Meneguzzo is out with a knee injury. Senior Reed Kath slid over from tackle to take that spot.
“He’s a bright kid. He’s a two-year starter. He knows what we’re trying to do up front and is able to identify fronts and get guys going in the right direction. So, he’ll be a more-than-worth quarterback for our offensive line and Eli Black will step in for Reed at tackle. Eli at various times has been a starter for us this year,” said Owatonna Head Coach Jeff Williams.
Other starters on the offensive line are senior Zach Dahnert and junior Logan Risser at guard, sophomore Sam Dulas at tackle, and senior Zach Haarstad at tight end.
Kath is well-versed in all the positions on the line. He told Owatonna Live’s Todd Walkingstick on Beyond the Game, “I was pulled up my 10th-grade year. So, I was a little bit more used to it. But yeah, it’s a big difference from B-squad.”
He said he doesn’t get too nervous on game day.
“Not too much anymore senior year. It all got out junior year, and now I get to play football,” he said.
Making state last year is a good base for this year’s success.
“The players that did get to play there as juniors last year, they’ve improved so much. They’re ready to play. They want to play. And the players that backed up last year, they want to play just as bad. I know plenty of people have been hitting the weight room as much as they can,” said Kath.
Kath lifts over the winter. He throws shot put and discus for track and shoots clay target.
State DNA
Williams says playing at state is built into Owatonna’s DNA.
“We set that as an expectation. We’re going to compete for a district and a section title, and we’re going to be playing in November. To get back here is rewarding. It wasn’t necessarily a team at the beginning of the year that we were like, ‘This is a slam dunk.’ But they’ve done some great things throughout the course of the year. They’ve gotten better every week. So, it’s cool to have the opportunity,” said Williams.
The Huskies face Alexandria Area on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium. The winner moves to the Prep Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. to play Elk River or Chanhassen. OHS has six appearances in the finals and three state championships. The Cardinals are at state for the 13th time and won a title in 1974.
Alexandria Area knocked out a couple of heavyweights to get indoors. They beat No. 1 Moorhead 48-44 to win the Section 8AAAAA title in a game that went through nine lead changes and saw the teams combine for over 1,100 yards of offense. They beat No. 3 Armstrong 17-14 in the state quarters. Owatonna has never played Alexandria Area before.
Stats and records
Senior quarterback Hunter Theis has 1,894 passing yards, the fourth-best single-season total in school history. Junior running back Tristan Graham eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in the win over Cretin-Derham Hall. Senior linebacker Blake Davison reached 100 tackles for the season. Senior receiver Nolan Ginskey continues to add to his career record for receiving yards, which stands at 2,452 yards.
Jacob Ginskey hurt
Jacob Ginskey, 2024 OHS grad and freshman quarterback at Gustavus Adolphus College, suffered a broken collarbone on Nov. 2. He had surgery the following week. Ginskey started four games for the Gusties, leading them to a pair of wins.
He went 32-for-69 for 610 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for a score.
“He’s gifted. When you’re playing a freshman quarterback there’s a lot to learn and it’s a work in progress. Ginskey has done a really good job of getting acclimated. He can make all the throws. He’s athletic. He’s a sharp kid. It’s just trying to go through that process you have to go through with teaching. You get to college defenses and they’re going to be a little more complicated than the high school ones,” said Gusties’ coach Peter Haugen.
Ginskey battled through numerous injuries during his three years starting for the Huskies and there’s reason to believe he’ll work his way back from this as well.
Spikers excel
The dust has barely settled on a strong Owatonna High School volleyball season, but junior setter Addy Schroht is already getting pumped for 2025.
“I’m so excited for next season. It’s going to be so great. I can’t wait. I’ve already been thinking about it. Already trying to make new jerseys.”
She and the other returners won’t be too far from the game in the meantime as they transition to club “and improve on the off-season. So that everyone is just going to come back and it’s just going to go so well I feel,” she said.
Schroht appreciates the hard work put in by the group of seven seniors and how they showed the juniors to compete.
The Huskies had their best Big Nine Conference record since 2014, finishing third. Owatonna’s last conference title came in 2012, which is also their most recent state tournament trip. Northfield has won six of the last seven Big Nine Conference championships.
Senior Halle Theis has faith in another good season for the Huskies next year.
“I think they’re going to be really good because most of our team this year was full of juniors. So, they have almost every spot already ready with potential and people who have already played varsity this year,” said Theis.
She said this team had extra motivation.
“We all came out wanting to win because we had a struggling season last year. We all really wanted to come out with a winning season. And definitely having the new coach, Josh Halva. He helped us a lot,” she said.
“I thought the offense was a lot faster but more strategic. Every single set we were running plays. We knew what we were doing. During a play knowing where the other team’s block is going to be and watching where my hitters are as they’re transitioning…Just seeing where everyone is even before the pass gets to me,” said Schroht.
Beat Mayo
Theis said closing the home season with a win over Rochester Mayo was gratifying.
“It was really nice because we have definitely not beaten them in a long time. So, that felt good overall and really nice just to win on senior night, going out on a good note,” said Theis.
They felt they played well in their section match at Farmington, which they lost in five sets.
Halva, as a first-year head coach, was quite pleased with the results.
“I couldn’t be happier. Learning to win is a very difficult thing to do and they made strides throughout the year.”
He’s thankful of how the seniors contributed.
“I asked a couple of them to do some very hard, difficult, mature things. They showed up every day and practiced just as hard. Zero issues. I couldn’t have asked for a better first senior class,” said Halva.
Looking into the 2025 crystal ball, he sees, “A ton of size and ability. Kyleah Miller and Dani Roush are coming back in the middle. Kendra Bogen and Libby Jensen are outside. Addi is coming back at setter. We have some defensive specialists with Autumn Frandsen and Kennedi Wagner. We got a right-side position open. Anybody can win a spot in August. But if we could pencil it in now, we’re looking very, very competitive,” he said.
Theis said playing at home is a thrill.
“It’s definitely more fun in the new gym, just the atmosphere and especially this year with the hype video and having that before the games. It’s really nice and a lot of fun.”
Stick it to Cancer
Opening week for the Owatonna High School girls hockey team includes a big night on Thursday, Nov. 14 as the team hosts a Stick it to Cancer Night. They host the defending section and conference champ Northfield at 7 p.m.
OwatonnaLive.com schedule
Thursday, Nov. 14
OHS girls hockey vs. Northfield, 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 18
OHS band concert, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19
OHS girls hockey vs. Hastings, 7 p.m.