SPORTS WRAP

A big crowd gathered Sunday to celebrate the state semifinalist Owatonna football team at their annual banquet at the Eagles Club. They were on the edge of their seats for the video filled with highlights and behind the scenes footage of the Huskies’ march to U.S. Bank Stadium assembled by Gary Walter. Several spontaneous cheers rang through the hall.

Senior Nolan Ginskey was voted Most Valuable Player for the second straight season by his teammates. He rewrote the record book with 85 receptions this season for 1,319 yards, and 159 catches for 2,595 yards in his career. He also set the record for interceptions in a season with 10.

Coach Jeff Williams said Ginskey always has had a great attitude even while missing most of his sophomore season with a leg injury.

“He just comes every day, ready to work. In a great mood. In great spirits. He picks everybody in practice. He just leads by example. He’s a pleasure to be around,” said Williams.

Senior Jack Meneguzzo was voted Lineman of the Year. He “had a huge role in getting us to where we got this year,” said Williams. A three-year starter at center, he was sidelined the last few games due to a knee injury.

Senior Blake Davison was voted the Defensive Player of the Year after leading the team in tackles for the second consecutive season.

“He was the heart and soul and quarterback of that defense,” said Williams.

Darian Stransky is the Special Teams Player of the Year. Michael Heitkamp and Logan Langeberg are Champions of the Year.

Ginskey was named all-state by four different organizations and is a finalist for Mr. Football. Davison was academic all-state. Both are playing in the high school all-star game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.

Big Nine Scholar athletes are Angel Barajas, Zach Dahnert, Davison, Charlie Dulas, Blake Fitcher, Ginskey, Zach Haarstad, Seth Johnson, Reed Kath, Langeberg and Stransky. Owatonna’s 3.33 GPA was third best among Class AAAAA schools.

Previously announced All-District honors went to Ginskey, Davison, Meneguzzo, Fitcher, Haarstad, Johnson, Stransky, Luke Webber and Tristan Graham. Honorable mentions went to Jamie Lisowski, Dahnert, Max Flemke and Sam Dulas.

Captains for the 2025 season will be Flemke, Graham, Ryan McIntosh and Logan Risser.

Section champs

While goals are always high for the Huskies, you can still be impressed with what this club accomplished. Williams says the team exceeded expectations a bit.

“The thought going into the year was, I don’t know, 6-2, 5-3. If we can really find a way to eke one out, 6-2, 7-1, maybe. To run the table 8-0 in the regular season and get the No. 1 seed going into the section was kind of surprising.

“These kids just believed in themselves. They fought hard. We were down at the half to Rochester John Marshall over at their place. We were in a knock-down, drag-out with New Prague week three. There were difficult times for us. To beat a Chanhassen team and a Mankato West team, both of whom beat us pretty handily a year ago, I just couldn’t be prouder of the kids for rising to the occasion,” said Williams.

He says it was an easy decision to go for the win in overtime against Cretin Derham Hall in the state quarterfinals.

“It was kind of a no-brainer for us. We were going to go for two after the touchdown.” Fitcher handed it off to Ginskey who took it in and sparked a big celebration.

Williams says playing in U.S. Bank Stadium is an amazing experience.

“The crowd erupts when the team is introduced. It’s just a really neat atmosphere. The turf is a little bit different. And the background is different. Catching balls with purple seats and fans high into the stadium and the roof.

“It can be an overwhelming experience. But I was pleased with our kids. I thought they settled in just fine and did not allow it to be a distraction. But I think they also ate up that opportunity and that experience to play at U.S. Bank Stadium because it really is a treat. You have to earn your way there.”

Williams says losing to Alexandria is nothing to hang your head over. “We didn’t walk out of there saying coulda, woulda, shoulda. It was, that was a good football team. They deserved to win that game.”

Football honors

Carson DeKam, OHS grad and Gustavus fifth-year linebacker, joined rare air with his fourth all-conference honor, one of just 13 players in MIAC history to do so. A year after earning Defensive Player of the Year for the league, DeKam lead the conference in tackles, had three interceptions, forced two fumbles, had a sack, and made 4.5 tackles-for-loss.

Augsburg junior wide receiver Tyrone Wilson (NRHEG grad) earned his first all-conference honor while leading the Auggies in receiving with 1,002 yards and 13 touchdowns. He tied a school record with a four-touchdown game.

“He’s just a great football player. You ask him to do something, and he’ll do it. He wants the ball thrown to him every time if we can. Wants it in his hands and that’s the type of kid you want…He’s a great blocker. And when receivers block, that makes your running game go a little bit better,” said Auggies’ coach Derrin Lamker.

Title team

Winning a Big Nine Conference title led to numerous honors for Huskies girls’ soccer this fall. Kennedy Schammel was a finalist for Ms. Soccer, an all-state selection and joined Anna Mollenhauer, Izzy Muir, Alia Kubicek and Averi Vetsch on the all-conference team. Kelli Waypa and Abby Shornock were honorable mentions.

OHS volleyball turned in a third-place finish in the conference. Kendra Bogen and Libby Jensen made the All-Big Nine team. Halle Theis and Addie Schrot were honorable mentions.

Other fall highlights included Mya Dutton and Kate Karsten competing at the state diving meet. OHS girls cross country team ran at state, joined by Jack Sorenson and Dawson Levy from the boys team.

Big save

Senior defenseman Morgan Macy scored a power play goal in the Huskies girls’ hockey 5-1 win over Winona last Thursday. But her bigger play came late in the second period when she swept a puck out of the Owatonna crease that was on a trajectory to go into the goal and give the Winhawks an improbable lead.

She was rewarded with a hug from goalie Leah Spencer. Coach Tony Cloud called his timeout at that point. The game was tied at 1-1 despite the Huskies’ 25-2 advantage in shots. Grace Mitchell subsequently won the draw. Alia Kubicek worked the puck into the offensive zone and got it to the front of the net where Mollenhauer backhanded it into the goal.

Owatonna added three third-period goals for the four-point Big Nine Conference win. “It’s important to us especially to get going after the long 12-day break that we’ve had in between games,” said Cloud.

It was the Huskies’ third straight win, two coming over ranked opponents. Four of their first seven games have been against ranked teams. “We’ve done a really nice job of getting a good reputation to going against a lot of those metro teams… They make us better,” said Cloud.

The girls next home game brings Class A No. 1-ranked Dodge County to Dudley Otto Rink on Saturday, Dec. 14 for an 8 p.m. faceoff.

Win at West

OHS boys hoops opened conference play with an 80-65 win at Mankato West on Dec. 5. The Huskies jumped out to a 41-25 lead by halftime. They forced the Scarlets into 31 turnovers, twice as many as they committed.

Nolan Ginskey led the team with 27 points, eight assists, six steals and six rebounds. Zach Haarstad scored nine points, handed out six assists, and collected five rebounds. Cole Kruschke added nine points and five rebounds. Will Halverson had eight points and six rebounds.

ODT at home

Owatonna dance team hosts a competition on Federated Court this Saturday, Dec. 14 beginning at 8 a.m. Senior Kennedy Katzung enjoys being home.

“I think it’s a lot more relaxing for us because we are comfortable with the space and know what’s going on. And also, it feels really cool that everyone is coming here and there’s a lot of supporters for us.”

Coach Nikki Gefre says local fans got a taste of dance when the Huskies hosted their first big invitational last season.

“The community got to see what a real competition is. They’ve always seen us at homecoming, which is a fun performance. But to see us do actually what we’re supposed to be doing,  competing against other teams, there was a lot of energy. It was awesome.”

OwatonnaLive.com schedule

Thursday, Dec. 12:
OHS boys hockey vs. Farmington, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 13:
OHS girls basketball vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m.
Medford boys basketball vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14:
OHS dance invitational, 8 a.m.
OHS girls hockey vs. Dodge County, 8 p.m.