SPORTS WRAP
Owatonna boys swim and dive is experiencing a spike in participation. Many returning athletes recruited friends from fall sports according to junior captain Logan Halverson.
“Everyone going around and talking to people like, ‘Hey, you should come and try this if you’re not doing anything in the winter. It will keep you in better shape for your other sports,’” said Halverson.
Lone senior Caiden Miller says swimming is hard “but I think the people make it a lot more fun.” He especially enjoys seeing new swimmers develop friendships.
Coach Peter Rhodes expected to have about 20 on the team, but the roster has surpassed 30.
“It’s a lot of work to get those guys up to speed. But I think they’re really enjoying it. Hopefully, we can retain them for next year and continue to build,” said Rhodes.
Miller, who swims the freestyle events, is modeling his role as captain after the Class of 2024’s group of eleven. “There are a lot of shoes to fill… They pushed everyone to do their best. If someone was slacking, they got on them and got them to do what they were supposed to do,” said Miller.
Junior Logan Flynn is happy to be voted a captain. “That everyone thought that I would be a good leader to support the team.”
Flynn fits into the lineup in many events. “I enjoy swimming everything, and I enjoy not swimming the same events so then I don’t get bored. Just having a variety,” he said. That leads to the 200 individual medley being his favorite. “Swimming all the strokes at once. I feel that’s my specialty.”
Halverson likes sprints. “I just like going fast and hard for your 30 seconds and then being done… The best part about swimming is you have to beat yourself every single time that you race, not only the people in the pool you’re racing against,” said Halverson.
The clock dictates success. “You’re always racing yourself,” says Rhodes. “I track personal bests. They get a personal best anytime they get a faster time in whatever event they’re doing. I think last year we had over 500 personal bests,” said Rhodes.
It might be tough to match last year's 6-2 mark in dual meets and three school records, but with big numbers in the pool the future looks bright.
New track coach
The days are getting longer. Warmer weather will eventually come back and track and field season will be here. New OHS girls’ coach Robb Winterfeld is excited for the first day of official practice on March 10.
The two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota-Duluth comes to Owatonna after several years as an assistant at Waseca. Previously, he spent 10 years at The College of St. Scholastica. He started coaching at UMD after completing his competitive career in track and field and cross-country.
Winterfeld takes an athlete-centered approach. “The thing that I enjoy the most about high school coaching is taking those individuals, trying to figure out what events they can be successful in, and then watching them progress,” said Winterfeld.
He’s familiar with the Owatonna program through his stepdaughters and views the opportunity as a great one. “I think it speaks for itself. Brand new facility. Beautiful track. Beautiful setup all the way around. It’s really a dream job for me,” he said.
After speaking with OHS Activities Director Marc Achterkirch, he went home and said, “I gotta take this. You really can’t have a better opportunity. Not only the facilities obviously, but the assistant coaches that are there. Sitting down in January here with everybody and just to get a feel for what I can do for them as their head coach because they are incredibly important to all of this. I think I’m blessed with an amazing assistant coaching staff coming into the season.”
That includes former head coach Debby Gleason.
The squad had 125 members last spring.
“It speaks volumes of what coach Gleason has done with that program these past years, getting that culture established and getting our girls interested in track and field.”
Winterfeld, who teaches in Waseca, credits his coaches for inspiration. Cambridge-Isanti’s Norm Ayen convinced him to give the sport a try. John Fulkrod at UMD was his biggest mentor and “opened my eyes up to learning the physiology of track and field.”
He coached under Chad Salmela at St. Scholastica. “Being blessed with working with amazing people on his journey.”
Watch the full interview on OwatonnaLive.com.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Thursday, Jan. 9
OHS boys hockey vs. Mankato East, 7 p.m.
Medford wrestling vs. Triton, 7 p.m.
OHS boys basketball vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10
Medford boys basketball vs. Rochester STEM, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 11
OHS boys hockey vs. Northfield, 7 p.m.