SPORTS WRAP

Owatonna’ FIRST Tech Challenge middle school team robot drives around a practice area. The middle school team currently has 41 members. Staff photo by Roy Koenig

High tech is all around us. The high school robotics season is underway. Owatonna has an abundant number of students at the middle school and elementary level. And 2U Entertainment, a locally owned mobile gaming company, is about to open a virtual reality storefront.
The OHS Rebel Alliance – the robotics team’s moniker – invites you to an open house on Friday, Jan. 24 at the district office at 333 East School Street (old OHS.) It runs from 5-8 p.m. and features a chance to drive a robot.
Senior Admiral Erin Baker welcomes the community. “We’ll have food. We’ll have games going on. People can come in and drive our robot and see our space. All completely free of charge. Because we love to get kids interested in STEM and seeing the robot and driving the robot,” said Baker. They’ll have some fundraising activities go on as well.
After sharing space at the new high school last year, the team has ample room in what was C-Plaza says junior Admiral Braylon Robbins. “The space this year being as we can have a full field back here is a lot nicer. Being how we can have different areas split up for our other robotics teams is very nice. Our build room is, I think, the biggest it’s ever been,” said Robbins.
“We’re so thankful that the school gave us this space. It is working very well for us. And to have all of us together is really helpful because then the high school students can help the other groups and mentor them,” added Advisor Nathele Beadell.
Owatonna Foundation made a $5,000 grant to help equip robotics. LifeFitness is making field elements to assist in preparations for competitions.
Strong numbers
Over 100 students in Owatonna are in robotics. The high school (FIRST Robotics Competition) team includes about 35 members. There are 41 students at the middle school (FIRST Tech Challenge) and 24 in elementary (FIRST Lego Challenge).
Beadell says the high school team is preparing their entry. “They are in prototyping mode right now. In other words, getting an idea together. See if it’s going to work.”
A water-themed game awaits the team according to Baker. “Ours is about coral reefs and that conservation element of things. We’re super excited to play around with that.”
Robbins is on the programming team. “The first thing we do is we all meet up as a group to figure out what we want to focus on mainly.” After splitting up for some brainstorming, “We all came back together to present our ideas, gave each other feedback. We all went out again and improved on our designs.”
When competition day arrives, teams help each other out with technical or equipment issues. “You have three teams versus three teams. Teams are willing to help each other out. Not only is that because of the kids you get in robotics, but it’s also because teams never know who they are going to be competing with or competing against,” explained Baker.
The Rebel Alliance goes to Colorado, Iowa, and Minneapolis for competitions on consecutive weekends in March.
2U to offer virtual reality (VR)
After a few years of taking the gaming to you, 2U Entertainment is expanding. They’re opening a storefront location at 303 Mineral Springs Road. Their mobile gaming, FURever friends, and foam and fun will continue, but gamers will shortly be able to go to Uncaged VR and Gaming Lounge.
Chandler Buckhalter told Owatonna Live’s Business Talk, “We’re going to have free roam VR. It’s all interactive. You can do escape rooms all the way up to battles. The possibilities are endless with that. And we’re also adding on a PC gaming center.”
VR gives many options. “We have the possibility of running 10 different escape rooms. If you come in one time, you can play one escape room. The next time around you can try a new escape room.”
He said between two and six can play at one time. “You’re working hand-in-hand with one another to try to beat the levels and get through all the different types of puzzles. We tested it out and it’s insanely cool,” said Buckhalter.
Business idea
The business model for 2U Entertainment is upbeat. “We get to go out, do different attractions, community events, birthdays. We get to make it happen, do all sorts of fun stuff with the kids.”
Buckhalter says the reaction was great from the start for the family-owned business. “People are happy that we are bringing new things to the community and offering a different variety of entertainment. Being able to go out to these community events where kids can play for free.”
You may have seen the mobile units during Downtown Thursdays, the Blooming Prairie 4th of July Celebration, the Steele County Free Fair, or at Federated Field at a football game.
2U Entertainment added a foam-and-fun option which he called magical. “It’s a foam cannon. It’s all water based. We use a solution that’s hypo allergenic. It’s very safe for plants, kids… The kiddos, they have an absolute blast. They get to go outside for 45 minutes to an hour. They get to run around and scream and have a dance party in the foam,” he said.
The gaming trailer has a pair of 65-inch TVs outside and five 55-inchers inside. It can accommodate more than 30 people at a time on a wide variety of games on Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. FURever stuffed animal building offers well over 100 options.
Buckhalter didn’t envision this for himself while attending Owatonna High School. He went to Minnesota State University, Mankato and played football until his career was sidelined by injuries.
He stresses that his mom, Tamara Hoy, is the driving force and mastermind for the business. “She’s definitely been the one behind the scenes that does everything in regard to getting bookings, getting everything set for trailers,” said Buckhalter.
“But it teaches you a lot. Running a business. It’s not easy at the end of the day. It’s a lot of hard work and dedication. You learn that very quickly. But I think the overall response and hearing how happy you can make someone from doing it, I think makes it worth every single moment.”
Buckhalter said all ages take part. “Anywhere from two years old all the way up to 100… There’s no age limit to have fun, and that’s what we like to do.”
Four-point win
Owatonna girls hockey won a four-point Big Nine Conference game 4-1 over Mankato West on Thursday, Jan. 16. Brielle Goodnature scored 4:30 into the first period on a snipe into a narrow opening in the upper right corner of the net.
Kaylee Butler pounded home a rebound late in the first and scored an unassisted goal in the final minutes of the second period. Anna Mollenhauer gave the Huskies a four-goal lead early in the third. The Scarlets scored a power play goal to break the shutout.
The Big Nine Conference race comes down to the final two weeks of the season. Entering this week Albert Lea (9-1-1), Northfield (8-1-2), Owatonna (6-1-2), and Mankato East (5-2-1) are all in contention.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Thursday, Jan. 23:
OHS wrestling quad, 5 p.m.
OHS boys hockey vs. Austin, 7 p.m.
Medford wrestling vs. WEM/JWP, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 24:
OHS boys basketball vs. Mankato West, 7:30 p.m.
Medford boys basketball vs. Triton, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25:
OHS boys hockey vs. Rochester Mayo, 1 p.m.