SPORTS WRAP

Owatonna High School student-athletes will scatter in every direction to pursue collegiate athletic careers. Well over two dozen Huskies are involved in National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Soccer champs

Several members of the Big Nine Conference champion girls soccer team are taking those skills to the next level. Kennedy Schammel (Ouachita Baptist University) says it takes sacrifice to pursue your dreams. “If that’s something you truly want, you have to put your focus towards it… I think it’s about learning the balance of you can still have that social life, but make sure you have your priorities straight first whether that’s training or running… I want to be working when I know others aren’t.”

Anna Mollenhauer (College of St. Benedict) started her goalkeeping career in U-10. “I think I just got thrown in one game. I just had a blast because I think I made a big save. Just growing up in the program with Jeremy Wood being one of the goalkeepers coaches, having him there for support. There are so many girls in Owatonna that I have been inspired by,” she said.

Track and field

Seth Johnson (University of St. Thomas) won the 110-meter hurdle state title last summer. OHS coach Kevin Stelter “thought he was going to be a double state champion. Should have a great track season this spring.”

Lucas Smith (Concordia-St. Paul) “has been working extremely hard in the weight room,” said Stelter. Smith throws shot and discus. Jack Sorenson (Minnesota State University, Mankato) has gone to state multiple times in cross-country and track and field. He is fourth-fastest all-time at Owatonna in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. He and Johnson could make up half of the 4x400 relay.

Jennifer Jones is entering into new territory at St. Cloud State. “I’ve never had a person in my family go to college for a sport. So, I didn’t know how to go about this situation. I definitely asked a lot of questions to my throwing coach Amy Lageson…She went to the University of Minnesota, and she threw at the U. She was the best person to ask about this.”

Gridiron

Luke Webber is counting down the days to playing football at University of Minnesota, Duluth. He appreciates their commitment to him. “They were actually my first-ever offer, and they made it feel like home right away. They got a new cornerback coach this year. I really hit it off with him and just the coaching staff in general.”

Nolan Ginskey (Winona State) could be trying to catch passes against Webber on a Saturday afternoons in the future. Ginskey said the high school season was one to cherish. “I couldn’t be more proud of everyone. We exceeded expectations. Lost a lot of guys from last year. Not a lot of people thought we were even going to make state. And yet [making it to] The Bank and semis. I was super happy with how the season went.”

Jack Meneguzzo is following a well-worn path to Gustavus Adophus College after three dominant seasons at center. Coach Jeff Williams said he “was the leader of our offensive line, both on and off the field… He took fierce pride in never giving up a sack.”

Lineman Zach Dahnert (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse) was “a reliable run stopper and made some big plays in defending the pass,” in addition to being a “road grader” for the running game according to Williams.

Diamond/mat

Lilly Trager will join Central College to play softball. “I’m a pitcher. I also play corners, especially for club. I play first and a little bit of third. I prefer first. They had me as a back-up third baseman last year for varsity. But I’m mainly a pitcher which is my favorite part.”

Lane Karsten will wrestle at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He’s used to putting in the time and is a captain. “A lot of hard work…Sticking up for everyone. Making sure I’m a good leader toward everyone and working hard in the room,” he said.

Signing day roster

Track & Field: Maya Badger (Luther College, undecided major), Jozie Johnson (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, nursing), Seth Johnson (University of St. Thomas), Jennifer Jones (St. Cloud State University, exercise science), Lucas Smith (Concordia University-St. Paul, criminal justice), Jack Sorenson (Minnesota State University, Mankato, education), and Halle Theis (University of Minnesota, Duluth, marketing/graphic design.)

Soccer: Anna Mollenhauer (College of St. Benedict, business/marketing), Isabella Muir (Luther College, nursing), Kennedy Schammel (Ouachita Baptist University, undecided), and Kelli Waypa (Dordt University, nursing.)

Lacrosse: Lauren Busho (University of Wisconsin-Stout, interior design/architecture), Kadence Schumacher (Hamline University, psychology), Nolan Soller (William Penn University, mechanical engineering.)

Football: Zach Dahnert (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, exercise science), Nolan Ginskey (Winona State University, criminology), Jack Meneguzzo (Gustavus Adolphus College, business), and Luke Webber (University of Minnesota, Duluth, business/education.)

Baseball: Gavin Saxton (Rochester Community and Technical College, sports management), Hunter Theis (St. John’s University, exercise science), and Connor Wiese (St. Mary’s University, business intelligence and analytics.)

Softball: Lilly Trager (Central College, communications and business.)

Swimming: Kalleigh Malecha (Gustavus Adolphus College, undecided.)

Wrestling: Lane Karsten (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, forestry.)

Volleyball: Morgan Hansen (Rochester Community and Technical College, nursing.)

Tennis: Emma Herzog (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, education).

Hall call

Another hall of fame call for Tink Larson. The National High School Baseball Coaches Association is honoring him for 58 years of coaching at the high school level, and 65 years overall. He continues as an assistant coach for five teams: Minnesota State University, Mankato, Waseca High School, American Legion, 16U, and an adult amateur team.

Larson, a Kasson native, says in one respect he is slowing down a little. “Actually, for 50 years I was the head coach for four teams… Really, now I’m not doing as much because I’m only an assistant for five.”

When I spoke with him during a rain delay last spring, he said, “I’d rather be too busy than not busy enough. When I started doing that when I was 19, I managed the town team and the Legion team and the Babe Ruth team. So, I’ve just been doing at least that many teams every summer since.

“I want to stay busy. Besides if I can be on a baseball field that many times and keep going, that might be where I end up dying. Where else would be a better place to go? I used to say my ideal ending would be that I’m stealing home, and the ump calls me safe, but I don’t move. And he looks down and he feels me, and he says, ‘No, he’s out.’”

Larson, in his early 80s, still gets into an occasional game with the Waseca Braves, playing first base or catching.

He has coached over 4,500 games as a head coach and over 2,000 as an assistant. At the high school level, he has 480 wins. The Bluejays won the state title in 1990 after a pair of runner-up finishes in the 1980s. Larson has also coached basketball and football and was Waseca’s athletic director for 13 years.

Hit the ice

Just a handful of home dates remain for the Steele County Blades junior hockey team. The season has been up and down at times. Forward Levi Ness says there’s time to pull it together. “We just have to stay focused, and we have to stay consistent. We have to make sure we do the little things every day.”

He’s enjoyed the close-knit feel of the team. “We’re a family. All of us are really close. The first time I arrived here, I didn’t touch a single thing as I moved in. That shows a lot about the character of this team.”

Goalie James Hunt, from Calgary, likes getting to know players from around the world. “You know they definitely miss home. So, they try to bring a little of their culture. Listening to stories from back home. They like to talk in their languages with one another. The different things. The food and everything,” he said.

He was in goal as the Blades won an outdoor game last month in St. Louis Park – a first in his career. “This one has kind of been marked on my calendar since I came down here. Super fortunate to get to play in that one. It’s going to be a lifelong memory. It really felt like pond hockey.”

As a veteran, Peyton Inks takes on a leadership role. “Sometimes you go out of your way to make something happen. Or just communicate a little better or a little more. Help out the younger guys. Because we have a young team out here. Do what you can to make them feel at home.”

You can catch the Blades at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna on Friday, Feb. 7, Sunday, Feb. 9, Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16.