SPORTS WRAP
Owatonna’s numbers continue to grow in girls wrestling. Three competed at the state tournament over the weekend. Senior Isabelle Townley and freshman Aliah Fischer made return trips to Xcel Energy Center, each placed fourth. Junior McKayla Selle debuted and did not place.
The Huskies had eight girls on their roster. The first few pioneers didn’t mind competing with and against boys, but Owatonna Head Coach Derek Johnson told Owatonna Live, “That’s not for every girl that wants to wrestle. The more numbers we have, the more opportunity there is for the girls who just want to practice and compete against girls, which is totally great. But you need the numbers for that too.”
“They’ve done a really good job, all the way down from K-12, OWA (Owatonna Wrestling Association) has really been promoting girls wrestling. Once you get that ball rolling, then it really takes off. I’ve picked the brains of programs like Byron, STMA, Hastings, the ones that have a lot of girls. And either it’s been the sibling of a boy wrestler or, hey, the most popular track star is wanting to be in shape over winter and got all of her friends to join. But once they’re in it, they love it and it just goes from there. It just snowballs,” said Johnson.
Also of note, Owatonna’s Josh Woodrich was named Section 1AAA Assistant Coach of the Year. Among the other honorees are OHS grads Tyler Vogt (Albert Lea, 1AAA Head Coach of the Year) and Travis Wiuff (Kasson-Mantorville, 1AA Assistant of the Year).
Blades playoffs
The Steele County Blades went to Wisconsin Rapids in junior hockey playoff action over the weekend. The River Kings swept the series with 3-0 and 6-2 wins, even though the Blades led 2-1 in the first period on Saturday.
Steele County Head Coach Nick Adamek reacted, “They’re a really good hockey team. Honestly, we played pretty well. We played hard. That’s the most important thing.”
The regular season ended on an upswing. “We had points in our last nine games straight. It helps how we feel about ourselves going into the off season,” said Adamek. Their overall record was 20-22-4.
While the late surge was good, the squad still ended up as the seventh seed. “Now we know, for the guys who are returning, how important the beginning of the season is. So, we don’t put ourselves in a position like we did.”
He says about eight players age out, a few have committed to college, and about 10 could return. “It was a good year. It was a successful year. Our guys grew together, came together as one. It was a lot of fun to coach them.”
Adamek says preparing for next season has already begun.
Creating officials
As athletic directors continue to face the challenge of finding game officials, NRHEG Activities Director Dan Stork is teaching a physical education course that introduces students to officiating and coaching.
More than 20 are in the class. “They really seem to be enjoying it. It’s such a non-traditional class. You’re out there officiating a volleyball game that your classmates are playing in. You’re not sitting down and taking a paper and pencil test all the time. The kids are gaining some pretty good insight into what it is to be an official. At the same time realizing, ‘Boy, there’s a lot more that goes into this than I thought,’” says Stork.
They’ve focused on football, basketball and volleyball, where they got advice from coach Karen Simmons of Waseca. Softball and baseball umpires will speak to the class this spring. BSN Sports has donated whistles, and the high school league sent down some of last year’s rule books.
“It’s been a lot of fun. Hopefully, we can drum up some interest there and get kids to want to pursue that.”
New coaches
NRHEG has a couple of coaching changes for the spring. It takes two to replace track coach Duey Ferber, after 34 years of leading the program. Kim Schlaak and Larry Nydegger will co-coach.
Wendy Schultz is back in the dugout for softball. NRHEG grad Kayley Camerer replaced her last season but got hired by a different district. “Wendy’s a top-notch softball coach and a top-notch person. We’re very fortunate to have her back,” said Stork.
Despite retiring after 25 seasons, Schultz stayed connected to the program. “Last year I enjoyed watching their softball games from the stands. But this year I’ll get to enjoy it from the dugout. You can’t beat being outside on the softball field in the spring.”
The Panthers graduate six seniors from the 2024 team. “We are very fortunate year after year to have hard working girls in the NRHEG softball program. I enjoy their good attitudes,” she added. Practice begins Monday, March 10.
Shawn Larson returns to baseball and Brad Root continues his legacy as golf coach.
New Parks and Recreation Director
Owatonna’s new Parks and Recreation Director T.W. Dieckmann says having a strong department is essential. “We help build community. We help contribute to quality-of-life services, whether that’s through parks or active programs, events. Whatever that is for the individual. We feel we serve a lot of needs in the community.”
Dieckmann has spent most of his 20+ years in the field in metro areas, most recently St. Louis, and is excited to be in Owatonna. “I was kind of looking for a change. Actually, I had family from Minnesota who have talked up the state for years. At this point in my career I had a checklist of personal and professional wants, needs, things I’d like to see in a department. Owatonna checked a lot of those boxes. So, I’m very happy to be here,” he said.
“We have a great team. I’m very proud and blessed to be a part of that team. But it’s not just our parks and recreation department. It’s citywide. We have a great culture here,” said Dieckmann. He appreciates the support of city leadership as well.
In the places he’s worked, at least one constant remains. “Everywhere I go, pickleball is a hot and growing, trending sport. But the great thing about it too is there’s a social aspect. It’s not just about movement and getting up and getting active and playing something that’s fun.” Owatonna has a variety of outdoor and indoor pickleball options.
Physical health isn’t the only benefit of getting outdoors. “There’s also the part of mental health as well. I think we learned this through the pandemic. It was kind of a wake-up call for a lot of folks. We’re so connected through technology, but we also need to be connected with people and our natural spaces as well,” Dieckmann said.