SPORTS WRAP
Given the option of sleeping in this summer, over 300 Owatonna student-athletes will opt to rise early to work on their physical fitness. Back for its second year, Huskies Summer Strength and Conditioning begins June 13 and runs through the beginning of August.
Christina Bell is doing the summer program for the first time. “It really keeps me accountable. It’s every single day. We lift three days a week. Then we do the speed aspect of it two days a week. That gets me up in the morning. Starts my morning off right,” said Bell.
She did the winter program this past school year. “I really like how disciplined the atmosphere is. [Head Coach Jerry] Eggermont does a great job of keeping everyone engaged. It becomes more of a team, not just lifting. I felt if I did this over the winter it would prepare me for the spring for track and keep me in shape for dance throughout the winter.”
Bell – a senior this fall – sees impact for all her sports. “For track specifically, it’s really been helping the agility side of it, helping with my mechanics, my movement. For swim, working on my upper body and my shoulders and my mechanics through there. And then dance overall body strength.”
Incoming junior Nolan Rolloff did the winter session and the summer program last year. “I more enjoy lifting in here with all my friends. It’s just a better atmosphere” than working out on his own.
“I like when they post numbers out here and then you can look at your friends’ numbers and compare and contrast. Try and beat theirs. See what they did good. What you did good,” he said.
He’s seen quick results. “I feel a lot stronger, faster, and more athletic. Whereas last year, a lot of my swings, whenever I would hit the ball, it wouldn’t go as far and be hit as hard. Now that I have more muscle in my body, I can hit the ball a lot farther and run a lot faster. Everything is a lot easier.”
Rolloff just completed an All-Big Nine Conference baseball season and plays football.
“I just like being held accountable. If you’re lifting by yourself, there’s no one pushing you to do the extra rep the extra set. Where here, people call you out for it. That’s a good thing.”
He likes to run. “I really enjoy the track, along with the weightroom. Being able to come up here and run in the mornings, run after school.”
“Our facility is beautiful. It’s super big, super open. We have lots of different racks. You don’t have to share and double up with other people,” said Bell.
Ryan Guenther is the head movement coach. “How can we better their speed, their change of direction, their deceleration? What can we mimic from your sport that we can train on in our summer program?”
For the 2016 OHS grad this is right up his alley. “It’s always been my passion. I think that’s number one. That’s always been my drive. I was a three-sport athlete in high school. I just wanted to be the best that I could be,” said Guenther.
While he participated in a similar program during his student days at OHS, Guenther says this is going to a new level. “Last year was its first year where now there’s multiple coaches. We’re going in a new direction. It’s just been fantastic. Last year was a great first year. Hit the ground running. Now hopefully we can continue that build. All sports, all athletes.”
Assistant coaches are Brad Scharber and Garrett Karsten with Noah Kubicek as an intern coach joining Eggermont as well.
You don’t have to be on a school-sponsored team, just have a desire to be fit. “What is one thing you can work on? Yourself,” said Guenther. “You want long-term health, this is it. We can give them everything. It’s speed. It’s movement.”
The program is Monday through Friday and is open to those entering sixth through 12th grades. The younger kids are just two days a week.
Find more about the program at www.owatonnastrengthandconditioning.weebly.com. Watch the full interview on OwatonnaLive.com.
And the award goes to
Several OHS coaches earned spring sports honors. Kevin Stelter is the Section 1AAA Boys Track and Field Head Coach of the Year. The Huskies won the section title and have twelve athletes at the state meet this week. They are also Academic All-State Gold.
C.W. Wolfe is the Minnesota Boys Lacrosse Assistant Coach of the Year. Damon Summer is the Section 1A Girls Lacrosse Assistant Coach of the Year. The girls were 11-4 this season, going 1-1 in sections. Both teams placed second in the Big Nine Conference.
OwatonnaLive.com schedule
Thursday, June 12
Concert in the Park – Whiskey & Grace, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 14
Harry Wenger Marching Band Festival, 11 a.m.
Monday, June 16
VFW baseball vs. Cannon Falls, 5 p.m.