SPORTS WRAP
Len Olson coached Owatonna High School boys basketball 1985-97. With an ultra-talented group of student-athletes at the start it didn’t take long to turn the Indians into a state powerhouse.
OHS went to state three straight years, winning titles in 1989 and 1990. Alumni, family and friends are invited to a get together with Olson on Saturday, June 28 at Torey’s Restaurant in downtown Owatonna from 3-5 p.m.
Basketball remains an integral part of his life with granddaughter Carly playing for Farmington. He and his wife, Sue, spend many winter nights attending her games. I caught up with him last season at one.
He said success on the court comes from the whole team. “If you don’t have kids that are really willing to stay on the team because of the royal blue and silver and work hard to improve the team and the starters, then you don’t have much,” said Olson.
Mark Randall (OHS ’91) reflects, “So much about that time was truly special.” He remembers playing in front of packed gyms home and away. “At some home games, fans were sitting on the floor in front of the bleachers,” and having 10,000 Owatonna fans attend state tournament games.
He’ll always remember getting called up to varsity sophomore year. “Over Christmas break, coach Olson called my house and told me I was being moved up – and not just moved up, but starting. So, there I was, in my very first varsity game, starting for a team that had only lost one game all season… That’s just who coach Olson was. He wasn’t afraid to take risks,” he said.
“His attention to detail, whether it was game prep, positioning, or even warmups, was second to none. We always knew exactly what our opponents would do and were thoroughly prepared for every game… His motto was ‘never be satisfied’ and that mindset stuck with me. I still use it today in my work as a principal,” said Randall.
Yet Randall says success didn’t go to their heads. “Olson had a unique ability to keep us grounded. He kept us hungry and focused, never letting us become complacent. We pushed harder because of him.
“Above all, coach Olson is a genuinely good and authentic person,” said Randall.
Mike Nolan (OHS ’88) says Olson inspired him to pursue a teaching and coaching career. “I absolutely loved playing for him. He challenged us to be as good as we could be on the court but more importantly be great people off the court. He has always been one of my biggest supporters and one of the first persons to call me when I got the [Lakeville North head coaching] position.”
Olson says the program remains strong. “It is a privilege to be in a sport in Owatonna. It’s a great environment. But that new facility, it has a touch of the husky in every place you look… The enthusiasm in Owatonna is exciting right now,” said Olson.
Olson is a member of the OHS Athletic Hall of Fame and the Minnesota State Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Clay target state
Owatonna sophomore Jackson Davis closed the clay target season with an impressive 97-out-of-100 effort at the MSHSL state event on June 20 in Prior Lake to tie for 23rd place. Junior Aiden Anderson dusted 89 targets to tie for 84th place.
Medford had a pair of shooters on the final day of the high school sports year. Blake Cammock hit 92 ‘birds’ to tie for 64th. Brenden Mueller scored 81 to finish 101st.
Golf tournaments
The Owatonna Wrestling Association hosts their sixth annual golf tournament at Brooktree Golf Course on Saturday, June 28. Sign up at Owatonnawrestling.com. Big things are happening in the wrestling world. Watch ‘The Wrap’ for details.
The Dudley Otto Golf Classic to support Owatonna boys’ hockey is Sept. 20 at Brooktree.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Wednesday, June 25
VFW baseball vs. Austin, 5 p.m.
Friday, June 27
Aces baseball vs. Pine Island, 7:30 p.m.