SPORTS WRAP
OHS volleyball has experience, height and a deep-burning fire for the season. “We’re expecting to have a lot of success,” says senior captain Kendra Bogen. “We’re really excited to see what this year we can bring.”
Second-year head coach Josh Halva is bursting with optimism. “Returning so many seniors that played a bunch last year we’re looking to have a very solid year. It’s a great group. They’re fun to coach. They want to get better.”
The Huskies finished fourth in the conference, their best place since being Big Nine Conference runner-up in 2014. Their last title came in 2012, which is also their most recent state tournament appearance.
Owatonna has veteran setter Addie Schroht, giving the team options according to Halva. “We’re going to be trying to run a bit more complicated offense this year. So, she’s in charge of getting everybody where they need to go, doing what they need to do.”
Bogen, an outside hitter, says, “We can also run different plays where we run across court on different rotations, kind of mixing up shots. And seeing what other teams’ defense sets up against us to see where we can place the ball.”
Senior Kyleah Miller says playing middle includes movement. “Going left, right, up, down, blocking. I feel like all of it is super important…Addie and my connection this year is going to be super strong.”
Halva states Miller is the “most improved player in our gym. Fantastic leader and someone who will take over games this year.”
Bogen and Libby Jensen were the top two in the conference in kills in 2024 and both were all-conference selections. Schroht, a senior with over 1,000 career set assists, was honorable mention.
Autumn Frandsen steps into the libero role after being defensive specialist as a junior. “I’ve been playing back row my whole life. Now as libero, you’re in the whole time. You’re taking control of the court more and you’re being a big leader in the passing role. We’re a really fast-paced team. That’s how we play. It’s quick.”
Halva says Frandsen “flies around the floor. Reads hitters extremely well. And that consistency, learning from Halle Theis last year. Bringing that excitement defensively.”
Frandsen adds, “I’m really excited. It’s our senior year. It’s a big accomplishment for all of us to be successful and end the season really well.”
Old rivals, new sport
NRHEG and WEM historically have had a great rivalry on the football field. That’s about to move into a new dimension. WEM coach Jon Bakken reached out to Panthers Athletic Director Dan Stork recently about girls’ flag football.
WEM was one of the few outstate teams to play in a 50-team league last spring. Stork says NRHEG will join the league next spring. “The girls are excited about it. There’s a lot of girls that love football. Now they finally have an opportunity to play it.”
Stork’s daughter Chloe is a high school senior. “Basically, what she did was run around talking to all the girls. We got together over the summer at some different sporting events, and I had a chance to talk to kids. There’s plenty of interest.”
He will share more information after a mid-September meeting when he gathers more specifics on participation. “I’m very confident we’ll have enough numbers to do it. If anything, we might have numbers like, ‘Oh boy, what do we do now?’” There might be a varsity and junior varsity team.
Football games are on Sundays allowing spring sports athletes to play. “The last thing I want to do in a small school is pull kids away from other sports… The games are on Sunday afternoons. It’s not a Minnesota State High School League sanctioned sport right now. We’re going to run it through our Community Ed department.”
Regarding a coach, “Well, I’m actually planning on doing it myself. It’s been a few years since I coached football. But it’s fun to get back into it… Hopefully, I can lean on some more people who can jump on the ship and take it over and steer it,” said Stork.
He says flag football has similarities to seven-on-seven leagues held for tackle teams. “The same route schemes. The same reads. The same coverages. It’s football.”
Stork can consult his own family tree for advice. His cousin’s daughter plays in Houston, Texas and won a national championship. “It’s been really fun for me to watch her and cheer her on through social media.”
More flag football
Owatonna Parks and Recreation is starting a girls’ flag football program this fall for grades three through six. Recreation Supervisor Drake Simonson told the Mic’d Up Misfits radio show on the FAN/Owatonna, “We’ve been watching that trend and I was able to go up and do a round-table discussion a few months back in the Cities and see what they’re all doing with their flag football programs for girls.
“It’s just taken off. So, we figured it’s time for us to be ahead of it and be with it. Instead of saying alright several years down the road, let’s do it,” said Simonson.
“We’re running flag football for girls this year. Year one, just getting our feet wet. We’re doing a third through sixth grade program.” Twenty-four players are signed up.
“Baby steps. We’re just going to go in and do some practices the first Saturdays. The last two Saturdays of the season they’ll go out and do their games. We’re just going to piggyback right after our tackle program.”
Youth football
On the tackle side, park and rec works with the high school program to create a seamless transition as kids grow. “OHS assistant coach Matt Skala works right with us. He gives us a playbook. He gives us names. All things high school football go right into our program. Those kids hear what they hear in third grade, they’ll hear in fourth, fifth, sixth. Right into middle school, right into the high school program,” said Simonson.
High school players do most of the officiating. Simonson says that’s a great way for those players to give back to the program and act as role models. Meanwhile, the youth get to know the players suiting up on Friday nights and aspire to follow in their footsteps.
“Who better than our own high school players to be out there interacting with those kids. We work with them night one. Get them set up. Get them going on their crew. Off we go for the season,” Simonson indicated.
Cheer
There is also a new cheer program, kindergarten through sixth grade. “That’s going to be there to have some fun and bring spirit to our football program as they’ll practice during the week, and they’ll be out there cheering on Saturdays,” according to Simonson.
“We’re going to build another partnership with our high school cheer team. They’re going to be out there being the coaches working with our girls.” 50 youth are signed up.
Community soccer game
Swing over to the Daikin Soccer Complex for a special game on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m. The Owatonna Human Rights Commission presents the event.
“It’s more than just soccer,” commission secretary Mustafe Ismael told Karen Hale on Owatonna Live’s Straight Talk. “It’s an event where people come together and communities come together. It’s an event where people learn about each other. Children’s games that they can play. Families can come out and support. It’s a bigger event than just soccer,” said Ismael.
He says they “promote diversity, inclusion, unity through the community. We listen to the voices, and we do believe that every voice matters.”
OwatonnaLive.com schedule
Thursday, Sept. 4
OHS boys’ soccer vs. Rochester Century, 7 p.m.
OHS volleyball vs. Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.
Concert in the Park – Divas Through the Decades, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5
OHS football at Mankato West, 7 p.m.
Blooming Prairie football vs. Blue Earth Area, 7 p.m.