SPORTS WRAP
Whether it’s with the varsity or junior varsity squad, an injured player relegated to the bench, or his grandson’s basketball team, Brad “Doc” Schuster gladly shares his passion for the game. His energy and voice can be felt throughout the gym.
Schuster was announced as a Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year at the recent Owatonna High School banquet.
More than 20 years since joining Huskies’ boys head coach Josh Williams, Doc maintains his passion. “Love of the game. I love coaching the kids. Love teaching the kids. Love just being around the kids,” said Schuster.
Huskies’ sophomore Lucas Ginskey couldn’t play this past season due to an injury and was always next to him on the bench. “When you’re sitting by Doc all year, you hear a whole new level of game sense and basketball IQ in your ear.”
He found it inspirational. “I learned a lot, especially in those situations that are close. Some of the strategies and tactics that he’ll come up with are insane,” said Ginskey.
Williams admires Schuster’s recall ability. “I think he has got an exceptional basketball mind in terms of the knowledge that he brings over years of coaching. He’ll remember certain plays and sets that a certain school ran 10 years ago and all of a sudden, they’re running again,” said Williams.
“To me, he’s extremely devoted to our program and he’s a ‘blue and silver’ guy from the get-go. He graduated from here… His investment in the players is exceptional. He’s always out there for the right reasons.”
“He is very intense, demands a lot out of the kids. But at the same time, he’s got a good sense of humor and is always joking around with the kids in the right way. To keep things light even during serious situations we might be trying to go over in practice,” Williams continued.
Ginskey adds, “He loves being close to every single player on his team. That alone helps build team chemistry. He gets close with them. We always go on the summer trip. He’s a big fishing guy and took a bunch of guys fishing.”
Doc is finding joy in coaching his grandson Bo Standke’s fifth-grade team. “That has been awesome. I’m actually coaching a bunch of kids who I coached their dads and their uncles. You forget how much teaching there is instead of just x’s and o’s coaching,” said Schuster.
They have won back-to-back state titles. Bo is in his fifth year as a Huskies’ ballboy. “He’s in the gym everyday with me,” said Schuster.
Grandsons Ty and C.J. play hockey. “It’s fun to get to go watch hockey. It’s about the only time that I don’t find myself coaching and just enjoying. I don’t know enough about hockey to even think about coaching, so I just enjoy watching them play.”
Schuster took a few years off from leading the JV to focus on the varsity. This past season he was back as head JV coach, in addition to lead varsity assistant.
Banquet awards
Award winners at the boys basketball banquet include Most Valuable Player junior Willie Moore, Defensive MVP sophomore Cooper Routh, Most Improved senior Mason Klecker, Blue Collar Award junior Cooper Mottl, Coaches Award senior captains Will Halverson and Gavin Burmeister, and Teammate of the Year senior Gabe Piepho.
Statistical awards went to Halverson (57.5% shooting), sophomore Tyler Crass (top three-point shooter, 42%), Moore (85.5% on free throws and 93 assists), and Routh (top rebounder with 170, and most steals at 56).
Moore and Routh earned Big Nine All-Conference. Sophomore Jackson Holder landed honorable mention. Burmeister, Halverson and Klecker were Big Nine Scholar Athletes.
From St. Mary’s to Boston
Since his running career started at St. Mary’s School in Owatonna, it seems appropriate that the whole school cheered on Jacob Bastyr during his recent run at the Boston Marathon. Each grade level created a poster of encouragement, and the staff wore “Boston Support Crew” shirts to send off the second-year gym teacher at the school. “It was very exciting to know that I have a lot of people that are going to be cheering me on.”
It was the third marathon of his career but first at Boston. “It was a lot of fun. One of the biggest races I’ve even ran in… I don’t think I went at all during the race without someone being either right in front, to the side, or behind me at all. It’s just a constant wave of people running,” he said.
People lined the streets through towns and countryside over the 26.2-mile trek, “It was exciting. From start to finish you really don’t go without anyone cheering you on.”
The 35-year-old battled some adversity. “My knee started hurting around mile 10 and then my hip started hurting at mile 18. I was able to finish. I had people next to me at times falling out, getting hurt. (I told myself) just keep going towards the finish. I was happy. I was ecstatic.”
During an assembly at the school upon his return, Bastyr fielded questions from students including one who asked if he had won the race.
He says he may go back to Boston to try to improve on his time of 2:41:53. He will run the Mankato Marathon this October.
After running a good time in the mile during junior high gym class at St. Mary’s, his math teacher Kathy Chatelaine, whose husband Dave ran the high school program, suggested Bastyr join cross-country and track and field.
After graduating from OHS in 2009 he ran at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He decided to run the Twin Cities Marathon upon graduation in 2014. “I was coming off track from college. I thought, I can do it. It was a challenge too during student teaching. Alright, let’s do a marathon.”
There was a 10-year gap until Bastyr ran Twin Cities again in 2024 after losing his mother, Cheryl, to cancer two years before that. “Running has always been a reset for me. When things are going bad, running makes everything better. It was one of those times I needed that back into my life.”
In addition to the students and staff cheering him from afar, his sister Anna Hulett with her husband Taylor and baby Hudson were on site to offer support.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Thursday, April 30:
OHS baseball vs. Rochester JM, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 2:
OHS softball vs. Mankato West, 12 p.m. doubleheader
OHS boys lacrosse vs. Shakopee, 2 p.m.
Monday, May 4:
OHS baseball vs. Rochester Mayo, 5 p.m.