SPORTS WRAP
Nearly a decade of writing the name Bogen into the lineup is coming to an end in Owatonna. Kendra Bogen is wrapping up her varsity career, following in the footsteps of her sister Samantha and brother Taylor.
She is a finalist for Owatonna High School Senior Female Athlete of the Year with her hockey teammate Paige Thompson and volleyball teammate Kyleah Miller.
The Athletic Recognition Program is Wednesday, May 20 at the Wenger Performing Arts Center at OHS.
Bogen is a 14-time letter winner. She is the all-time scoring leader for a defenseman in OHS girls hockey history with 130 points. Three-time All-Conference, plus the hat trick of Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player over her time on skates. She’ll play hockey at St. Catherine University with her sister.
In volleyball, she led the conference in kills the last two seasons, earning All-Big Nine Conference honors both times. Coach Josh Halva says, “Her competitive drive is unmatched, always pushing herself and those around her to be better.”
On the softball diamond she is the school’s all-time hits leader and two-time Offensive Player of the Year. Coach Jeremy Moran said, “She is one of those athletes that can do anything she sets out to do.”
Miller placed fifth at state in shot put as a sophomore. Coach Robb Winterfeld says, “She is laser-focused on becoming the best individual athlete she can be.” A four-time letter winner, she was all-conference and the team’s Most Valuable Thrower last season. She began her career as Rookie of the Year and has three entries on the Honor Roll.
In volleyball, Miller was an All-Big Nine Conference selection last fall and second in the league in blocks. Halva said, “What makes her truly special, though, was the remarkable growth she showed year after year. She demonstrated the greatest improvement I have ever seen.”
Thompson has earned 16 letters. She captained cross-country to state last fall before helping the girls golf team reach state in the spring. Her girls golf team is hoping for a repeat section title in June. Her first honor came in 2020 as Rookie of the Year for the Big Nine Conference champion cross-country squad.
Hockey coach Tony Cloud says he saw her come out of “her quiet demeanor and become a consistent and steady leader for our program. Each season, Paige would improve, often playing her best games of the season when it mattered the most.”
Golf coach Maddie Meyer stated, “People like (Thompson) make a real difference through your kindness, strength, and the way you carry yourself every day.” She’s three-time all-conference. She’ll golf at Colorado Christian University.
Male finalists
Ayoub Farah, Carter Flatland and Wyatt Macy are the boys finalists.
Harvard University-bound Farah has already collected a long list of honors. The student body president won a state speech title in 2025, went to state multiple times in mock trial and recently landed a $10,000 U.S. Senate Youth Program scholarship.
He was All-Big Nine Conference in cross-country, winning the section individual title and placing seventh at state, leading the team to a 10th place showing. Ayoub is pursuing the school record for the two-mile this spring. He will run in college.
Flatland was the Defensive MVP and all-district in football. Coach Jeff Williams stated he was one of the most disciplined players he’s ever seen. “His work in the weightroom, coupled with his outstanding effort in practice every day allowed him to grow himself into an outstanding player,” said Williams.
He was a state qualifier in wrestling and all-conference, while leading the Huskies in takedowns and winning 28 matches. He is a three-time letter winner.
Flatland picked up throwing discus his sophomore year and is nearing the state standard. Coach Jerry Eggermont says, “Carter will stand out in my long tenure as one of the few students that led by example in everything he did… Quiet strong and encouraging leader.”
Macy set the school record for goals in lacrosse this spring. Coach Scott Seykora says, “Wyatt has been instrumental in our offense the last three seasons and is a very sneaky player… (with) the hardest shot on the team” at over 90 miles per hour. He will play lacrosse at William and Penn University.
He was named Most Valuable Senior in hockey and was top two in ice time and points among defensemen. Coach James Wagoner said, “He didn’t need to be a captain to be a leader. It came natural to him.”
Macy has shot clay target since eighth grade, when he earned Male Rookie of the Year. Coach Mike Kingland is impressed that Macy came back out for the team this spring to be with his friends and mentor his seventh-grade cousin.
Junior athletes, female
Finalists for Junior Female Athlete of the Year include Norah Cederstrom, who was the second-leading scorer in soccer and an All-Big Nine Conference selection. Coach Nate Gendron calls her “dynamic and explosive… a player we don’t want out of the game.”
In hockey, Cederstrom “has lots of speed with an ability to close gaps or take the puck up ice with her transitional skills,” says Cloud, who adds her role will increase next season. She will captain both sports her senior year.
Jersey Coleman is a two-time MVP, two-time all-conference and four-year letter winner in basketball. “A very versatile player on both ends of the floor,” according to coach Pat Webb. “Offensively, she can play both the guard and post positions. Defensively, she can guard the post, as well as the perimeter.”
She led the team in scoring and free throw shooting and was second in rebounding and assists. Coleman returned to soccer her sophomore year after taking a few years off and played junior varsity last fall.
Grace Mitchell led the hockey team in scoring each of the last two years and will be a captain next winter. She is two-time All-Conference and was Rookie of the Year her freshman year. She missed her volleyball season due to injury, but Halva indicated, “Off the court, she is intelligent, funny and brings a lighthearted energy.”
She runs hurdles in the spring. Winterfeld says, “Mitchell brings intensity every day at practice and in competition. She leads by example and her positivity always rubs off on her teammates. When the hurdles bite her… (she) bites them right back.”
Junior finalists, male
Micah Gentz is a top distance runner. In cross-country, he helped the squad advance to state and will return as a captain in the fall. He was a member of the state 4x800 relay last summer and is the top runner in the open 800 for the Huskies.
In basketball, Gentz will challenge for playing time next winter says coach Josh Williams. “His length, athleticism and basketball IQ are great traits that Micah possesses,” he said.
Willie Moore was MVP and leading scorer in basketball, earning all-conference. His free throw shooting (85%) was the second best in school history. He will be a captain next season. In football, “Willie played a key role in our defensive secondary,” said Jeff Williams.
Nolan Rolloff is leadoff batter, shortstop and a top pitcher in baseball. He was all-conference and all-section as a sophomore. Coach Tate Cummins says, “Nolan is one of the most talented players that we’ve had… He understands the game incredibly well.” His .571 on-base percentage last season is top 10 in the Huskies record book.
Rolloff was second in defensive points and receiving yards for football. Williams calls him a gifted athlete. “He has great hands and is a physical blocker on offense. A great cover guy with a nose for the football on defense… a tremendous leader… acaptain for the coming season,” said Williams.
The 110% award winners will be revealed on Wednesday, and the O-Club recipients will be honored.
Next week
The announcement of the 2026 Owatonna High School Athletic Hall of Fame class.