SPORTS WRAP
Unified P.E.
Owatonna’s contingent was 19 athletes strong for a Unified P.E. middle school track meet in mid-May. Twelve Special Olympians teamed up with their seven partners at Le Sueur-Henderson High School with six other teams.
Health and physical education teacher Amanda Flohrs of the Owatonna Middle School reacted right afterward, “It was amazing. My heart is full. I am exhausted.”
This was the first time for many of the athletes in an official meet with time trials and ribbons. “Just pure excitement. Most of them don’t get to compete in anything. They’re holding their ribbons with pure joy on their face. And the craziness of having all these people around and people cheering you on,” said Flohrs.
Flohrs says it was a learning experience for the partners too. “They didn’t realize so many other schools had Unified programs. There was a motorized wheelchair event. And they said that was the coolest thing that they’d seen. It doesn’t matter about disability. Everybody gets to compete.”
This is the third year for the Unified program in Owatonna through Minnesota Special Olympics. She was inspired to start it after seeing the success a former classmate had with it in Buffalo. Heather Elfering is Flohrs’ co-teacher and liaison to the high school program. The class is an elective and will have one session at the middle school next year and two at OHS.
She saw a need. “I noticed there was definitely a divide in our school. Students with special needs, especially in our level three program, always eat lunch by themselves and don’t intermingle with our general ed population.”
Flohrs, who was a finalist for this year’s Owatonna Teacher of the Year, experimented with combining Unified with another elective class. “Seeing just those one days that we did with this other teacher and me; it just opened my eyes and really changed how I thought about teaching. Understanding that inclusion is something that’s very possible and we definitely need it in our school.”
The program has offered a bridge, “We have friends who eat lunch together. They tell us, ‘I saw so-and-so at Walmart or Target.’ Having conversations with parents about how their kid ran into somebody from Unified. Parents have talked about how this is the only class that their kid talks about,” Flohrs indicated.
“They greet each other in the hallway. You can just see them and hear them being more inclusive and having those relationships. Part of it is just giving them a chance to do that because they don’t always have a chance to be in a class with everybody.”
OHS grad speakers
Senior Harper Shives gave a graduation address during a public speaking class at OHS. She will use a version of that for the actual Owatonna High School commencement on Friday, June 5. Fellow student speaker Lauren Packard was likewise inspired by the same class.
Shives says, “The theme is directed toward change. When we go off to college, things will be uncertain in life, but it’s OK to fail because we are so young. People might not go to college. They might travel. They might go to the workforce… Not everyone has a perfect path.
“I’m really excited to share my words of encouragement to the class of 2026, even to the family and administrators there. It’s a message for everyone.”
When pushed on the topic of change connected to moving to the new high school after freshman year, she teased, “Mine relates a little bit… I don’t want to reveal too much.”
Shives took the class because public speaking “is a nerve-wracking thing” she wanted to get better at.
Packard liked the class and decided to “go for it” and try out. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity.
“(My speech) is about not becoming a perfect version of yourself. But it is more so the journey that gets you there. Not really being stressed out about your future plans right now because we are so young.
“I’m more so excited than nervous. I’m overall very grateful to share this message with everybody. I hope everyone can take away something from it, not just our graduating class,” said Packard.
Shives is repeatedly going over her speech. “Since try outs I’ve been reviewing my speech, trying to memorize it as much as possible, so I don’t have to rely on looking down. I don’t want to get lost in the words.
“My mom taught me to speak in front of a mirror so you can see yourself, your hand gestures,” said Shives.
Packard told Owatonna Live, “Taking videos of myself. I’ve been practicing in front of my mom.”
She says theater has helped her become comfortable in front of an audience. She’s had roles in each of the last three musicals. “The tryout process really challenged my public speaking and acting, and singing in front of your peers is definitely a challenge,” said Packard.
Packard has been in music, track, NHS, SHOC, Thriving Minds, Student Council, Rotary, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and is an athletic training assistant. She plans to become a health teacher and is heading to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
“I’ve always been intrigued by the health side of things. But I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” said Packard.
Shives is involved in tennis, clay target, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, NHS, SHOC and Exchange Club. She is going to Augustana University in Sioux Falls to study nursing after becoming a CNA through the program at OHS. “I really like working with people and like helping them.”
They both plan to study American Sign Language at college.
Dusting clay targets
A large senior class of Owatonna High School clay target shooters is aiming to end their career at the state meet. Many are in their sixth year on the team. The Huskies have 23 seniors on their 84-athlete roster.
Senior captain Chloe Gfrerer is proud that about a quarter of the team are girls. “We always try to get our friends to do it and join.” She says recruiting younger girls has been a constant over time.
Coach Mike Kingland says, “We’ve got a good group of seventh and eighth graders coming up now too. Those seniors have really helped with that. A number of those are gals. Ten of our 21 gals are in the senior class. That’s a big deal as far as recruiting girls. We’re always trying to do that.”
Tori Koziolek, a senior captain, has developed her own rhythm at the firing line and encourages younger shooters to come up with one. “I tell them to take their time. They’ve got so much time to get their routine down.”
Koziolek will continue shooting competitively at Grandview University. “I won’t just be doing trap shooting. I’ll be trying out skeet and sporting clays. I’ve tried once and they’re pretty fun.”
Senior Mason Ihrke takes on his role as captain with intention. “I like to talk to everyone and make sure everyone feels included.” He likes the flexibility of the team with a couple of different days that he can come in to shoot.
Ihrke shot his first 50-straight during the final week of the regular season. He and Jackson Davis earned all-state honors with averages among the top 100 in the state.
Davis, who qualified individually for state last year, is tied for second in Minnesota with 24.9-out-of-25 over the five-week season. He takes a bit of an ironic approach. “Try not to focus on shooting, I guess. Get it done with as fast as you can… You got to be focused but you can’t be too focused. Go with the flow.”
Clay target is scored virtually week-to-week. OHS finished second in Class 9A, the largest in the state. The Huskies count their top 56 scores each week, based on their success shooting at 50 clay targets in two rounds of 25.
An all-comers state competition is in Alexandria. OHS shoots on June 23 of the nine-day competition. Top finishers qualify for the Minnesota State High School League state meet in Prior Lake on June 26.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play
Thursday, June 4
Legion baseball vs. Rochester Mayo, 6 p.m.
Friday, June 5
Aces baseball vs. Austin Blue Jays, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 7
VFW baseball vs. Northfield, 6 p.m.