SPORTS WRAP
Two members of the Owatonna Area Special Olympics are gearing up for the USA Games in the Twin Cities June 20-26.
Jerad Magnuson runs the 400- and 800-meter, plus the 4x400 relay, which he helped set a record for during the 2010 games in Nebraska. The 38-year-old also went to Florida four years ago.
His 18-year-old nephew, Wyatt Magnuson, who just graduated from Blooming Prairie where he played football and wrestled, joins him on Team Minnesota in the 100, 4x100 relay and shot put.
Wyatt feels great. “It’s a very big challenge that I’m going to take. I’m excited to do all my best and all the effort I’ve put in for practices.”
Jerad, an Austin grad, says, “It’s a challenge for the athletes. A big old challenge.” He also bowls and plays basketball and bocce with Special Olympics, but track is his favorite.
Sandy Magnuson, Jerad’s mom and a local coach, says, “He works hard at practice. He’s the only one that runs the long distances.”
Jerad is proud of the gold medal from the previous games. “Set a record. Felt pretty good.” He and his current teammates have that in their sights as they work on their handoffs. “It’s been going pretty nice. We’ve been practicing, anyway.”
Wyatt’s been working out. “I go jogging a lot. I throw my shot put at home. I usually go for about a mile jog if I can. If I can go for two, that would be really nice, but I don’t usually get there. I do sprinting at home.
“I’m looking forward to competing against other people that I have never competed (against).”
Athletes must win their events at the state level and go through an application process. Overall, 4,000 athletes will compete in 19 sports, supported by 15,000 volunteers and cheered on by 75,000 fans from across the U.S. and a couple of foreign countries.
Sandy says the value of Special Olympics goes beyond the race results. “It’s gotten them out into the world. So, they can see different things, meet different people.”
She says spectators will be impressed with all the athletes. “It’ll amaze them. Their ability. How they get along. They have very good sportsmanship.”
Jerad adds, “People are friendly.”
Track events are at the University of Minnesota and begin on Monday, June 22.
A reminder, the Y-Pro group of the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the 0.5K Beer Run Saturday, June 20 at Mineral Springs Brewery from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to benefit Owatonna Area Special Olympics.
College World Series
A once-in-a-lifetime event. Two years in a row.
Mitch Seykora (OHS 2024) just played in the junior college baseball World Series for the second straight year with Iowa Central Community College (ICCC).
“It was an awesome season. We had one of the best seasons in school history. We won over 50 games and made it to the World Series.
“We always had it in our minds. Last year we made it and obviously, we wanted to get back there again. The sophomores this year ingrained into the incoming freshman’s minds that it’s the end goal to get to the World Series,” said Seykora.
This year’s team had their backs to the wall after dropping their first game in Enid, Oklahoma, but pulled it all together. “This team was pretty close to each other. We just didn’t want it to be the last time with the guys.”
Seykora scored the walk-off run in the second game of ICCC’s three-game winning streak after suffering that loss. The team finished in the semifinals for the second straight year. He said the crowds and field were great and they had beautiful weather.
His time with the Tritons is over after two seasons. “It’s been really good. I met some good guys along the way and played some good baseball. The only thing that sucks is you only get to be with them one or two years.”
Seykora has committed to Augustana University, which made it to Super Regionals and was two wins away from the Division II World Series.
After taking ag business at ICCC, he will focus on business in Sioux Falls with the goal of working on the family farm, joining his older brother Matt.
The two play alongside one another with the Owatonna Aces. “Growing up with him, playing in our backyard. Then getting to play with him in a competitive game is pretty cool. Not a lot of people can say that they’ve done that,” said Seykora.
They combined to throw a pair of complete games during a doubleheader sweep of Winona on Sunday, June 14 at Dartt’s Park. Mitch tossed a no-hitter during a 2-0 victory with 11 strikeouts. Matt threw a five-hitter in an 11-3 win.
They previously played Legion baseball together and Matt was Mitch’s coach for a time in VFW.
Draft Day
By the time you read this, the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft may be over. It’s on June 17 in Detroit. Grace Wolfe (OHS 2021) is among 236 players that have declared themselves eligible.
She is coming off her fifth year at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) where she set the school record for number of games played. A defenseman and captain, she led the squad in blocked shots the last two seasons. “Having the urgency to block a shot and not being afraid to. It only hurts for a little bit. It’s fine after that. So, I don’t really care about the hurtful stuff.”
Wolfe had 13 goals and 45 assists during her SCSU career. She was a standout for Owatonna High School for five seasons, scoring 18 goals and assisting on 57 others.
She had the chance to pick the brain of her college coach, Mira Jalosuo, a former assistant with the Minnesota Frost and two-time Olympian. “I’ve had conversations with her about it. She understands it because she’s been there. She’s coached and she understands the skill that it takes.”
The league is adding four expansion teams, bringing the total number to 12 for their fourth season. Time will tell if there is room on a roster for a shot-blocking, hard-working, proven leader.
If drafted she will have to get used to a new nickname, as there are no Huskies in the PWHL.